1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Show us what's on the bench

1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby 72linerlover » Sat Jul 25, 2020 5:49 pm

Hi mates.

While awaiting for a decision on my painting set up, I started a new project.

I always had a soft spot for the 707-120 series and specially for the first ship that entered service across the Atlantic. 707-121 N707PA

In 1/72 scale there is no option and I have been playing with the idea to build one, but nothing came to a real project. The research in this field was helped a lot by a dear friend in the USA. She is a really expert of Boeing and Douglas aircraft.

I know that within this year a cottage industry in Germany will issue a 1/72 707-120 kit, and it will be beautiful as always Kurt's models are, but it will be in solid resin (which I don't like in this scale) and a lot expensive for my modeling budget.

On the other hand, I already have the 1/72 AMT(Heller – Italeri) KC-135A (from now on: KC) and the 1/72 Heller (Airfix) 707-300B (from now on: 300)

Although I don't like to waste two kits for making one model, I realized that I'll never build a 300, because a little away from my interest and (last but not least) too big to fit in my showcase.

So the plan:
Nose, tail (with vertical stab) horizontal stabs, wings and wing/body fairings from the KC
Shortened rest of the fuselage and wheels from the 300.

I submitted this plan to my friend, she agreed and told me that another modeler made a short body 707 almost that way.

Long story short, some in progress pics.

Some drawings. In red the parts coming from the KC, In blue those from the 300.
Image

The first cuts.
Image

Each fuselage halve joined together with the KC wing to body fairing.
Image

A test rough assembly with the parts taped together.
Image
The vertical fin still has to be shortened.

That's all for the moment.
Thanks for watching.
Eugenio
72linerlover
 
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:50 am
Location: Cremona, Northern Italy

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby Graeme H » Sat Jul 25, 2020 6:21 pm

Liking this a lot
Graeme
User avatar
Graeme H
 
Posts: 1202
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:51 pm
Location: YBTL TSV

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby Ansett A330 » Sat Jul 25, 2020 9:02 pm

Excellent work.

Now I remember why I bought a cheap Heller 707 and a cheap AMT Ertl KC-135 - to one day go even shorter and make a QF -138.
Ansett A330
 
Posts: 1205
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2016 2:14 pm
Location: Bacon Lettuce Tomato

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby RayS » Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:00 pm

Nice work Euge, I wonder if there is that much difference between the noses of the KC and 300?

I was wondering how you deal with the different fuselage cross sections of both when grafting the parts together?

I am also tempted to give this a go. I seem to have some spare 707s and KC-135s! :-)
Ray

Image
User avatar
RayS
 
Posts: 2159
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:24 am
Location: RAdelaide!... YPAD

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby 72linerlover » Sun Jul 26, 2020 12:10 am

Thanks for the comments, guys.

RayS wrote:I wonder if there is that much difference between the noses of the KC and 300?
I was wondering how you deal with the different fuselage cross sections of both when grafting the parts together?
I am also tempted to give this a go. I seem to have some spare 707s and KC-135s! :-)


Well, Ray the nose is similar in the real thing as regards the shape, but the front landing gear housing and doors of the KC are exactly the same.
Beside that, the Heller -300 has the cockpit windshields positioned too high. The matching sections are quite compatible and require a minimum adjustment.

The lower lobe of the KC has almost the same diameter of the 707 and I'm using only a short and narrow part, almost matching the Water Level of the lobe crease.
72linerlover
 
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:50 am
Location: Cremona, Northern Italy

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby 72linerlover » Sun Aug 02, 2020 6:50 pm

Time for some updates.
After sanding and rescribing the fuselage halves, I had to face one of the problems of this kit: the windows dimensions.
Fortunately the spacing (pitch) is correct, so I ordered a decal sheet in Germany with metal windows' frames, that I guess are correct.
I redraw the frames, based of a decal scan and printed on a clear sheet. So I got the template to enlarge more than 100 windows.
Boring task, but not difficult. Still on the go.
Image

Image

Image

Meanwhile I've got to do something in the cockpit. Non much will be visible, but the pilot seats needed some care. Those contained in the kits are really far away from reality.
Image

Image

So, that's all, folks.
Thanks for following.
Eugenio.
72linerlover
 
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:50 am
Location: Cremona, Northern Italy

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby Uros » Mon Aug 03, 2020 6:01 am

Oh wow! This is something to follow! Great work so far Eugenio, I will be watching closely as I have a wish to build a 707 in JAT colours someday.
Cheers!
Uros
User avatar
Uros
 
Posts: 415
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:25 pm
Location: Slovenia

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby 72linerlover » Sun Aug 09, 2020 7:52 pm

Hi gents.
And thank you, Uros for your interest in this build.

I have completed the windows operation. Now they look a little more similar to the original.
Image

Image

Here is a test with the frames decal of which I'm quite satisfied.
Image

Added some galleys inside
Image

Image

and some shades to hide the internal reinforcements.
Image

Now to the tail.
The early built 707s had the original low vertical tailplane, so I cut some 7mm plastic and modified the HF antenna.
Not yet glued, of course.
Image

Test fit of the fuselage halves and the tail cone.
Some recontouring is necessary, but is a matter of fractions of millimetres.
Image

Thanks for following.
Wish you all a nice week.
Eugenio
72linerlover
 
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:50 am
Location: Cremona, Northern Italy

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby 72linerlover » Sat Oct 03, 2020 6:05 pm

Hi gents, it's time for an update.
Actually I have worked more than posted, so I'll divide the updates in different posts.

Engines.
As all know, the engines of the first 707s were very different from those of the KC-135: organ pipes noise suppressors, relatively higher nacelles and thrust reversers.
I've considered to use the JT-3C produced by a german cottage industry, but I was not sure of their correct shape, so I 3D modeled and brought the file to a SLA casting shop near me.
Here you see the dry fit test, where the front end is the original kit engine and the other parts are 3D printed. Of course they need to be finished.
The pylons are modified with the front TC inlet. The inboard two are stretched as they have to.
Image

Image

This job gave me the chance to make the balance of the model with all the parts in order to close the fuselage.
Image

Image

The ballast will be inserted from the front, under the cabin floor before glueing the nose.
Image

That'all, for the moment.
Regards
Eugenio
72linerlover
 
Posts: 70
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:50 am
Location: Cremona, Northern Italy

Re: 1/72 707-121 N707PA, so, Pan American Clipper

Postby hrtpaul » Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:04 pm

That's wicked mate. There are some serious skills involved in this one :)
Head A/CAM Phantom Phanatic, Shit Stirrer and Karma Bus Driver toot toot :twisted:
hrtpaul
 
Posts: 4115
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:44 am
Location: Like I'm gonna tell you lot

Next

Return to Member's Works in Progress

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron