What's on the workbench!

[Tophe]

Yes you have good ideas, I was not denying it

[McColm]

Tuesday 9th October 2018

What if the Convair B-36 was converted into a flying boat? I found the upper half of the Hasegawa Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird which seems to fit on the lower fuselage of the Monogram kit. Once trimmed up it should only take a bit of filler to hide any gaps.
This is turning into a multi kitbash.Even additional seats in the wings makes sense with upper and lower windows along the fuselage. It's going to have at least 8 engines mounted above the wings. Passenger airliner or troop transport. I might add some gun turrets.

[TheChronicOne]

That sounds nutty as hell, man!!  Go for it!!!       

Imagine that.....        Or even imagine it as like some crazy ekranoplan...  the blackbird piece would lend itself to something of that sort as well I imagine.   

I have to agree with 'Tophe though that a Zwilling Peacemaker would be fantastic.

[McColm]

Perhaps in 1/144 scale to begin with.

[TheChronicOne]

Yes, would be larger than most tables in 1/72 I imagine. 

[McColm]

The Mighty Thor flying boat reborn
11th October 2018

The Monogram 1/72 Convair B-36H has undergone major surgery. The wings have been replaced with the X/YB-35 Flying Wing. The lower fuselage now has a V shaped hull. However the front section of the Heller Lockheed Constellation fits in the vacant nose and is glued in place. This belonged to the tailless bomber based on the Starliner. The resin nose cone is from the Flightpath ERB-47 conversion set and the new cockpit canopy is from a  Vickers Valiant.

[Tophe]

What a mix!
You are rising the what-if spirit to a top level!

[McColm]

What a mix!
You are rising the what-if spirit to a top level!

It would look cool if it was tailless, with the rudders on the wingtips!

[McColm]

Monday 15th October 2018

I suppose a cargo version of the B-36 isn't that unusual as there were several concepts put forward .
Mine is slightly different with a chine running the length of the fuselage.
I wasn't intending to build an alternative to the Tradewind.

[McColm]

Tuesday 16th October 2018

I need to get a few of my started builds finished. I have stripped my attempt at a 1/72 look- a- like VC 10 of parts. Especially the engines as these are going on the Convair Peacekeeper flying boat.
I've changed my mind again and its a Maritime Patrol Amphibious Aircraft.
The Vulcan MR-Atlanta, is so close to getting a coat of primer and I have found a large wooden stand.
The Atlantica, four turbofan powered Atlantic. My interpretation of the alternative to the Nimrod.
Whereas the Revell Atlantic will get three Rolls-Royce Tynes, one in the nose. I've seen a few concept drawings of a Tri-Powered Atlantic but none with the third engine in the nose. All having a jet engine in the vertical tail fin.
The four engine Neptune, the raid into the Avro Shackleton spares bin is paying off.
The Boeing Wyton AEW.1, is still having it's engines updated.
Eric the Viking, PSR.
The Fokker Rotodyne , the main undercarriage legs keep breaking off.
I will probably use something from a helicopter kit.
The Martin Marina AEW twin turbofan, I must have used a ton  of superglue as this is solid. Just needs decals.

[McColm]

Wednesday 17th October 2018

I found a started PlayFix playmaker 1/100 scale iL-62 in the stash . It had two left wings. I've found a likely replacement, a mismatched pair of Airfix Avro Vulcan wings.
I know, but they are a good fit and don't look out of place.
I'll have a rummage to find a nose and tail cone.

[McColm]

 Wednesday 24th October 2018

If you have been following my blog, you would come to the conclusion that I change my mind on the outcome of my builds . A lot of the time its due to the builds getting broken from being manhandled or parts recycled.
The example is the 1/72 Monogram Convair B-36 , apart from the main fuselage and tail areas, the rest has been kitbashed .
I have been dry testing various engines on the new wing. The engine housing for the Martin SeaMaster seems to work very well and almost fits the upper curvature of the wing. Just have to find the ones from the Anigrand kit, or scratch build them.
Then there's the main undercarriage. Parts from the AMT AC-130U will fit. Extra gun turrets or remote control gun turrets will be added
The chine has been removed.

[McColm]

Wednesday 25th October 2018

The Air Car Ferry idea has lead me to convert the Revell 1/72 Blohm & Voss Bv222A Wiking flying boat
The bullhead arches have been made wider to accommodate a 1/76 long wheelbase Land Rover hard top. Further strengthening is made from scraps of plastic .
I cut the nose so that the flight deck is all one piece and left the nose devoid of a floor. This has been sanded flat,as the doors will be glued in the open position. As soon as I can buy some superglue or Gorilla glue. I'll add a loading ramp and door stays.
The guns have been removed from the main fuselage. These need to be blanked over.
I'm working on the upper deck and found a pair of Airfix Avro Vulcan wings. The  engines are from a B-52G which will be glued to the upper wing.

[McColm]

Saturday 27th October 2018

I can't believe the price of the 1/72 Hasegawa Lockheed P-3C Orion has shot up, I know various decals have appeared but the basic kit is still the same. CMK do an update set but this is expensive.
Whereas the Revell Dassault Br1150 Atlantic keeps its value although its no longer in production .
As for the Airfix BAe Nimrod, this really needs updating.
Rant over.

[PR19_Kit]

That's been Hasegawa's method of 'marketing' for years, or possibly their UK importers. They seem to think that charging exorbitant prices for moulds that were first produced in the 70s will make people think they're new moulds.

Sadly it seems to work, people are STILL buying this stuff. Their prices for ancient singe engined WWII aircraft are quite ridiculous!