1:144 McDonnell-Douglas MD-87 Erickson Aero Tanker

The MD-87 as an aerial firefighter in 1:144

An injection-molded kit from the Ukrainian brand AMP, which specializes in less usual civil and special-purpose machines. The subject is the shortened twin-engine McDonnell Douglas airliner converted into an aerial firefighting aircraft operated by Erickson Aero Tanker. The kit is intended to be glued and painted.

From airliner to firefighter

The MD-87 was the shortest member of the MD-80 line: compared with its siblings it had a shortened fuselage but kept the same engines mounted at the rear on either side and the characteristic T-tail. The combination of a short fuselage and strong power made it a capable machine with a good rate of climb, which turned out to be a great advantage in its second career. After leaving airline service some of the aircraft were converted into so-called air tankers: a tank for fire retardant was built into the fuselage with an outlet in the lower part, and the aircraft began to fight large forest fires, where a quick arrival and a low pass over the terrain are what count.

What to watch out for

Short-run models tend to have heavier sprue gates and to need more sanding, so dry-fit the parts and fill the seams. The striking finish of firefighting aircraft lives off a clean glossy surface, so careful sanding and polishing before the decals pay off.

Which collection it belongs in

• Collectors of civil and rescue aircraft
• Modelers with experience of short-run moldings
• Anyone interested in aerial firefighting of forest fires
• Display cabinets devoted to the MD-80 family

The package holds the parts themselves, unpainted and unassembled. Obtain paints, filler and glue separately, unless stated otherwise.