Tupolev 504

[McGreig]

I know that I should be putting the decals on the Turbo Il-10 but - - - -

This started as a simple whiff - what if there had been a flying boat version of the Tu-4? However, I'd barely started cutting plastic when I discovered that I wasn't the first person to come up with this brilliant idea - Andrei Tupolev had already thought of it  

Tupolev's project 504 was based on his ultimate Tu-4 development, the one-off Tu-85, which had increased length and span and more powerful engines. It was designed as an inter-continental bomber, refueling from submarines to give it the range to reach the USA. Lacking a Tu-85 in kit form, I stuck to the Tu-4 but the shape and proportions are based on the 504.

You'll see that it's more of a restoration that a completion. I was never very happy with it, as completion was rushed for the 2005 Nationals.    My daughter then managed to break it not once but twice    and it was damaged again in the house move    

This is the Tu-504 immediately after the house move:

[McGreig]

The fuselage comes from a Hasegawa Emily. It has a 20mm plug ahead of the wing, an additional 20mm extension at the tail and all the gun positions and windows have been filled. The wing roots have been considerably reduced in chord and the planing bottom has been lengthened by about 30mm and the step extended by approximately 10mm.

This is the position after additional filling and sanding:

[McGreig]

The fin, rear fuselage, turrets, flying surfaces and engines come from an Airfix B-29 (well, two B-29s to be exact) with the tailplanes being relocated to mid-fin. As no landing gear is required, the long inner engine nacelles have been replaced by an additional set of short outer nacelles.

Floats have been taken from an old Be-6 and all the missing parts have now been replaced, apart from the gun barrels and the transparent rear fuselage blisters:

[McGreig]

The restored flying boat is now ready for masking and painting. With the benefit of hindsight, I should probably have increased the depth of the Emily's fuselage as well as lengthening it, but this has definitely reached the "quit while you're ahead" stage and I'm not going to anything more apart from painting and decaling. It will probably be finished in a two tone grey or green camouflage scheme as this should look visually more appealing than the overall dark grey.

[cthulhu77]

Looking forward to seeing this one coloured up !

[Brian da Basher]

That's some mighty fine work there McGreig! That's one very good looking flying boat! It's got a kind of "Pan-Am Clipper goes socialist" look about it. I can't wait to see it finished.

Brian da Basher

[B777LR]

why does this look so right!  

[ysi_maniac]

^^^^
Yeah, Why?

[Rafael]

It is so crazy, that it looks right!!!

McGreig, that's an stunner!!!

Rafa

[John Howling Mouse]

To borrow a heavily over-used phrase from my daughter: this is totally AWESOME!

Will you be displaying it slightly submerged in an ocean-surface diorama?

[The Rat]

Nice to see someone else stick planing hulls on things, we should form a team!        

[GTX]

Nice to see someone else stick planing hulls on things, we should form a team!

Or as I said in another thread, maybe we could consider a future "floatplane" GB?

Regards,

Greg

[Swedish Mick]

Great!

[The Rat]

Nice to see someone else stick planing hulls on things, we should form a team!

Or as I said in another thread, maybe we could consider a futre "floatplane" GB?

Regards,

Greg

OH YEAH!!!  

Just give me a little time, there's a lot on my plate at the moment.    

[GTX]

Don't worry - I'm thinking beginning of 2008 at this stage.

Regards,

Greg