Best Of Detailing the Micro-Trains BNSF Fuselage Set

[Mark W]

On the topic of the new decal sheet, I haven't seen those white/taped window covers in quite some time.  Now they come with a gray window plug, like what is used on the cockpit windows.  I wonder if there's time to advocate for the window plugs on the new decal sheet instead of the old covers.   


Here's another J Train video I shot back in Spring this year that can provide some great reference.   I may have gotten a tiny bit way too close at one point.   

Neville, I'm using Krylon "Ruddy Brown" primer for the Skyboxes. 

[pmpexpress]

After reviewing reply numbers 138 - 142 in this thread, I had some concerns about the use of the new decal sheet with the existing Micro-Trains fuselage.

As seen in the following illustrations that were obtained from the Internet, it appears that neither decal sheet run accurately depicts the proper window arrangement for a standard production Boeing 737-500, 737-600, or 737-700.

Although I have seen a few variations in various prototype images, most 737-500 and 737-600 aircraft appear to have a space and eight windows behind the forward doors, five windows directly in front of the wing doors, and seventeen windows directly behind them.

Boeing 737-500



Boing 737-600



Most 737-700 aircraft appear to have a space and eleven windows behind the forward doors, five windows directly in front of the wing doors, and eighteen windows directly behind them.

Boeing 737-700



Working your way from the windshield windows back to the aft end of the fuselage, the window arrangement depicted in the first and second run decal sheets is a forward door, a space, eight windows directly behind it, a space, five windows directly in front of the wing door, sixteen windows directly after it, a space, and then the aft door, while the new decal sheet has a forward door, twelve windows directly behind it, a space, five windows directly in front of the wing door, twenty windows directly behind it, a space, and then the aft door.



As it appears that Boeing has offered its customers a choice of custom window arrangements at one time or another, the Micro-Trains decal sets might depict a not so common, specially ordered configuration.

Under the assumption that it is a standard configuration 737-500 or a 737-600 that is being modeled, the first and second run decals are missing a window behind the wing doors, while under the assumption that it is a standard configuration 737-700 that is now being modeled, the new decal sets appear to have an extra window behind the forward door and two extra windows behind the wing doors.

As of yet, I have not come across any prototype photos of aircraft bearing the exact door and window configurations that Micro-Trains has depicted in their decals.

While this may or may not present a problem if the depicted configurations were actually produced by Boeing, taking the elimination of the space between the forward door and the first window into account, with eight additional windows added (i.e., four behind the forward doors and four behind the wing doors), at the very least, the artist preparing the new artwork would have had to compress the length of the entire strip of doors and windows in order to accommodate the existing Micro-Trains fuselage, which likely depicts a 737-600.

Although the new artwork may indeed prove to be accurate, given that the Boeing 737-700 is longer than both the 737-500 and the 737-600, it was the door and window arrangement that was selected for the new run of decals that led me to believe a new fuselage was also being tooled up.

Note: As seen in the illustrations, the location of the Wi-Fi dome on a Boeing 737-700 appears to be directly over the seventh through the eleventh windows, as viewed from the aft of the fuselage.

Mark,

Thanks again for your response and for sharing the additional large format video.

It's the first time I've seen a prototype 89' MTTX idler flatcar in use.

Wow, that BNSF right of way is spotless.

[Mark W]

I just noticed something new on the brushguards in my video.  While I was running my J Train on the Free-moN layout at the NTS back in August, I met an upper-mid level woman that works at BNSF, and closely with the fuselage trains.  She shared a lot of cool insights, for instance once a fuselage is delivered apparently they start a clock for that fuselage counting down until the first passenger steps on board.  Airlines sell tickets long before the aircraft is built, and if there are any delays in delivery and building, that means cancelled flights.

Another thing she said is that they are well on their way in equipping every brushguard with cameras.  In my video, you can see all three units have them.  The pelican case at the base of the brushguard holds all the electronics, and there are two holes cut out in the top corners of the guard facing the fuselage.  It used to be (still is?) if a fuselage arrives with any scratch or scruff in the green paint, the entire unit is scrapped.  Now with the recording, they can go back and see exactly when, where, and what caused it.  Imagine being the guy with that job...

