My Stash just grew again (2008)

[Weaver]

Went into the local MZ as they are supposed to be getting me a Trump Tu-16 and walked out with a Polish PT-76 in 1/35th -  this one will be for a real life build.

If you wanted a Tu-16 then you'll be severely disappointed with both the speed and the ceiling of the PT-76, although it is a tad more resistant to cannon fire (only a tad, mind...) 

From evilbay today, an Airfix OV-10D Bronco. Botched and with weapons missing, but very cheap, so straight in the spares box.

[Weaver]

The last Mosquito from ebay has finally arrived.

When you say "the last Mosquito", do you mean the last one you want or the last one in the world? 

[kitnut617]

I won a Final Touch Avro York conversion yesterday. 

What's the score here Lee, I thought you had said you wouldn't touch anything by Final Touch with a barge pole.  Wouldn't the CMR conversion been better ?

[pyro-manic]

Just got some Sparrows (which will be used as Skyflashes) in the post from Captain Canada, along with some nice snaps of DHC Buffalos in Canadian SAR colours.

[kitnut617]

Yes it would, but I'm not forking out over £40* for a conversion and then another £15 for the base kit!  For what I want to do, the Final Touch one *should* be okay.  Pretty sure it's a copy of the Contrail one anyway.


*That was 2006 prices from Hannants.  I doubt I'd get change from £60 now.  Hannants can stick it up their arse at that price.  I dread to think what the complete York kit will cost...

I see your point -- the complete York is listed at US$110 on Roll Models' website, US$88 for the conversion.  What's that in GBP's?

[kitnut617]

Just got some Sparrows (which will be used as Skyflashes) in the post from Captain Canada, along with some nice snaps of DHC Buffalos in Canadian SAR colours.

When I did a little trade with Todd he sent along some really nice pics of a Cormorant for reference.  Very nice of him that was.

[kitnut617]

Hannants are currently charging £49 or £46 for a York conversion, depending on which one you go for.  That's far too much as far as I'm concerned, especially for what I want to do.

The Final Touch one in question looks like this.  I think I'll have to grout out the cockpit area but filling the windows shouldn't be too taxing.

You mentioned that you're going to do it as an AEW, there's some photos of a Wellington in the Crowood book about Shackletons, which was the very first 'operational' AWAC.  It was used in 1944 (I think) on an operation to direct Beaufighters against some German battleships only they didn't find them, anyway the radar was mounted on top of the fuselage on a single pylon with 360 continuous rotation, and it looked like a streamlined plank of wood. Are you going to do your's like that?

Robert

[PR19_Kit]

You mentioned that you're going to do it as an AEW, there's some photos of a Wellington in the Crowood book about Shackletons, which was the very first 'operational' AWAC.  It was used in 1944 (I think) on an operation to direct Beaufighters against some German battleships only they didn't find them, anyway the radar was mounted on top of the fuselage on a single pylon with 360 continuous rotation, and it looked like a streamlined plank of wood. Are you going to do your's like that?

Some clever modeller built that Wellington for the 'RAF 100' What If SIG display at Telford. Somewhere there are piccies posted.

[The Rat]

Just got this from Aviation World. Sure it's tiny, but only $2.95. I'm attracted to cheap weird things, that's how I've met quite a few girls. 

[kitnut617]

You mentioned that you're going to do it as an AEW, there's some photos of a Wellington in the Crowood book about Shackletons, which was the very first 'operational' AWAC.  It was used in 1944 (I think) on an operation to direct Beaufighters against some German battleships only they didn't find them, anyway the radar was mounted on top of the fuselage on a single pylon with 360 continuous rotation, and it looked like a streamlined plank of wood. Are you going to do your's like that?

Robert

I've just done some rechecking, the operation was actually done in 1942

[kitnut617]

Some clever modeller built that Wellington for the 'RAF 100' What If SIG display at Telford. Somewhere there are piccies posted.

I had a poke around but couldn't find a pic of it Kit

[PR19_Kit]

Kitnut,

I had a poke around but couldn't find a pic of it Kit

Actually after writing that posting, neither could I.

Maybe it's a link off the IPMS Forum web site. I've found so many places on the Net recently I lose touch. I'll ask a few questions in a few places.

[Martin H]

not sure its one of ours Kit.    I dont recall any Wimpys on the sig stand this year.

[Bungle]

In addition, I won a Final Touch Avro York conversion yesterday. 

Rough isn't the word, as it's practically a solid lump of resin with a separate section for the cockpit.  A mate had one of these and said it was awful.  Still, it can't be as bad as the Contrail conversion I got a few months back.  Bearing in mind that it's solid, I plan on filling the windows, adding a radome and some aerials, and doing it wheels up as either an early AEW aircraft (possibly RN) or an ELINT bird, possibly with 199 Sqn so I can use the nice Med Sea Grey/Black scheme.

Actually the Final touch conversion scrubs up reasonably well. Two areas caught me out (I'm not as skilled as you venerable sages.... ) the cockpit is a bit naff and needs a lot of work to get it to sit right on the sharp pointy end. The other bit I failed to see is the side windows are not in a straight line, strangely not noticeable until you slap some paint on. And thirdly (never could count) it so bl**dy heavy I had to build the undercarriage out of metal tube to stop the plastic ones bending ! Still now its finished it does look good (even if I say so myself).

[Weaver]

Just got this from Aviation World. Sure it's tiny, but only $2.95. I'm attracted to cheap weird things, that's how I've met quite a few girls. 

You sure it's actually got a radome in it? I've got the An-72-allegedly-P version of that, which is very accurate apart from the fact that it's got no gunpod, no wing pylons and no sensors. Basically, it's a standard An-72 with one extra blister window and a cammo scheme on the instruction sheet.........