Boeing 707 queries

[F-27pax]

Supposing that one had run out of Boeing 727s to make and was contemplating making a handful of Boeing 707s, a couple or three questions come to mind which experts might be able to help one with.

One of these 707s might be the Qantas 707-138 using Hawkeye decals. This involves reducing the fuselage and making some dramatic changes to the wings. It occurs to me that the wings of a 720 might do the job and comparing the Welsh Model 720 wings with the Minicraft 707-320 wings this looks like a seriously pain reducing solution. True, there would be pain to one's pocket, but I think I could cope with it. Any comments?

Supposing also, that one had the Southern Skies decals to make a RAAF 707-320, one would also need to have the under-wing refueling pods. Any suggestions about where these might be found?

The JT3D engines in the Minicraft kits are perfectly underwhelming. Do you have any preferences for replacement? This reminds me to comment that I have a set of JT3C engines that I picked up on eBay many years back for the 707-138, just in case the urges that are now upon me made their acquisition necessary.

Leigh

[tor lives]

Hi Leigh,
Short answers...
1/ the 720 wing is unique to the 720.
2/ the Mk32B refuelling pods you need for a RAAF 707 Tanker can be sourced from the Airfix VC-10 Tanker kit, (they are exactly the same as the pods as used on the RAAF 707).
3/ there are several after-market options for JT3D-3B engines including from Sasquatch, (if you can find em), and Contrails. You also might consider the engines from the Revell 707 or E-3 kits.
TOR

[RayS]

Leigh,

For the RAAF B707 I have a pair of refuelling pods (used) I don't need. You will also need to make a camera pod under the rear fuselage, A piece of shape clear sprue would work for that.

[Graeme H]

Hi Leigh,

1/ the 720 wing is unique to the 720.
2TOR

Actually it's not, the 707-138 had a wing used on 120/138/220, but when upgraded to a -138B with the addition of the Fan engines, and the "V Jet" tail logo, they had the wing glove installed as well, giving a kinked leading edge.
There were several other modifications done at the same time, the Vertical Stabilizer was increased in height, easy way to tell, is if it has the white tail, it's the original wing, and engines
if it has the "V Jet" tail it's a -138B
These were that same as the 720 had done,
I can offer no better explanations than what is given here

http://www.airlinercafe.com/page.php?id=72

There will be a 100 question exam with a required pass rate of 95% on Friday

[tor lives]

Actually it is.
If Leigh elects to build a 707-138 in it's original configuration, (and that appears to be the case given the engine type he is planning on using), then the 720 wing is not appropriate.
It is worth noting that when the 720 first flew it's wing was unique to the type..... this is one of the reasons why it was considered a distinct and separate type, and not just another 707 variation.
TOR

[F-27pax]

Thanks for your comments folks.

On the first point, I've found again that long article on airlinercafe that Graeme refers to and it says that, apart from the wing glove, the wing for the 720 and -138 are the same. You may well be right Ray that they are different, but I can't find anything that tells me how they are different. Suggestions?

I am thinking of doing the -138 in its original livery. From looking at photos of early -138s it seems that they flew with the white tail until they were converted to the -138B, when they came back painted in the V tail scheme, Hawkeye have a nice sheet for the first -138 scheme (CDS-102) that I'll use. Having considered the options it seems that the best way to make a -138 would be to do a bit of fiddling with the Welsh Models 720 kit SL286P which is for a Braniff aircraft in a scheme that I've always liked (does that mean I need two?). (It seems that Welsh Models offer three 720 kits, one an early 720 and the other two 720Bs.) The fuselage will need a little tweeking and what needs doing to the wings depends on what is available about -138 wings.

Thanks for the offer of the refuelling pods RayS. I already have a couple of VC-10 kits with refuelling pods that were going to end up in the spares box anyhow, so let's not encourage Australia Post any more than we have to.

As to the JT3D engines, I'll have a look at the AHS site and see what is available.

Again, thanks all.

Leigh

[tor lives]

Leigh, it depends on weather you are doing a 138 or a 138B as to weather the 720 wing is compatable or not. It sounds like you are planning on doing the initial 138, so technically a 720 wing would not be correct...... but given that it is 1:144 it's not really a big deal.
TOR

[Graeme H]

Leigh, out of curiosity, are the Welsh kit wings Vacform?, if so, it should be possible to cut along the rear of the wing glove, and remove it, then take a wedge out of it and replace to get a straight leading edge, if that makes sense.

Also, although I have never seen the kit, it seems to be very rare even though it is a new release, and very expensive, but the Minicraft KC-135 would deliver both early wing without the wing glove, and JT3D's
wether they are the same JT3D's as in the 707 kit I don't know, front looks reasonable, but the rear doesn't in the ARC review.

Hyperscale
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47751/me ... Is+Over%21

a less than flattering review, mostly bagging out the clear parts on ARC
http://www.arcair.com/Gal14/13301-13400 ... en/00.shtm

[F-27pax]

I get what you mean, Graeme. The wings, however, are resin. So, the only thing to do is file off the wing gloves and then deal with the problem of what to do about the fuselage/wing junction point. Since the -138 should be only about 3.5mm shorter than the 720 I don't know that I will concern myself too much about this since it's not the kind of thing that will be blindingly obvious on the finished model.

Thanks for pointing me at the reviews of the reviews of the Minicraft kits. I can't say that they are good enough to make me rush out and buy them. I have the Welsh Models KC-135A and I think it looks the best option. I'll have to think on this one.

Leigh

[F-27pax]

PS

I just realized that I was talking about the Welsh Models kit I have of a Boeing 720B, which has the wing glove. I expect that the Welsh Models Boeing 720 does not have the wing glove which means that, in 1/144 at least, the wing can be used as a -138 wing without modification. I'm about to order one from Densil and we will see the result in a few weeks time.

Leigh