TallBlondJohn Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 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. 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 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Looking forward to this,think there is one made up in green and brown (I didn't know,I was 15) in my parents loft.....remember being quite chuffed with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Looks interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Interesting project! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 (edited) 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: 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. Â 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. Â Cheers John Edited May 7, 2018 by TallBlondJohn Extra information 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 They don't make cockpits like they used to. Hmm, blue carpet and red seats... must resist... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 They don't make cockpits like they used to. Hmm, blue carpet and red seats... must resist... No! Don't even think about resisting, that interior looks uber cool! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 Wow..A big beast even in this scale! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 (edited) 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? 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: 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: 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 May 1, 2016 by TallBlondJohn 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Blimey! This makes the first class on an A380 look like a cattle truck! Thanks for the info. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1159 Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Blimey! This makes the first class on an A380 look like a cattle truck! Thanks for the info. Personal service and care for the pax,yep you're right..It was a different world... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted May 7, 2016 Author Share Posted May 7, 2016 (edited) 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: That's not a gap, I just haven't glued the big bits together yet. Still working on the seams. Edited May 7, 2016 by TallBlondJohn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted May 7, 2016 Share Posted May 7, 2016 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.. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Very interested - yes please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach Turtle Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted May 8, 2016 Author Share Posted May 8, 2016 (edited) 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 314NC18601 Honolulu ClipperNC18602 California Clipper (Temporarily renamed Pacific Clipper, see below)NC18603 Yankee ClipperNC18604 Atlantic ClipperNC18605 Dixie ClipperNC18606 American ClipperModel 314ANC18607 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 ClipperNC18612 Cape Town Clipper Edited May 8, 2016 by TallBlondJohn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 (edited) Reckon that would be good for a whif Edited May 8, 2016 by junglierating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 (edited) No! Don't even think about resisting, that interior looks uber cool! Martin None of that Forward Facing Crew Concept malarkey there! Edited May 8, 2016 by JosephLalor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Some views of the Clipper Replica at Foynes Flying Boat Museum.. Thought they might be of passing interest 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.. Configured as a sleeper Bathroom - There are two elsens on separate stalls to the right Moving forward and up the stairs. Engineers station immediate right, Radio Op to the left, Pilot & Co-Pilot beyond Navigator table to left (Snooker table could fit to the right.. Engineers Station Cockpit & and steps down into the front of the hull.. Hope these are of interest... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Wow, this was the first ever model I built. Great to see this one being built, I'll follow with interest. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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