Privateer MR.2 FINISHED!!!

[TallEng]

A long time ago (so probably last year) somebody asked who would be the first to WIFF the Revell (ex Matchbox) Privateer, I don't know if I am the first, but here's my attempt. But first the back story (such as it is)  
Its early 1951 and NATO has just been formed, this among other things leads to a considerable increase in Coastal Command's commitments, and they need to obtain additional aircraft quickly. The Shackleton is only just entering service and there is no way that Avro's can accelerate production to supply the aircraft the RAF needs, so negotiations are opened for a substitute. Unfortunately the RAF's preferred option the Lockheed Neptune is also unavailable due to Lockheed experiencing production difficulties.....
So the search was widened; eventually Consolidated managed  to scrape together 50 PB4Y-2 airframes and where able to offer the RAF a deal which was hard to ignore.
Consolidated offered to supply the Privateer with state of the art Maritime surveillance equipment at a very favourable price.
The first 6 aircraft where delivered as straight PB4Y Privateer's to enable the RAF to begin crew familiarisation and where known as the Privateer MR.1 in Coastal Command service. These aircraft were delivered in Late 1951 early 1952, with the fully modified aircraft starting to equip the Squadrons in Late 1952.
The Privateer lasted in RAF service until early 1957.
So on with the pictures!


first thoughts....

another thought...

close up's


And for those with an enquiring mind, the bits used so far (from the kit) include the front and rear fairings from the Freighter version to fair the nose in (plus the bomb aimers window) and the gunners blisters to form the "thing on the fin", I also used the rear 3/4 of a Grumman Prowler (of unknown origin) and 1/2 a Meteor NF11's radome (both for the MAD fairing)
more later, what do you think?

[GTX]

Nice start - looking forward to the result.

Regards,

Greg

[beowulf]

i think it works a treat!..................look forward to seeing how it ends up

[The Rat]

...what do you think?

Silly question!  

[JayBee]

Yes, YEs, YES. 

I love this to bits

JimB

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Ohh that's the way to kick a*se and make an entrance 

Ian

[John Howling Mouse]

Seems like a perfectly believable idea...   

[philp]

Nice start.  Look forward to seeing more.

I was thinking of whiffing the plane, maybe make it a twin tail, turn the engines more horizontal, maybe get rid of those big waist blisters.

[nev]

I think this is a fascinating start

[NARSES2]

Looking forward to this 

[sideshowbob9]

Looking good 

[thedarkmaster]

Got one of these but never been able to face doing it       , don't think i will bother now, looks like you've cracked it.   

[PR19_Kit]

I was thinking of whiffing the plane, maybe make it a twin tail, turn the engines more horizontal, maybe get rid of those big waist blisters.

Hehehe, I know where YOU'RE coming from philp! Or maybe going back to.........

Seriously this is one NEAT idea, and almost believable, as all good back stories are. Would the RAF have based their first Squadron at Topcliffe, where I was living back then, and would I have seen one? I could have sworn those big American aircraft only had two engines, but perhaps I miscounted, I was only 9 or 10 anyway. 

[TallEng]

Small update today,

Rear fuselage showing MAD stinger faired in (needs more putty) and addition of Shackleton Radome


and a little teaser

TTFN.

[ysi_maniac]

This project looks really impressive!