British Airways B.747-136/236 Negus & Landor Livery History: Variants and Details

[Barison82]

Back in 2019 I posted this thread on DAC which went into some detail about the BA B.747-136/236 fleet, specifically about the livery variants and the various names they carried over the years. This was in the Centenary year for BA, when the 3 retro 747s were flying - sadly now history. In addition to looking at the real thing, a review of what had been made in 1:400 was also covered with ideas for future potential models, to fill in some gaps in this scale. I thought it would be worth copying this big thread into MAF, for reference here. The information could also be useful to modellers.

Fair Warning! This thread contains a lot of detail, and is text heavy. Skip if this is too dry and boring for you!

BA 'Classic' 747s have always been good sellers, both in Negus Red Tail and Landor c/s and they would surely be very popular if produced again for a number of reasons; to begin with, the original BB400 Red Tails (a set of 5 and the only ones made in 1:400) were released way back in January 2005 in very limited numbers; they are long since sold out and most examples now fetch high prices on the secondary market. As well as just re-releasing these, collectors would also benefit if some of the detail differences were also covered, as well as providing different registrations of the types. The BA 747 fleet reached many corners of the globe, just as the Pan Am & TWA fleets did, so they are fondly remembered by enthusiasts internationally, giving them a broad appeal in 1/400 scale.

The Centenary celebrations currently being promoted by British Airways this year, "100 years, 1919-2019" and the 3 Retro B.747-436s repainted into the old BOAC, Negus and Landor colours, will further expose these classic colour schemes to a younger generation of enthusiasts, who may not have been familiar with these schemes beforehand but also happen to collect 1:400 scale models.

BA Negus B.747-136/236 in 1:400:

In late January 2005 BB400 released 5 versions of BA 'Red Tails'; including:

https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/9363
https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/9371

and

https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/9365

(The other 2 were ''British Cargo'' and ''British Airtours'' versions, both -236s)

Re-releases of these would be welcome but there are some gaps that could still be filled. For example, no manufacturer has ever made a BA Negus B.747-136 in 1/400 scale which has 10 upper-deck windows, in both "British airways" and "British" titles, also with the black radome present.

G-AWNN, original 1974 Negus delivery c/s, minus name, with black radome:


Source: https://www.tasmanchester.com/747sman

I believe G-AWNN was the first -136 factory delivered to BA in the new Negus c/s from the original BOAC order.

Here it is again in September 1980, by which time it had been given a name, "Sebastian Cabot", after the Italian explorer (later renamed again to "City of Leicester" in the Landor era):


Source: https://www.airliners.net/photo/British-Airways/Boeing-747-136/1511581/L

G-AWNO was later given the name "Sir Francis Bacon" in late 1979. It was renamed a further 2 times later in it's career, during the Landor era (see further notes on this aircraft later):


She is seen here in original Negus delivery c/s at LHR in 1974, minus name and black radome:


Source: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1078605

..and here in late 1979 after being named "Sir Francis Bacon":


Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Airways_747_(5957055712)_(2).jpg

G-AWNH, in the revised 1980-81 Negus c/s carrying "British" titles and given the name "Sir Walter Raleigh":


Source: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-AWNH

These complex namings/renamings by BA of their 747 fleet over the years have understandably caused much confusion to the manufacturers, creating mistakes - for example, BB400 got it wrong on their Negus -136 model G-AWNL by giving it the name ''Ennerdale Water''; in fact, that name was given much later on during the Landor era. When this aircraft was in Negus c/s, it carried the name "William Shakespeare" after 1981, a name which was previously carried by G-AWNK (this aircraft was sold to TWA as N17126 on 30.03.1981).

Other subjects in the Negus c/s could be the batch of B.747-136's delivered out of sequence from the original BOAC order during 1975-1976:

G-BBPU, 1975 delivery (minus name, without black radome):


Source: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-BBPU

...and seen here with revised "British" titles and black radome, now given the name "Henry Hudson" in 1982:


Source: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-BBPU

G-BDPV, 1976 delivery (minus name, with black radome) seen in 1979:


Source: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-BDPV

...and again here in 1981, with revised "British" titles and now given the name "City of Aberdeen":


Source: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-BDPV

Some BA Negus -236's had black radomes, too (not detailed by BB400 either):

G-BDXD in "British" titles, named "City of Plymouth", is seen in Birmingham on diversion, 24 February 1982:


Source:

https://flic.kr/p/fvbiv1

 

[Barison82]

