1:144 Antonov An-74 TK-300D

The real subject

The An-74 belongs to the family of twin-engine transport aircraft derived from the An-72 type. The TK-300 rendering differs from the older machines most noticeably in the placement of the engines: they do not sit above the wing but hang below it on pylons, as on ordinary airliners. The arrangement improves the economy of flight on a route, although it takes away from the ability to take off from short strips for which the family was famous. The letters TK belong to the rendering whose cabin can be converted between carrying freight and carrying passengers.

What to watch out for during the build

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The slinging of the engines under the wing is the most noticeable part of the silhouette, so glue the pylons carefully and watch that both nacelles point the same way and sit at the same height; this is best checked by looking at the model from the front standing on a flat board. Put the parts together dry first, cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest down.

Painting

Mask the cabin glazing before spraying and lift the mask only once the last coat has dried. Airliners tend to have a smooth glossy surface, which benefits from a base coat and paint laid down in thin coats. The color schemes and the placement of the decals are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

For collectors of airliners in 1:144 scale and for modelers who want both forms of the family side by side, that is, the machine with the engines above the wing and the one with them below it. Paints, glue, masking material and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.