Viking Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Boeing 737 Airfix 1:144 Braathens decals from Lima November I've developed a liking for taking an Airfix 737 out of the box and improving it. I must have done 5 or 6 now. Basic changes are: Lengthen the engines by 6mm Build up the pylons from the early skinny style to the more common fat type, Cut out the shallow main and nose wheelbays, and build new ones Cut away the cockpit and install a Daco Clear part from one of their 737 kits. Scratchbuilt a cockpit and out in a couple of N gauge seated figures for pilots. The basic mods make a huge difference to the appearance of thee model. Decals are from Lima November, and absolutely superb. The sheet gives you this style and he later one where the cheatline was dropped below the window level, but I prefer this. You also get every registration and fleet name for all Braathens 737-200's to choose from. (BTW, it is pronounced Brawtens, a double A in Norwegian is an 'AW' sound, There - my educational point for the day!). I really enjoyed building this, for once I didn't make any major bloopers. Can you see the co-pilot? The scratchbuilt wheel bays The crew are really difficult to photograph, but you can make them out here. In real life they are quite easy to see. And it wouldn't be complete without 'Something else' alongside! In this case a Welsh models Vac F-27 also with Lima November Braathens decals. The scratchbuilt cockpit Overview of the most obvious mods during construction. Thanks for looking John 38 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Nice! Wonderful cockpit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Really like it. Also thanks for the pronunciation aside. Turns out I was getting it right all along. Hits my nostalgia button. I really like the Airfix 737 too. Built a few in my time. Great stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Absolutely sensational! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Hi John, Welcome back, haven't seen anything from you in RFI for ages! Another lovely 732 in a classic livery, you're getting good at these! Love the cockpit. Well, unlike Noel, I've been getting it wrong all these years, I always pronounced it Br"ar"thens I've been working on a 732 recently too and am just waiting for a dry and slightly brighter day to photograph it. Cheers, Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Very nice indeed. Really like the 737 and it keeps going strong decades on. Nice livery too. I have a Revell -800 half built somehere, but now I see there's a new kit out which seems better.... Justin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinSK Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Very nice 737. I like the pilots! Great job on modifications. In concusion: Beautiful model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAMAN Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Beautifully finished, one of the best 737s I've seen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted January 13, 2019 Share Posted January 13, 2019 Nice, John. I recall LN-SUB being a DC-6 but on checking I see it was allocated to a 737-200. ;). Braathens were regulars at many UK airports in the 1960s-80s, with their 737s, F-28s, F-27s, DC-6s and, for a very short time, the 767. Nice memories. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Noice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis_C Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Very nice 732 with decent amount of work put in the model! Also interesting comparison to F.27. 732 was way smaller than e.g. contemporary 738. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prop Duster Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Just adding my to the others. Your up grades to the kit make a major improvement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinky coffeeboat Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Very nice 737John. The mods really do add to the look of the Airfix 737. If there was one model I wish Airfix would retool, the 737-200 would be it, instead of another Spitfire or WW2 subject...yawn!! I've got the LN Decals set for the BPK 1/72 737, for when (if?) I ever get round to building it. Thanks for sharing. S.A.F.E - not a comment on their safety record but South America and Far East... Jeff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael301757 Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Thats really nice,cockpit detail is excellent, just love the old airfix classics. Marvellous! Cheers Michael. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringbag Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Another lovely model John. Luckily, I get to see these fine builds in the flesh when we meet up for our regular chin-wag so I'll save my comments for then. 👍 Chris. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skodadriver Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Another beautiful and inspirational build John. Thanks for sharing and for reminding us once more of your techniques for improving the Airfix 737. The only time I flew with Braathens we were diverted to Manchester because Newcastle was fogbound as was every airport on the eastern side of the country. The handling companies at Manchester were inundated and obviously scraping the barrel to get ground transport. We had a three hour journey on a clearly dangerous bus with no heating to get to where we were supposed to be. Despite that little hiccup (in no way the airline's fault) I love the Braathens livery and have a 737-500 in the later scheme on my "to be built if I live long enough" list 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 That's lovely, John I remember building this old Airfix kit as a kid - so brings back memories! The various additions you have done have really made a difference and I especially love the crew figures which add a lot of interest to your model. Regards Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 That's another beauty John, cracking job again! This is in no way meant as a critiscm of another gorgeous little airliner, but another mod you might want to add to any future Airfix 732 build is to delete the bottom rudder hinge. I have no idea why, but that sticks in my mind from an article in a probably decades old IPMS Airliner SIG magazine! I can't remember anything else from that article so I recommend you check before trusting my memory, but a cursory look at Google images suggests it is the case. Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Hello Viking, Excellent representation of this famous workhorse. Regards, Orion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Wow. Absolutely beautiful. All that work certainly paid off. Love these retro schemes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchem Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 On 1/13/2019 at 8:07 PM, Viking said: .....for once I didn't make any major bloopers. ...as if ! Feast for the eyes all round, but then again, that's the standard we've come to expect. Thanks for sharing. mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimme Shelter Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 an amazing job and so cleverly improved - magic 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 On 13/01/2019 at 21:04, Turbofan said: Hi John, Welcome back, haven't seen anything from you in RFI for ages! Cheers, Ian Hi Ian,. I've been very busy lately! But I have several on the production line nearly finished..... British Midland Viscount... 734 BA 'Blue Poole'...734 Thai.... MD11 Finnair. I've too many on the go! 20 hours ago, keefr22 said: This is in no way meant as a critiscm of another gorgeous little airliner, but another mod you might want to add to any future Airfix 732 build is to delete the bottom rudder hinge. Keith No problem Keith, I had already realised that the hinge needed filling, but had painted it all and was ready for decalling. I was talking to my mate 'Stringbag' who suggested Vallejo filler would be ok over the painted surface as it could be smoothed off easily, and then given a light overcoat of paint. I couldn't get hold of any, so thought 'never mind, I'll do it on the next one' . I'll be sure to follow your advice before I spray any primer on it! Thanks for all the kind comments guys! Cheers John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unfinished project Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Classic Classic 737 love the civvies being shown here. This is stunning I would be proud to have this in my collection 👍👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Viking said: I'll be sure to follow your advice before I spray any primer on it! Thanks John, but I can't take credit for any advice, I'm just amazed I remembered something from so long ago - credit is due to whoever wrote the Airliner SIG article, and I'm afraid I have no recollection of who that was! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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