discussion Air Force One-VC-137C SAM 26000-1/144 Minicraft Freedom One donor kit

[Thunderstick]

I am starting this using the 1/144 Minicraft kit for Freedom One, same plastic as 1/144 Minicraft Air Force One VC-137C 26000 OOP kit using new Draw Decals for 26000 or 27000. Here is the boxing I am using and the boxing with the same sprues of Air Force One by Minicraft no longer available.

 

[Thunderstick]

Here is my start, nose weight and fuselage halves glued up. Also an image from the internet of new Draw Decals for Air Force One in tail numbers 26000 and 27000. This set of decals is suppose to be delivered this Friday.

 

[Geoffers]

Looks good John

I’m pulling up a chair to watch your build now.

Geoff.

 

[Jim R]

Never seen this modelled before. Looks a really interesting build

 

[Thunderstick]

Here is a picture of the kits parts, not overly complicated, just a typical 1/144 Minicraft airliner kit.

 

[flyjoe180]

Looking forward to seeing this build John. The decal sheet looks good, interesting they provide three different cockpit window decal formats.

 

[Thunderstick]

I added the cockpit glass, puttied up a few seams and assembled the wings.

 

[Thunderstick]

Looking forward to seeing this build John. The decal sheet looks good, interesting they provide three different cockpit window decal formats.

The 3rd cockpit windscreen decal from the left says "Minicraft Kit". Hmmmmmmmm, other model kits of 707-321 make windscreens different from Minicraft?

 

[flyjoe180]

The 3rd cockpit windscreen decal from the left says "Minicraft Kit". Hmmmmmmmm, other model kits of 707-321 make windscreens different from Minicraft?

A search on Scalemates shows there are only two 1/144 VC-137, the Minicraft and Airfix kits. In 1/44 scale there aren't many B707/720s either.

 

[Thunderstick]

The best 720 is Roden, X Scale has a new 707-124-Continental livery. I think at one time Minicraft did 12 versions of the 707 in Military and various civilian airliners. Atlantis reboxed the old Revell 1/139 707-120 in Boeings' demonstrator scheme. There are tons of 707s never done-320B-320C-420-320BAdvanced-220-138 and a gazillion military versions. Some claim to be certain versions but in reality aren't even close. Minicraft tried using their molds for different versions but were far from actually accurate. Someone could make a ton of money if they made all the 707 models from the 60s, 70s, and 80s and molded them accurately. I won't see that in my lifetime.