G-BDXE in "British" titles, named "City of Glasgow", seen in Hong Kong, Kai Tak in October 1981:


Source:

https://flic.kr/p/aS62bK

BA Landor B.747-136/236 in 1:400:

The original BB400 Landor 747s were produced in 2004; both a -100 and -200 series were made, but they had errors in the artwork (the BA Coat of Arms was printed in solid white on the tail, not in silver, as per the 1:1, and the incorrect Utopia font was used for ''British Airways''. In addition, the version that BB400 chose to produce for the -100 series was an aircraft which was received second-hand to BA, much later on (G-BMGS), which had 3 upper-deck windows and was not protypical:

https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/8121

Later on in 2012, the Witty factory resurfaced with a seamless version of the original BB400 mould with corrected V-tail and stabilisers, and were by then being sold under the brand 'InFlight400'. They released a Landor B.747-136, G-AWNE, from the original BOAC fleet:

https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/25813

Issues with this model are the compressed Landor font and livery colour hue being too much on the blue side. It certainly did not match the earlier beige BB400 versions. They are missing Royal Mail logos, but the BA Coat of Arms are in the correct silver. Again, these versions are also long since sold-out and sought after.

We can go even further for other unique release ideas and look at a very early example of the Landor scheme that was applied to G-AWNO (shown earlier in Negus c/s), one of the first B.747-136s to receive the new livery in late November 1984, and renamed "City of Durham".

The photo below shows G-AWNO at Manchester on December 11, 1984. Notice the much smaller BA Crest - this was enlarged in 1985 to better suit the scale and became standard on all 747s from that year. Also of note, a black radome is still present which was also painted out very early on. These unusual features would make this a very interesting release subject:



G-AWNO - Early 1985, minus black radome:


Source: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/6485898

G-AWNO - Side profile view at LHR, December 1984:


Source:

https://flic.kr/p/ReabiF

By 1989, G-AWNO had the larger silver BA Crest applied on the tail which by now was standard across the BA fleet. By this time it had also been renamed again, for a third time, to "Grafham Water":


Source:

https://flic.kr/p/JsdN2u

This aircraft was also involved in a number of incidents.

This one was a very near miss: (infamously known as the 'November Oscar' incident, November 21, 1989). It was a very sad outcome for the Captain involved, however.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=147119

and

https://assets.publishing.service.g...4a13170008f3/Boeing_747-136__G-AWNO_08-94.pdf

BB400 produced a Landor -236 model in 2004, G-BDXJ:

https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/8122

Again, it has the incorrect Utopia font and the BA Crest printed in white. The post-1991 type Royal Mail logo is detailed here on the stern, which sets this model to the 1990s era.

InFlight400 made their version, G-BDXI, in 2012:

https://www.diecastmodelaircraft.com/db/model/25814

...which has all the issues as per the -136 plus it has a mis-printed wing registration of ''G-ADXI''!! Safe enough to say, we need to see reissues of these subjects in 1:400

 

[Barison82]

Other Landor variants include G-AWNA ''Colliford Lake'' with ''DREAMFLIGHT '' titles:

 

[Barison82]

... and ''The World's Biggest Offer'' titles as seen on G-BDPU:

 

[Barison82]

Below is a complete list of names which I compiled back in 2019 for the BA B.747-100/200 fleet. It covers all the complex changes and reassignment of names during the Negus & Landor eras.

Negus Era - Boeing 747-136:

G-AWNA Sir Richard Grenville (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s)
G-AWNB City of Newcastle
G-AWNC City of Belfast
G-AWND Christopher Marlowe (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s )
G-AWNE Sir Francis Drake (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s)
G-AWNF City of Westminster
G-AWNG City of London
G-AWNH Sir Walter Raleigh*
G-AWNI*
G-AWNJ John Donne
G-AWNK William Shakespeare (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles)*
G-AWNL William Shakespeare*
G-AWNM City of Bristol
G-AWNN Sebastian Cabot (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s)
G-AWNO Sir Francis Bacon (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s)
G-AWNP Sir John Hawkins (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s)

G-BBPU Henry Hudson (carried the name in both "British airways" and "British" titles wearing full Negus c/s)
G-BDPV City of Aberdeen

Apart from where noted, the aircraft listed above were named when wearing full Negus colours with "British" titles

* G-AWNH was named "Sir Walter Raleigh" in 1979 when wearing BOAC hybrid c/s. The name was lost for a period when the aircraft was repainted into full Negus c/s in 1980, carrying both "British airways" and "British" titles, 3-window Upper Deck. After Upper Deck conversion with 10 windows in 1981, the name was applied again, with "British" titles.

