Nimrod AEW3 - Airfix 1/72 plus Cammet conversion

[nev]

The first day at Comprehensive (High School for Americans) is normally a pretty big deal.  Its the place where you go from childhood to adulthood, and starting there can be overwhelming.  Everything is strange and unfamilier, and worse you are surrounded by frightening looking "big boys" 

My first day was memorable for a different reason.  Whilst I was being shown round the school that morning, I took nothing in that the teacher was telling us bright eyed newbies because circling above my school just under the low grey cloudbase for over an hour that September morning was a distinctive looking plane that this 11 year old airplane geek instantly recognised.

It was in a holding pattern waiting for the right time to make a farewell flypast down the runway at RAF Waddington.

It was the day the Nimrod AEW.3 was cancelled.



When Airfix announced they were doing a 1/72 Nimrod I instantly knew that I wanted one to build as the ill-fated AEW.3, I just needed someone to release a conversion .  Thankfully Cammet stepped up to the plate with their excellent resin set.  Then I needed the funds to secure kit & conversion.  I was able to procure the Airfix kit at a good price from a friend (thanks Trev!) and ScaleModelWorld 2009 provided the opportunity to stock up on the bits I needed.



The only real downer on the Airfix kit are its near unusable decals.  Grainy, plasticy and just ugghhh I purchased the Xtradecal set to provide lo-vis roundels and white serials, the Model Alliance decals are a complete stencil set for the modern grey camoflage scheme worn by Nimrods today (thats a clue ).  Due to the weight of the resin, Geoff Baker (Thorvic) who has previously built this conversion recommended the Heritage white metal nose gear and resin wheel well.



And finally the gorgeous Cammet conversion featuring a whole new tail including rudder and tailplanes as well as the radomes



Really, really looking forward to starting this one, been waiting for a gap in the build schedule since I bought it!

[kitnut617]

Going to watch this one Nev, got a Nimrod and all those bits too but have put off starting it.  I don't have the decal sheet though, I was thinking mine would have a Canadian slant to it --- RCAF   

[thedarkmaster]

Must admitt I have the bits too, also not sure of the decal option but going to be something New Commonwealth for my thread , so will be watching with interest   

[Mossie]

:Pulls up a chair, sits down:

[Hobbes]

Must admitt I have the bits too,

Me too... That's another kit where a large percentage of the production ends up with forum members 

[Captain Canada]

Great story, Nev ! You had me standing in my old school yard watching the Hercs for a few minutes myself !



Looking forward to seeing you work on this one.  I have the Nimrod, and really want to start it, but promised myself I'd clean up all the other crap first. I'd also like to get my hands on those conversion sets, just such a cool looking aeroplane !

[Brian da Basher]

It's going to be a blast watching you build your AEW3, Nev! Looks like you've got everything you need and you should get off to an excellent start!

Brian da Basher

[sideshowbob9]

Quite a poignant story! Looking forward to seeing more of this!

[GTX]

Looking forward to this.  re the decals, since when has that ever been a problem for a whiffer?

Regards,

Greg

[nev]

Why spend £££££ on a model + conversion, hours of work, only to have it ruined by badly printed decals?

[Thorvic]

Just kidding Nev, looking forward to seeing how this one goes together, I keep on saying I will get myself a Cammett Conversion....



Duncan

There you go Duncan  

https://sslrelay.com/cammett.co.uk/html/item.php?category=Aircraft&sub=Conversions&id=CAMA72001

EKFG  

[Tophe]

Keep faith and do it...

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

:Pulls up a chair, sits down:

Pulls up second chair..... "ready when you are, Nev"

Ian

[nev]

A start!

This is the cockpit floor.  The area marked needs to be removed to fit in the part for the nose


This is the aforementioned nose part, before it has been cleaned up.


This is the nose part cleaned up, with cockpit floor slid into the slots that Cammet kindly provide


So far so good!  Lastly a pic of the fuselage halves, with the areas marked for removal.  The holes marked "B" need to be blanked off for the AEW version.


All questions, comments, advice etc welcomed.  This model will have to be shelved for a while as my Raptor needs to be built inside 3 months, so will get my full attention for the duration.

[GTX]

Did you end up deciding on markings?

Regards,

Greg