Vidar_710 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 DutyCat and I are doing a buddy build this summer of the 1/144 scale Revell Boeing 747-400. My first impressions of this kit is that it really sux, so let's make lemon-aide out of lemons. The fuselage... I like using an over-gluing technique when putting halves together such as: fuselage, drop tanks, wings, bombs, etc, etc. I apply heavy amount of Testors cement then press the halves together squeezing the excess out. I then apply Tenex to smooth the excess and cause a welding effect in the plastic. once it cures, I sand and buff to a shine to check for seems. Done correctly, the halves look as if they were cast in one piece. Top http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211525.jpg.html?sort=3&o=9 Bottom http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211625.jpg.html?sort=6&o=1 Close up http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_212059.jpg.html?sort=6&o=2 The windows were filled from the inside with resin. Strip styrene was glued above and below the windows and clay dammed up the ends. Tape was applied on the outter surface of the hull. The resin was applied into the troughs via syringe. The resin I has cured a little too fast for this application, so a few air bubbles had to be filled from the out side. USE SLOWER CURING RESIN. http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211539-1.jpg.html?sort=6&o=3 Using the Minicraft DC-8 engineering as a guide, I cut off the Intake/N1 Fan section to properly fill the intake so I wouldn't mar the fan parts. Intakes. http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211143-2.jpg.html?sort=6&o=8 Engines http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211143-3.jpg.html?sort=6&o=9 Bad engineering in the kit reduced me to used extensive filling to the belly and the wing roots. Belly http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211645-2.jpg.html?sort=6&o=5 Wing root http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130802_211739-1.jpg.html?sort=6&o=4 More to come from my part of the buddy build... Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dylan Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 yep that looks about right for the Revell 747-400. I had the belly pan on mine fall off because there is very little glueing surface. of course this was after I filled the massive gaps Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted August 5, 2013 Author Share Posted August 5, 2013 No problem with the "belly pan" on my end. After gluing the fuselage halves together, the wings went on to ensure that they got a good tack to the entire surface of the wing root plates on the fuselage. They seemed too flimsy to trust good contact after that belly piece being glued into place. After the wings were attached and cured, I added pieces of styrene in the fuselage rendering tabs to obtain more gluing surface for the "belly pan" part. It's not going anywhere! ;-) Sorry I didn't get pics of that before everything went together. DutyCat ended up taking his belly part off to add support to the fuselage around the wing joint points. I didn't think it was necessary as long as the wings got a good bond to the wing root plates. This also resulted in more gluing surface for the "belly pan" part. More than one way to skin a cat! Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Nice progress so far Tracey. I have a couple of these to build and I think I will give your over gluing method a go. I always have hassles with the top fuselage seam. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 (edited) The kit has nice panel lines, but Tracy is right...aside from that it is not very well engineered. The wing and stabs, IMO, should have much more robust assembly tabs. Better yet, the lower wing should be all one piece. I did pull the bottom off and put some cross beams in because I was horrified at how much flex was in the fuselage. I could easily squeeze it like it was breathing.....right where the wings attach. Thin plastic and no support whatsoever. I built a 1/72 E-3 once and one thing I took away from that build is that you want to minimize flex or else you will get some joint cracks around the wing roots. Tracy's resin window idea worked okay. I went with putty on mine, backed with strip styrene. Same basic result achieved through different methods. Oh, and I did put some styrene strips in the fuselage IVO the belly pan to serve as glue points Now where are those space shuttles I have been working on..... Edited August 6, 2013 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 (edited) Nice progress so far Tracey. I have a couple of these to build and I think I will give your over gluing method a go. I always have hassles with the top fuselage seam. Thnx! I stumbled across the technique while assembling general purpose Mk series bombs for a 1/32 Navy jet project. I wanted to recreate the thermal coating by softening the surface of the plastic, then rough sanding to get the texture then applying light coats of Tenex to keep the rough texture in place. It resulted in the perfect fill of the halves to the point you could not even see where the two halves were cemented together. The bomb looked cast as one piece of plastic. I just discovered that while looking at my pics, click twice on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom right till it says, "see full view" and you'll get an extreme close up of the images to see what I mean. Other than the flaws in the parts that did need filler, you can not see where the two halves were cemented. Tracy Edited August 6, 2013 by Vidar_710 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 I did pull the bottom off and put some cross beams in because I was horrified at how much flex was in the fuselage. I could easily squeeze it like it was breathing.....right where the wings attach. Thin plastic and no support whatsoever. Yup, As I surmised... gluing the wings on first with a complete meld to the fuselage before the gluing the Belly Pan on took the flexibility away. The base of the wing assemblies themselves provide for the needed support. Two options for those with a prospective build on their workbench. Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timo5 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Hi Tracy Great build of a "kit with issues!" Another method for overcoming the weak fuselage problem is to make cross-sections from thick plastic card to use as strengtheners, similar to large vacform kits. I used 3 cross-sections in my build which made a big difference. Below is my drawing of the cross-sections if anybody building a 747-400 wants to try the same method. I forgot to write down the dimensions, but just measure the inside diameter of the fuselage (top to bottom) and scale-up the drawing to match. Although many hate Revell's Boeing 747-400 kit for its inaccuracies, I think it still looks like a -400. Here's my recent attempt at a British Airways oneworld version - decals are from F-DCAL. Cheers Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 That is a beauty of a build! Like to know where you got the after market turbofans. I've actually seen that "Speed Bird" both in DFW and MIA while at work. My personal biggies beef with this kit is the thickness of the wings and stab trailing edges. I just finished priming, then buffing out the imperfections. Getting ready to metalize the leading edges, and apply the Boeing Grey - Coroguard decals are on the way. I'm trying to decide between 5 liveries... United 'Grey-n-Blue' fusalage Anesett Australia: Sydney 2000 Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific: city sky-line Quantas Formula 1 My wife likes Virgin Atlantic, but I'm leaning toward the Quantas Formula 1. new pics to come... Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) Sorry I am a little late getting to the party. Â We have had family visiting from overseas the past week, and the new school year starts tomorrow. Â Been kinda busy.<div><br></div><div>In any case, I am not as far along as Tracy in my build, but I'll show what I have got so far. Â Here is the actual jet I will be doing. Â It is quite striking.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://retep.li/wings_pic/boeing_747_400_dragon_boat-HS-TGJ.jpg"><br></div><div><br></div><div>Work on the kit so far. Â As you can see, I went with putty on the windows vice resin. Â Sheet styrene backing for support.</div><div><img src=" src=" src=" src=" src=" doing the fuselage in this puppy is a chore because of the putty work and rescribing. Â I used Squadron White for the initial putty work, but followed it up with a thin coat of Tamiya White to see how that would work out. Â As most of you know I am a Squadron putty guy and generally avoid using the harder putties. Â However an thin glaze layer over the Squadron might just be the ticket on a large project like this. We will see.</div><div><br></div> Edited August 18, 2013 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) Okay, can anyone tell me why the post I just made is formatting like it is? I have seen this before. Usually it does not do this, but sometimes it does, just out of the blue for no apparent reason. It looked good in the preview. Edited May 5, 2016 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted August 20, 2013 Author Share Posted August 20, 2013 (edited) I've decided on a Livery! I'll be doing a Speed Bird with the Chelsea Rose tail. I picked up the decals last weekend in the vendors room at the IPMS Nat's in Denver. Tracy Edited August 20, 2013 by Vidar_710 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Ahhh, I was going to ask where those markings came from as I had not seen them before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share Posted August 31, 2013 (edited) Airframe is primed with Tamiya's Fine Primer White out of the can and buffed to a gloss.... NO SEAMS. 8-D Top http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130824_122910.jpg.html?sort=6&o=12 Bottom http://s676.photobucket.com/user/Tracy_Mann/media/Works%20in%20Progress/Revell%20Boeing%20747-400/20130824_123011.jpg.html?sort=6&o=11 I found my stash of Boeing Grey and will be painting the wings and stabs soon. The Coroguard decals are here! Tracy Edited August 31, 2013 by Vidar_710 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted September 29, 2013 Author Share Posted September 29, 2013 I've put a lot of effort into the GE engines to make look great, but the Speed Bird I want to do has Rolls Royce fans. Who out there makes after market engines for this kit? Thnx, Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timo5 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Hi Tracy There are 2 possible choices for RR engines: 1) Braz models set of 4 x RB211 747-400 engines - which are still available 2) Get hold of a discontinued Revell Germany British Airways 747-400 kit (RV04204) which has RB211 engines - these kits pop-up on e-bay quite often. Hope this helps Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted October 4, 2013 Author Share Posted October 4, 2013 Thank you Timo5! I broke down and ordered a set of BraZ RB211's on line. I also found Extra Color's British Airways One World Blue there and got a couple as a bonus find. Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 (edited) Thai Airways 747-400 Dragon Boat update #1 on the dutycat blog. (deleted and moved....see update below). Edited May 5, 2016 by DutyCat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar_710 Posted October 12, 2013 Author Share Posted October 12, 2013 Looking great Gil. You're catching up! You'll probably pass me by the time my BA blue paint and RR fans get here. Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar 710 Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) Starship Excelsior aside for a bit as I get back to the 747 for a JAXCON entry... hopefully. struggling with the paint. 1 step forward two steps back kind of thing. The leading edges are on, but some crinkling has occurred. I've fixed most of it.. just a few spots to fix. Compressor/exhaust sections are done. I have the R/R engines on back order, but grow tired of waiting for them to be shipped, so I think I'll stay Out-of-box on this project. The cargo version has the GE's but the pax version has the R/R's. I want to put the pax windows on, so it's wrong... I don't care. Furthermore, I got impatient and decided to hand paint the dark vents on the side instead of masking and air brushing them... It shows. :^ / F1 fan/intakes glued back into place on the Bi-pass sections after filling and adding the fans. The stabs are done after having finish problems with them as well. Fans are toilet papered and liquid taped to prepare for the painting of the bare metal inlet deicer surfaces. masking removed. Now some washes needed to be added and blended in to the F1 fans to give them some depth. The unforeseen paint issues have been really testing my patience on this built to date. Lots of taking a step away and coming back later going on. It keeps the model from taking flight across the room! ;-) Tracy Edited December 30, 2013 by Vidar 710 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Hang in there Tracy. BTW, I do no think mine will be ready for Jaxcon anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar 710 Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Fuselage is prepped and masked to apply the BA Blue. Top Bottom As well as the engines... First tac coat and 2 thin coats are on. Engines fuselage 2 more thinner coats should do the trick. The model will be able to cure for the next 4 days while I'm out on my next trip. Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar 710 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Coming along. I have dealt with the frustrating issues and have cleared them up. The preliminary color coats are finished and touched up. When this gloss paint cures, the fuselage will be wet sanded and buffed to an even elevation. Then the clear coat will be added prior to starting decal placement. The fuselage. The engine pylons are done. They actually came out better than I expected. The pic doesn't show it very well, but the wash, dry brushing, and polishing on the N1 fans came out nice. Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar 710 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Stabs and engines are on. However, there have been some setbacks. The coroguard decals fit the stabs and top of the wing fine, but do not fit the bottom of the wing what-so-ever. They require a "too far aft" positioning to fit around the flap actuator fairings. I had to come up with a quick mix, then mask off and paint them in. This kit really sucks! the outboard engines fit to the wing terribly. I didn't want to mar the paint too much filling and blending the pylons to the wing, so I use Aves Apoxie Sculpt and blended them in the best I could to reduce sanding as much as possible. While I wait for the material to cure, I've started on the subtle flight control weathering and will move on to assembling and painting the landing gear. I have little faith now that I will have this ready for JAXCON on the 1st of Feb. :-/ Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vidar 710 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Started on the landing gear. It took all day because I had an old bottle of flat black that fought me tooth-n-nail to get a half-way decent finish on the tires. I'm not happy with it, but its what this POS kit gets out of me. Here the parts are primed with white Tamiya primer, then given a wash stroking from the bottom up for shading and shadows. A days work completed and I still have hair left in my frustrated head. The decaling is almost complete here till I discovered I forgot something. I had filled in the Landing Lights on the inboard leading edges of the wings. The clear parts had a terrible fit, so I covered them up. To replicate the Landing Lights, I commandeered 4 passenger windows from a 1/72 scale Boeing 720 decal sheet from Vintage Flyer. His decals have a nifty lensing effect on his PAX windows... gonna have to order some window sheets from him now. Using a Punch-n-Dye set with the approximate diameter of the lights, I made 4 Landing lights. I think they nicely representing Landing Lights! Waiting for the final decaling to completely cure, then the final clear coat goes on! Tomorrow morning, I can super glue the landing gear -n- doors into place and it will be done! Looks like I'll make it to JAXCON after all. ;-) Tracy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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