* G-AWNI was sold to TWA in March 1981; no name given. This aircraft did not receive repaint into full Negus c/s until circa September 1980, by which time it had received the revised "British" titles whilst still wearing BOAC hybrid c/s

* G-AWNK carried this name when wearing BOAC hybrid c/s only; it was sold to TWA in March 1981.

* G-AWNL was named "William Shakespeare" after being repainted in full Negus c/s in 1981; the name was transferred to this aircraft after G-AWNK was sold earlier in the same year

The first B.747-136's were named by BA in 1979. All of these were named after notable people; further aircraft named from 1981 onwards (G-AWNB/C/F/G/M & G-BDPV) were given names of cities, as applied to the B.747-236 fleet from the same year.

 

[Barison82]

Negus Era - Boeing 747-236:

G-BDXA City of Peterborough
G-BDXB City of Liverpool
G-BDXC City of Manchester
G-BDXD City of Plymouth
G-BDXE City of Glasgow
G-BDXF City of York
G-BDXG City of Oxford
G-BDXH City of Edinburgh*
G-BDXI City of Cambridge
G-BDXJ City of Birmingham
G-BDXK City of Canterbury
G-BDXL City of Winchester*

NOTE: G-BDXM - G-BDXP were delivered in 1987 and are therefore Landor era only

ALL the above were named when wearing "British" titles from late 1981 onwards; there was an initial period when these aircraft were minus names with the revised titles

* G-BDXH was involved in the Jakarta incident in 1982

* G-BDXL was leased to British Airtours Ltd. for the 1984 summer season. Returned to BA the same year. Name unchanged.

 

[Barison82]

In late 1981 BA began naming their -236 fleet after the names of British cities. The city names became the standard for the 747 fleet and the remaining unnamed -136's were also given these. When the new Landor livery was launched in December 1984, it was decided to rename the members of the -136 fleet which carried the names of notable people (given in 1979) with city names upon receiving their repaint into the new colours. This gave the entire 747 fleet uniformity having their city names only.

All of the names were now applied in the new Landor typeface, in white, and placed in a different position on the aircraft (now forward of L1 below the first class cabin, due to the new livery style). The city names went unchanged until 1989 when BA started taking delivery of the first new B.747-436's, when it was decided to pass the city names on the older -136 fleet to the latest -436’s (with a few exceptions). The -236 fleet continued to retain their city names however. As the -136’s lost their city names to the -436’s, they subsequently gained the names of UK lakes and waters. This is noted against all applicable aircraft.

Landor Era - Boeing 747-136:

G-AWNA City of Peterborough/Coliford Lake*
G-AWNB City of Newcastle/Llangorse Lake*
G-AWNC City of Belfast/Lake Windermere*
G-AWND City of Leeds*
G-AWNE City of Southampton/Derwent Water*
G-AWNF City of Westminster/Blagdon Lake*
G-AWNG City of London/Rutland Water*
G-AWNH City of Inverness/Devoke Water
G-AWNJ City of Sheffield/Bassenthwaite Lake*
G-AWNL City of Nottingham/Ennerdale Water*
G-AWNM City of Bristol/Ullswater*
G-AWNN City of Leicester/Loweswater*
G-AWNO City of Durham/Grafham Water*
G-AWNP City of Portsmouth/Hanningfield Water*

G-BBPU City of Dundee/Virginia Water*
G-BDPV City of Aberdeen/Blea Water*

ALL of the above carried “City” names from 1984-1989, then received new “Lake/Water” names from 1989 onwards

* G-AWNA had the previous city name passed on to G-BDXA. Carried “DREAMFLIGHT” titles in 1997

* G-AWNB had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLE. Carried the much smaller, earlier style BA Coat of Arms on the tail quarter-jack on initial application of Landor c/s in early 1985; this was altered to the larger-size crest (which became standard) in circa 1986. Retained a black radome until circa 1990

* G-AWNC had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLD

* G-AWND was destroyed in Kuwait on 18.2.1991. The city name was passed on to G-BNLF

* G-AWNE had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLG. Carried the much smaller, earlier style BA Coat of Arms on the tail quarter-jack on initial application of Landor c/s in early 1985; this was altered to the larger-size crest in circa 1986. Carried “DREAMFLIGHT” titles in 1992

* G-AWNF had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLH. Retained a black radome on early application of Landor c/s in 1985; this was removed circa 1989

