The Mach 2 Caravelle kit came out in 1999 and I grabbed one. It’s been on the shelf since because, well, it’s a Mach 2 kit and I didn’t have the time to really deal with the issues involved. But I do now…
The Sud Caravelle has always been a love of mine. My father was a member of the UAL engineering team that went to France to buy 20 when their plans for the Electra to fill high speed domestic schedules evaporated along with that airliners viability.
I spent some summers over in Toulouse while he worked and mom and I got junketed around by the airplane company. In addition to the main manufacturer, SNCASE, Fiat also contributed, RR supplied the Avon power plants, and DeHavilland contributed components from the Comet program, notably the very recognizable cocpit assembly.
Because the French government was a heavy investor, the Armee de L’Air had their own uses, and the originals even had tail chutes!
I have a bunch of hours in these things, stateside. They made a lot of noise, and the takeoff acceleration was like nothing I’ve experienced.
The kit comes in a big top opener, with decals for United and the Swedish Air Force, plus bits and pieces for Air Inter markings.
This kit is engineered in ways similar to the Heller airliner kits, no surprise, The bottom wing is in halves, but they match edges in the middle of the belly. It makes sense to attach them to the fuselage before attaching the top halves, as you would with a Heller kit.
The clear windshield is a section that includes a part of the cabin roof, much like the Heller 749’s. I’m not including any interior so this will go quickly. For reference, the kit has a nice interior with seats, partitions and the rear boarding stair.
The cabin windows are all individual parts and didn’t fit at all. I installed them in each half, rather than run the risk of popping one in.
It’s starting to look like an airplane. UAL Caravelles; N1001 through N1019: did not have the dorsal fin along the top of the cabin typical of the rest. I’ve sliced it off, will finish it with the remainder of the seam work. Top wing halves on. Glued them against the sides of the fuselage roots, and will glue down around the edges once that sets. I like doing this when possible as it really minimizes the gaps up top. It’s a tradeoff to then have to do some fitting around the edges.
Engine pods in rough construction.
Bill
