Boeing 747-300

The first of SAA’s 747-300 aircraft arrived in May 1983. The most distinguishing feature over that of the 747-200 is the “stretched upper deck”. Six of the type saw service in SAA livery.

 Normal passenger load:

ZS-SAT, SAU, SAC, SAJ (The latter two aircraft are 747 -312’s ex Singapore airlines.)

Modelling

The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.

Other than a Hasegawa 1/200 scale kit I have not found any manufacturer that releases a B747-300 kit in a larger scale. Your starting point for this model would be one of the B747-400 kits available and then modifing it accordingly.

Colours

Scheme one

1992

The B747-300’s were delivered in the final Flying Springbok orange tail scheme consisting of a plain orange tail without the Swoosh and with simplified fuselage cheat lines. On the B747 the blue cheat line was in line with the fuselage windows and swept round the nose. The blue cheat line has a white pin stripe below which is an orange stripe of the same width as the white stripe. This orange (and white) stripe was wider than in previous scheme.  SAA/SAL logos carried on forward upper fuselage and SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS/SUID-AFRIKAANSE LUGDIENS carried on upper central fuselage. There is a further orange pin stripe below this with a moderate sweep down the nose.

Scheme two 

1996

1995

This scheme is similar to scheme two but now has an all white fuselage. The engine nacelles and pylons are also finished in a light grey in a change from the previous natural metal finish. As the fuselage is all white the pin stripe that bordered the lower white stripe no longer is present.

1997 (replacement nosecone not in SAA colours)

Scheme Three

 After 1997 they were repainted in the current SAA colour scheme of plain white fuselage, new national colours on tail fin and SOUTH AFRICAN titles on both sides of the fuselage. Aircraft type was carried on rear fuselage just forward of rear door and registration preceded the national flag level with the bottom of the rear door.

Ndizane

Decals

200 South African New Colours 747-200/-200F /-300/-400

144 South African New Colours 747-200/-200F /-300/-400

144 South African Airways - Boeing 747-200/400

Welsh Models WHD4422 Boeing 747-300/Boeing 747SP SOUTH AFRICA