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Douglas DC-8 Super 70 Series Moulds


Updated: March 2025
The advent of high bypass turbofans and idebodies in the 1970s rapidly made even new DC-8 Super 60s quickly obsolete, but unlike the similarly challenged 707-320 the longer legged and higher capacity DC-8 Super 61 and 63s were better candidates for updating with new engines, which would give them a new lease of life. The engine selected for the upgrade was the CFM International CFM56-2, itself only a few weeks away from being abandoned since it hadn't picked up any orders in 5 years of development. It would of course go on to be fitted to the 737 Classics, A320 and A340 but it would be the DC-8-70 that would be the first customer.
Ultimately 110 Super 60s would be fitted as Super 70s with the modification work undertaken by Cammacorp (an organisation setup entirely for the programme). Only 4 of the Super 70s would be short-bodied DC-8-72s and all of these would fly for non-airline customers. The initial main customers were Delta Air Lines, Flying Tigers and United Airlines whose aircraft would all go on to have long secondary careers with a variety of cargo operators well into the 2000s.

DC-8 Super 70 in 1:400 Scale

Somewhat curiously, although already having a correct DC-8-63 wing Aeroclassics has never bothered to create a Super 70 by hanging CFM engines from it (although it has the CFM engine too). In fact, the only entrant for a Super 70 in 400 scale has been Gemini Jets, however their return on the mould has been poor, with only 14 models produced across 4 years (from 2008-2012). These are a mix of series 71s and 73s. No series 72 mould exists.

DC-8 Super 60 Variants

Unlike the series 61 and 63 the 71 and 73 have the same engine pylons, which necessitated significant rework of the series 61 wing. The wingspan difference remained as far as I know.​
DC-8-71
Picture
Perry Hoppe (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons
DC-8-73
Picture
Tim Rees (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons

Moulds

Gemini Jets Mould (2008) - DC-8-71/73
The Gemini Jets DC-8-71/73 uses the fuselage barrel of the mould 1b DC-8-61 from 2007 so shares the majority of its features. It was also one of the earliest moulds to be fitted with rolling gear, albeit the tyres are a little on the large side. The nosegear doors are better sized than on the series 61. 
All the models were produced over a fairly short time and the mould has therefore never been fitted with aerials. The new wing,  engine pylons and nacelles look great. I own 7 of the 14 models made and they are generally very nice.
The odd one out is probably the UPS DC-8-71F made at the end of 2011. My version of this has an oddly cut-off tailtop, which I have seen in other examples as well so isn't just an issue with my version.