Official Freewing Twin 70mm AL37 Airliner Thread

[zdsweet]

Hey everyone! I finally got the time to sit down and make a post with the assembly of my custom Callie Graphics Alaska Airlines AL-37. Below are 16 images from the box through flight of the project. All details of the assembly are in the image descriptions. For those curious on the color I used for the tail, here it is. I also went to Home Depot with the wings to match the white for touch up since the white came off easily from decals/prep tape for the paint. Overall, I had a blast doing it and it was my first time ever doing custom work on any model (livery wise). Enjoy!


Ready to unbox!


Unboxed and ready to begin the project.


The Alaska decals by Callie Graphics all set to go. Even the doggo approves...maybe?


Fuselage glued together, vertical fin installed, first batch of tail graphics installed (as much
as I could do before beginning paint on the tail)


Winglet/scimitar decals installed. Kept it simple.


Nacelles all completed. I forgot to measure twice and cut once on a couple of the warning
decals but thankfully since Callie had doubled those decals in addition to the ones that
come in the box, I was able to make it work.


Wings completed. These were difficult to get on properly but I'm happy with how it
turned out all things considered.


Tail all prepped for painting. I opted to prep with painter's tape just shy of the blue on
Callie's tail graphics. I knew my blue paint wasn't quite a perfect match so chose to
paint over the graphics to ensure a perfect match. I'm happy with how it turned out.


It took 4 of these 150ml cans to get a good looking solid paint on the tail. This paint was
a winner in regards to the decals...ZERO paint peeled off when removing/installing the
tail decals as opposed to the stock white paint on the airplane. Acrylic is the way to go.


Fresh paint after removing the prep. Note that the match worked and the blue on the
decal isn't even noticeable as part of the decal.


Lots of cutting...trimming...holding it...comparing it to the photos of the real plane...going
back...nah that isn't quite right...hey hun, can you hold this for me? LOL. Glad with
how it turned out though! Long live the Eskimo.


Final product! So happy with this bird.


Tail view.


Nose view.


Whoops! Accidentally ordered "737 MAX 9" instead of 8 from Callie...8 will be ordered
soon. :-P


Video still from in-flight. I hope to have a video out in the next couple weeks on my channel. Stay tuned and happy flying!

[Slowflight]

Not in the EU warehouse.

My mistake I thought you were in SC , actually I just got an email mine just shipped.

[Aros]

Great job zdsweet, turned out fantastic. I appreciate the photos especially since that is the livery I will be choosing as well.

[Apriliamgt]

Hey everyone! I finally got the time to sit down and make a post with the assembly of my custom Callie Graphics Alaska Airlines AL-37. Below are 16 images from the box through flight of the project. All details of the assembly are in the image descriptions. For those curious on the color I used for the tail, here it is. I also went to Home Depot with the wings to match the white for touch up since the white came off easily from decals/prep tape for the paint. Overall, I had a blast doing it and it was my first time ever doing custom work on any model (livery wise). Enjoy!


Ready to unbox!


Unboxed and ready to begin the project.


The Alaska decals by Callie Graphics all set to go. Even the doggo approves...maybe?


Fuselage glued together, vertical fin installed, first batch of tail graphics installed (as much
as I could do before beginning paint on the tail)


Winglet/scimitar decals installed. Kept it simple.


Nacelles all completed. I forgot to measure twice and cut once on a couple of the warning
decals but thankfully since Callie had doubled those decals in addition to the ones that
come in the box, I was able to make it work.


Wings completed. These were difficult to get on properly but I'm happy with how it
turned out all things considered.


Tail all prepped for painting. I opted to prep with painter's tape just shy of the blue on
Callie's tail graphics. I knew my blue paint wasn't quite a perfect match so chose to
paint over the graphics to ensure a perfect match. I'm happy with how it turned out.


It took 4 of these 150ml cans to get a good looking solid paint on the tail. This paint was
a winner in regards to the decals...ZERO paint peeled off when removing/installing the
tail decals as opposed to the stock white paint on the airplane. Acrylic is the way to go.


Fresh paint after removing the prep. Note that the match worked and the blue on the
decal isn't even noticeable as part of the decal.


Lots of cutting...trimming...holding it...comparing it to the photos of the real plane...going
back...nah that isn't quite right...hey hun, can you hold this for me? LOL. Glad with
how it turned out though! Long live the Eskimo.


Final product! So happy with this bird.


Tail view.


Nose view.


Whoops! Accidentally ordered "737 MAX 9" instead of 8 from Callie...8 will be ordered
soon. :-P


Video still from in-flight. I hope to have a video out in the next couple weeks on my channel. Stay tuned and happy flying!

Amazing work there . Did you experience and paint coming off the fuselage? After you pulled the masking tape off ??

I need to do my fuselage. But slightly worried

[Apriliamgt]

Engines out the paint shop

[zdsweet]

Amazing work there . Did you experience and paint coming off the fuselage? After you pulled the masking tape off ??

I need to do my fuselage. But slightly worried

Great job zdsweet, turned out fantastic. I appreciate the photos especially since that is the livery I will be choosing as well.

Thanks guys!

