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Airfix Boeing Clipper 1/144


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Hi everybody, I'm going to try a build log. It will be slow but hopefully it will get there.

The subject is Airfix's 1/44 Boeing model 314 Clipper, a fine example from the golden age of luxurious, noisy and vibration-rich air travel.

All detail is raised lines but in this scale I think that works better, though repairs will be tricky. I intend to omit the glass and use Krystal Klear instead to save masking. The 1989 boxing from ebay looks complete, here's the sprue shot, though actual sprues are few and far between and the breakages and escape attempts have already started.

2016-04-28%2020.20.01_zpsnj3nylgk.jpg

My first dilemma is which scheme? Airfix include NC18605 "Dixie Clipper" in pre-war silver or G-AGCA "Berwick" though both paint schemes are full of known errors (Berwick should be DSG not Dark Earth which also makes her look fat). A USN blue Dixie would (I think) be possible with the decals if I can find a profile. Opinions welcomed, I'm honestly stumped which to do.

I've also just spent ten minutes trying to find the 'missing' central tail fin...

Cheers

John

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The Dixie Clipper certainly fits in with pre-war silver airliners, or if you get a 1/144 Mossie, you could have a 'BOAC at war' collection going on, but I'd still go with the Dixie Clipper.

Look forward to seeing this progress.

Cheers,

Mike

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Day two, a little fiddling. Test fitted all the big bits, looks surprisingly good. I was going to glue in a dividing wall to prevent light shining through the windows, but it turns out this is what should happen:

NewYork-1946.jpg

So I'll just put a floor in the cockpit and close it up. I'm not even going to attempt the NMF above. I'm sure the pre-war Clippers were painted.

 

Update 2018: For the record, Pacific Clipper above is on builders trials at Boeing, thus the NMF. Silver was applied later before delivery to Pan-Am.

 

Cheers

John

Edited by TallBlondJohn
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They don't make cockpits like they used to.

Clipper-2.jpg

Hmm, blue carpet and red seats... must resist...

Clipper-5.jpg

No! Don't even think about resisting, that interior looks uber cool!

Martin

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This ticks all the boxes for me John: Golden Age plus classic British kit :)

My personal vote would be for the Pan Am scheme as this is really what this plane is all about. It will be good to watch though whichever way you go!

Cliff

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I love the old Clipper and always used to covert this kit as a kid... Good luck with it.

I'm going to watch how you get on as I have an old Airfix Sundeland that my brother wants converted to a Sandringham...

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The fuselage windows are stepped, was the floor in the passenger cabin tiered? or was it flat and the windows at an angle?

Can you imagine a plane nowadays with five crew on the flight deck? :yikes:

Its not so much a flight deck, more a bridge. With room to swing a cat if necessary. The cabin(s) were stepped up back:

7146p.jpg

Note the crew member in the nacelle, peddling furiously. It was almost as wide as a 747 but when fitted out in style only carried 25 passengers. A thought for next time you are crushed into economy:

7142p.jpg

Sadly in 1/144 there is no point in any interior, it will be invisible. There's a 1/72 Anigrand resin but a larger scale injection would be a beautiful thing to see.

Edited by TallBlondJohn
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Back from a week in Hamburg, where I was chased down the Reeperbahn by very friendly local ladies. Again. Spent the afternoon watching the Giro d'Italia and putting halves together. Fit is mostly very good given its age, engine nacelles take a bit of effort to line up (best to cut off the wing location pins) and the fuselage top takes a bit of effort. Sink holes filled with Perfect Plastic Putty.

Wow..A big beast even in this scale!

No kidding! These things were huge. Here it is compared to an old 1/72 Airfix Lancaster. The perspective skews it a bit but the 1/144 Clipper is 3/4 the size:

2016-05-07%2020.43.28_zpsgzhu0fqo.jpg

That's not a gap, I just haven't glued the big bits together yet. Still working on the seams.

Edited by TallBlondJohn
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Strangely enough I was in the Flying Boat Museum at Foynes on the Shannon today. Had a wander around their replica of the Boeing Clipper (1.1 scale). You could get a snooker table on that flight deck with all the crew at their stations. Pity the guy who worked in the galley though. That was really cramped...

I'll see if I can post a couple of the pictures I posted tomorrow evening if your interested..

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I'm watching this one with interest. I like the Pan Am Clippers, and indeed all the interwar flying boats.

I have an idea for a project based on The Long Way Home, which is the story (and, maybe, a documentary film) about the Pacific Clipper (NC18602), which had to make its way back to New York westward from Auckland when the Pearl Harbor attack occurred while downroute. National insignia were painted out for this trip, which would add some interest. I might even focus on an engine failure that happened in the harbour at Trincomalee -- I'd show the prop feathered, maybe with oil streaming back from the cowling.

Sorry to hijack your thread with my idea -- you got me thinking. Thanks!

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Nice idea - I was reading the story of Pacific Clipper's journey last night online and thinking there's a movie in this.

For anybody interested, here is a list of all the Model 314s:

Model 314
NC18601 Honolulu Clipper
NC18602 California Clipper (Temporarily renamed Pacific Clipper, see below)
NC18603 Yankee Clipper
NC18604 Atlantic Clipper
NC18605 Dixie Clipper
NC18606 American Clipper

Model 314A
NC18607 to BOAC and named G-AGBZ Bristol. Sold as NC18607 in 1948.
NC18608 to BOAC and named G-AGCA Berwick. Sold as NC18608 in 1948.
NC18609 Pacific Clipper (Temporarily named California Clipper to replace NC18602 which was being transferred to Atlantic service, reverted to Pacific Clipper in 1942)
NC18610 to BOAC and named G-AGCB Bangor. Sold as NC18610 in 1948.
NC18611 Anzac Clipper
NC18612 Cape Town Clipper

Edited by TallBlondJohn
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Some views of the Clipper Replica at Foynes Flying Boat Museum.. Thought they might be of passing interest

May%202016%20031_zpsjgmexqn6.jpg

Inside of Passenger cabin. Yes they are stepped up. I couldn't get a decent picture of the rear cabin but it was just as austere..

May%202016%20036_zpsslela1te.jpg

Configured as a sleeper

May%202016%20039_zpsf9sz2rlu.jpg

Bathroom - There are two elsens on separate stalls to the right

May%202016%20037_zpswotwroep.jpg

Moving forward and up the stairs.

Engineers station immediate right, Radio Op to the left, Pilot & Co-Pilot beyond

May%202016%20045_zpsnfeclyl2.jpg

Navigator table to left (Snooker table could fit to the right..

May%202016%20046_zpscs8aetst.jpg

Engineers Station

May%202016%20044_zps2exn5tok.jpg

Cockpit & and steps down into the front of the hull..

May%202016%20042_zpsq7m81mjx.jpg

Hope these are of interest...

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Hi John,

I've built 2 of these excellent kits, one as the camouflaged G-AGCA as supplied in the kit and one in the US 3 colour camouflage and I have to admit I like the latter best.

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