Hasegawa 1/200 C-40A Clipper

The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a military version of the Boeing 737-700C airline transport. It is used by both the United States Navy and the United States Air Force. The Navy C-40A variant is named "Clipper", whereas the USAF C-40B/C variants are officially unnamed.

The C-40A Clipper provides critical logistics support to the United States Navy. Its flight deck features a flight management computer system with an integrated GPS, and is compatible with future GATM/FANS operating environment (RNP-1). It is outfitted with the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II, and is RVSM-capable. It also has an enhanced ground proximity warning system, predictive wind shear, head-up display and TACAN/UHF/IFF functions.

The U.S. Navy Reserve was the first customer for the newest member of the Boeing 737-700C Next-Generation family. The Clipper was ordered by the U.S. Navy to replace its fleet of aging C-9B Skytrain IIs. The C-40A is the first new logistics aircraft in 17 years to join the U.S. Navy Reserve. The Navy Reserve provides all of the Navy's medium and heavy airlift capabilities.

The Clipper meets or exceeds international noise and environmental requirements, which the fleet of Naval Reserve C-9s did not. It is also more fuel-efficient and offers increased range and payload capabilities. The Clipper is certified to operate in an all-passenger (121 passengers), all-cargo or combination ("combi") configuration that can accommodate up to three cargo pallets and 70 passengers on the main deck.

The Navy purchased the airplanes using standard commercial practices, ordering six of the 737-700C models. The first two of four aircraft were delivered on 21 April 2001 to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Five Nine (VR-59) at the Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, with two more aircraft following before the end of the year. The fifth and sixth aircraft were delivered in August 2002 to VR-58 at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. Further aircraft have been delivered to VR-57 at the Naval Air Station North Island, California. The C-40A provides superior fuel efficiency, range and payload.

This is basically a stock B.737-700. The fuselage has no windows, those being supplied as decals. I like this method but others prefer holes and you see that in other airliner kits. As such, there are no clear bits other than the smoked brown stand. The builder will have to fill a few small panel lines on the cargo door. A large screw is supplied as a nose weight and this screws into a bulkhead in the front of the fuselage.

Engines are a left and right half that trap the front fan and the exhaust cone. A small winglet goes on the engine nacelle. Main wing is three pieces with a lower center section and then the rest of the wing on either side attaches to it. No upper and lower wing halves to glue. Depending on the version, you install either a standard wing tip or a winglet.

The kit can be built gear up and put on the display stand. If you do the in flight option, you need to open a hole in the lower wing center section to accept the stand's receptical. Landing gear legs are sturdy and the wheels are tiny!

Instructions are well done with Gunze paint references. All the markings options have Boeing Grey lower fuselage, wings, and tailplanes. Since Boeing Grey is pretty much impossible to get in the US and the old equivalent, Canadian Voodoo Grey is no longer made by Testors, the instructions recommend light gull grey. The rest of the fuselage is white. Markings are for two squadrons, both US Navy reserve units. The box art plane is with VR-59. This does not have the winglets. The VR-57 option does, but this plane has no tail code. It also has no insignia and no US NAVY markings. Cannot really see many wanting to build this option unless they are real fans of the unit. The sheet is well printed and offers two different serials for each squadron.

This really is a very nice kit. It is a good way to model large aircraft, especially if even 1/144 tends to stress your display area. Hasegawa does a bunch of military 737s in this scale so you can soon build up a nice collection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-40_Clipper

February 2018

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