Tintin: Carreidas 160

[strobez]

I realized yesterday that a 1/72 scale Carreidas 160, the fictional business jet that appears in Flight 714 is basically the same shape as a 1/144 B-1.

The three main areas of modification needed would be a) where the wings connect to the fuselage needs to be a straight "Y" shape, so I'd need to remove the slope on the front and the tabs on the back; b) the tail cross piece would need to move to the top of the tail (and the back angle would need to be sharpened just a bit; c) I'd have to remove the squashed part of the fuselage over the wings and basically make a straight tube all the way down.

I think I might know a cheap 1/288 Academy 747 kit (with bonus Space Shuttle!) that might fit the bill for that.... but it might just be easier add a support beam over the flattened part and roll some plasticard to cover it instead.

And just like that, a new project appeared!

[strobez]

The Carreidas isn't a real plane, but it might as well be for my purposes.  It was meticulously designed by Roger Leloup, one of Hergé's assistants...

[TheChronicOne]

All systems "go" on this!  This is beyond a cool idea..

You have my full support. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool idea, bold project. Looking forward to the potential progress this one makes. 

[zenrat]

Nice.  Looking forward to this.

[strobez]

Thanks guys!  I think this one is quite do-able actually.  Even though the cockpit might be a bit squishy as a 1/72 one for three people, I don't think there's any upside to trying to extend the fuselage near the front.  I bit the bullet and grabbed the Academy 1/288 scale Boeing 747 (anyone want a crappy space shuttle!?). I'm glad I did, because early results seem to verify my calculations and the two fuselages are just about as perfect a match as you could want.

Given the very flat bottomed B-1, I think I will just do the major surgery right behind the wings and basically swap the tail and as much of the spine as possible.  That'll give it the (close enough to) correct upward swing of the tail as in the reference pics as well as angle of the tail fin.

I think the sloping "Y" shape will just be left alone as I don't think there's enough of an upside to trying to correct that minor detail... especially if I'm leaving the fore section as-is anyway.

So looks like this one is a go... now off to start figuring out a cockpit layout that works.

[strobez]

Ok... so I got excited to try out my theory...













Just after I started the kitbash and my wife walks by and says "OMG! Now you're decapitating airplanes?" 

So I just yelled at her "what are you doing!? You haven't even scrubbed in! You'll contaminate the operating theatre!" 

I was kind of glad she didn't come in a bit sooner, the way the grey 747 was wiggling around as I sawed it's head off looked remarkably like, a fish...

[PR19_Kit]

That's looking really good already.

I especially like the 'bits left over' version. That'll be the 747-BJ will it? (747 Business Jet  )

[strobez]

A comment left on Imgur was "just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should", so I think that means I'm on the right track...

[63cpe]

Great stuff Strobez! Interesting plan your realizing....go for it!

That 747 model was kinda daft looking anyway.. IMHO.

What's your plan with the left-overs?

[zenrat]

A comment left on Imgur was "just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should", so I think that means I'm on the right track...

No, they've got that wrong.  It's "just because you can do something, someone already has".
Whiffers say "If you think you can't do something, you should probably try".

[Dizzyfugu]

A comment left on Imgur was "just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should", so I think that means I'm on the right track...

YESSSSS! 

The joy of combining parts no man has ever tried (or even dared) before... priceless! 

[strobez]

Great stuff Strobez! Interesting plan your realizing....go for it!

That 747 model was kinda daft looking anyway.. IMHO.

What's your plan with the left-overs?

Thanks David! It's been a while since I've seen you pop up here.  I think I read you were busy with a new job.  Nice to hear from you.

That 747 is indeed daft, but I knew that.  I bought it specifically because my measurements indicated in 1/288 it was the actually the perfect width for the fuselage extension.  At first my plan was just to use half of the fuselage tube to cover the spine, but when I got it home I realized that swapping the whole back end would achieve a better result.

No plans for the left overs.  However I had a passing thought that the 747 cockpit might be the right shape for a mini tank from the ancient anime Gatchaman... and I've got a plan brewing there as well.

[strobez]

YESSSSS! 

The joy of combining parts no man has ever tried (or even dared) before... priceless! 

Priceless indeed. I mean... it's just shaped plastic.... and I have a knife and glue. 

[Old Wombat]

YESSSSS! 

The joy of combining parts no man has ever tried (or even dared) before... priceless! 

Priceless indeed. I mean... it's just shaped plastic.... and I have a knife and glue. 

That's the attitude, lads!