Boeing 737 Models

[QRNational4101]

Hi all, I am planning to build N Scale replicas of the cars BNSF uses to haul Boeing 737 fuselages. The only 737 models I can find are 1/144 scale. I bought one to see if it would work, it dose fit, but it is too wide to be able to run the car with it. Are there any companies that make these models closer to 1:160 scale, or is there a way I can get around this. The only other size I can find is 1:200. Cheers, Antho

[CTValleyRR]

Can you kitbash the 1/144 by taking a little styrene (or whatever) out of the middle without making it look obviously out of proportion?

I confess I was unaware that anyone shipped partially assembled aircraft by rail anymore...

[ericsp]

Given that the fuselage is cylindrical, taking some plastic out of the middle would make it look weird. Most likely your only options are 1:144 scale, 1:200 scale, or scratchbuild (good luck with that).

[CTValleyRR]

ericsp

Given that the fuselage is cylindrical, taking some plastic out of the middle would make it look weird. Most likely your only options are 1:144 scale, 1:200 scale, or scratchbuild (good luck with that).

The fuselage is not a true cylinder.  It's definitely football shaped in cross section, taller than it is wide.  Beyond that, though, I couldn't say how much thinning would make it look weird.

Since you mention scratchbuilding.... Micromark sells resin and metal casting kits.

Or you could look for someone who has access to a 3D printer and see if you can reduce your 1/144 model a bit.

[Lake]

Boeing does ship fuselages by rail. There are a lot of photos of these on the web.

[QRNational4101]

With the fuselage sitting on the flatcar, it hangs over each side by about 6mm or 1/4 of an inch. I know this is out of gauge, but by rights it could work right?

[ericsp]

CTValleyRR

 

ericsp:

 

Given that the fuselage is cylindrical, taking some plastic out of the middle would make it look weird. Most likely your only options are 1:144 scale, 1:200 scale, or scratchbuild (good luck with that).

 

 

The fuselage is not a true cylinder.  It's definitely football shaped in cross section, taller than it is wide.  Beyond that, though, I couldn't say how much thinning would make it look weird.

Since you mention scratchbuilding.... Micromark sells resin and metal casting kits.

Or you could look for someone who has access to a 3D printer and see if you can reduce your 1/144 model a bit.

The cross section looks like a circle to me and certainly looks nothing like a football.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737family/pf/pf_cross_section.html

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737family/pf/pf_exterior.html

I wonder where Boeing will move the 737 fuselage production when its Wichita plan closes. If it is to the Seattle area, that would be the end of shipping the fuselages by rail.

[DSchmitt]

QRNational4101

Hi all, I am planning to build N Scale replicas of the cars BNSF uses to haul Boeing 737 fuselages. The only 737 models I can find are 1/144 scale. I bought one to see if it would work, it dose fit, but it is too wide to be able to run the car with it. Are there any companies that make these models closer to 1:160 scale, or is there a way I can get around this. The only other size I can find is 1:200. Cheers, Antho

I have done a search for 737 models in conjunction with a reply I made on a thread regarding model 737's suitable fo HO scale.

1:144 scale models are the closest to N scale I found. 

Scales737's I found were 1:400, 1:200, 1:144 and  1:100

I found the following by searching  the Magazine Index search on this site:

Modeling a Boeing 737 fuselage transport using a 1/144 scale 707 by Olson, Steve from NMRA Bulletin July 2005 p. 33

[Mark Watson]

Given that the radius of track on which you're likely to run the 737 fuselage flats, I suggest going with the 1:200 scale model.  While being under scale, so are 99% of the curve radii of track on any layout.  With a 1:160 scale fuselage, chances are less likely the model will make it around curves. 

[QRNational4101]

Going off the real photos I have, it actually isnt that much bigger. I would add a photo of it if I knew how to. Can I even add a photo to this?

[james saunders]

Gday mate,

 

Set up a photobucket account at photobucket.com and then upload your pics to there. Once your done with that, you will see a URL under or to the right of the photo that will have IMG in brackets each end of the link.

See example : [IMG http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/OZJIM/Rivermodule.jpg  /IMG]

 

remove the spaces and close the bracket and you get

 

[QRNational4101]

Thanks for explaining that James.

[QRNational4101]

As you can see, it does hang over the sides a fair bit, but not too much more than what they do on the real cars. I have checked the height, and beside an Autorack, the fuselage on the flatcar is slightly lower. Width will be an issue, but it fits thru one of the narrowest bridges I have. What do you all think? Cheers, Anthony.

[Mark Watson]

I was speaking of the lengthwise overhang.  You can see how far the tail sticks out over the second flat.  Have you tried measuring how much side clearance you will need to transverse a 20" curve?

Coincidentally, I had ordered a 1:144 737 a few weeks ago.  I don't have an appropriate flat car for it as I'll be using mine for something a bit more dramatic, but estimating the position it would travel aboard a flat on my 20" radius module I figure the tail will overhang about an inch to an inch and a half.  Basically all the way to the center line of a second track (if double tracked). 

What is the minimum radius of curve this load will need to travel?  Could you measure the load on that curve and see how far the tail swings out?

 

[QRNational4101]

Hi Mark, I just tried it on a 24" curve, and you are right, it does hang out, not quiet to the center of the secon track, but it would be enough to foul. I am yet to trim it a bit, as the nose and tail tips are not on the real fuelage, that will shave 1/2" off the length but that wont help much with the corners...

[Mark Watson]

Perhaps you can pull the ol' spiral ham trick and remove a 4-6 rows of the best seats.  Maybe a chunk from just behind the wing and a chunk from ahead?

