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I am finally in the right frame of mind and looking for a new adventure, so here we go with this treasure from the 70s I got the kit a few years ago and found that it had been started but not by much. The windows were in and cabin internals fitted in one half. But I knocked it back, found the windows popped out easily, put the parts away and went about other business. Well, here it is and I'm up and running. The great mystery with the early Airliner type is, what colour is THAT?!? 😯. Williams call it like this..... "Grey appearing anodized aluminum with similar color painted fabric surfaces" It's definitely not a base grey - there's a metallic lustre going on and it's very variable in appearance according to the lighting. Also a variation between panels rather than a uniform paint colour. So I'm experimenting. The reason I'm fussing about it already is, I want to get it at least half-sorted on the fuselage sides before fitting the windows. I hate masking rows of windows and transparencies and if I can find a way to avoid it, that's what I'll do. 😜 What I've got there is a 1st primer coat of matt enamel in (something like) anthracite. Then an acrylic mix of interim sea grey and metallic aluminium. I went about 2 to 1 grey to Ali paint, done in Mig acrylic.. This is all brushed on, of course..... Cabin furniture had been rebuilt. The upholstery had been done in black which may or may not be historically accurate but makes the whole internal endeavour pointless and unseeable. I killed the black with white base and then red washed on. Tried the white headrests thing but it didn't look right somehow, so went red over the lot. I know that precious little will be on show in the end. So, pile it all in.... ..... and we're getting somewhere ❗😎

Boeing 720 - United Roden 1:144 The Boeing 720 was a follow-on design of the highly successful Boeing 707 but primarily for short and medium-haul services within the continental USA. The Boeing 720 differed very little visually from its predecessor and only a careful examination could tell the difference between these aircraft. The main differences being that the fuselage of the Boeing 720 was 2.45m shorter and the wing had a slightly bigger sweep; most other changes were mechanical. The first production Boeing 720 was delivered to United Airlines and was allocated serial number N7201U. This aircraft was later purchased by private owners and refurbished as a VIP transport. The most famous occupants of N7201U were the rock groups Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple; plus pop stars such as Elton John and Sonny & Cher. The Boeing 720 did not fare as well commercially as the Boeing 707 though and they were often sold on by their original owning airlines; mainly to other countries who operated these until as late as the 1990's. The Kit The box art shows a fine view of Boeing 720, serial N7205U of United Airlines which is the subject model of this kit. The box itself is of very sturdy top and bottom style card packaging. There are six main sprues that contain the parts for the aircraft and these are produced in a light grey plastic. A seventh sprue is of clear plastic and holds the cockpit glazing and windows for the fuselage. A single sheet of decals is provided, for a Boeing 720 of United Airlines with the serial N7205U. The remaning items in the box are a four page booklet of instruction plus a single sheet containing full colour detail and decal marking positions. The first sprue holds the two fuselage halves and there are small amounts of ejector-pin residue at various points which will need cleaning off. The fuselage has window openings to take the clear windows; however, what seems to be a standard with Roden kits, there is no interior details in the cockpit. This means that one either paints that area a dark colour and then fits the canopy; or detail needs to be added by scratchbuilding seats etc. The windows are so small that there would be very little to see inside so it probably will not be of concern to most. Panel lines are nicely recessed and clearly defined. Locating pins for correct alignment are included on the insides of the parts but care needs to be taken as they are so small they may miss the location. Two identical sprues contain the engine mountings and a mainwheel assembly. Inside the cowling of each engine mount is a nicely detailed fanblade assembly; however, being an integral part will mean that extra care will be needed when painting for the demarcations between blades and cowling. The tailplane sections, wheel bay flaps and the nosewheel oleo are on the remaining sprue. The ailerons are integral to the wings and tailplanes so an in-line setting is only possible; unless these ailerons are cut away and re-attached at angles. The clear sprue holds the cockpit glazing section and strips for the fuselage windows. Four windows for the doors are also provided as separate items from the main window strips. INSTRUCTIONS AND COLOUR DETAILS A four page A5 sized paper booklet of is supplied and this contains an illustrated parts breakdown plus assembly instructions which are also in the internationally recognised illustrative method. The is following by illustrated exploded views of each area of assembly, with part number identified matching placements on the sprues There is also a single sheet of colour details for the United livery plus an aid for decal placements. The colour matching paint numbers, quoted on the page, are for Vallejo acrylic paints. DECALS A set of decals is provided for N7205U of United Airlines. The lettering and livery appear to be sharp and in good register and colours look to be correct for a 1950's era United Airways livery. CONCLUSION This is a nice little kit of a Boeing 720 and should look good in any display or placed in an airport diorama setting. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of UK Distributors for