1/72 SABCA ST-1: ultimate scratchbuild

[Spey_Phantom]

ive already been scratchbuilding my own wings and 1/144 planes with junk parts (styrene junkyard GB), but this is a whole new challenge for me, as this is the first time im building a complete aircraft in 1/72 scale from scratch 
it started out as an idea to build a WW1 biplane, but after seeing the fuselage with a T55 turboprop engine, i suddenly changed my mind and extended to fuselage for 2 seats. i was gonna enter this in the Styrene junkyard GB, but since most of the aircraft was build from new sheets of styrene, i decided not to 

Back History:

in 2009, the SF.260D/M trainers in the Belgian Defence were starting to get old, being in service since 1969. a tender was put out to replace these trainers by 2013. Belgium evaluated the PC-21, the Super Tucano and the KT-1. SABCA later entered the contest with a new proposed turboprop trainer designed and build in Belgium. the Belgian Aviation factories havent designed a new indigenous trainer since they made the Stampe SV-4 in 1939 and the failed Promavia Jet Squalus in the 90's. SABCA's proposal was designed using experience gained by licence building civilian small pleasure aircraft such as the C172 and the SOCATA's. on april 26 2011, SABCA rolled out the first prototype of the ST-1 (Sabca Trainer 1), a week later the aircraft made its first flight. the aircraft performed so well that after an intensive evaluation, the ST-1 was selected unanimusly as the winner. in 2013, the first 3 of 26 ST-1A's were delivered to the Beauvechain training squadrons. in 2016, another 12 were ordered to replace the Alpha-Jets in Cazaux, France. the new ST-1B's featured external hardpoints, a more powerfull engine and a HUD. the ST-1A was, just like the SV-4 70 years earlier, an export succes. varrious ST-1A/B's were exported the Denmark, Netherlands, Oman, France, Jordania and Chile.

The Model (in progres):

the fuselage, wings and landing gear doors are completly build from scratch, the engine is one of 4 salvaged from a scrapped 1/72 C-130J, the prop seen here is from a 1/48 T-6G, but im looking to replacing it with a 3-bladed prop from an unknown source. the landing gear will be spares from a 1/72 Hawk-100 kit. the canopy i found is from a scrapped 1/48 F-86E kit.
still a long and difficult way to go, looks like im not gonna finish this as fast as most 1/144 aircraft. im also gonna need to look in the spares box for 2 seats, instrument panels and control sticks (i really want to ad detail to the cockpit). rear tail sections will also be scratchbuild and im thinking winglets 

progress pics 

[Brian da Basher]

That's a really great concept Nils, and it's certainly eligible for the Styrene Junkyard GB should you change your mind and decide to enter it.

I'd go for the winglets!

Brian da Basher

[John Howling Mouse]

It's cool to see you're reaching that point where buying kits becomes an option since you can actually make an airframe just using raw materials!   

[Spey_Phantom]

i just finished sticking the wings, landing gear and the landing gear doors to the fuselage. i also found an old panel from an unknown kit, so thats going in the front cockpit. the cockpits not going to be easy, especially since there will be 2 seats. i'll post a progress pic later in the GB thread.
i also have a propper codename for it: the "Picollo" 

That's a really great concept Nils, and it's certainly eligible for the Styrene Junkyard GB should you change your mind and decide to enter it.

if its ok, then concider it entered 

EDIT:

the ST-1A's new thread in the GB section
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,20176.0.html

[Spey_Phantom]

here she is, finished