1/144 Canadair C 555 from a Minicraft Boeing 727

[Brian da Basher]

In 1965, the town of High Level was chartered in northwestern Alberta, Canada. After a downturn in the moose and buffalo markets in 1968, the High Level town council voted to allow casino gambling. The High Level High Rollers Club went up in no time.

Unfortunately, the town of High Level is fairly remote, even by Canadian standards, although being close to Wood Buffalo National Park. By 1970, gamblers in numbers failed to show up at the High Level High Rollers Club and a solution had to be found.

Fortunately, a partnership between Canadair and an exiled minor noble from eastern europe were the answer. Canadair had developed a new five engined, high-speed transport called the C 555 and the Baron Artur von Znell decided to hock the family jewels and go into the airline business and BAZ air was born.

continued...

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Baron Artur von Znell had done well in chosing the C 555. Not only was the new aircraft fast and luxurious (the area behind the cokcpit could be converted into a bar or a honeymoon suite), but it also boasted a range which would allow BAZ Air to fly in High Rollers from as far off as Alaska, Texas, New York and even Newfoundland. The High Level High Rollers Club was thus well on the road to success by taking customers away from other gaming hot spots like Reno, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Burton, Texas and Gander, Newfoundland.

Baron Artur von Znell flew the first inagural flights of BAZ Air to the delight of his passengers but to the dishevelment of the stewardesses who wondered how he was able to fly the plane while groping every female within a 10 foot radius. After one such incident on final approach almost led to an emergency landing, Baron Artur von Znell confined his duties to welcoming passengers and running the roulette wheel in the High Flyers' High Rollers' Club in the aircraft's bar and lounge.

Even though BAZ Air brought the gamblers in droves to the High Level High Rollers' Club, C 555s were expensive to operate (the root beer bills and harassment lawsuit settlements alone were crippling) and they were withdrawn from service when BAZ Air merged with Central Mountain Air in 1980. This travel agent's desk model is all that's left of the once high flying, high rolling airliner

Brian da Basher

[bobbo]

Is THIS where the other two engines from the B-58 project went??

Bobbo

[Brian da Basher]

The basis for this project was a 1/144 Minicraft Boeing 727. The box for mine looked like this:



Oops.

Actually, the only modifications I made were adding on two engines from a Boeing 707 under the wings. I liked how those extra engines made it look built for speed and it seemed appropriate as a model built in tribute to that high-powered whiffer John Howling Mouse, a.k.a. Baz.

I always say that decals make any airliner model and it's true here. Except for the mottoes under the nose, the BAZ Air markings were cobbled together from spares. Here's some shots that highlight these unusual markings.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

This project took me a little over two weeks to complete. I hope you enjoy the pics and Baz backstory as much as I enjoyed bringing them to you.

Baz, this one's all yours!

Brian da Basher

[Ed S]

Hmmmm.  BAZ?  Don't you run the risk of some copyright infringment here?

Nice model and brilliant concept.  And humorous as always.   

Ed

[The Rat]

Oh Hell he's done it AGAIN! 

[John Howling Mouse]

It's exciting enough to get a notice from the Post Office that you have a parcel, even more so when it's from Brian da Basher.

But nothing prepared me for discovering this little gem suspended inside the box within a very clever shipping harness.  "No...he didn't...!"  I thought to myself.

After carefully removing the (Canadian-inspired) duct-tape, I was zooming around the house with a model that felt so light to the touch
it really did seem to be flying on its own.  In fact, I do believe I might have handled her a bit too much as a couple of DEEcals peeled off.  I carefully re-applied them and sealed everything in two coats of protective Future (so I can play some more).

It wasn't until I read Brian's note that I finally realized there were indeed two extra engines on the wings----everything had seemed so sleek and natural about the bird that I hadn't yet noticed it was actually a Whiffed design on top of a novel livery.

Here's a couple of my own shots of this fine model against a sky background...she's taken flight for real, this time, Brian!

Again, thanks so much for this great gift.

Barry Snell
CEO, BAZ AIR (Division Of The Perri Transportation Consortium)

At PTC, "Safe and Sane Flying" isn't just another corporate motto...it's a way of operating that we try to apply, most everyday...

[Brian da Basher]

I'm very glad it arrived safely, Mr Howling Mouse. Sorry about the decals but it seems your Future coat saved the day.

I knew one day I'd find a use for those uniquely Canadian sayings on the nose!

Brian da Basher

[cthulhu77]

If I am going to fly, I am going to definitely reserve on BAZ airlines!   

Awesome job, Sir Brian!

[Fulcrum]

The model looks good!!! 

It is a good inspiration if someone wants to convert a 727/C-555 into a KC-555 tanker

[sideshowbob9]

Great model & the backstory is fantastic 

[sequoiaranger]

And I like it like that.