1/144 Zvezda 747-8 to 747-400 conversion

[Turbofan]

I've converted a few Zvezda 747-8s in the past and am often asked if there's a WIP available to follow so I thought I'd document my latest project.

The -400 conversion isn't too difficult as it only really consists of cutting down the fuselage, altering the wing tips and trailing edge and swapping the engines. For a -100 or -200 the only extra work is altering the leading edge wing to body fairing and shortening the upper deck.

I have only ever converted the Zvezda kit but I don't think there would be much difference using the Revell kit. My preference is the Zvezda kit as it is simpler and less over engineered in my opinion.

 

To start I glue the cabin glazing in. I use window decals so I'm not worried about a perfect job as they will be filled with Milliput later on. The nose landing gear bay and sufficient nose weight is glued in before the fuselage half's are glued together.

 

 

 

I always construct the fuselage then cut it down as I find it easier to do this way. Some modellers cut before gluing together and stagger the cuts to add strength to the cut down fuselage but I have never felt this necessary.

 

 

As I use window decals and fill panel lines and doors the location of the cut isn't important just so long as it is on an area of the fuselage with a constant diameter. I mark my cuts by trimming a piece of masking tape to the correct width and wrapping it round the fuselage where I plan on making the cuts. I then scored each side of the tape, remove it and cut close to the scored lines.

 

 

The sections of the fuselage which need to be removed are 10.8mm behind the wing and 28.2 in front. It is best to make the cuts away from the wing to body fairing to give you more room when sanding the joined fuselage sections.

 

 

Each of the cut faces are sanded square and smooth ready for gluing together.

To strengthen the joint and ease alignment I use cut up sprue glued into the inside of the fuselage 

 

 

It's then a simple job of sliding the nose and tail sections into place and gluing, checking the panel lines are lined up. 

 

 

 

 

And here we have a 747-400 fuselage ready for the wing modifications which I'll do next time.

 

Cheers,

Ian

Edited February 11, 2024 by Turbofan

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Thanks Ian, great turoial.

 

I have a spare Zvezda -8i kit and a couple of -8fs that I was not sure what to build as. I have spare set of Braz RB-211s that will come in handy for a -400 conversion.

[stringbag]

Watching with interest Ian.  👍

 

Chris.

[Skodadriver]

Very pleased you have decided to show how it's done. Watching with interest

 

Dave G

[tomprobert]

Thanks for this, Ian - I’m planning this myself to do a BA Landor liveried 744. Like Ray, I have some Braz RB211s ready so will be keen to see what the mods are for the wings, too. Cheers!

Edited February 11, 2024 by tomprobert
Typos

[woody37]

Great tutorial Ian, What scheme are you doing it in?

 

@stringbag still waiting to see an A300 in RFI...😉    🤣

[Turbofan]

Thank you for your interest everyone!

On 11/02/2024 at 00:01, Romeo Alpha Yankee said:

I have a spare Zvezda -8i kit and a couple of -8fs that I was not sure what to build as.

Hi Ray,

The -8f would make either a good base for the -400 Freighter or a -100/200 conversion. No cutting down the upper deck but there is more work around the leading edge wing/body fairing for the -100/200 otherwise the conversion is similar.

On 11/02/2024 at 00:01, Romeo Alpha Yankee said:

I have spare set of Braz RB-211s that will come in handy for a -400 conversion.

 

On 11/02/2024 at 09:43, tomprobert said:

Like Ray, I have some Braz RB211s ready so will be keen to see what the mods are for the wings, too.

My engine choice will depend on which livery I choose but there are a number of options for -400 engines. The Bra.Z ones you have, druz144 (active on airlinercafe) or Kurt at Authentic Airliners. Alternatively, any spare Revell RB211s or GE CF6s from their 747-400 kit can be used too.

On 13/02/2024 at 09:01, woody37 said:

What scheme are you doing it in?

Hi Neil,

I'm not sure on the livery yet, I have a few options. I have decals for Virgin Atlantic, BA Union Flag, Lufthansa old and new livery and BA Landor. I'm definitely favouring BA Union Flag.

 

My daughter is back from university at the moment and needs her desk so I've been booted off so don't know when I'll be able to get on with the conversion. Next up will be the wing modifications. I'm not sure if I'll use Rocast -400 winglets or scratch build my own which shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

Cheers,

Ian

[Back in the Saddle]

I will follow this one with interest; it’s shaping up to be a very useful tutorial. Thanks Ian! 👍

[Alex1978]

Thank you for the WIP Ian.

I am in and stay tuned with interest

 

Alex

[Turbofan]

Thanks Matt and Alex!

 

I've recently done some work on the wings.

The 747-8 wing trailing edge has a smooth curve between the inner and outer flaps which is missing on earlier variants.

To correct this is simply a case of extending the inner and outer trailing edges until they meet, they should meet at the outside edge of the high speed aileron, and cutting off the excess. The new trailing edge needs to be filed back to match the trailing edges to each side which is easy enough with a file or sanding stick.

 

 

 

 

Next I decided to tackle the winglets.

As the -8 has raked wingtips these need to be removed and replaced with the -400's winglets.

Last time I did this conversion 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235084013-1144-zvezda-qantas-747-8-to-747-400-conversion/#comment-3901043

I used some winglets from an old Revell -400 but this time I bought a set of the excellent Rocast -400 winglets

https://www.rocastmodels.com/store/index.php?id_product=236&controller=product

rather than scratch build them.

I also took the opportunity to order some GSE and a couple of Gogo 2KU radomes for this model and another Zvezda BA 777 I'm converting to a -200.

 

 

The raked wingtips are easy to cut away using a razor saw or just scoring with a scalpel and snapping them off 1mm out from the scribed wing central spar area.

 

 

Obviously the cut needs to be parallel with the fuselage but this is easy enough by lining up the wing root with the lines on a cutting mat.

The Rocast winglets, once cut from the pouring block, are glued on with CA glue.

 

 

 

I have also filled the windows and a few areas on the fuselage which will need rubbing down.

 

That's about all for the time being.

Next up will probably be the reshaping of the flaptracks.

I've yet to decide which RB211s to use. As I don't have any spare Revell ones they will probably be either Bra.Z, Druz144 or Authentic Airliners. 

 

Cheers,

Ian

 

 

 

[Guest]

Very nice work and so fine. I want to see this model finnish! Which is the lengh of this 1/144 747-400? Don't looks so big as i was think.

 

Good luck.

-Santti

[FortyEighter]

A very useful thread Ian with plenty of useful "how to do it" photos - your fuselage joints are really neat.

 

The antennae on the Rocast models site provide a perfect solution for those that are moulded and always get damaged when addressing the fuselage seams.

 

Mike