Eastern Express L1011 Tristar - British Airways

[GAVIN BURNS]

Hi Everyone,

 

 I built this L1011 Tristar a few years ago.  I have only just had another attempt at building a tarmac diorama to photograph my builds. This one is too small so a bigger one will be built for the larger 1/144 models. It is a bit rough - sorry , my 2nd attempt and I will get better.

 

The kit came together well and it was a bit of a challenge. I had previously finished the Eastern Express L1011-500 kit and the Mikro-Mir MD11 kit so I knew what to expect along the way.

 

The Eastern Express a far better kit to look at than both the Revell and Airfix but more challenging. It will do until I get buy one of Kurt’s masterpieces at Authentic Airliners.

 

I was lucky to travel on one of these beauties as an 8 year old and I fell in love with it. 

 

If I built another of these L1011 kits,  would source after-market engines as the hot section on the engines are too narrow.

 

I haven’t added any weathering as yet, I may need a whiskey or two to settle my nerves before I make it dirty. 
 

Thanks for looking.

Gav

 

Edited April 1 by GAVIN BURNS
Spelling and brand correction

[PhantomLover]

Wonderful!

[gazza l]

Excellent work, I do like a Tristar.

 

Gary

[Skodadriver]

Good work on one of Eastern Express's better kits.

 

Dave G

[Longhorn]

Very nice work Gav, I too travelled on one just like this around the same age👍

[SAT69]

Very nicely done!

[HKGBravo1]

Hi, Well done. My favourite aircraft and my favourite BA scheme. When I was in Jeddah for a few years, BA mostly operated VC-10’s on the London route, but towards the end of my time there in 1980 they were operating the Tristars on the route. Many happy memories of that first glorious drink after takeoff!! Thank you, David

[Malc2]

Thats great, please show us some more!

Malc.

[mitchem]

Great build 👍👍

 

I have one in the stash, but too many others on the shelf of doom 😢

 

mike

[Way Out]

Another great airliner model, thanks for posting.

[Gimme Shelter]

Ah, what a classic. How lovely and I just love that decal you've used up front - adds a superb touch.

 

There's a big space in my heart for the L1011 

 

Brilliant - any chance you might want to knock out a -500 variant?

[GAVIN BURNS]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments, they are much appreciated.

 
I’m still messing around with my tarmac base to enable nicer photos and that has been fun. I’ll invest in a bigger one soon.

 

I’m about to post my Pan-Am L1011- 500 build. The L1011 and all the tri-jets were so nice on the eyes in the 70’s and 80’s , nicer than today’s modern airliners. 
 

Thanks again for the viewing and commenting. 🙏

[eng]

Very nice build indeed, I flew on a BA Tristar to Cyprus in 1985 as a youngster, pretty sure it was G-BBAG.

 

A good few years later G-BBAE would be the first live aircraft I worked on as an apprentice engineer, but with its later owner Caledonian Airways. Such a great aircraft to work on.

 

Always nice to see Tristar builds here.

 

Eng

[stever219]

On 4/7/2025 at 9:45 AM, GAVIN BURNS said:

The L1011 and all the tri-jets were so nice on the eyes in the 70’s and 80’s , nicer than today’s modern airliners.

Come on, please!  The Airbus wide-bodies are handsome jets, particularly the 340-500 and '600 and the A330.  And you can't not have a soft spot for the chubby A310.