[peteski]

I just noticed something new on the brushguards in my video.  While I was running my J Train on the Free-moN layout at the NTS back in August, I met an upper-mid level woman that works at BNSF, and closely with the fuselage trains.  She shared a lot of cool insights. . .

It is amazing that you can meet so many interesting people at train shows (and  the information they can share with us during a friendly chat).  Then of course are the grumpy river-counters too.  We try to be nice to them (within reason).   

Here is a closeup of the new window plugs. They  actually look like plugs installed instead of the clear polycarbonate "glass".



As far as the MTL fuselage goes, its scale length is 103'  4".  That is without the nose and tail cones.  So it likely it depicts a 737-300.

From http://www.dimensionsinfo.com/boeing-737-dimensions/
737-900 fuselage length is 138 ft 2 in
737-300 fuselage length is 109 ft 7 in
737-600 fuselage length is 102 ft 6 in

[Mark W]

Looking at that image closer, are those plugs?  Those bubbles look exactly like what you see in a poorly applied screen protector.  I always thought assumed they shipped with empty holes, covered/taped to keep weather out.  This looks like they do install windows at Spirit and just apply a heavy screen protector thing for transit. 

[peteski]

Looking at that image closer, are those plugs?  Those bubbles look exactly like what you see in a poorly applied screen protector.  I always thought assumed they shipped with empty holes, covered/taped to keep weather out.  This looks like they do install windows at Spirit and just apply a heavy screen protector thing for transit. 

Your guess is as good as mine.  But you're right - these do  look more like thick clear protective film over polycarbonate window than any sort of a plug.  One of these days I'll make few sets of N scale decals for various types of window covers. It is on my long to-do lists (as I'm also working on a set of fuselages for friend's layout.  We started with the Wolfbone Games 3-d printed fuselages (in two lengths)  before MTL came out with their injection molded fuselage.

[pmpexpress]

Yesterday, Joe D'Amato posted the following response on another forum board:

The fuselage in all of the production runs (which is using the same tooling as the first two runs) closely depicts a 737-700, or the military 737-700C fuselage, at 110 feet in length (measured after nose cone and tail cones are added during Boeing assembly). It is not a 737-500, 600 or any other variant. Additionally, the window placement/configuration has not changed from earlier runs (the initial rendering shown above was for representation only and does not accurately depict the final production shape or configuration of decals). No artwork has been compressed or stretched to make it fit. The window configuration depicted is an average of several prototype photos of 737-700 assemblies, and if a particular configuration is desired, that is up to the modeler. In this latest pre-order, additional decals added include more yellow tape striping for customization, black protective covers for tail mount components, nose gear door cover, two blacked out cockpit windows, fuselage sub assembly numbers, and clearance device/icebreaker markings. It should also be noted that all of the released pre-order renderings are for representation only, and final artwork may differ, especially on the decal sheet.

First delivered in December 1997, a Boeing Next Generation (aka 737NG) aircraft, the 737-700 series replaced the 737-300, a Boeing 737 Classic model (which refers to -300, -400, and -500 series aircraft).

As seen in the following illustrations that were obtained from the Internet, with a similar size and window arrangement, unlike the 737-300 (which first flew in 1984 and remained in production until 1999), the 737-700 was transported on either of the two styles of fuselage car sets depicted by Micro-Trains.

Note: The Wi-Fi dome seen on the 737-700 is absent on the 737-300 illustration.

Boeing 737-300



Boeing 737-700



There are two significant statements in Joe's response:

"The window configuration depicted is an average of several prototype photos of 737-700 assemblies..."

"(the initial rendering shown above was for representation only and does not accurately depict the final production shape or configuration of decals)."

With this being said, it may still be possible to revise the new pre-production artwork to reflect the most commonly delivered 737-700 window configuration (i.e., a space and eleven windows behind the forward doors, five windows directly in front of the wing doors, and the eighteen windows directly behind them).

Despite my criticism of the depicted window configuration, the decal renderings are very impressive and appear to encompass everything that is required to completely dress a 737 fuselage that is traveling by rail.

