This is my most recent project: intended as a 'goodbye' to the 747 in KLM service, when it was due to leave next year. But than the world changed...and the KLM 747 (in passenger configuration) was phased out immediately and inglorious in March this year.
On March 6, 1967 the KLM management announced that it would purchase 3 Boeing 747s. In 1968 Boeing launched a heavier variant: the Boeing 747B. Therefore, in 1969 at the 50th anniversary, KLM decided to convert its initial order into 6 747Bs: PH-BUA "Boeing Upper-deck Alpha" through "Foxtrot".
With the introduction of the B747, the horizontal stripes on the vertical fin were removed (because the large fin would look like a giant pajama) and the KLM crown logo was enlarged to gain more recognition. The result was a huge white aircraft. It looked futuristic, but it was considered to be not distinctive enough (and white turns into dirty quickly) So from 1974 on, with the introduction of the DC-10, it was decided to paint the entire roof top blue so that KLM aircraft would be more recognizable at the increasingly busy airports. We now know that this was a golden step in livery design. But the first generation KLM 747s would continue to fly with a white roof top well into the 1970s. The 'white whale' became the trade markt of the first years of the Dutch Queen of the skies.
The kit is the famous Revell Jumbo Jet "Show-Off" model.
I included the original cabin layout of the seventies. “Gold of sunlight for Royal Class, gay reds, blues, greens and soothing fawn for our Economy travellers”! This is not a yoke, but a phrase from an KLM advertisement introducing the 'Jumbo Jet'.
Inspired by other forum members, such as Brad Shin, I decided to make it a flaps down version.
The engines are still under construction and I will upload an update soon. Also the fuselage is now painted in basic colors and will receive the blue cheat-lines soon.
Thank you already for your interest in this project. More updates will follow in the next few weeks.
To every one; thanks for the kind words! This project helps me through the period of being grounded, as in: 'no flying' and subsequent job insecurity...
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Originally Posted by AIR FRANCE 340
I am working on another big flying boat ...
I am looking forward to that Jean Pierre!
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Originally Posted by Jan Jasinski
The flaps look like Brad's masterpieces.
wow, thanks. That is an huge compliment. Brad's models have been inspiring me for years and photos of his work are an important reference when creating these small parts.
Jan beat me to it...no doubt we have another Brad ala Manila Folder prospect here..
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Real tomato ketchup Eddie?
Nothing but the best! "I don't know why they call this stuff hamburger helper. It does just fine by itself, huh? I like it better than tuna helper myself, don't you, Clark?"
"you're the gourmet around here, Ed!"
Thank you all for the nice comments. When you dive deep into details, you'll start to see all kind of flaws. Now the wings are completed, but when things are coming to and end one start to wonder how I would like to approach it the next model... for instance: my leading edge Krueger flaps seems to have a slot. But on the real -200 they are sealed to the wing. The devil is in the detail!
But frankly, I am pleased that you can see the flap slots and the bypass of the engine with backlight. It took some modification of the original engine of the model ;-)
In the next update she will receive her vintage livery!
Both the history and the details are amazing. Congratulations. Is the chrome / metal finish applied by spay paint or hand painted? How did you get it to look so good. Your modeling skills are very impressive
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Qantas founded Winton Queensland 16th November 1920
It is sprayed in three phases; first a cote of gloss black base. Than three different shades of metal: Alclad polished aluminium and the more shiny parts with Inspire Chrome airbrush paint. Some darker details on the engines are Alclad dark aluminium. This is all sealed with Alclad aqua gloss. I am happy to share the 'shiny chrome secret': its all in the black base paint. You should apply that in multiple thin layers to get a super smooth fundament. If this cote is high glossy, the chrome look will be shiny!
With the dark blue cheat line in place, I am patiently waiting for the decals from F-DCAL to arrive.
cheers, VJ
If that layer smooth it is super tight, the rest almost goes by itself.
Last edited by Vintage Jet; 06-03-2020 at 03:16 PM.
Thanks a lot Meneer Guggenheimer. My apologies for the delay, there was some unplanned waiting time for the new set of decals. But now the Queen is ready: 'The Mississippi'.
Registered as PH-BUA, almost fifty years ago, she was the first Boeing 747 in the KLM fleet. Now we say goodbye to the Boeing 747, but keep in mind that the current generation 747s differs only in detail from the first airframe 50 years ago. And that another 50 years before the first flight of PH-BUA, KLM just had bought the Fokker F3...
In its first 50 years KLM evolved from an open cockpit, a 240 hp piston engine and five passengers to the 747 Jumbo, only to say farewell to the type after 50 years of service, just past KLMs 100th anniversary. And its not even a complete farewell, as the cargo aircraft continues to haul freight!
Fantastic job, the best model I have ever seen, difficult to find the appropriate words to express what we think.
The paint job, the details, everything is there with a nice touch of weathering.
Flaps and slats are beautifully reproduced, the cabin is very nice.
All this required a lot of time and research ...
The B 747-100/200 was my second home for ten years so I appreciate your fantastic job.
The B 747 is becoming a thing of the past, there was something special in this aircraft that we will never find in the more modern big twin engine aircraft.
I would like to have your talent and your technique to try something at the scale but the 1/200 with its more limited details is perfect for me.
This really shouldn’t be allowed, making models with this level of detail and accuracy and then posting pictures of the superb results. There should be a header ’HEALTH WARNING’ viewing these pictures may cause acute envy, desire, raised blood pressure , over excitement followed by a long depression. Viewer beware.
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Wardair Canada probably the best airline ther ever was.
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KLM 747-200B PH-BUA flaps down 1/144
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