SPA Modeler

Three marking options...

1. Civilian markings...and the only one to have any "history". It was flown by a German pilot, from Helsinki and landed near Red Square in Moscow, unautherized.
2. Irish Air Corp, 206 squadron.
3. Croatian Air Force.



Not quite sure yet, just which one to choose.
My civilian display is quite small....Irish, for something different...or Croatian, cool scheme, and I used to work for a Croatian family...????

I'll take some votes!!!

Decals look...well...like decals!



One sprue for clear parts, two sprues for the main goods, and another sprue for the gears, wheels and spats.



Most notable, initially....panel lines. These are quite huge. I'm "on the fence" about the rivets. They're not really overdone, by any means, but I really don't think they really add much, at this scale. Not a complaint on the rivets...just a thought.

I vote Mathias Rust's Cessna. He flew that place thru the heaviest air defenses in the world at the height of the Cold War, and nobody fired a shot at him. A very brave soul indeed.

Got started on this one....and remembered I had restashed another 172, some years ago...so I broke that one back out too.
The other was a bagged kit from a contest vendor table. It is from Esci....the very same molds as this Italeri kit. The only difference is that it was molded in white, rather than grey.

Step one covers the internals...



I went pretty basic, just brush painted and a dark wash. A decal is provided for the IP. The Italeri decal is far better than the very basic one with the Esci kit.





Having done a couple Minicraft Cessna 150's, I know they're big time tail sitters.
I CAed some lead sheet behind the IP, as well as everywhere I could cram some in, up front.



I'll just paint it black, and you'll never see it! (still gotta load up he other)

Stikpusher wrote:I vote Mathias Rust's Cessna. He flew that place thru the heaviest air defenses in the world at the height of the Cold War, and nobody fired a shot at him. A very brave soul indeed.

Having two, makes the decision a lot easier!
One will definitely be Mathias'....the other...
The Esci kit has a similar scheme....black stripes/shapes....I just don't know yet!

Buy another and you can do all three versions.

Fermis wrote:
Having two, makes the decision a lot easier!
One will definitely be Mathias'....the other...

Hobbico has posted this on their FB page. Have to scroll down a bit.

BlackSheep214 wrote:Buy another and you can do all three versions.

Stikpusher wrote:

Fermis wrote:
Having two, makes the decision a lot easier!
One will definitely be Mathias'....the other...

It'd be nice to have a mix of N# decals. I wouldn't mind doing one of the many that I have flown.
Come to think of it...I don't think I even have a single pic of any of the 172's I've flown. Got a few pics inside, looking out! Here's a few of my favorites...





...guess I didn't have that many!!!

My all time favorite pic....clearly, not a 172...this was shortly after departure in a Twin Comanche.
It would be a much better pic without the reflection...but I still like it!

So, young bro, when ya going to Alaska and start flying for the Tweetos?


Captain Fermis, can I wear your hat?