The blacked out cockpit windows, the black stabilizer and tail cone mount coverings, the hull numbers, and the brush guard lettering are welcome additions to the door, window, nose cone mount, and wing root mount coverings.

Still in for 20 - 24 of the new sets if they should be made available separately, I wonder if simply cutting off the extra windows before applying the decals to the fuselage will match the look of the commonly seen prototype aircraft?

[peteski]

Well, not splitting hairs, if the model depicts the 110 foot long fuselage of a 737-700 without the nose and tail cones, I still think that this fuselage could still work for depicting the 737-300 which is supposedly 109' 7" long (5 scale inches shorter, or 0.044" in N scale).  Unless the fuselage has some features specific to the -700 variant.

[pmpexpress]

Well, not splitting hairs, if the model depicts the 110 foot long fuselage of a 737-700 without the nose and tail cones, I still think that this fuselage could still work for depicting the 737-300 which is supposedly 109' 7" long (5 scale inches shorter, or 0.044" in N scale).  Unless the fuselage has some features specific to the -700 variant.

You're not splitting hairs at all, as I have to concur with you on this observation.

Although no comparisons were made between any of the prototype photos that I have come across, the only visual differences detected in the illustrations are what appear to be slightly smaller engine nacelles, some variations in the vertical stabilizer, the inclusion of the Wi-Fi dome, and a second small rooftop fin directly behind it.

As the fuselages are devoid of the stabilizers and the wings when shipped by rail, it would be very difficult to ascertain whether it was an incomplete -300 or a -700 that was being transported.

Given that the first -700 delivery was in December 1997, my guess is that the only real giveaway would be if one was looking at a pre-1997 photo or video of a Boeing fuselage train.

With the -300 and the -700 being so similar, from a modeling standpoint, the fuselage coverings and markings, the railcar markings and reporting marks, and the style of idler flat used would likely dictate what the era being modeled was, and which model of aircraft was being transported.

As my preference leans towards the component box equipped idler flatcars, I will likely be modeling a pre-2014 consist, which means the MTTX flatcars from the upcoming Micro-Trains release will be mated with shorter flatcars fitted with component boxes.

[peteski]

The other variation which could be modeled is the 4 small cockpit windows over the large main windows.  I noticed that some (usually the older) airplanes have those windows while others do not.  Since that detail is a decal, both versions could be made.

[JoeD]

as my mom would say, hands on hips..."Ya'll need to go outside and play"   LOL

Joe

[peteski]

as my mom would say, hands on hips..."Ya'll need to go outside and play"   LOL

Joe

Neah, this is more fun (and we don't even get paid for doing all this research)!! 

[pmpexpress]

The other variation which could be modeled is the 4 small cockpit windows over the large main windows.  I noticed that some (usually the older) airplanes have those windows while others do not.  Since that detail is a decal, both versions could be made.

Cool...

Don't think I have ever seen a picture of one of these variations.

Many of the 737-300 images found on the Internet are of older models that have been upgraded at some point in their life.

Apparently, Boeing offers winglet upgrades for their classic series aircraft.

[peteski]

Cool...

Don't think I have ever seen a picture of one of these variations.

Many of the 737-300 images found on the Internet are of older models that have been upgraded at some point in their life.

Apparently, Boeing offers winglet upgrades for their classic series aircraft.

Info in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/737_%28Aircraft%29 explains it.

Most 737 cockpits were delivered with "eyebrow windows" positioned above the main glareshield, which were a feature of the original 707 and 727 to allow for better crew visibility. Contrary to popular belief, these windows were not intended for celestial navigation[109] (only the military T-43A had a sextant port for star navigation, which the civilian models lacked). With modern avionics, the windows became redundant, and many pilots actually placed newspapers or other objects in them to block out sun glare. They were eliminated from the 737 cockpit design in 2004, although they are still installed on customer request. The eybrow windows are sometimes removed and plugged, usually during maintenance overhauls, and can be distinguished by the metal plug which differs from the smooth metal in later aircraft that were not originally fitted with the windows.

With eyebrow windows:


No eyebrow windows.

[sundowner]

The -700 is an updated -300. The difference in length is when the tail cone added on final assembly.