Model teaser from HX model, partially physical.

[Phantom]

Does this mean there are two versions of the 743 wing? One uses the -200 wing, and the other uses the same wing as the -200, but with a leading edge similar to the -400 wing (WBF)?
(Sorry, although I know the 743 is somewhat special, I still don't quite understand it. Do anyone have a deeper understanding/photo reference?)

The -300 has the wing of a -200. Late built airframes received some mods from the 744 program like a refined WBF etc. (1988 built VR-HON was one of them)
A -400 wing is basically a classic wing with added span (wingtip extensions), adding a 6th outer wing slat segment plus winglets.

It already didn't help NG and already also not HX, but just in case:

Thread 'Everyone's waiting for NG doing 747Classics in detail and correct all the way - so how many differences are there on a "747Classic"?'

Nov 24, 2022

Thought it might be fun to collect the various differences that can be spotted on a "747Classic" (1970 to 1991) - many of these are worth to be molded correctly, some details are sure over the top in 1/400 and are more for the serious (larger) scale modeler. So this is really just for the fun.


First and most classic 747: the 747-100 as seen in the early 1970's
Here's D-ABYC with the typical SATCOM aerial just aft of the upperdeck, HF-antennas on the wingtips, early "straight" pylons and JT9D nacelles with secondary air inlet ("blow in") doors. (Note that #1 is idling in this...

• Phantom
• Replies: 27
• Forum: 1:400 Scale

• 
• 

 

[Aircrafter93]

Indeed... You can't simply slap on a 747-400 wing, sand off the winglet and wingtip extension, and call it a late model 747-300 with the new wing-to-body fairing (WBF). The 747-300 is actually much closer to the 747-200 series, having an identical wing (except some late build 747-200s and 747-300s when they started adding the new WBF, such as examples flown by Sabena, Air India, Cathay, etc.). I believe these changes and/or aerodynamic improvements to the 747 Classics started being gradually rolled out on the Everett assembly line as the 747-400s starting coming onto the assembly lines.

I posted my question before even seeing this.

They definitely took the wing that was used on the ANA Pikachu jet.

Technically speaking, what is different about a later 747-300 WBF to a 747-400D wing? I am genuinely curious because I never even knew the 747-300 had an updated WBF

 

[LeoMuse747]

I posted my question before even seeing this.

They definitely took the wing that was used on the ANA Pikachu jet.

Technically speaking, what is different about a later 747-300 WBF to a 747-400D wing? I am genuinely curious because I never even knew the 747-300 had an updated WBF

Most of the B747-300s had the early WBF just like the B747-200.
Some late built B747-300s had the updated WBF like the B747-400.

The issue on this Cathay B743 model is the wingspan. They've used the B747-400 wing (which is longer). The length increase is noticeable at the wingtips.

By the way: the B747-400D should have the same wing of late built B747-300s:
updated WBF and short wingspan, without wingtip extension and antennas

 

[IndyJets]

Most of the B747-300s had the early WBF just like the B747-200.
Some late built B747-300s had the updated WBF like the B747-400.

In the model railroad world, we call these incremental production changes "phases"... for instance, here's a very detailed phase chart for the EMD SD40-2 with approximate production dates. https://www.trainiax.net/mephase-emdsd40-2.php

As you can see here, phase 4 (the very end of the production run, and actually only appeared on a very specific group of units built for Soo Line) applies the general characteristics of the 50 Series which had just entered series production at that time. Just like how the late 747-300s had some features of the -400.

Perhaps we could do a similar approach for aircraft, perhaps with the phase changes delineated by line number? I had always suspected that production phases for planes might be a thing (knowing that certain airworthiness directives are only applicable to certain line number ranges, for instance) but it would be nice to have a systematic approach for what specific changes were made, and if they're externally distinguishable or not.

 

[Aircrafter93]

Most of the B747-300s had the early WBF just like the B747-200.
Some late built B747-300s had the updated WBF like the B747-400.

The issue on this Cathay B743 model is the wingspan. They've used the B747-400 wing (which is longer). The length increase is noticeable at the wingtips.

By the way: the B747-400D should have the same wing of late built B747-300s:
updated WBF and short wingspan, without wingtip extension and antennas

Interesting. Thanks for the info. So even the Pikachu Jet has an incorrect length.

Welp! Guess it’s time to bring out the sprue cutters and nail file to make it correct

 

[LeoMuse747]

Interesting. Thanks for the info. So even the Pikachu Jet has an incorrect length.

Yep, it's incorrect.
B747-400D have the same wingspan of Classic 747s.
HX is sadly using the 747-400 regular wing and just removing the winglets, which is wrong.

 

[vsr]

Wow that CX 744 sold out fast

 

[pons399]

Wow that CX 744 sold out fast

It’s still up on Taobao

 

[vsr]

It’s still up on Taobao

I managed to snag one this morning haha. At least on futurewings, the flaps up version was gone within hours.

 

[qweyrhgf]

I just reported the 743 wing problem to HX and they said they received it. Let's see if they can improve the 743 wing.

 

[Aircrafter93]

Took matters into my own hands with the Pikachu Jet and filed down the wing extensions easy modification with a set of sprue cutters, nail file and some touch up paint for the wings

 

[Aircrafter93]

I think what HX should have done is a traditional 747-300, like VR-HII for example. I know that they are working on the Qantas Nalanji Dreaming 747-300, so they already have the tooling. They also have the -200 wing, so a release like the picture below would be accurate with the standard -200 wing and wingtip fences.

 

[Phantom]

I just reported the 743 wing problem to HX and they said they received it. Let's see if they can improve the 743 wing.

I'm pretty sure they knew this as that's rather elementary knowledge if you're making 747 models.
I guess they chose HON over the others because they shy from investing into a dedicated 743/SUD fuselage mould. With HON they at least got the WBF correct.

 

[Aircrafter93]

I'm pretty sure they knew this as that's rather elementary knowledge if you're making 747 models.
I guess they chose HON over the others because they shy from investing into a dedicated 743/SUD fuselage mould. With HON they at least got the WBF correct.

But I am pretty sure they are invested in a dedicated 743 fuselage. Early on in this thread, there are pictures of QF Nalanji Dreaming, and the wing root looks rounded like the standard 743. I could be wrong though...

 

[Phantom]

Took matters into my own hands with the Pikachu Jet and filed down the wing extensions easy modification with a set of sprue cutters, nail file and some touch up paint for the wings

That's indeed an easy fix for the collection. Just the 6th flap segement would be a problem - unless of course you never flip the model around.
But I don't think collectors would accept it that way.

 

[Phantom]

But I am pretty sure they are invested in a dedicated 743 fuselage. Early on in this thread, there are pictures of QF Nalanji Dreaming, and the wing root looks rounded like the standard 743. I could be wrong though...

Forgot about this. Had another look and think this could indeed be a dedicated 743.
Curious about HON then. Maybe because you get it done in one setup with the 744 so that it saves you some dollars.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Took matters into my own hands with the Pikachu Jet and filed down the wing extensions easy modification with a set of sprue cutters, nail file and some touch up paint for the wings

Bold move… You have more guts than I do to alter my models.