Model Railroading > Easy HO Scale Boeing 737 Fuselage for fuselage train

Hi Guys,  I started building a model of the Boeing 737 fuselage train and think I've found the perfect (almost) source for the fuselage.  It is the Minicraft 1/144 scale 777 model.  When this model converts from 144 to 87.1, it is almost the perfect dimensions for the 737-700.  Put some weight in the front inside of the the fuselage to make sure it stays on the flat car.  Saw off the vertical stabilizer, nose cone and tail cone and add a couple of pieces of styrene to cover some wing mounting holes and you pretty much have it.  The cockpit shape is a little different and the belly is slightly different, but I am happy with the overall effect.  For paint, I used a rattle can of silver followed by a coat of Testors transparent green.  I'm working on decals now and will add photos when complete.  I've also been working on the fuselage cradles and ice breaker.  (Sorry for the poor quality photos.  I have an old flip phone.)

Jeff Barker
Atlantic Beach

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I'm always curious how many can successfully run a scale boeing fuselage on a layout. Seems the tail overhang is bad enough that it would hit all kinds of stuff on a typical layout. I'm actually looking to model the pre-2000 version where just the nose and tail sections were hauled on 60' flatcars with dual brush racks, but photos seem to be hard to come by.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Our club minimum radius is 34" on the mainline.  Might have to clear the parallel mainline around curves for making this a special move.  Its been a fun project to build even if it doesn't get much mileage.

Jeff Barker
Atlantic Beach

Ingenuity at its finest! 

Did PSA actually have B-777? I would like to se a photo. Other than that your model is brilliant!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/16 15:06 by railwaybaron.

This would be for N scale I presume?

Rick

HO scale

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

No issues on my layout 36" radius curves. It might look funny anything under 22". Never had an issue.
Matt

railwaybaron Wrote:
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> Did PSA actually have B-777? I would like to se a
> photo. Other than that your model is brilliant!
PSA went out of businness before the Boeing 777 was introduced

Thanks.  It seems Minicraft decided to run a series of 777's in old airline liveries.  Any 777 kit Minicraft makes would be fine.  I found mine on eBay...

Jeff Barker
Atlantic Beach
 

This is an HO model.  The 777 model is so big in 144 scale that proportionally it scales down to a 737 in HO scale.  Really uncanny.

Jeff Barker
Atlantic Beach

PeaBock619 Wrote:
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> railwaybaron Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > Did PSA actually have B-777? I would like to se
> a
> > photo. Other than that your model is brilliant!
> PSA went out of businness before the Boeing 777
> was introduced

The "smiley face" airplanes that I remember my parents taking me to watch at the end of the SFO runway many years ago.

Posted from iPhone

PSA didn't go out of business.  We were EATEN by USAir in 1987
 

I think it works because you cannot see the windows; they would be a dead give-away that the scale is off. 

Windows are decals on the Minicraft 144 kit so no window cut outs to mess with.  I've just about converted the window pattern to a 73 decal..  The test fits work out almost perfectly.  Photos will follow in a week or two.

Jeff Barker
Atlantic Beach