* G-AWNG had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLA

* G-AWNJ had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLI

* G-AWNL had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLJ. Carried “The World’s Biggest Offer” titles in 1991

* G-AWNM had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLK

* G-AWNN had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLL. Carried the much smaller, earlier style BA Coat of Arms on the tail quarter-jack on initial application of Landor c/s in early 1985; this was altered to the larger-size crest in circa 1986

* G-AWNO had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLM. Carried the much smaller, earlier style BA Coat of Arms on the tail quarter-jack and retained a black radome on a very early application of Landor c/s in December 1984; I believe this was the first 747 to be painted in the new livery. The black radome had been removed by mid-1985 but the aircraft still sported the smaller crest - this was altered to the larger-size crest in circa 1986

* G-AWNP had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLN

* G-BBPU had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLO. Carried “The World’s Biggest Offer” titles in 1991

* G-BDPV had the previous city name passed on to G-BNLP

 

[Barison82]

Landor Era - Boeing 747-236:

Boeing 747-236:

G-BDXA City of Peterborough
G-BDXB City of Liverpool
G-BDXC City of Manchester
G-BDXD City of Plymouth
G-BDXE City of Glasgow
G-BDXF City of York
G-BDXG City of Oxford
G-BDXH City of Edinburgh/City of Elgin*
G-BDXI City of Cambridge
G-BDXJ City of Birmingham
G-BDXK City of Canterbury
G-BDXL City of Winchester
G-BDXM City of Derby
G-BDXN City of Stoke on Trent
G-BDXO City of Bath
G-BDXP City of Salisbury

* G-BDXH was renamed “City of Elgin” in 1989; its original city name was passed to G-BNLB. Carried “DREAMFLIGHT” titles in 1999

The following are ex-British Caledonian machines which were passed to BA upon merging with the airline on 14.4.1988. They had a variety of operators and leases; please refer to this excellent page for further info on this:

http://www.british-caledonian.com/BCal_WATN_B747.html

G-BJXN City of Worcester*
G-HUGE City of Exeter*
G-GLYN City of Perth*
G-NIGB City of Gloucester*
G-CITB City of Norwich*

* G-BJXN was leased by GATX; operated by BA 1988-1989 in full Landor c/s. It was bought by Potomac Capital in May 1990 and then leased to Continental Airlines. The city name passed on to G-BNLX

* G-HUGE was bought from Alia Royal Jordanian and delivered to British Caledonian on 18.3.1985. Operated by BA 1988-1989, initially wearing a BA applied Landor hybrid livery with “British Caledonian” titles in May 1988, then wearing full BA Landor c/s by August 1988. The name “City of Exeter” was carried when wearing both of these liveries. This city name was then passed to G-BNLV when the aircraft was bought by Potomac Capital in November 1990

* G-GLYN was bought from Wardair Canada and delivered to British Caledonian on 1.10.1986. Operated by BA 1988-1990, initially wearing a BA applied Landor hybrid livery with “British Caledonian” titles from May 1988 (minus name), then wearing full BA Landor c/s in 1989-1990 with the name “City of Perth”. This city name was then passed on to G-BNLZ when the aircraft was bought by Nora Leasing in February 1991

* G-NIGB was bought from Wardair Canada and delivered to British Caledonian on 19.3.1987. Operated by BA 1988-1990, initially retaining the original British Caledonian c/s in 1988, and then gaining full BA Landor c/s in 1989 where the name “City of Gloucester” was applied. This city name was then passed on to G-CIVI when the aircraft was bought by Potomac Capital in February 1991

* G-CITB was bought from Alia Royal Jordanian and delivered to British Caledonian on 10.9.1987. Operated by BA 1988-1990, initially retaining the original British Caledonian c/s in 1988; the aircraft was then bought by ANA in November 1989 and immediately leased back to BA the following day. Named “City of Norwich” wearing full BA Landor c/s 1989-1990 and returned to ANA in November 1990; the city name was passed on to G-BNLW

G-BLVE City of Lincoln*
G-BLVF City of Lancaster*
G-BMGS City of Swansea*

* G-BLVE was leased to BA on 29.4.1985. Wore full BA Landor c/s and carried the name “City of Lincoln”. Returned to MEA on 31.5.1990; the city name was passed on to G-BNLT

* G-BLVF was leased to BA on 1.11.1985. Wore full BA Landor c/s and carried the name “City of Lancaster”. Returned to MEA on 22.6.1990

* G-BMGS was originally an SAS machine. It was operated by BA from 5.3.1986, initially in British Airtours Landor c/s from 1986-1987; then full BA Landor c/s 1987-1989. Carried the name “City of Swansea” when operating in these c/s. Wore full Caledonian Landor c/s when subleased for the 1989 summer season and initially carried the BA city name at first, but then gained the name “Loch Ness” for the remainder of the sublease period. The city name was passed on to G-BNLY when this aircraft was sold to Virgin Atlantic in February 1990

 

[Jazajia]

Hey Alex, thanks for bringing this over here. I recently read a lot of it (didn't read it all) and also found some of the comments of the old timers from the UK very interesting over at DA.C.

