B747 Flying Boat

[McColm]

Hello ,
The Boeing 747 is an iconic aircraft ,the first to be named the Jumbo Jet. There has been many variants since production and a few have been used by the military .
I have looked at the shape of the fuselage and feel it is time for a Whiff makeover . I have a 1/144 kit on my stash ,no it isn't the Airfix one.
The wing needs to be moved to the shoulder position and turned upside-down .A new T-tail
made from parts in the kit. The space where the wing would have gone can be made into a pontoon  keeping the landing gear in place .
As this is a large kit 1/72 engines from a B-52 or turboprops fitted . On second thoughts  something  retro could be fitted instead, taking this back to the golden age of the flying boat. I haven't decided on civvie or military concept yet as the idea is still fresh in my mind .

[Captain Canada]

Civy as a prototype ? That would be cool. Or as a US airline ? Also cool. Not sure of the military potential of such a beast.

[McColm]

I was told by someone that the original proposal for the B747 had shoulder mounted wings although I have tried to research this and haven't found anything to back this up.
Could be used in the transport role or maritime patrol. An airliner would be better . Thanks .

[PR19_Kit]

I was told by someone that the original proposal for the B747 had shoulder mounted wings although I have tried to research this and haven't found anything to back this up.
Could be used in the transport role or maritime patrol. An airliner would be better . Thanks .

The 747 developed from Boeing's proposal to the CX-HLS spec that eventually produced Lockheed's C-5A Galaxy, and as such it would have needed shoulder wings for sure, but the only drawings and piccies I can find of the proposal can't be copied because of outrageous copyright rules. 

It looked pretty much like an An-124 though.

[pyro-manic]

Google returns quite a few images HERE. Does look much like a Galaxy or An-124.


Hmmm - how about a C-17 flying boat?

[McColm]

Thanks,
The C-17 flying boat idea could be built as I have a Revell 1/144 in my stash .A raid of my spare parts bin reveals the fuselage of a 1/72 Be-6 Madge. I did have the C-17 down for another build as the proposed AW 802 long range transporter. Combining the two would be an interesting project.

[Captain Canada]

A C-5 or C-17 would be a lot easier than a 747 ! I do like that idea....

[poru48]

I'm thinking the Sultan of Brunei would love to have one as his personal jet. Just picture the faces of all the other Arab Sheiks when the Sultan lands in the Gulf on the Qatar waterfront for the next OPEC meeting. Of course the trick will be figuring out how to off-load a gold flaked Rolls Royce for the trips around town.

[kitnut617]

I was told by someone that the original proposal for the B747 had shoulder mounted wings although I have tried to research this and haven't found anything to back this up.

Probably because it wasn't a 747 -- it was Boeing's submission to the XC-X competition which went in Lockheeds favour.

Below is a 3-View of Boeing's XC-X, I'm going to attempt a 1/72 build of this sometime in the future (got a 1/72 747 to start it with already, and the engines) but I'm also going to do a 1/144 one at the same time to develop what to do and apply the lessons learnt to the 1/72 one.

[Gondor]

I do like the look of that. Would definitely cause a few people to do some head scratching. 

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

/\ /\

It sure would !

I'd love to see a giant jet engine boat alight....wouldn't that be a lot of sea spray !

[McColm]

Thanks for the replies and info. It's the shape of the 747 that reminds me of the
of the Boeing Clipper.
Been watching clips of the Be A40 Albatross /Mermaid on YouTube and other amphibious craft to get a feel for the build and a few ideas .

[Weaver]

Some of those high-wing 747 concepts look remarkably graceful. I like the idea of a flying boat one: why not mount the engines above the wings for increased water clearance and reduced spray ingestion?

[kerick]

Mounting the engines is the tough part, no doubt of that. How about just over the wing like the YC-14?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:YC14-3Seiten.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Yc14-1_072.jpg
Just stirring up the pot!

[McColm]

I thought of flipping the 747 over so the engines are on top. Still haven't made up my mind to stick with the jets or change them for props .
Do I hinge the nose or go for camshell doors?