Study of the Boeing 377 structure and reproduction of a 1:25 scale model

The objective of this project is to perform a qualitative study of the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser’s structure with enough information to create a scale model of said structure at a scale of 1:25. The project is part of a series of projects that aim to create several studies of other multiple aircraft and their respective scale models, all of them developed in the UPC. Regarding the study, and considering the situation caused by the current year’s pandemic, all of the information has been gathered online, prioritizing official sources when possible and deducing or calculating missing information when necessary. This study then allows for the representation of the aircraft’s structure using SolidWorks software, whose drawings are used to manufacture it physically. The document that helped the most with the study is the cutaway drawing of the Stratocruiser, since it is one of the only sources of information that shows its inner structure. The chosen manufacturing method is Computer Numerical Control laser cutting to build the scale model using plywood. The pieces have been designed in a way that allows for them to be assembled using their corresponding slots and adhesive, without needing any other external support. Environmental and economical analysis have also been performed, which take into consideration the multiple stages of the project. With the pieces cut, the complete assembly process is registered. With the now assembled model, a comparison with both the SolidWorks model and images of the original aircraft reassures that the dimensions and structure of the scale model have been successfully kept in check, although with some simplifications made along the way to ease the manufacturing process. Pictures of the model, both of the assembly process and the finalised product show the results of the project