I cited you and that very thread as a source in one of the last articles I wrote about some 747s in which I discussed G-BDXI. When G-BDXI was released a lot of collectors criticized it, now I understand it was frustration because it could have been a really wonderful model (and I think it is indeed a very nice model) but it really left much to be desired. However, at the time I was under the impression that the critics were more along the lines of "it is inferior to the BigBird one." But thanks in big part to your article I realize, to my surprise, that it is not really inferior to the BigBird ones, as those also have some pretty significant faults. I can't believe that there is effectively no correct classic 747 in the Landor livery in 1:400 scale. But, there is absolutely no shortage of L1011s in primitive molds, ugly molds, and top-notch molds. Absolutely nothing wrong with the TriStars, but I think manufacturers have their priorities tangled.

 

[Barison82]

Hey Alex, thanks for bringing this over here. I recently read a lot of it (didn't read it all) and also found some of the comments of the old timers from the UK very interesting over at DA.C.

I cited you and that very thread as a source in one of the last articles I wrote about some 747s in which I discussed G-BDXI. When G-BDXI was released a lot of collectors criticized it, now I understand it was frustration because it could have been a really wonderful model (and I think it is indeed a very nice model) but it really left much to be desired. However, at the time I was under the impression that the critics were more along the lines of "it is inferior to the BigBird one." But thanks in big part to your article I realize, to my surprise, that it is not really inferior to the BigBird ones, as those also have some pretty significant faults. I can't believe that there is effectively no correct classic 747 in the Landor livery in 1:400 scale. But, there is absolutely no shortage of L1011s in primitive molds, ugly molds, and top-notch molds. Absolutely nothing wrong with the TriStars, but I think manufacturers have their priorities tangled.

Very welcome Jorge, and I've just bookmarked that page - I'll give that article a read! I didn't even realise you'd done this Thanks for sticking me in there as a reference, much appreciated and very happy that the information was useful to you. That's what it's all about. Yes G-BDXI was so close, on that improved seamless mould, but sadly fell short in all those areas. It is not at all inferior to the BB400, exactly, as that tooling was the parent for the IF400/AV400 one which was a step up with the seamless slotted wings, eliminating the cradle join. The V-tail and horizontal stabilisers were also fixed, and had the correct tail chord/pitch. Sadly this came too late and the mould never got the use it deserved, and the factory liquidated soon after.

It's crazy that there is such a shortfall for the definitive classic 747 in 1:400. Indeed there are loads of L-1011s now to choose from (good or bad) yet precious little of our Jumbo! NG have made a fresh attempt with the 747-SP, which is excellent, but the nose profile is wrong. If they were to attempt a 747 classic, I would hope that important area is addressed before they do

 

[LeoMuse747]

This is an absolutely FANTASTIC insight, thank you so much for sharing all these info here! I had a great reading
Let's hope NG Models will release some BA classic Jumbos when they finally release their 747 Classics moulds.

On a sidenote: I was also quite impressed about the AWNO incident in Heathrow back in 89. I've never heard about it. Very sad to know the captain commited suicide. I guess he had lots of psychological pressure after the event.

 

[Barison82]

This is an absolutely FANTASTIC insight, thank you so much for sharing all these info here! I had a great reading
Let's hope NG Models will release some BA classic Jumbos when they finally release their 747 Classics moulds.

On a sidenote: I was also quite impressed about the AWNO incident in Heathrow back in 89. I've never heard about it. Very sad to know the captain commited suicide. I guess he had lots of psychological pressure after the event.

Thank you and you're very welcome - glad it was of interest! Yes, hopefully we'll see a very fine B.747-100/200 series mould from NG one day and see some definitive Negus/Landor releases on it

Yes, a very sad story regarding that 'November Oscar' incident. It highlights the fragility of mental health and the devastating results of extreme psychological trauma.