Or, if you're really tricky, cut the tail off, just behind the wing and articulate the fuselage so it will move just enough to bend around curves.  You can put an anchor on the second flat above which the tail overhangs to drive the articulation.  If anyone cries foul, offer to let them build you a new home within which you may build an appropriately sized layout to run the car un-articulated.  :p

[QRNational4101]

Well, I am about to start building my new layout in a 40 by 9 foot donga, so I might be able to get away with it :) Or, one other thing I have seen is a few fuselage's carried in 2 sections. So I have antoher option. :)

[Steven S]

Here's a good pic showing how much overhang there is...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65483667@N00/3407932085/in/photostream/

 

Steve S

[MisterBeasley]

I would do something about that fishbowl cockpit.  With a picture of a real 737 and some styrene strips, I'm sure you could upgrade the kit's appearance significantly.

Look at Steve's picture.  The details I noticed right away were the protective octagonal steel ring at the front, and the interior structure of the cutoff wing.  Adding these would make a more interesting model, too.

 

[brucec12]

Note that the Boeing 737 Fuselages are built by Spirit Aviation (which use to be Boeing until they sold the plant off) and the Wichita plant they are closing is/was for military airplanes so the 737 will continue to be built in Kansas.

I work in the Boeing Renton 737 plant and see the Fuselages being delivered at least a couple of times a week. Production is being ramped up to 35 planes a month and eventually 42 (recession, what recession?). From what I have seen, maybe 4 get delivered each time, usually by a pair of GP40 or GP30 's in BN or BNSF paint

 

Good luck with your project!

[peterjenkinson1956]

hey anthony...   there is a modeller in new zealand who has made some very nice ho scale models of the 737 / flat cars....  i sent ( my spare )  flat cars to him ...   to get the right size he made the 737 out of balsa wood then covered the plane with plastic to look like a protective covering   looks very good in photos....  ps  georges party was good.....peter

[QRNational4101]

RE MisterBeasley, I am still to do the things you have mentioned, I wasnt going to put too much effort into this until I knew it would run fine. I have since trimmed the nose cone and tip of the tail off to shorten it, this also makes it look a little more like the prototype. I am still working out what to do with the hole were the wing used to be, I dont know weather to detail it like in the photos, of just blank it off. I am hoping to have the above items finished, and I might have some pictures of it painted on here by the end of the week :)

[QRNational4101]

Hi Peter, I would of made it but I was worn out and a bit crook after work. Will have to catch up some time. How is the layout coming along? Its been a while since I last saw it. Cheers, Anthony.

[bucfantitan]

I know this is an older post. But what model of airplane is everyone using. I was looking at one in 737-200 and looked really good in length.

 

Does anyone have any updates to completing this model. I would really like to have one.

 

Plus what size flat bed is everyone using?

 

Thanks

[Metro Red Line]

QRNational4101

Hi all, I am planning to build N Scale replicas of the cars BNSF uses to haul Boeing 737 fuselages. The only 737 models I can find are 1/144 scale. I bought one to see if it would work, it dose fit, but it is too wide to be able to run the car with it. Are there any companies that make these models closer to 1:160 scale, or is there a way I can get around this. The only other size I can find is 1:200. Cheers, Antho

It's a sad fact of life that the model railroading and model airplane world have very different scales. Have you looked at 3D printing to get the fuselage you want?

[jrbernier]

  Most of the Boeing 737's being delivered by rail are model 800's - longer that the model 200 mentioned.  The 737-800 & -900 are about 138' long.  The actual fuselage shipped is a little shorter due to the nose radome & tail cone missing.  Current shipping uses special modified 89' flat cars to hold the airplane, and either 60' or 89' flat cars for the idler under the tail.  The 'width' if the fuselage is about 13'.  BNSF usually moves the planes via the 'Hi Line' route through the Cascade Tunnel.  There is no serious clearance issues, and double stack container trains are taller!  Early on, the 737-800's were shipped in two sections.  Some 757's were also shipped in sections by rail(757 production has ended).

  There is HO models of these special cars available:

http://www.con-sys.com/aircraft_parts.htm

  There are 1/100 737-800 models available(though they are rather expensive 'presentation' models). for those who want to try an HO model.  Though the 1/144 models are a little oversize, they may be the best for an N scale model.

Jim

[bucfantitan]

thanks for the good information. I thought it would be a 800 or 900 series of the 737. The 200 was a good length for a n scale layout that's why I brought it up in 1:144 scale.

 

Those are nice models for the HO on that link. To bad they don't make it for n scale. I guess I need to find some flat beds and play.

 

Since it is a model any ideas what style of flat bed to be looking for to start the modding. like a COFC or TOFC?

 

Thanks

 

Robert

[mlehman]

I wonder if this could be done with a rather traditional aircraft model material, balsa? You don't need the wings and a lot of other stuff. The windows could probably be done as decals or with a fine-tip marker. The ones I've seen lately have a weird greenish tinge on the fuselage, which is going to be something you'll have to do to look right, whether it's from a kit or your carving.

[jrbernier]

  That 'greenish' tint is a thin poly 'wrap' put around the airplane to prevent corrosion/oxidation issues while in transit.  

  The 1/144th models are a little 'fat'. and the 1/200th models may be a little under size.

  You can get airliner decals of the doors/windows, and follow the suggestions here for painting the model:

http://www.con-sys.com/files/B737-800_Instr_Sheet.pdf

  Read the lower part of the instructions - They suggest Testors Candy Apple Green over a base coat of Chrome Silver.

Jim

[nscaler711]

here are some dimensions and decent pictures to help scratch build it. 

http://people.ucalgary.ca/~keay/planedoc.html