Douglas DC-9-41/51 Moulds in 1/400 Scale
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Updated: January 2020
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The Douglas DC-9 base design had a huge amount of stretch capability within it and it wasn't long until the series 30 was expanded. In fact, the first DC-9-41, stretched by an additional two metres, was delivered in 1968 only thirteen months after the first DC-9-31. Its sales never reached anywhere near those of the series 30s and just 71 were delivered up to 1980. The even longer series 51 did not enter service until mid-1975 and 96 were sold. It had a further 2.49 metre stretch over the series 41. Although the sales figures weren't amazing these variants were cheap to produce and helped keep existing DC-9 operators happy, whilst bridging the gap to the Super 80 variants.
Douglas DC-9-41/51 releases in 1:400 Scale
Given the relatively small difference between a series 30 and 41 it is pleasing that the manufacturers did not skimp on producing a bespoke mould for the intermediate variant. Having said that only two of the four manufacturers of the series 30 bothered with the longer variants at all. These were SMA and Aeroclassics although the moulds have been used by others also:
Before we get to the moulds as usual we'll start with a look at the real thing.
First the DC-9-41:
First the DC-9-41:
Anthony92931 [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Eduard Marmet [CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL]
And the DC-9-51:
Steve Fitzgerald [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html) or GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)]
Eduard Marmet [CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL]
SMA Moulds (2004-2005)
As with their DC-9-30s the longer series 41 and 51 moulds were used both by SMA and also Sovereign. In fact the latter produced more than half the models. The series 51 was also used unusually by both Aurora (for an Austrian Airlines) and Aeroclassics (for an Eastern release). These two pre-date Aeroclassics having their own DC-9-51. One of the DC-9-41s, a bare-metal SAS, is also a Hangar Club model from 2005 associated with the forum 400 Scale Hangar.
The moulds match the DC-9-30 variant except for their lengths. They are actually quite good. It has two seams (around the wings and at the horizontal stabs) but both are discrete. The main fuselage and wings are very good. The only real failing is at the nose, which is too heavy and rounded. The angle down from the cockpit is ok but the underside is incorrect.
Aeroclassics (2007-Still In Use)
Aeroclassics introduced their DC-9-41/51 moulds a year after their series 30. Often AC has ignored small changes between variants with its releases (Caravelles are an example of this) but both of these moulds reproduce the variants correctly. The release subjects have been a lot more variable than SMA and Sovereign and include gems like Ghana Airways, BWIA and Thai International. After pausing releases in 2008 the moulds finally came back out of the cupboard in 2017 and have been used on and off since.
Aeroclassics introduced their DC-9-41/51 moulds a year after their series 30. Often AC has ignored small changes between variants with its releases (Caravelles are an example of this) but both of these moulds reproduce the variants correctly. The release subjects have been a lot more variable than SMA and Sovereign and include gems like Ghana Airways, BWIA and Thai International. After pausing releases in 2008 the moulds finally came back out of the cupboard in 2017 and have been used on and off since.
As with the SMA mould the only difference between these variants and the series 30 mould is the lengths. The mould itself bears a strong resemblance to the SMA mould around the wing, with an almost matching seamline. At the tail the horizontal stabilisers slot in to the sides and so there is no secondary seam. Where this mould really becomes the gold-standard is at the nose. It is the first DC-9 to get the shape correct. As with the Aeroclassics series 30 the DC-9-41 and 51 are superb moulds.