Just wanted to share images of my model w the lights working. Got it in shambles with the whole fuselage defaced as it had been previously repainted,missing right wing, the cockpit section cracked and interior falling apart, electrical wires cut, some lights burned out and electrical connections rusted out.
I replaced most of the wiring and bulbs and added foil to reflect more of the light into the cabin and to prevent overheating of the plastic enclosures. Even added a female plug adapter to the base of fuselage for the electric outlet.
next step, to find someone who can repaint the exterior in AA colors.
Can see the model on youtube before i repaired the lights. 1/24 scale American Airlines747-123 cutaway model - YouTube
Does anybody know why the upper deck doesnt look like the original deck of the AA 747? Also no piano lounge, etc. Is this sort of an introduction or generic travel agency model for the 747, or is just that accuracy is of no concern? Not sure if this model even had a registration. There's a similar model to this at the CR smith museum. American Airlines Boeing 747-100 cutaway
That's impressive, you've obviously invested a lot of time and effort in this project. It's going to look great when finished.
As to the upper lounge, its a good question ref the piano etc. I understand that there were as many different lounge variations on the 747, as there were airlines that flew them. I'm guessing that the models of the time would have been used to emphasise the uniqueness of their 747 lounges. I would be interested to know, wether variations were used in the relevant carriers models.
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Hi guys,
Hey...what a wonderful cut-a-way model of the true "Queen of the skies". You have done a great job on the resto!!!. As to upper deck lounges. Early in 747 operations many carriers used to "tailor make" their 747 upper decks to suit their own brand, image, and requirements. Here is a photo of the early Qantas B747-238 upper deck featuring the classic "Captain Cook Lounge". Then along came the 1973 oil crisis and the emphasis shifted to how many seats could be crammed in. Ahhh those crazy 70s!!! the good old days... and check out the fashions, (and if I am not mistaken, that bloke in the brown suit is clearly trying to get lucky lol).
Congratulations on the great model! Westways were sometimes a bit generic, sometimes the models were even produced before the real plane was out. If you can post a detailed picture of the lounge, we might all have a look and see if it reflects the AA lounge or maybe another lounge.
I could be wrong but I think AA and the other US carriers had the 7-4's originally designed without the "piano bars" concept but added them when they started realizing there were not enough customers flying as anticipated...lasted only 3-4 years as I remember before the fuel costs and shortages forced the bean counters hand and took away the best danged sales promotion airlines had ever attempted....who didn't look forward to the possible trans-con hookup on one of these flying bars? Unfortunately very few "young" ladies had the means to be flying cross country unless someone else was paying for the ticket so that meant there were lots of older business men standing around bothering the F/A's hoping to get noticed
The upper deck lounge came into being as the FAA did not allow the airlines to have revenue seats on the upper deck (which had to be empty during take off and landing). The main deck lounges (also on the Trijets, AA, Continental and United had them on the DC-10, TWA sort of on the L1011) were indeed built in as promotional items. Air traffic back then was regulated down to the price of the headphone and the weight of the steak, so you had to come up with something else. Supply was up, but the prices were not down, so the airlines had to come up with something else to increase demand - service!
Hey 200rulez!...just curious, why did the FAA not allow revenue seats on the upper deck?
Based on safety/evacuation criteria that had not been resolved at certification time...passengers were not allowed to be accommodated in any of the "piano bar/lounges" for take off and landing as well. The FAA had not completed (or even initiated) engineering evaluations on "sideways" loaded passenger seating and impact studies (as if that would really be a serious consideration in any accident other than a weight and balance issue on the ground). AA used to feature the "Captains Table" in the main floor first class section (just forward of the stairwell) that had 4 swivel seats around a fixed table that could not be used during T/O or landing for the same reasons...that only lasted a short time before the revenue guys determined that the loss of those 4 first class seats was astronomical on this beautiful astrojet
I know it's a little off topic (sorry), but reading the posts in this thread reminded me that in the early 1970s (I think) Pan Am had a full size cutaway mock up of the forward section of a 747 in Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. I think you could go into it, but it was so long ago I'm not sure.
Some links to AA 747 interiors. On the seat map, you will see that it has the upper deck lounge but not the coach lounge with the piano.
The lounges are amazing!
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1011Tristar
I know it's a little off topic (sorry), but reading the posts in this thread reminded me that in the early 1970s (I think) Pan Am had a full size cutaway mock up of the forward section of a 747 in Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. I think you could go into it, but it was so long ago I'm not sure.
I tried an Internet search but couldn't find any photos, darn it.
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Thanks M404 for the original seat plan! There is note saying that the swivelling seats in row one are not shown. They are shown in the more recent seat map. I take from this that while First Class remained unchanged (upper deck lounge, swivelling seats), Economy was adapted from nine to ten abreast seating. Interesting!
Hi there, recently I wachted the movie "AIRPORT 1975", the aircraft used is an American 747, so you could see many views of the interior, that seems to match with some of the aircraft seat chart posted here. On the other hand the first class section in the movie is in a shade of purple, not white as Stratoliner's cutaway. White is a bit uncomon for airliners seat, tricky to keep clean... Maybe the model reflect an early interior arrangement? David.
Update: unfortunately the broken plexiglass around the top of the forward fuselage has been nearly impossible to "weld" as i just cannot cut the exact size perfectly in order to make a seamless fit. however i do have some new ideas that i may put in place this summer. Rather than using the same thickness plexiglass, i might use thinner pieces that are easier to cut precisely to seal the broken areas and make it stronger than ever. Anyways atleast the model now sits on a stand!
1/24 American 747- interior lights replaced
Re: 1/24 American 747- interior lights replaced
