Britten Norman Islander/Trislander

[zenrat]

Just noticed a peculiarity of the Airfix Islander kit: the plastic has the triangular, extended-span, fuel-bearing wingtips that were first adopted for the Trilander (I think), but which are a standard option on any airframe. However all the drawings for the three colour schemes included feature the square-cut "dry" wingtips. As far as I can tell from online photos, the triangular tip are wrong for both Aurigny and Milford Sound Sightseeing (the two civvie schemes on the decal sheet) and only right for the Phillipine Navy option.

Note that this is the A03067 boxing with a frameless, full-size picture on the front of a yellow Aurigny Air machine.

I have a moulded in bright yellow 1972 release in my stash.  I note the box art doesn't show either wing tip.
I'll have a peek in the box for you tomorrow.

[Weaver]

Just noticed a peculiarity of the Airfix Islander kit: the plastic has the triangular, extended-span, fuel-bearing wingtips that were first adopted for the Trilander (I think), but which are a standard option on any airframe. However all the drawings for the three colour schemes included feature the square-cut "dry" wingtips. As far as I can tell from online photos, the triangular tip are wrong for both Aurigny and Milford Sound Sightseeing (the two civvie schemes on the decal sheet) and only right for the Phillipine Navy option.

Note that this is the A03067 boxing with a frameless, full-size picture on the front of a yellow Aurigny Air machine.

I have a moulded in bright yellow 1972 release in my stash.  I note the box art doesn't show either wing tip.
I'll have a peek in the box for you tomorrow.

No need, thanks: I've already answered that from on-line sprue shots. The mouldings of the wings are all the same. The only thing that changed was the addition of the underwing stores for the second release (1976), which had Phillipine Navy and Air Liberia markings.

If you have a quick look anyway, remember that the wingtips are moulded integral with the LOWER wing surfaces.

[Mossie]

There's more sprue shots along with instructions on Super Hobby. The markings diagram shows the square tips, but the instructions show the triangular tips.

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/Britten-Norman-Islander-Defender.html#gallery_start

It looks like a fairly easy task to fix it.

[jcf]

Just noticed a peculiarity of the Airfix Islander kit: the plastic has the triangular, extended-span, fuel-bearing wingtips that were first adopted for the Trilander (I think), but which are a standard option on any airframe. However all the drawings for the three colour schemes included feature the square-cut "dry" wingtips. As far as I can tell from online photos, the triangular tip are wrong for both Aurigny and Milford Sound Sightseeing (the two civvie schemes on the decal sheet) and only right for the Phillipine Navy option.

Note that this is the A03067 boxing with a frameless, full-size picture on the front of a yellow Aurigny Air machine.

Rivet counter. 

[Rick Lowe]

**Shots fired**... 

[zenrat]

Just noticed a peculiarity of the Airfix Islander kit: the plastic has the triangular, extended-span, fuel-bearing wingtips that were first adopted for the Trilander (I think), but which are a standard option on any airframe. However all the drawings for the three colour schemes included feature the square-cut "dry" wingtips. As far as I can tell from online photos, the triangular tip are wrong for both Aurigny and Milford Sound Sightseeing (the two civvie schemes on the decal sheet) and only right for the Phillipine Navy option.

Note that this is the A03067 boxing with a frameless, full-size picture on the front of a yellow Aurigny Air machine.

I have a moulded in bright yellow 1972 release in my stash.  I note the box art doesn't show either wing tip.
I'll have a peek in the box for you tomorrow.

No need, thanks: I've already answered that from on-line sprue shots...

Thats lucky, because I forgot.   

[Weaver]

Just noticed a peculiarity of the Airfix Islander kit: the plastic has the triangular, extended-span, fuel-bearing wingtips that were first adopted for the Trilander (I think), but which are a standard option on any airframe. However all the drawings for the three colour schemes included feature the square-cut "dry" wingtips. As far as I can tell from online photos, the triangular tip are wrong for both Aurigny and Milford Sound Sightseeing (the two civvie schemes on the decal sheet) and only right for the Phillipine Navy option.

Note that this is the A03067 boxing with a frameless, full-size picture on the front of a yellow Aurigny Air machine.

Rivet counter.

Big triangular fibreglass thing counter, if you please...

It's not a small difference: the big wingtips add four feet to the span.

[Weaver]

This month's (July's) Aeroplane Magazine has an excellent Database article on the Islander, and next month they're doing the Trilander. Should be an early Christmas for anyone interested in the type.

The August issue is now in the shops with the Trilander issue. Very good again, although obviously shorter since the Trilander didn't have the same lenght of production run.

Couple of interesting points about engines:

1. An advantage of the piston engines for operators like Aurigny, running short stages with lots of stops, was that they were lifed by running hours, whereas turboprops were lifed by stop/start cycles (I don't know if this is still true), so their type of ops would rack up maintenance cost quicker on the latter than the former.

2. There was an option for a four engined Trilander with a Bristol Aerojet rocket motor in the back on the centre engine nacelle, providing 350lb of emergency thrust to increase safety margins in an engine-out situation during a maximum weight take-off. This was tested at the RAE and was offered as a standard option, although the article doesn't say if any operators ever chose it. 

[Rick Lowe]

the article doesn't say if any operators ever chose it

They may not have, but anyone on this forum who builds one can easily do so...