Author Topic: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale  (Read 5126 times)

Offline Brian da Basher

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The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« on: December 24, 2017, 05:53:06 AM »
Pan Am was a storied airline famous for flying large airliners to the farthest reaches of the globe.



Less well-remembered are the smaller aircraft that worked much shorter routes.



As the 1960's dawned, Pan Am decided to expand some of its feeder routes and enter the commuter market. Thus Pan Am Express was born.



Besides the sheer size of its parent company, another thing Pan Am Express was notable for was carefully selecting the best small aircraft for the routes it flew.



Pan Am Express was impressed with Cessna products and considered buying the twin-engine 310, but needed something almost tailor-made for the demanding executive customers of Rhode Island where service had been expanded in 1964.



By adding a belly cargo pannier and suped-up Continental engines to their unusually configured 336 Skymaster, Cessna had just the ticket for the particular needs of Rhode Island business commuters.





Pan Am would eventually order four of the modified special 336s, ultimately making Cessna wonder if it had been worth all the trouble as additional orders failed to materialize and the manufacturer cleared a meager profit of $179.38 on the deal.



The Pan Am Express 336s provided sterling service under all conditions and made $2,268.07 every quarter even though the parent Pan Am firm was hoping for steep losses as the tax write-off would be far more lucrative.



Pan Am Express continued flying throughout the 1960's but was eventually done in by the 1973 Oil Crisis. Finding no buyers for their push-pull pannier equipped and spatted Cessna 336s, Pan Am sold them for scrap which incurred a tax penalty of $212.78 even when the most generous principles of amortization and depreciation were applied. This led to the resignation of their Chief Tax Accountant in disgrace.



While only a few faded photographs of this magnificent spatted piece of aircraft technology still exist today, the Pan Am Express 336 continues to live on in the memories of those who were lucky enough to fly her.

Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: December 24, 2017, 07:25:10 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline finsrin

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Travelling Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2017, 06:32:54 AM »
Oh really. :icon_surprised:
Don't think they ever flew in Seattle area.
More good research and nice build that depicts them well. :smiley:

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Travelling Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2017, 07:05:55 AM »
A most taxing story Brian. Thanks for sharing.
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

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Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2017, 07:06:56 AM »
This all began with a lovely and not often-seen 1/72 Arii Cessna O2A a good friend sent me a while back (thanks a million, Frank!).



Isn't that box art great? You can almost see all the Charlies hiding in the brush.

What's inside the box is none too shabby either.



And with a little bit of help, it can be converted into the Cessna 336. Talk about streamlined landing gear! Yowsa!



Luckily, I had some rattling around the spares box that seemed just about perfect.



Of course, some nose weight would be required...



"Other than that Mr Lincoln, how was the flight?"



The props were modified a bit...



..and a P-38 drop-tank added as a belly cargo pannier.







Exhaust stubs made from this great tubing Mr Fontaine sent were stuck on.



Gotta trim them whiskers!



And here's the 336 up on those sleek legs...





Ready for paint!

Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: December 24, 2017, 07:25:50 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Travelling Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2017, 07:12:35 AM »










Model Masters Semi-Gloss White Primer acrylic was used with the old hairy stick. I find this an almost ideal paint for airliners. Upon opening it has a milky consistency which would seem perfect for airbrushing. For old-fashioned brush painting, I always pour off some of the carrier to thicken it a little.



The props were finished in Model Masters Aluminum and the exhaust stubs in Jet Exhaust. The windows were tinted on the inside with Model Masters Insignia Blue. Tires and dark bits were done in Model Masters Interior Black.



The decals were after-market I picked up on sale so long ago I can't remember where.





Despite the kit's vintage, it builds up well if you can manage to kludge a few things on the fly.



That large windscreen is just a shade wide for the fuselage and even though I added all that nose weight it will become a tail-sitter if caught by a stiff breeze.



Still, I had a lot of fun putting it together which took about a week or so from start to finish.



I'd like to thank Frank for his kindness in sending me this kit. I couldn't have done it without you, Frank!



I hope you enjoyed the Pan Am Cessna 336 and reading a little insider airline industry history that time has passed by.



