The French Navy are looking for a replacement for it's 18 Dassault Atlanique ATL2. The two proposals so far are based on the A321 and the Falcon 10 bizjet.

There have been proposals for a ATL3, along the lines 'if it ain't broke don't fix it ' just update the engines and avionics.
Personally a four engined version but with new technology two engines even if the wings were swept for the inclusion of a pair of turbofans.
I have built a turbofan version based on the 1/72 Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 kit, parts from the Revell kit aren't compatible, their latest one based on the Italian Eagle. Just new decals and  updated colour instructions. There's a ATL2 update set but most likely a scratch built or improvements can be made with less cost.

If I can get hold of the Airfix BAe Nimrod MR.2 kit this would look good in French decals .
The Mach2 Caravelle which I have in the past tried to kitbash into a maritime surveillance patrol aircraft changing the engines and landing gear. Needs another attempt.
There are several smaller scale options.

Other suggestions have been a maritime version of the C-160 and the Airbus A400M Atlas. Smaller cargo/passenger aircraft either turboprops or turbofans.
The whatif ideas or could have been are endless.

I like the Caravelle idea.  I have one in the SSR (Strategic Styrene Reserve) that I'd planned to make into an eye-in-the-sky AEW, possibly in the the Nimrod AEW style (which I think looks much cooler than the AWACS).

It was announced a few days ago that the A321 had been chosen as the replacement for the Breguet Atlantic.
Makes the choice easier as, I'd already obtained the excellent Zvezda 1/144 A321 for an MPA project.

In the whiffing world I would have liked to see the Airbus Nimrod in French decals which could be a future project for 2025.

An idea that could work as a whiff would be to use the 1/72 Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic and add the wings from a 1/72 HS/BAe Nimrod MR.1 as I have had problems with the wings on the Revell kit.
I'm confident that had this concept been put before the Air Ministry it would have met with their approval. The RAF would have insisted on a fixed radome rather than the retractable radar.

Quote from: McColm on January 12, 2025, 10:37:42 AMAn idea that could work as a whiff would be to use the 1/72 Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic and add the wings from a 1/72 HS/BAe Nimrod MR.1 as I have had problems with the wings on the Revell kit.
I'm confident that had this concept been put before the Air Ministry it would have met with their approval. The RAF would have insisted on a fixed radome rather than the retractable radar.

The wing fit on the Revell kit IS very tight but, a few minutes work putting a slight bevel on the wing components at the roots solves that.
Worked twice for me! 

Quote from: Beermonster58 on January 13, 2025, 04:20:54 AM

Quote from: McColm on January 12, 2025, 10:37:42 AMAn idea that could work as a whiff would be to use the 1/72 Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic and add the wings from a 1/72 HS/BAe Nimrod MR.1 as I have had problems with the wings on the Revell kit.
I'm confident that had this concept been put before the Air Ministry it would have met with their approval. The RAF would have insisted on a fixed radome rather than the retractable radar.

The wing fit on the Revell kit IS very tight but, a few minutes work putting a slight bevel on the wing components at the roots solves that.
Worked twice for me! 

Thanks for the info 

Quote from: McColm on January 13, 2025, 10:22:07 AM

Quote from: Beermonster58 on January 13, 2025, 04:20:54 AM

Quote from: McColm on January 12, 2025, 10:37:42 AMAn idea that could work as a whiff would be to use the 1/72 Revell Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic and add the wings from a 1/72 HS/BAe Nimrod MR.1 as I have had problems with the wings on the Revell kit.
I'm confident that had this concept been put before the Air Ministry it would have met with their approval. The RAF would have insisted on a fixed radome rather than the retractable radar.

The wing fit on the Revell kit IS very tight but, a few minutes work putting a slight bevel on the wing components at the roots solves that.
Worked twice for me! 

Thanks for the info 

You're welcome 😊