Yes, Apriliamgt, even peeling back slowly, some paint came off. Most stayed on, though. I bought the matched touch up white paint for this reason. It's important to note that you should always prep in room temperature. AKA install decals and paint when the foam and ambient temp are room temperature for best results. This includes peeling the tape off. You could also carefully from a distance hold a heat gun and point it at where you're peeling back to try and prevent the paint from peeling.

[Elbee]

Thanks guys!.

ZDS, A very hearty welcome to "The Squawk" and kudos on a job well done. She looks great, Sir. Best, LB

[GliderGuy]

Where is it coming apart? I couldn't see anything in the video.

My fuse glue joint also separated at the top. Might be a good idea to add a short carbon tube piece at the backbone prior to assembling the fuse halves. I solved the problem by adding internal reinforcement/braces at the joint. Easy to work...can put your arm down the fuse.

[GliderGuy]

I used the glue it came with and it feels very strong. I put light coat on rod and the placed them into front half of fuse. Pulled them out let them air for 30sec then reinsert them, then twist, twist, twist. Then light coat on both front and back halves of fuse and on rods sticking out. Wait 30sec, slide together, pull apart wait 10sec and slid back together. Hold together for a minute.
When done I couldn’t budge it.

gravy

My fuse glue joint also separated at the top. Might be a good idea to add a short carbon tube piece at the backbone prior to assembling the fuse halves. I solved the problem by adding internal reinforcement/braces at the joint. Easy to work...can put your arm down the fuse.

[Dkurtzid]

There have been a couple of issues with the fuselage separation at the joint after a few flights. Just curious if the painted tape that came with the model to go around the joint was used or not? I suspect that tape may have been more than cosmetic and was actually additional strengthening of that glue joint.

[GregC540i]

There have been a couple of issues with the fuselage separation at the joint after a few flights. Just curious if the painted tape that came with the model to go around the joint was used or not? I suspect that tape may have been more than cosmetic and was actually additional strengthening of that glue joint.

That strip is about 1/2-3/4" wide. Not sure if it will help hold the two halves together.

[JamesonC]

My mistake I thought you were in SC , actually I just got an email mine just shipped.

I am. But, the person who was asking stated "EU warehouse" in his question.

[HaroldAnderson]

anyone doing an earlier model 737, do you plan on modifing the scallops on the engine nacelles? if so did you find a technique that worked well to fill in the voids?

I'm doing a C40, well a stretched C40... ;-) I removed the chevrons and extended the thrust tube to make a somewhat scale looking engine that should not affect fan performance as long as you keep the exit diameter of the thrust tube to 59 mm. I added a ring to the thrust tube to make it look more scale like. I still need to use an air brush for some added detail and finish the paint where I removed the chevrons but I think it looks OK for a semi-scale engine that you can fly with. I used the metal hose clamp with a heat gun to help form the ring to fit the thrust tube to make it easier to glue in place. The thrust tube material is from Hobby Lobby. No 3D printing required and the thin materials used only added a few grams to the plane.

[RC Cosplay]

I watched most of the videos on the AL37, however i could not gauge how much runway it needs to take off and land. Can anyone give me a rough estimate on how much runway @ minimum would be needed for take off and landing. Thanx

[Dunlop Dangler]

Thanks for the welcome and responses, guys, and thanks, Alpha, for the info on the shipping situation to the EU. I've signed up for the "Notify me" option so I'll watch and wait. It's cr*p weather for flying in the UK now anyway !
Meanwhile I'll enjoy reading what others have done, some really great liveries so far and your engine nacelle mod looks fantastic Harold. This plane really is a blank canvas for all airliner enthusiasts !

[wvrailfan]

I just finished wrapping my 37. Taking some modeler's license I'm calling it a C-40D.

JB

[S.W.Warbirds]

I just finished wrapping my 37. Taking some modeler's license I'm calling it a C-40D.

JB

Very nice !

[Porkster]

Alpha Just wanted to thank the Guys at Motion and of course Alpha! The plane is outstanding, every new foamy I get from Motion/freewing just keeps getting better and better, incredible features and overall finish.
It arrived here in Suffolk, UK on Monday at 0900 and was pretty much built, stickered, radio fitted and programmed by 1700, including stopping for lunch and every ten minutes or so to just stand back and admire it, wow!!
The packaging was excellent and it arrived without even a mark on it. Fair play to the factory for really up'ing their production and packing techniques.
My local flying club had its pre-christmas meeting monday evening and I took it along. The reaction was amazing and most of the guys there struggled to tell it was foam.
I'm really, really impressed.
Now I just need to get some decent weather to give it its maiden!!

[Nebraska Trevor]

So wanting to order one of these. Does anybody know if the planes for US customers ship out from IL, Just trying to guess how long it may take to arrive. There sure are some inspiring pictures and videos in this thread!

[Alpha]

Nebraska Trevor Welcome to Hobby Squawk! Yes, all our US orders are shipped from our Illinois fulfillment center. With the Free Shipping option, transit to either coast takes around 5 business days on average, and the closer you are to Illinois from the coast, the shorter the transit is, under normal circumstances. With Christmas next week, though, I would not expect normal transit times from the shipping companies.

Thanks for the opportunity to earn your business!

Porkster Thank you, I'm glad you and your club liked it!