Airfix 1/144 Boeing 727-200 TAP

This one has 2 meanings: the 727, which was one of the most sucessfull airliners ever, and the TAP airplane that crashed in Madeira on 19th  November1977...

The Boeing 727 had a common history with the Hawker-Siddeley Trident... As both were designed by the same team. However, this one had bigger engines, and became one of the most sucessfull airliner ever. There were 2 versions, the -100, shorter, and the longer -200, the one on this box. For its time, early sixties, was reliable and could carry 189 passengers up to 3100-4800km far.

The flight 425 to Madeira was the biggest and deadliest TAP accident ever. But if the crew being tired after being near the end of the shift was influent, so were the conditions... The weather was terrible, and it was the only opportunity to land, or else they would have to fly back to Lisbon to refuel. On that last chance, the pilot took a risk, and went out baddly... At the time, the runway was short and ended on a small rift... The plane had to descend fast due to the cross winds, but the tarmac was soaked, and the wheels started waterplaning... it went thru the end of the runway, crashed and burned... After this, the 727-200 was forbiden to land there, only the smaller 727-100 was allowed. Years later, the runway was increased, so that it became much safer, like it is today...

About the model, it is old. really old. I would dare to say as old as the airplane... Flash, landing gears not that well detailled...

But it has the main shape of it... We can even lower the rear staircase, which is not that badly detailed...

More than that, the usual operation on trijets: to do the s-duct...

But despite its age, its actually a nice kit! I've made 2, one for tap, and another one for Iberia Airlines, Which did became nice! I have given it away, so I have few pics of it, incomplete... On the Argentine Colours will also become beautyfull.

 But its pretty much the same as this one...

Overall, even if old, even if it should be retired, its actually good. I would even say that even if less detailed than Revell 727-100 (very rare right now...Had 2 which are now missing), it does look better than it. So, if you want to have an iconic airplane, This one you can "live with". With some work, may actually look nice!