EH-101 AEW Petrel

[kitnut617]

Well after looking at all of Captain Canada' Merlins in the CG/SAR GB, the chat got around to having an AEW version.  This is something I've been giving some thought for a little while and I've had an idea.  Here is what I have in mind, add a much larger radome, add long sponsons down the sides and give it a four leg u/c, similar to a Chinook.  The sponsons actually come from the Italeri MH-47E kit which come on an extra sprue to make this particular version.  I've still got some details to sort out and I may just give it a fuselage stretch too.

The idea is that it would be a purpose built AEW with plenty of endurance (fuel in the sponsons), I might add a IFR system too.

Cheers.....

[Rafael]

YOU....ARE......A........GENIUS!!!!!!!!

Rafa

[Captain Canada]

Uh, I hate you !



That is just too cool......a superb layout ! When it's all done, can I have it ? That way I won't have to build my own !

I've got a couple of initial thoughts on this, after considering your fuselage stretch. First I thought the donkey end from the Naval variant would be better, as it's got more room before it turns into the boom. Then I rethought it, and the ramp would be good for changing out mission equipment etc.

If you do need a fuselage plug, you can have that one that my kid slaughtered.

[Eddie M.]

Great idea! it looks like it's gonna be a heavy hitter.
   Eddie

[Scooterman]

Somehow it's starting to look Russian to me.........

Either way, LOVE IT!

[AeroplaneDriver]

Nice as 5-6 Hawkeye 2000s would be, I imagine the eventual CVF AEW type will be the Merlin.  I've been toying with the idea of building a Merlin in the proposed AEW configuration with the wing and the Sea King-type inflatable radome, But I really like your sponson idea.  Have you seen the pics of the winged AEW Merlin proposal?   I'm thinking your's would look great with wings...

[K5054NZ]

YUM! Love the Merlin series, and quite tempted to get one as an RNZAF machine instead of the NH90. Is it moulded in yellow, or did you just spray all the sprues?

[Scooterman]

Have you seen the pics of the winged AEW Merlin proposal?   I'm thinking your's would look great with wings...

I had to go find it.....

[B777LR]

Great idea!
Regarding the fuel situation, ive read in the westland brochure that the basic merlin has an endurance of 5-6 hours!

[Thorvic]

YUM! Love the Merlin series, and quite tempted to get one as an RNZAF machine instead of the NH90. Is it moulded in yellow, or did you just spray all the sprues?

Zac thats the Italeri Cormorant kit and is moulded in Yellow plastic. The Revell Merlin HC3 is moulded in Dark Green and the Naval and VH-71 versions are moulded in Grey. Technically Robert could have done with using the Naval version of the kit as less windows and lack of ramp would probably be a better basis to start from (But Canada cancelled the Merlin so chances are the Cormorant kit is more readily available  )

G

(The Italian Navy actually use an ASW, AEW and Commando versions of the Merlin but for some strange reason Italeri have choosen not to kit it !!! )

[cthulhu77]

Out of the blue, this one really looking great !

[lancer]

Oh yes!!! This one is looking to be a real winner

[B777LR]

YUM! Love the Merlin series, and quite tempted to get one as an RNZAF machine instead of the NH90. Is it moulded in yellow, or did you just spray all the sprues?

Zac thats the Italeri Cormorant kit and is moulded in Yellow plastic. The Revell Merlin HC3 is moulded in Dark Green and the Naval and VH-71 versions are moulded in Grey. Technically Robert could have done with using the Naval version of the kit as less windows and lack of ramp would probably be a better basis to start from (But Canada cancelled the Merlin so chances are the Cormorant kit is more readily available  )

G

(The Italian Navy actually use an ASW, AEW and Commando versions of the Merlin but for some strange reason Italeri have choosen not to kit it !!! )

I hope they will do a knobbly nosed danish version some day

[kitnut617]

Thanks guys for all the supportive comments (I thought I was going to get branded a 'heretic')

Cap - thanks for the offer but I have an early issue Italeri Merlin which will be cannabalized as I need a number of other parts from the kit, but I will be using the tail gate off the Cormorant, the sponsons practically shut off any other access so the rear is the only entrance.  I'll have to see how the stretch goes and try to figure out if I can get the front doors operational, plus the straighter sides the tail gate end provides will make it easier to blend in the sponsons.

airplanedriver - I've not seen that before thanks,  I hadn't considered a wing though, I'm playing with the idea of having six blades on the main rotor and five for the torque rotor.

scooterman - I think sub-consciously that might be where I was getting my idea, I remember seeing a Karmov (IIRC) with a radome now that you mention Russian ones.

Trip7 - yes I know it has an impressive endurance already but I think this would have to be on station a little while longer.  I would have relief pilots on board for this aircraft.

[kitnut617]

A query - should it be Petrol or Petrel ?