Pan Am Boeing "Speed" 707 from the 1/144 Minicraft kit

[Brian da Basher]

Juan Trippe, head of Pan Am was pleased with the first 707s from Boeing, but he always wanted more. He convinced Boeing to design an improved version known as the Speed 707. The new Speed 707 had a more streamlined profile due to a new nose and new engines, four GE XJ 999 turbo-jets that offered 25,000 lbs. of thrust and a top speed of 660 m.p.h.

Boeing delivered the Speed 707 prototype, NX 34538 on the 31st anniversary of Pan Am's founding and the aircraft was finished in retro PAA livery.

The Speed 707 cut time on the New York to Brasilia route by a third. Pilots and passengers alike were thrilled with the fast new airliner. Unfortunately, a blight caused the cost of in-flight peanuts to skyrocket by 5000% and Pan Am had to cut corners somewhere. No other Speed 707s were made and NX 34538 was taken out of passenger service in 1962 and used as an executive jet by Juan Trippe himself until it was scrapped in 1968. The only reminder of that once sleek airliner is this desk model, found in an old filing cabinet in Boeing's abandoned branch office in Plains, Georgia.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The basis for this project is the 1/144 Minicraft 707 that I got for less that $4 from Squadron a while back. When most modelers build a 707, they try to make it look something like this:



Oops.

Well you know how it is, us whiffers, we can't help ourselves sometimes...

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I replaced the 707 nose with a smash-formed copy from the Revell box-scale Caravelle. Next, I swapped out the kit's engines with those from a box-scale Convair 880. I used a 1/144 scale missile from the spares box as the probe on top the tail and added the kit's optional ventral fin. I was impressed with the Minicraft 707, expecting a difficult kit along the lines of their 757 or 727, but their 707 goes together almost as well as their lauded DC-8.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics, Polly Scale Reefer White as primer (2 coats) and Model Masters Steel (2 more coats).

I always say decals make any airliner and this project is a good example. These are more custom decals frank2056 ran off for me. As you can see, even the smaller logos are nice and clear. The man's an artist! Thanks a million, Frank! The windshield and passenger windows are decals from an Airbus A319.

This last batch of shots includes close-ups of the nose and tail so you can check out Frank's amazing decals.

Brian da Basher

[Jschmus]

 

I have not the words.

[Tophe]

interesting

[sideshowbob9]

Beautiful!

[ysi_maniac]

This really can deceive the most knowledgeable JMNs. Looks so right!
Only one point: "The Speed 707 cut time on the New York to Brasilia route by a third" Was it supersonic?

[NARSES2]

Another BdB special 

[Brian da Basher]

<snip>

Only one point: "The Speed 707 cut time on the New York to Brasilia route by a third" Was it supersonic?

Well cruising at 585 m.p.h, the Speed 707 could make the trip in about 7 and 1/2 hours. Pan Am formerly used Convair Comet Coronet Corvette Calumet turbo-props on the run which cruised at just under 300 m.p.h.

Great, now I have to build a Convair Calumet. In Pan Am markings...

Brian da Basher

[John Howling Mouse]

Yeah, this one really hits the spot.  Great idea, nicely carried out.  Just different enough to make a JMN do a double-take, then check his references.

Nice job, BdaB.     Must admit, though: I'm still jealous at how you can pump out 5 or 6 models for each single one of mine!   

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Well done!  And a very nice kit bashing.