Brian da Basher

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2017, 07:29:04 AM »
A most taxing story Brian. Thanks for sharing.

Fixorated! I like your title much better.

Glad you guys enjoyed the 336. If you come across one and are so inclined, give it a shot! I know some have found it challenging but it can be wrestled into submission.

Brian da Basher

Offline elmayerle

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2017, 08:07:40 AM »
Beautiful work and backstory!!  If they went with more powerful engines, would they not have gone to three-bladed props?  I know the 337 had three-bladed props (at least it did in 1975) as did the R172 with the same engine (civilianizing the T-41D IO360 engine installation and getting a suitable spinner was fun back when it was all "on the board").

Offline pigflyer

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2017, 01:17:41 AM »
Nice, great story too, and you never mentioned the spats.  Keep 'em commin'.
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2017, 04:27:36 AM »
Looks good, Brian! It feels good to see that kit built, especially with your additions. The spatted landing gear looks like a good and fitting addition!

The backstory reminded me of the Westray to Papa Westray route in the UK

Offline finsrin

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #9 on: December 25, 2017, 04:42:13 AM »
Nice, great story too, and you never mentioned the spats.  Keep 'em commin'.
You make a important point.
Not being sharp on PanAm history.  Am wondering if these were PanAm's only ever spatted airliners ?

Offline Frank3k

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #10 on: December 25, 2017, 06:15:48 AM »
Not being sharp on PanAm history.  Am wondering if these were PanAm's only ever spatted airliners ?

I looked up their early history and Brian's may have been their only spatted airliner. No wonder they went out of business! I did get a little distracted during the search...

Offline finsrin

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #11 on: December 25, 2017, 10:53:02 AM »
Always but always been a fan of Constellations as top of era of propliners in general.
Notice how well matched graceful curves and colors of Constellation are to those of employee. :P    WOW
« Last Edit: December 25, 2017, 10:58:01 AM by finsrin »

Offline kitnut617

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2017, 12:20:41 AM »
Another gem Brian  :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:




Brian da Basher

One of my 1/72 747's have decals for this.


Offline Robomog

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2017, 07:52:40 PM »
Nicely modeled Brian, the spats really add to the look :smiley: :-* :-*
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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2017, 02:45:01 AM »
Economy Class - Business Class - First Class - Spat Class  ;D
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Offline Camthalion

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2017, 05:17:43 AM »
Very nice.  Looks great

Offline Tophe

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #16 on: December 29, 2017, 12:55:03 PM »
I discover lately this nice little twin-boomer, beautiful! :-*
It is a little fat with its big belly, but this looks just like me, somehow ???
And I am glad you turned the military O-2 into a civilian angel... ;)

EDIT: At first glance, I thought you built 2 twin-boom models there. After checking, this is confirmed: before the high-wing push-pull Cessna 336, you built the low-wing tandem-seat old fighter F-336, and this is the proof:
« Last Edit: December 29, 2017, 01:17:47 PM by Tophe »

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2017, 09:33:44 PM »
Nice transformation, Tophe!

I'd have never guessed it would work upside down, too.

Great food for thought and will keep in mind on future projects.

Brian da Basher

Offline b29r

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #18 on: February 08, 2018, 03:44:16 AM »
Just came across this, Brian, and I must say Well Done!  A most interesting story and a very nice model.  This takes me back to my Cessna factory days when every now and again an O-2 would come  in for service work, and we would all go out on the flightline to gawp at it  :smiley:

Thanks for a great build and stirring up a few fond memories  ;)

Best regards,
Kem

Offline ysi_maniac

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #19 on: February 08, 2018, 03:37:45 PM »
Nice model!
 :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :-* :icon_alabanza:

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Re: The Pan Am Cessna 336 - A Taxing Tale in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #20 on: February 09, 2018, 12:54:29 AM »
Great work as always Brian and of course the excellent back story to give it a place in AltHistory :)

By the way, that 'yellow tubing' is a type of heat-shrink tubing used to seal and protect electrical wiring and connections.  Found that at the old Boeing Surplus store in Kent a very long time ago.  Glad you finally found a way to use the stuff since it has a lot of possible applications in model building. 
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