747-100, *FINISHED!!!!*: Jan. 27th

Wow Frank that looks really good!

Awesome work Frank! I'm taking a break from my project. I have a few papers to write for my A&P school and my college. Also trying to get an MD-11 finished up, that I painted for my flight college, since most other colleges with an aviation program, have a former airliner for use as a systems trainer.

What makes the models grow?! GLUE, GLUE, GLUE!

Thanks "9" and Jonas,

Certainly understand about being caught up with life things delaying building, Jonas, but look forward to continued progress when you get things in order.

As for my progress, I cleaned up the cheatline and tail flash as well as painted the door frames and radome. I also built up the area over the cockpit with putty to correct the shape issue there and waiting for it to cure now.

 Reduced: 79% of original size [ 1024 x 768 ] - Click to view full image

... and on we go...
Frank

The BOAC build should move along quicker than this one thanks to lessons learned and the other half of fabricated parts, such as the windshield/cockpit top I thermoformed today, after realizing it would be easier to do that than try to form a frame from putty. Also had to sand the nose down a bit as it was too pointed.


It was a full days work, but did manage to get the repositioned horizintal stab attached also, so I'm that much further along.

Take care,
Frank

Nice work, Frank!

Thanks Aaron!

With a little rounding of the nose and lifting of the cockpit ceiling, the profile of the old Revell improves dramatically.

Brien Wygle and half of Jesse Wallick are in their seats now, waiting for the fuselage to be mounted against the mirror (this weekend) so Jesse's other half and Jack Waddell can take their places.


Just some minor detailing left to do on the plane and she'll be ready to fly; I will post photos when it's finished.

Take care,
Frank

The wood stain on the N7470 display is taking it's time curing (still really tacky), so the display probably won't be completed today.... frustrating I know, but the barometer isn't cooperating, so I'm going to give the plane another coat of Future and do some more buffing while it's mobile.

While I'm waiting, I thought I'd post a couple additional techniques used
during this construction...





I didn't have any window frame decals that would fit, so I took about an hour and made my own....


I placed a strip of clear tape inside over the window openings, and a strip of clear decal material over the outside, which created a beautiful double-pained effect.

Take care,
Frank

The stain on the wood is STILL too tacky to handle, so instead of making you all wait, I thought I'd show how it's now sitting in my shop, waiting, like me!

(no, I didn't forget the nose gear; I like to wait until the plane's mounted on the mirror before attaching it... lesson learned from past MIDs)

Take care,
Frank

Looking good, Frank, and nice drawings as usual.

Thanks John...

It's been 46 days coming, and at 12:30 today I scooted my chair back and called it complete! Enjoy!










It's good to see N7470 back in the air, aye?

Thanks all!
Frank

Beauuuuutiiiiiful.  Not that that is a surprise.  I do like those markings.  Odd to see a Boeing house plane in red.

A couple of questions:

What are you doing next?

How do you think it would do for rockets or the shuttle?

and Can I add a link to your site from the census' links page?

Thank you Cassie, I appreciate it!

My next project is actually a continuation of one started a couple years ago, which is a 1/200th KLM 747-400 skimming Maho Beach at St. Maarten.     The flap job and painting are done, but must do the decals, landing gear, trimming, and build the scene.

Space vehicles would be an excellent subject for the MID technique!

Yes, you may add my link; thanks!

Take care,

Frank

Sometimes, I think picking up an old project is more satifying than starting a new one.  You get the feeling of tying up loose ends.

I saw a couple pics of Pegasus rockets being launched and was working out in my head how to recreate that.  This would be ideal for it and the like.

The link will be up as quick as I can.  Thanks for letting me.

Very nice as always Frank!

Thanks for the links.  No, I haven't seen any of those.  Actually, the first flights were from the Boeing Seattle factory, and my only exposure to it was at Edwards.  I don't remember what my Dad worked on at Edwards, but I don't think it was anything on the 747 (they used mostly Boeing test pilots) or the C5A (probably used Lockheed test pilots with AF test pilots serving to check things off).  My Dad usually tested flight systems.  The last one I remember him working on was an auto-landing system at Wright Patterson in the T-39.  He may have been working on that at Edwards, too, I don't know. 

The main road in from Lancaster to Edwards provided you a hillside view of the lakebed where they took off and landed a lot of aircraft.  One thing that really amazed me was watching the C5 take off.  After what seemed like a takeoff roll about two airplane lengths, the thing rotated and left the ground. 

Your B747 looks awesome!  The mounting on a mirror is pretty neat. 

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

Thanks Cassie, Aaron, and Gene,   

Here's a couple more pictures I made this morning....

Thanks again and take care,
Frank