1/144 Canadian Car & Foundry "Carling"

[Brian da Basher]

In 1920 when the Northwest Mounted Police merged with the Dominion Police to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a new agency was formed to take over search and rescue, mapping and surveying and logistics transport within the vast wilderness areas of the Great White North. The Royal Canadian Interior Guard was initially equipped with various types of boats for patrolling the lakes and rivers, but also had an air wing equipped with W.W. I surplus Felixstowe flying boats. By 1926, the Felixstowes were long past their prime and ready for the scrap heap.

In the spring of 1927 a design for a replacement by Craig Arling was chosen for production by the Canadian Car & Foundry Co. The new flying boat was very well streamlined and featured an enclosed cockpit and cabin for the crew as well as collapsible covers for the nose and waist positions. The new machine was powered by two Moose Jaw radials of 1400 h.p. capable of reaching a top speed of 130 m.p.h. and a range of 1,550 miles. It was also equipped with the most modern communication and navigation aids and carried two life rafts under the lower wings which could be air-dropped.

The new flying boat met all design and performance criteria during trials, but the designer's name "C. Arling" was misread as the aircraft's name and old Carling beer cans used to patch up spots in the hull ensured the new flying boat would from then on be known as the Carling.

Carlings performed valuable service in the vast hinterlands of the Great White North, rescuing lost hunters and prospectors as well as delivering supplies to various native tribes and far-flung outposts of the RCMP and RCING. By far the Carling was most famous for the rescue of the canine film star Rin Tin Tin and actor Randolph Scott when they were trapped by an angry horde of vicious beavers near the Great Slave Lake during a publicity tour in 1931.

Carlings were eventually replaced by Catalinas during W.W. II but the 25 year service life is remarkable given the prototype's leaks were plugged by empties.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

I just love taking bits from my spares box and turning them into something. Here's all the parts I started with.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

After a couple days' work, I ended up with this.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The collapsible port covers were made from wheel hubs from a 1/72 Sopwith Triplane which is where I got the wings and horiz. stabs. from too. The wing floats were made by cutting the back end off of bombs and then wrapping thin strips of sheet plastic around them. The engines were left over from a 1/144 B-29 and the nacelles were more bombs. The props were from a 1/144 Junkers G38. Toothpicks were used for the struts and rigging done using wire and Gator Glue.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The entire model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics, gray primer for the hull, floats and struts and insignia yellow on the wings and tail. A little gunmetal and steel was used on the engines and props. The Red Ensigns and We Stand On Guard for Thee mottoes were custom made for me by a good friend. I trimmed an anti-glare panel decal for the cockpit windows and the hatch and other windows were spare airliner decals.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

This model took me two weeks to build and was a nice way to get rid of a lot of work stress. I've still got one more project planned for this group build, if I can get it in on time.

This last shot should give you some idea of the actual size. I had to use an American "red cent" as I couldn't find a Canadian penny which would be more appropriate for this Royal Canadian Interior Guard rescue flying boat.

Brian da Basher

[John Howling Mouse]

Again with the oversized novelty penny!   

Well, once again, you've outdone yourself.  Rigging, too?!  Love the "We stand on guard for thee" on the fuselage  (part of our national anthem for those of you whom fate has snubbed so cruelly by having you born in a lesser nation).

Great job!  She'll look great hanging from the ceiling...some escorts from the same era would be nice...

[Captain Canada]

Holy Mackerel.....that's awesome ! Love it from every angle. Very nicely done, Brian ! Being CDN, and from a somewhat JMN standpoint, I do have to clarify one error : We stand on guard for beer, not thee ! What the heck is thee, anyway ?



Great job, buddy !

[Ed S]

2 weeks!  Scratchbuilt!  1/144 scale!  Damn you make the rest of us feel inadequate.

It's a beauty, BdB.   


Ed

[sequoiaranger]

I think I have an "old" Canadian penny, fairly shiny, in my coin collection, that has a maple leaf on it.

Would you like to use that to re-photograph the model? I could send it to you. But you may have some Canuck friends (more after making this beauty!) nearby that could likewise supply one.

Yeah, I have an "oversized novelty penny" too (see below), for a "custom" 1/87-scale 1961 Chrysler LeBaron.

[Weaver]

Outstanding Brian - what a looker! 

[sequoiaranger]

Like most people on this board, I am amazed by not only Brian's creativity, but the SPEED at which projects seem to leap off his workbench.

I clandestinely obtained his camera and have duplicated a portion of his filmstrip below. Note only three seconds have elapsed between shots!

[Daryl J.]

I clandestinely obtained his camera and have duplicated a portion of his filmstrip below. Note only three seconds have elapsed between shots!

LoL!!!!!


Daryl J.

[Brian da Basher]

Dang now my secret is out!

Good one SR! I wish I could build that fast.

I'm really glad you guys enjoyed the Carling. Remember to recycle your empties.

Brian da Basher

[Green Dragon]

That's a beauty Brian, love the beer can patch story!

Paul Harrison