What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Friday 25th September 2021

The Airfix Fairey Rotodyne has got a few lumps and bumps from the Italeri MH-47E SOA Chinook kit. I had to change the main rotors as I managed to snap off the rotor pivot, it now has a three bladed rotor from the Ka-58 stealth helicopter (top half non-contrarotating).
I started painting the rotor blades and tyres, then the chin mounted search/weather radar and the deflated AEW radome.
I've also started the Hobbycraft 1/72 V-22 Osprey, the previous owner had painted some of the parts and the loading ramp in this kit doesn't open. There's hardly any details in the cockpit, not that you can see much through the canopy. The side door doesn't open either so it's a straight out of the box build for now until my sick pay arrives and then I can get some decals.

[McColm]

Wednesday 29th September 2021

I have been using strips of card from the packaging to fill in the gaps of the 3D jigsaw puzzle of Hogwarts Castle.

I used the remaining parts of the two Freightdog deflated radome Sea King AEW conversion set to form the chin mounted radome on the Italeri EH-101 Merlin Mk1 Crows Nest AEW/Lockheed Martin EH-71A Kestrel AEW. The cockpit canopy glazing is now in place.
The seat straps that are left over have been used on the Westland Commodore,  V-22 Osprey and Westland Ravenclaw AEW.1.
I will be changing the colour schemes,  breaking up the grey.
I will need to buy another Chinook as the cockpit glazing doesn't fit properly.

[McColm]

Thursday 30th September 2021

Hi Guys ,
I just had one of those Eureka moments. I used white PVA glue to fill in the small gaps between the cockpit glazing and the fuselage on the Rotodome and the Westland Commodore.
As the glu dried it leaves a clear residue, which means that I can salvage the Chinook, I may have to repaint it and add some different decals to it.
One good thing about this recovery is that I'm getting builds finished or almost finished. 

A few thoughts for the GB Gunship in November 2021
The Avro Shackleton MR.1 would make an interesting Gunship using the Alleycat improvement sets. The nose and rear could have the guns from a B-17G or a B-24. Even parts from the Privateer or Shorts Stirling.
I have tried using the tail fin from the Stirling on a Lancaster so it should fit the Shackleton.
An Avro York Gunship is another option or Osprey. Hang on I have my copy of American Secret Projects: bombers,  attack and ASW 1945-1974. Loads of ideas in here.

[McColm]

Tuesday 5th October 2021

I've been working on the Italeri 1/72 EH-101 Merlin HAS.1 but I can't see this variant on any of the search engines, maybe the Royal Navy changed the designation.
So the Lockheed Martin EH-71A Kestrel (Crows Nest) AEW is almost ready to receive some paint, just needs a bit of PSR,  I have left the tail rotor detatched along with the main rotor blades.
The 1/72 Hobbycraft Boeing V-22 Osprey  has the ability to stow the wings. I will need to buy another one with the Black Dog resin folding rotor blades conversion set. I have glued the Italeri EH-101 Merlin HAS.1 radome under the fuselage as the Chinook I was building got broken beyond repair. I salvaged a few parts which will be fitted to the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne Ravenclaw AEW.1.
Whilst that's drying the 1/72 Italeri UH-60 Desert Hawk is undergoing a transformation into the Westland WS-60 Black Hawk. I can't help thinking that there's a part missing that should hold the roof up over the cabin area as there's a couple of holes next to the pilot's seats .
That's where I have stopped.

[McColm]

Wednesday 6th October 2021

I'm using Hataka acrylic paints from the British AAC Helicopter set.
A141 BS Medium Sea Grey (BS 381C:637) has been applied with a paint brush to the 1/72 Italeri EH-101 Merlin HAS.1 Crows Nest AEW which looks as though it has been weathered.
AO68 USArmy Desert Sand (FS 30279,ANA 616) has been painted on the 1/72 Westland Commodore Armed AEW, I might have to be creative on coming up with my own alternative Gulf War decals for this build.
As for the 1/72 Italeri EH-101 Cormorant, I'm thinking RAF Search and Rescue, probably been done before or Coast Guard colours.
The Airfix Fairey Rotodyne decals when doctored do fit the Hobbycraft 1/72 V-22 Osprey. I shall paint this white to begin with.

[McColm]

Thursday 7th October 2021

I'm so close to finishing my first 1/72 build since leaving hospital, it's my kitbashed Westland Commodore armed AEW.
The second coat of paint has been applied and a few decals added. I used spare decals to create an unconventional 'Desert Storm ' model.
It's was used to locate soft vehicles and destroy them.
As for the 1/72 Lockheed Martin EH-71A Kestrel Crows Nest, second coat of paint and grey decals (stars and  stripes) from the Osprey kit. The tail rotor is folded .
It looks the part,  just the rotors to paint and glue in place, oh and paint the exhaust pipes!

[McColm]

Friday 8th October 2021

The Lockheed Martin Kestrel AEW  (Crows Nest) and the Westland Commodore Armed AEW are in the final stages of being finished. I'm just deciding how many decals I should use. Photos will be up over the weekend on my Facebook page and other Facebook clubs I belong to. Instagram pluckybrit_1.
As to the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne aka Westland Ravenclaw AEW.1 which was supposed to be built straight out of the box with extras has developed into a Heliplane. The rear stack of the 1/72 Italeri Boeing MH-47E SOA Chinook including the twin engines and rotor blades is where the stack of the Rotodyne should be. I have left the gap in the front as I have run out of filler/puty and other rough bits but with a couple of coats of acrylic Sea Grey paint you can't see them (just don't look too closely).
I might put the other rotor blades on top,contra-rotating. On the wingtips are the drop fuel tanks taken from the Lindberg Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant as well as the inflight refuelling probe.
I have used green acrylic paint to simulate the green tinted glass on the cockpit canopy. These paints don't cover plastic too well and are meant for paper or cardboard.
I still have five builds to finish.

