W I M M E R

SCALE MODELER
Volume 8, Number 9, SEPTEMBER, 1973
2 pages, page 12 and 13

Published by
CHALLENGE PUBLICATIONS; INC.

Tu-134

Anfang 2009 bekam ich von meinem Hobbyfreund Don aus USA zwei Ausgaben der Zeitschrift SCALE MODELER von 1973. In diesen Ausgaben sind Artikel über KVZ/Plasticart Bausätze. Da wir diese Artikel für alle KVZ/Plasticart begeisterten für interessant halten, haben wir uns bei CHALLENGE PUBLICATIONS; INC., um die Erlaubnis zur Veröffentlichung bemüht. Im Juli 2009 bekam ich nun vom Verlag die Erlaubnis, diese auf unserer HP zu veröffentlichen. Wir bedanken uns dafür ganz herzlich beim Verleger Edwin A. Schnepf.

Besuchen Sie auch die HP von CHALLENGE PUBLICATIONS, INC.. Auch wenn es die Zeitschrift SCALE MODELER nicht mehr gibt, so werden nach wie vor sehr interessante Zeitschriften herausgegeben.

Wenn Ihnen weitere KVZ/Plasticart betreffende Artikel bekannt sind, würden wir uns über eine Nachricht sehr freuen. wimmerrichard@hotmail.com

Visit also the CHALLENGE PUBLICATIONS; INC. website.

A WELL DONE MODEL OF THE TUPOLEV Tu-134 FROM THE INCREASINGLY POPULAR SERIES OF AIRCRAFT FROM BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN

BY  JORDAN  ROSS

Hohe Auflösung / High resolution

First flown in 1963, the Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO designation “Crusty”) was an outgrowth of the Tu-124 project. Originally designated the Tu-124A, although the airframe was essentiall the same, the Tu-124 designation was dropped in favor of a new burea number largely because of the engine relocation from the wings to the aft fuselage.     Production Tu-134’s, as Russia’s second rear engined airliner, began internal service with the national airline Aeroflot in 1966 and started international operation in September 1967 on the Moscow to Stockholm run.     The Tu-134 has a larger wing are. than the Tu-124 and consequently has a greater load capacity. The 134 normally carries 64 passengers with a crew of three. Maximum range of the aircraft is 2,175 miles but it is intended mainly for stage flights of from 300 to 1,250 miles. Soft field landing gear gives good small field Performance in and out of second class airport and those with grass runways when necessary.		Our model from the East German firm Modellbaukasten is in 1/100th scale and depicts a Tu-134 in the service of the Russian national airline Aeroflot. The instruction sheet for this kit is written in German, Czechloslovakian, and Russian but it does include a good diagram of the parts which is numbered for easy reference to an assembly drawing.     Before actual assembly began, all parts were washed in soap and water to remove any traces of an oily residue on the plastic pieces. This is an absolute necessity for good paint adhesion.   Although windows for the passenger compartments are provided, they were omitted on this model because the decal sheet covers the window openings and acts as an acceptable screen for each portal.     The kit generally goes together well although some filling and sanding was

12   scale modeler

12   scale modeler	Hohe Auflösung / High resolution	scale modeler   13

necessary around the engine/fuselage joints to get a good fit. The kit recommends the engine pods be put on after painting and decaling but this process was reversed to avoid messing the pain job with a glue seam.     Some filling and sanding is also necessary along the fuselage seams to insure a good fit and it is necessary to add weight to the nose to make the model set properly. About an ounce should do the trick.     Paint the interior of the fuselage flat black prior to assembly unless you plan to detail the cabin interior, which, on a model of this size, would prove of little value.     In construction, make sure the T-tail horizontal surfaces are lined up at 90 degrees to the fin. Misalignment here will show very clearly. The clear plastic molding of the nose and cockpit glass are not of the greatest quality but will do for this scale.		Vacuformed replacements should be simple to construct if greater detail is desired. The landing gear on the model is well done. It is basic yet it captures a realistic appearance. The struts were done in Testor’s Silver as were the wheel hubs, while the tires were painted with Pactra Hotrod Primer.     The upper surfaces of the aircraft including the fin were done in Pactra Gloss White with flat black for the anti-glare panel. The lower surfaces and wings were sprayed with Testor’s Silver shot over with a coat of Micro-Gloss. The decals are from the kit and are very thin so care must be taken if a setting solution is used with them.     As a finishing touch, an antenna of stretched sprue was added. It is held in place with Permabond and was made taunt with the soldering iron and flux technique.

scale modeler   13

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