Temple of Doom Tri-Motor 2.0

[AFFoD]

After my first go at a Temple of Doom 'Lao Che' Tri-Motor left me feeling like there was lots of room for improvement, I decided to take another run at it. Using the Revell 1/77 scale kit (Why doesn't someone make a larger scale kit of this iconic plane?!!!) as the base, I rebuilt the cockpit to something that was closer to the one from the movie, but it still left a lot to be desired. After reworking it a bit more, I got it to something that I can live with. The next thing that bothered me was the color red that I chose. It was too dark. This time around it's a more tomato-ish red that's closer to the screen used model. And then there were those engines! The kit radial engines are AWFUL! Luckily I found some 1/72 radials that are PERFECT! ( A Little Pricey, But Perfect!) So with these changes in hand, I have set out to make another Temple of Doom Lao Che Tri-Motor.

 

[rbeach84]

Airfix also did a Ford Trimotor, in 1/72 scale (slightly larger...) I suspect the reason is in the numbers: lots of $$ to cut those corrugations, few of the real thing and relative obscurity of the subject. Still, an iconic aircraft for its age, at least among aviation enthusiasts.

R/ Robert

 

[Wes R]

Aftermarket radial engines for kits are insanely priced, especially when most times you have to buy them one at a time. Looks really good, I always loved the look of these planes.

 

[Duncanator]

the Revell 1/77 scale kit (Why doesn't someone make a larger scale kit of this iconic plane?!!!)

The one used for the film was a balsa framed model (possibly a Guillows?), so you might look into R/C balsa kits if you want something bigger. I recall the wingspan was somewhere near the 4 foot range.

 

[Vacformedhero]

Subscribed , great idea for a build

 

[joberg]

Always loved that Tri-motor! Authenticmodels.com is making one too (and it's in aluminium already).

 

[AFFoD]

Sometimes model building is an exercise in determination. One step forward...Two Steps Back! Had several things go wrong. The paint was building up in an unsightly manner. Looked like I had coated it with a miniature form of spray on bed liner! LOL! And then after spraying the stripes down the side of the fuselage (they didn't turn out good enough either, too much bleed through) some of the masking tape bound together as I was trying to remove it, and I ended up cracking the canopy and the top wing off of the plane! Sooo...after some thought, I decided it was best just to begin anew and broke out my other Revell Trimotor and went to cutting and building...(Oh, and I've ordered the Airfix 1/72 Trimotor to do up in a Lao Che V 3.0!)

 

[AFFoD]

Drilling out the holes for the control cables, then to start painting.

 

[kruleworld]

What a good idea to do a trimotor as a Indiana Jones prop. There's also the plane from Raiders you could consider too and the Stampe from Last Crusade if you wanted a set.

there is a database of movie planes too www.impdb.org

 

[AFFoD]

I am looking for a Short Sunderland to do up as the Pan Am Clipper from Raiders. I also just bought a B-17 that I'm going to build as the Friendly Persuasion from the Amazing Stories episode The Mission.

 

[Duncanator]

Airfix makes a Sunderland in 1/72 scale.

 

[joberg]

It's going to look good. What type of cable are you going to use?

 

[AFFoD]

I usually just use dark grey thread. That way I can pull it tight and there won't be any sag.

 

[AFFoD]

Correction...It's a Short Solent Mk III that was used in Raiders. Not a Short Sunderland. My mistake.

 

[AFFoD]

Got some painting done and the 'LAO CHE Air Freight' decal printed up and applied...

 

[Duncanator]

Looking Good!

 

[AFFoD]

More decals. Got the Ford logo applied to the vertical stabilizer, and printed up and applied the red square decals for the underside of the wing as well as the landing lights for the wings leading edge.

 

[rbeach84]

Yeah, that is looking quite good. Thanks for sharing your 'journey'!
R/ Robert

 

[joberg]

Looking marvy!

 

[AFFoD]

Started adding weathered panels with pastel to give it a little more character. Next will be the dark grey pastel to really dirty it up. I am a little torn as to whether or not I want to weather it like the full scale plane or the model. Their weathering didn't really match up. Give me an opinion as to which you prefer. I've included a comparison pic of the two planes. The full size plane had a lot of heavy dark grey weathering, where the model had more of a brownish weathering.