[McColm]

Saturday 9th October 2021

Hi Guys,
I have posted some pictures of my current builds on Facebook: Airfix Modellers,  Aircraft that never were and whatifs,  Whatif , beginners models and modelocics.  I think the spelling is correct.
From the reaction so far I have excelled myself with the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne kit 'gaps and all'. I'm thinking about displaying them at the London Scale Models Show on the 5th December.

[McColm]

Sunday 10th October 2021

It's the wee hours of the morning,  it looks like that I will have to build another 1/72 Westland Ravenclaw. Although the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne kits are getting expensive to buy. So a kitbash might be a better option.
Boeing CH-47 Chinook and the Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II.
There's quite a few A-10s in the spares or repairs on eBay, so it's just the Chinook kit.
Cut off both rotor stacks,  build the rear stack , use the twin tail from the
A-10 and a cut down part of the wings .Maybe the turbofaned engines can be used. Or the HH-53C it's slightly wider but the MH-53E is cheaper to buy.

Right I'm calling the contra-rotating Heliplane Ravenclaw AEW.1 done. It's been tidied up. So too has the Westland Commodore. The Merlin/Kestrel has had the rotors added in the stowed position. It might need touching up when dry.
I'm going to have a go at loading my photos on this site, I did it once but I can't remember what I did.

[McColm]

Monday 11th October 2021

I have made a start on the 1/72 Italeri EH-101 Cormorant, it was supposed to have a detailed interior but I have managed to mess this up and got glue on the windows of the cockpit, so they all have been painted black. The two fuselage halves went together well but I had problems with the rear loading ramp and glued this shut. I'm still pondering about the paint scheme,  RAF SAR prototype or city commuter.

[McColm]

Tuesday 12th October 2021

The 1/72 EH-101 Cormorant is looking like the Norwegian SAR helicopter. The nose has part of the Airfix Westland Lynx Mk8 kit. I have grafted the retractable inflight refuelling probe from the Lindberg Sikorsky HH-3E to the roof.
My thumb prints whilst painting are giving a weathered look,  so I will be keeping the yellow fuselage.  This must be the deluxe version as there's wing mirrors with it and Canadian go-faster stripes.
A name change is in order this project is the YUH-71 Kestrel. CSAR and ground support.

[McColm]

Wednesday 13th  October 2021

UH-71 Kestrel

I have been testing the capabilities of the 1/72 Italeri EH-101 Cormorant kit with parts from the Italeri UH-60 Desert Hawk.  It looks a bit like the Heliairline RW at the RAF Museum in Hendon from the back as I have fitted the tail rudder and the weapons pylons from the Desert Hawk. It also has the retractable inflight refuelling probe grafted to the cockpit roof and part of the radome from the Airfix Westland Lynx Mk8 kit glued to the nose. I was trying to copy the Norwegian SAR EH-101 model or the Danish as they have the same nose radar.
The profile isn't accurate as I intend to use the two 7.62mm machine guns either side of the radome.

I have been trying to find out if the Boeing V-22 Osprey can land on water without sinking, like a helicopter it would still have it's rotors turning.
Would it need floats or a pair of sponsors to keep it afloat?
I'm still having trouble uploading my photos to my pages from Facebook. I did go on Twitter and up some up on the Britmodeler tweet page. Maybe that's something to consider.

[McColm]

Saturday 16th October 2021

It's been an interesting day learning how to upload my photos from the Imgur  app,  I have tried to pair them up with topics  that I have created or commented on.
I have tried uploading some photos from Facebook but there's a fault and it has taken ages, so I will leave that for another day.
Thanks for all your help and advice, I hope that you will enjoy looking at my pictures and be inspired by them. I don't mind you building your own versions.
My Imgur name is: mccolmsteven89 and you are welcome to view.
I was very fortunate to get two shopping bags of goodies from my local food bank, they are getting supplies from the supermarkets on a daily basis unlike the weekly delivery before the fuel crisis. I haven't checked out their secondhand clothing yet but I have been told some are seconds from designer clothing companies.
On the Whiffing front has anyone built a four engined C-160? No not a C-130  wing and engines switch although the engines from the Revell Airbus A400M Atlas might be better or the Airbus A380. I think it would be a great project for the Gunship GB in November.
In the real world some people have converted Ambulances into campervans and I have managed to strip the plastic toy model down so I can paint the interior detail. I might cut out a side door or have patio doors at the back with a fold up ledge/tailgate. Doormobible or sunroof.

[PR19_Kit]

In practice four of the monster TP-400 engines off an A400 would WELL overpower a C-160, they poke out 11000 bhp each.

The engine test bed C-130 could fly well on JUST the TP-400. 

[McColm]

In practice four of the monster TP-400 engines off an A400 would WELL overpower a C-160, they poke out 11000 bhp each.

The engine test bed C-130 could fly well on JUST the TP-400. 

Thanks Kit