SOFIA

lionel_hutz
SOFIA's on my to-build list too, the new Eastern model seems to have pretty decent panel lines unlike the Welsh vac form or the Sasquatch that I've squirreled away. They're still charging an awful lot for it, but the apparent quality of the lines may help justify some of that cost.

If you haven't seen before, NASA posted .STL files to 3D print SOFIA: nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/detail/sofia
Might be able to incorporate the instrument cavity block or use it as a template if you're a scratch builder.

Good luck with the build!

Michael Morris
Thanks for the link

Nathan Dempsey
Excellent subject for a project.

lionel_hutz
I still have a hard time with the price - most other eastern express models seem to go in the $30-50 range. I can talk myself into dropping $100+ on this for the sake of the SOFIA, I'd just be really annoyed if they keep it in production and drop the price. I find it hard to believe this will really be a "limited edition". Making a new mold tool is an expensive undertaking, doing so just to produce 1 edition of the model doesn't pass the smell test. Anyone familiar with eastern express? Do they have a history of doing this then dropping the price dramatically in the next run, or selling their tools off to a competitor?

Michael Morris
Sorry, I have no idea how Eastern Express price items, this is the first time I've bought one of their kits.
However, if you go over to 26 Decals, he is selling the EE 747SP with his own custom decal sheets for £70. I've no idea how he manages to do it so cheap, but I bought two from him and they arrived in about a week. (I live in the UK)
26decals.com/epages/..8/Products/TSM4424IA

I think he gets very limited numbers of kits at this price, so get in quick.

lionel_hutz
Thanks Michael. I found 26Decals on another forum after I posted, have emailed him about shipping to the US. £70=$95 USD and I assume the shipping will put it over the top. 26's decals are very good, maybe I'll use them on the Sasquatch fuselage and the V1 SOFIA on the Eastern kit.