Retro Airliners & Liveries (1950s-2000) Group Build

[NWAN322]

Hey everyone!

Airliners aren’t necessarily the most popular subjects in the modeling world, but I think we can (almost) all admit that they are pretty good looking. I think that something that makes them even cooler are retro liveries! (this is also because I’m a 21st century baby, so all the planes and liveries that are quite simplified/minimalist now cough cough the new Korean Air livery cough cough

I was just asking @Tim_Kidwell1 for some guidance, and I’m thinking of starting a group build focused on retro airliners and liveries!

Any commercial aircraft from the beginning of the Jet Age (1950s) up through 1999 are welcome! Jets, props, any airline, any scale, as long as it fits in that time period! It would be awesome to see some more representation of the classic airliners like the 707s, DH Comets, 727s, DC-8s!

I think we could even extend it to a modern aircraft, but ONLY IF they are sporting a retro livery (ie, the Lufthansa 747-8i Retro, or the American 737-800 Astrojet, or the Southwest MAX 8 in the Vomit Comet (Herbert D. Kelleher) livery!)

The build would run from now to June 12, 2026 (Maiden Flight of the 777). That’s a good six months, so enough time to finish your current project, but also hopefully enough time to join the GB! No strict cut-off date for entry! Like with other group builds, no completed builds (up to 20% completion is okay)

If you’re interested, let me know what you’d like to build. Let me know if you have any questions! If you ever make a build log for your project, let me know and I will link it to the roster post in this thread!

Happy building!

TL;DR

1. Airliners are cool
2. GB for retro airliners (1950s to 2000) OR modern aircraft with retro livery. It just has to be retro.
3. GB will run from now to June 12, 2026!
4. Let me know what you’re going to build!

UPDATE 6/18/25 - New end date of June 12, 2026 (Maiden Flight of the 777)

[NWAN322]

To start us off, I will be working on a Delta L-100-10 Air Freighter in the Widget Livery! I might throw on something else if I finish this project early!

[NWAN322]

Current Roster

Participant	Airliner & Livery	Build Log	Completed Build
@NWAN322	L-100-10, Delta Widget	Completed my 2nd Airliner! (kind of) - Delta L-100-10 Conversion (WIP) - #5 by NWAN322
@RealG	747SP, Pan-Am
@fotofrank	Constellation, TBD
@fotofrank	737-200, TBD
@keavdog	707, “Airplane!” Livery
@keavdog	737-200, Ho0ters Livery
@fxsti03-42	Constellation, TWA
@tristanmorgan27	747-400, Northwest
@wdossel	Constellation, EAL

[RealG]

This GB could be fun as well as colorful! I have a few airliners in the stash - let me take a peek and see what I have. Off the top of my head, I know I have a BOAC VC-10 and a Pan Am 747SP.

[crown_r_n7]

This may be the spark I need to get back to the bench.

[missileman2000]

I like to build what I see around me. It has been years since I was on a military airbase, but probably get to a local airport several times a year. I was building a homebuilt, but had to sell project when wife learned what an engine would cost. Did previously own an Ercoupe. So I love to build models of civil aircraft- airliners, business planes, or personal aircraft!

[fxsti03-42]

I have the stash to do this group build.

TWA late livery should fit in this since that scheme was from the late 90s.

[NWAN322]

Awesome! Just let me know which one you want to build!

[NWAN322]

That’s a great stash! Just let me know which one you’re going to build!

[RealG]

I found this in the stash right away, I love the 747 and Pan Am, and I have a thing for oddball aircraft, so I’ll go in with this one:

[NWAN322]

Sounds good! I love the SP myself! Looking forward to seeing that build!

[RealG]

I have some aftermarket decals and wheels ready:

[fxsti03-42]

I thought the wing was a display base and wondered why they stuck it at the front. LOL

[fotofrank]

I have a 1/144 Revell MATS Lockheed Constellation in my stash.
Would MATS livery be eligible?

[NWAN322]

I think that one should be ok! It’s walking the line pretty close between civil and military, but it is a Constellation! Looking forward to see your work! Adding you to the roster!

[fotofrank]

What I’ll do is find some civilian decals for the build and save the MATS decals for another build.

[fotofrank]

Here are my submissions for the group build:

I will need to order decals for each build. For the Connie, I’m saving the MATS decals for some future build and I’m going to get a civilian decal set.

[keavdog]

I’d hope you make 1 year as I have a couple including an old 707 with the move “Airplane” decals (if that counts).
And there’s this

[RealG]

I am standing by and ready.

Initial dry fit indicates some wonky-ness, but I think I can manage. The kit has no windows, so no laborious filling and sanding! The cockpit windscreen is integrally molded with a portion of the nose and is quite nice, but I have those “occupied” decals for them.

I’m kind of excited to be starting this kit, as I have really wanted a finished 747SP in my collection!

[NWAN322]

Honestly I was thinking about making it a year! I wasn’t too sure how long was acceptable, but I saw that the Japanese Group build was a year. I’ll go ahead and update it! (I’ll see if I can find another significant aviation day haha)

Glad to have you join us! Do you want me to enter you in with the 707?