Swissair Lockheed L2049 Jet-Constellation, December 1961

[nönöbär]

Swissair Lockheed L2049 Jet-Constellation, December 1961


The aircraft:

In the 1950s, the Lockheed Constellation series with the "Lockheed Constellation", "L-1049 Super Constellation" and "L-1649 Starliner" was the backbone for long range or transatlantic air travel. Over 800 aircraft were build until the late 1950s.
With the introduction of the much faster jetliners like the Boeing 707 or DC-8, the Lockheed aircraft were not competitive any more  Most airlines switched to the new aircraft in a shot time, but Lockheed had no alternative in their production portfolio.

As the construction of a complete new plane would take up too much time and money, Lockheed engineers investigated an option to build a jetliner based on the existing aircraft available. Something that one of their main competitors Boeing would do many decades later when introducing the Boeing 737MAX instead of going to a complete new design.

Therefore it was planned to refit the L-1049 with new wings and jet engines. At that time, Lockheed was offered the plans of Sud Aviations Caravelle though some very suspicious sources. Today we can clearly say it was industrial espionage, but in the late 1950s, this deal was make in complete secrecy. As US-based engine producers did not had the capacity to build engines for another passenger jetliner, Lockheed choose Britain based Rolls Royce  with their Avron engines for the new plane.

From project start to rollout, it took 11 months to complete the first L2049 Jet-Constellation. The first flight was made on December 13. 1959 and lasted 22 Minutes. While flights tests di succeed without any major issues, the second prototype was send to a big sales tour to the USA, Europe and Asia. But despite all their sales effort, not many planes could be sold. After the six month tour, 25 aircraft were sold to 8 different airlines. The technical advantage of the 707 was simply too big.

With a maximum range of just over 6000km and a speed of just 800kph, the performance of the 94 passenger plane was well below of those of a 707 or DC-8. Therefore its not surprising that only 131 aircraft wee sold until the production stop in 1965. By the mid 1070s, most of them were already put out of airliner service, a few were rebuild as cargo aircraft, adding a huge door on the left side of it.
About 20 were used  in Africa until the early 1980, today, there is no aircraft left in flying conditions. Three of them are on display in aircraft museums.

The model shows a  Swissair Lockheed L2049 Jet-Constellation in December 1961. Swissair was one of the initial users of the aircraft with a total of 7 in their fleet.








 


The model:

The 1/144 scale model was made using a Minicraft Lockheed L-1049 kit for the fuselage and forward landing gear. The wings and stabilisers  are taken from a Mistercraft 1/144 Caravele kit. Engines, main landing gear and fin are 3D printed, the engines were taken from a Il-28 3D model and printed on an Anycubic Photon resin printer. The landing gear was designed by myself and printed on the same printer. The fin is an upscaled middle fin of a Constellation 3D model, printed on an Anycubic Mega FDM printer.
The model was airbrushed with Revell Aqua Colour, decals were taken from the spare part box.
   

[Nick]

Very nice, well executed. 

[zenrat]

 

[PR19_Kit]

An EXCELLENT job there, and a wonderful back story too. 

Your 3D printed stuff puts it in a different class as well.

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice, and very retro! 

[NARSES2]

That really has come out well 

[TomZ]

Looks very good

TomZ

[Tophe]

Great model!

[Captain Canada]

Now there's a neat machine ! Great job on that one all around. Looks good in those colours and with that engine/wing/tail combo. Defo an idea worth saving.

Cheers !

[chrisonord]

Marvellous stuff 
Chris

[McColm]

Great work 

[martinbayer]

Ummh, "a speed of just 800mph", depending on atmospheric/meteorological conditions, would typically be slightly supersonic, so I'll call nönö on that - you probably meant 800 km/h instead? Data nitpicking aside, it's a truly lovely, elegant and harmonious vintage niche design!

Martin

[nönöbär]

Ummh, "a speed of just 800mph", depending on atmospheric/meteorological conditions, would typically be slightly supersonic, so I'll call nönö on that - you probably meant 800 km/h instead? Data nitpicking aside, it's a truly lovely, elegant and harmonious vintage niche design!

Martin

Of course, I corrected it....

[dumaniac]

Nice concept - nice build