Shaun's Big Boeing

[ShaunW]

For my first venture into the world of GBs I'm going to build the old Heller Boeing 747-400 in Air France livery and maybe even finish it on time!. This Gallic bruiser is a bit of a beast and will probably take half a gallon of white paint and most of my patience. Storage of the completed model is requiring me to shift some of the junk off one the shelves in my modelling room. A suggestion to Mrs Dubya about displaying in the lounge met with a firm "non"

Pics of the kit will follow shortly.

[ShaunW]

She likes the minimalist look Brews. I thought about suspending the model just above the TV in a "just rotated from Charles de Gaulle" pose

[SJPONeill]

A suggestion to Mrs Dubya about displaying in the lounge met with a firm "non"

At least you're smiling about it. I'd be making a case for painting a dividing line down the middle of the lounge room if it were me ...

Careful what you wish for: you may win on the line but lose on the definition of 'middle'...

[bromo]

A suggestion to Mrs Dubya about displaying in the lounge met with a firm "non"

At least you're smiling about it. I'd be making a case for painting a dividing line down the middle of the lounge room if it were me ...

Careful what you wish for: you may win on the line but lose on the definition of 'middle'...

I know what you mean Simon my side of the line would end 2 inches from the wall were redoing the lounge at the moment and are looking for new furniture,all comments that i could put some models in there or on there are met with stony looks and a shake of the head,and mutterings about dust traps

[ShaunW]

As promised here's some pics of the kit:








Soz if the pics aren't up to standard but I was rushing and anyway I'm not David Bailey. I was given this kit back in 2000 for my efforts in helping out at the Huddersfield show, very kind of them I thought. Detail on the kit is by raised panel lines, so I can see a few of those disappearing when I try to sand out the gap left by that fuselage break. Decals are a bit thin on the ground, only the main ones there and no stencils. I have already mocked the kit up using tape and the fit is not brilliant but nothing a bit of filler won't cure! The size of the model is on a par with a 1/24th ME 109 I would guess. Plenty of glue and white paint then Roll on the start!

[bromo]

Looks like a nice kit, some extra plastic card tabs might help with the fuselage joint.Look forward to seeing the build

[JohnRatzenberger]

That thing is properly huge !!!

[Viking]

looks very nice; but i dont fancy trying to get that fuselage joined good luck

[ShaunW]

Thanks for your comments boys.

I don't fancy that fuselage join either Viking, I'll probably spend most of the GB period sanding and cursing. These things are sent to try us and we are modellers after all aren't we?

[bromo]

You will do it no problem Shaun,positive vibes,positive vibes

[shangos70]

Nice choice , I was going to opt for the Airfix 1/44th 747 Big Orange but I think i need some new decals for it first.

[ShaunW]

Thanks Shangos. The 747 is one of those iconic aircraft that I've never built before. The only other option in my stash was a Revell HE 177 but I thought that might be a bit controversial, some agree that it is a 4 engined aircraft whilst others seek to argue that it's really a big twin. At least with the 747 there is no argument Pity about your decals, the Big Orange would have been a striking subject.

[bromo]

You could of done that HE177 ,it had after all four engines.Still that Jumbo looks very nice and i look forward to your build,although if you want to change your mind feel free

[ShaunW]

Cheers Bromo but I shall stick with my Boeing, airliners are a quite regular thing for me as a change from military aircraft. I'm very much looking forward to the challenge

[ShaunW]

Blimey, best get a move on. There's blokes in this GB already got the wings and engines on

First job, get the windows in. Bloody hell, glazing strips! I'm used to decals for windows these days. Some proper old skool airliner modelling then. Acres of white plastic too, uurrrgh! Pics aren't great but this eve I've managed to complete the glazing job.

Front fuselage halves



Back end



Forget the width, feel the length!



and these are the front and rear undercarriage bays that M'sieur Heller optimistically hopes I will be able to fit inside (I've had a dry run, oh dear!)



Sink marks abound on this kit but thankfully most will never be seen again. I will have to deal with those in the rear u/c bay though. Next up I will manfully attempt to join the fuselage and hopefully won't forget to add in half a ton of crushed fishing weights to hold down the front. Time for a tinny methinks