Tale of 3 airliners (WIP) 4/3/2018 - UPDATE

Oh details please!

Who is still operating 767's in commercial service? I know there are some.

757 is mostly flying freight around now, way past its prime.

My dad who just passed away ran the interiors fit specification for United for the 777.

767's and 757's are still in passenger service all around the globe.

All 3 major US airlines still fly them. The 757 is being used on transatlantic routes.

The 757 is the backbone of Iceland Airs fleet, they are also flying a few 767s.

You guys are making me feel old!  My first airline trip was on a Northwest Orient Airlines Stratocruiser going out, and a Capitol Airlines Constellation on the way back! 

I remember how amazed I was to see a 747 for the first time, back in the 60's, even more so when I got to ride in one a few years later.

Cadet Chuck

You guys are making me feel old!  My first airline trip was on a Northwest Orient Airlines Stratocruiser going out, and a Capitol Airlines Constellation on the way back! 

 

My first was on a DC-6 or 7 (forget which).  Second trip involved DC-7 and a feeder airline's DC-3.  I only had two DC-3 flights, before they went out of service on so many of the regional airlines. Glad I had a chance to at least fly those two.  I don't count the flights in an AF C-47, not much like flying in a DC-3 other than the same inability to get above the weather :-)

DC-3s and DC-4-6s, I would love to have flown in those. My first ride was in a 747 going from Spain to the US, my dad took me to the cockpit to talk to the pilots, I was about 7 or 8 years old. I hope you guys enjoy the build and that this will go well..... These are what the kits will look like.

747-400 for my Dad

767 for my friends

Working has started, still waiting for the decals from AHS. I glued some very thin strips of styrene on the inside, and I'm decided to try the spotting/glazing putty that the auto parts stores sell, so far I like it. Doesn't seem to shrink. I did check the progress of the window filling with Kyrlon sandable primer/filler, it's great stuff, shows I have more work to do. Today I will work on it a bit more and will try to finish filling the Windows. Thanks for looking.

7474

DC-3s and DC-4-6s, I would love to have flown in those. My first ride was in a 747 going from Spain to the US, my dad took me to the cockpit to talk to the pilots, I was about 7 or 8 years old. I hope you guys enjoy the build and that this will go well..... These are what the kits will look like.

747-400 for my Dad

 

767 for my friends

When my Dad got back from Nam, he was reassigned to the AF Flight Test operations at Edwards AFB.  My first trip to the base included a stop at the office for my Dad.  We parked nose-to-nose with the Boeing 747 that was being flight-tested there.  My Mom looked up and said: "When are they going to put the rest of the wings on?"

My Dad replied: "That's how they fly."

Mom then said: "You'll never get me in one of those!!"  I think she did later fly in one, but yeah, when you walk up to the nose, the wings DO look short compared to the size of the fuselage. 

This little project should be fun.  Watching!!

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

Update.... I finished filling all the windows, it took many attempts with putty, and then applied thick CA and sanded to even it out. Then applied primer to check my work until everything looked kosher. I painted the engine parts, and wheels. Base coated with Tamiya Rubber Black, then MM Acrlic Steel for the front half of the exhaust section and Vallejo Oily Steel for the rear half of the exhaust section and the fan section. I might try to paint a small panel a light gray. I think the look is rather convincing. The fuselages are ready to be closed up. The photos are of the 747, but the 767s are also at this stage. I can't work as much as I want to do to going back and forth with my flying job.

Hey !

 Do you remember the 707 ? Flew to California on a D.C.7 C. Then to Hawaii on a " Connie " . Finished the flight with a very high flying 707 to Perth . Gees , what a bird . First passenger jet I ever flew on . I won't go into my experience with a 747 , but it weren't nice . Flew L-1011 and also a 727 . Nice birds those .

 I must say though . I prefer those with the whirly thingys on the engine front so you can see them working . Slower flight yes ! Like trains , I like the time I have to relax .    T.B.

Tanker - Builder

Hey !

 Do you remember the 707 ? Flew to California on a D.C.7 C. Then to Hawaii on a " Connie " . Finished the flight with a very high flying 707 to Perth . Gees , what a bird . First passenger jet I ever flew on . I won't go into my experience with a 747 , but it weren't nice . Flew L-1011 and also a 727 . Nice birds those .

 I must say though . I prefer those with the whirly thingys on the engine front so you can see them working . Slower flight yes ! Like trains , I like the time I have to relax .    T.B.

 

Sure do!  That was a great experience.  In addition to less noise and vibration, the ceiling was so high we could fly above almost any weather!  Clear air turbulence is still pretty uncommon compared to the stuff we flew through in the prop days!

Looking great.  I will be watching for updates!

Toshi

A bit of an update, I'm nearly done with these. The 747 for my dad has had some setbacks, so I'm working on them. One the engines was mangled by the dog, so I had to order a new kit just to get the engines out of it. As always thoughts and critiques are welcome. 

I worked on a tarmac, the ones I found online looked unrealistic, so I figured this would be a good opportunity to learn something new.

A piece of flat sprue (.0625" thick) that was cut to the size of the wooden base, I scribed the expansion joints and a few cracks. These were then primed with Tamiya gray primer from the can, painted with Vallejo Stone Gray. Then using mixes of the stone gray with white or black was made to create the lighter and darker shades which were sponged on and blended together.

The good thing about my job is that I can walk around and get close measurements of the tarmac markings. Using photos I took while at work doing the preflight inspections, I calculated that the stripes would be 2mm wide, with 3mm wide blocks (that tell where the nosewheel to be) x 6.5mm. I masked these, airbrushed Tamiya Insignia yellow, and the "767" "747" "777" and "MD11" were hand painted with Tamiya black. I marked out the positions by using the models that I have and seeing where the nose gear would be when they're all at the same spot. I then sealed with a glossy acrylic clearcoat that I purchased from an artist's supply store, made a wash from oil paints and mineral spirits, wiped clean to show the expansion joints. Then I used AK Interactive's "Aircraft Engine Oil" to simulate the splotches of oil stains. I think they turned out pretty well for my first time doing this sort of thing. 

The decal work for the two Atlas Air 767s is done. I think they're turning out well. Next step will be a clear coat, try to ad hydraulic streaks on the wings, attach the landing gear, engines, and horizontal stabs, a last clear coat and get them on their way. I have brass plates for these, but I don't want to post photos as the names of the recipients are on them. 

And one of the models on the nearly finished pieces tarmac 

This is really nice work 7474. I'm just finishing a design job at SFO, the new Terminal 1.

The team had a whole company just to work out Apron Level stuff.

I do signage, so I had Airside Gate Numbers, Fuel Hydrant ID, FOD barrel labels, make-up bag carousels and a million other things.

Nice!  Ive been doing a lot of airliners/freighters.  Im doing a 747 in old school FedEx markings.  The 767s look great.  Nice tarmac work as well.

"G "

 Hey , you're making me wish I was thirty years younger . I miss working on and flying The Falcon 20s and 30s . Being around airports on the Apron side is always better than in the terminal .