MAKING MODEL AIRCRAFT FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY
WORLD AIRLINES ARE FAMED FOR their glossy and inventive marking schemes. Whether it's a simple cheat line, or an overall finish like the Braniff jetliner ( above ) every airline strives for its aircraft to look different from the others at an airport. SMN report: And that desire for recognition includes using scale models, conceived and built to attract potential customers. They are often used at travel agents, but also come in useful as sales tools at aviation trade shows. And someone has to make those trade models, because the sort of plastic kits we are used to are simply too delicate. Biffs and bangs, being dropped on the floor, or nudged off a desk by a customer are all part of a day's work for trade items like this. And that's where professional model makers step in, to make simple miniatures, specifically designed to resist constantly being in the line of public duty. It's not a new business though, for models like these have been used since the early days of co...