Destroyer AEW.1

[MartG]

During the early 1960s it was becoming increasingly apparent to RAF planners that there was a need for additional radar capability to cover the approaches to the UK. Whilst some coverage was being provided by RN radar picket ships, as well as stations located on various islands, their inability to see over their local horizon left a number of gaps which could be exploited by aircraft penetrating at low level. Whilst some of the gaps could have been plugged using offshore platforms similar to the US 'Texas Towers' these would have been vulnerable to attack, as well as posing considerable construction problems due to the harsh environment found in the seas around Britain.

The RAF were already considering an AEW variant of the Shackleton, replacing the AEW Gannet, but it was felt in some quarters that its ceiling was too low to allow the required radar range, as well as being basically an obsolete design.

After considering several alternative proposals, a version of the Douglas B-66 Destroyer was selected as the basis of the new AEW platform, with an avionics fit based on the AN/APS-96 fitted in the E-2A Hawkeye ( the Hawkeye itself was not chosen as its design was seen as being compromised by its carrier features ).









Italeri EB-66 kit, with rotodome from a Hasegawa E-2

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Beautiful!  You have done wonders with the B-66 kit.  Form, fit, and function, all addressed in a way that makes it look like it could have been a real aircraft.

[Dork the kit slayer]

Off the meds again Martin??   Nice one mate

[Big Bird]

Yep another one that just looks right. 

[tanktastic43]

Looks real enough to me. 

[kitnut617]

Very nice, it's one of those projects that comes every now and then, that you just have to keep going back to have another look!  well done. 

[MartG]

Cheers folks 

[Captain Canada]

Wow, Martin....what a beauty ! Love the story, makes alot of sense. Your paintwork is awesome, she sure looks great in that gloss paint, and all those little aerials everywhere ? 

Cheers !

[McGreig]

I like this - all the extra aerials add to the convincing look of the conversion and the colour scheme is just right.

[Muddyboots]

That is superb!!!!! And it looks soooooooo right as well

I really wish I could come up with something as original as this.

Ian

[AeroplaneDriver]

Very nice!  A very plausible whif and a great gloss finish too.   

[entlim]

I could actually see thatin the air

Ed

[SPINNERS]

Phwoar! That's a stunner and I just the colour scheme... and glossy too!

Chapeau!

[Jschmus]

That certainly looks the part.  It's sure to generate some head-scratching at some future model show.  Nicely done! 

[Ed S]

Well done.   

I like the idea and the execution.

Ed