What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Before coming to work I dug out the Italeri 1/72 C-130J wings. They fit, very well. Make me think that the Connie could have been the testbed aircraft.
Would had to rejig the main undercarriage landing legs.
The wings from the Airfix Valiant also fit, but won't be used in this build.

[McColm]

All in 1/72;
Hasegawa EA-6B Prowler high visibility
Matchbox EA-6B Prowler ( as the plastic parts come in green, grey and white, I thought of "Marine One").
Matchbox Supermarine Stranraer- take the guns away, airliner or SAR.

Might do a bit of research on the Stranraer.

[McColm]

1/24 Tamiya Jaguar XJ220
1/72 Monogram F-16XL single seater
1/72 Matchbox Heinkel He 115 Floatplane

[McColm]

I'm using the Italeri 1/72 C-119G flying box car wings on the Italeri C-130J kit. They seem to be a better fit than the Airfix BAe Nimrod wings. As they cover the existing wing stubs the length of the twin boom is in line with the rear tail plane. The vertical tail fin will have to go.
The name "Super Trooper" springs to mind, haven't worked out what engines to use or how many to use yet.

[McColm]

If there's one thing I've learnt through Whiffing is, if you make a mistake. You can use the parts on another build.
Take the Revell Br.1150 Atlantic. I've added a 'Mad Cap' styled radome to the vertical tail fin which started life as a Frog Shackleton stand. Not convinced with the wings, these have been removed and the Airfix BAe Nimrod wings will replace them. The cockpit is also from the Nimrod but sliced into two sections so it fits better, although not quite the same shape as the Atlantic fuselage . I can blend this in.
The spare engines will find a home-probably on the P-3 Orion. With two auxiliary turbojets under each wing. As you can never have too many spare engines.
Which means the flying boat may need to change slightly in design.

Been watching the series "Wheeler Dealers" on YouTube. Came across their Jaguar Mk.II saloon project and decided to go with the black leather interior. Sort of a universal colour. Going to build it straight from the box. Haven't decided on the exterior colour although the previous builder did paint some parts red by hand, me thinks I can sand them back and use a darker colour. By layering the final clear gloss, I can get that deep shine. Three coats should be enough.

Had a look at the resin two seater conversion set. Got some issues, however the 1/72 Revell Hurricane could be made into a two seater.
The rear canopy of the Mk IX if turned around looks like a tear drop or bubble fitted to some fighters.

Going to leave the rest of the rivets alone on the Carlton(Shackleton). Should have sanded them down before the build. Looking good with the flat nose. Working on the cockpit area. Needs a crew.
Proteus II is coming along slowly, might give Telford a miss and attend the Islington show instead due to its location and access by public transport.
No Whiffing for the next few weeks due to the summer holidays.

[McColm]

The Phoenix is my third attempt at this build which uses a 1/72 C-130 fuselage with the wings from a 1/72 C-119G Flying Boxcar or AC-119G Shadow/Stinger. On previous builds the tail end went wrong. This time I've used the Italeri C-130J and measured the boom length. This fits and clears the tail ramp. The vertical tail will have to go but could be cut to make a triple fin layout. This would help the tail boom.
A bit of cutting needs to be done to secure the inner wing to the new wing stub. I've used superglue and will fit a wing brace, just before I glue the two fuselage halves together.
I could go to town with etched detail sets, haven't decided on the fit. Could do something maritime or special operations/AEW as the original spec. Using the Atlantic vertical tail or EC-121 radomes. Might stick to the Atlantic as other parts are being used for other builds. (Could buy another one and go for a fuselage stretch).
Jet auxiliary engines mounted above the wings so underwing pylons can be fitted. Might keep the engines or use resin replacements-contra rotating.
Something Taiwan or circa Vietnam War.

[McColm]

Cockpit details
Cockpit glazing-mask and paint
Sand down rear/shape
Rear landing gear- to be installed
Crew access- hatches and ladders
Lumps and bumps
Paint
Tyres
Clear gloss-decals- satin finish

Carlton (Avro Shackleton, twin turboprop AEW & C- Hawkeye parts)

Cockpit details-glazing
Fill upper nose section
Lumps and bumps
Tyres
Paint underneath fuselage first- fit underwing storage doors.
Scribe cargo doors
Paint
Decals
Fix screw-top

[McColm]

Been reading Nimrod's Genesis by Chris Gibson, not page to page but different chapters. Got me thinking how close the UK got to buying the Br.1150 Atlantic and the C-160ASF. Both considered too slow but if fitted with two poded turbofan engines would be fast enough in transit and then switch to the turboprop whilst on station.
Might have a go and Whiff the 1/72 C-160 with the Airfix BAe Nimrod wings. Depends which Transall kit I get, as the Heller and Revell are constructed differently when it comes to the wings. Revell goes for the wing stubs on the fuselage whilst Heller is similar to the Airfix Valiant. Which would mean creating a curve on the upper fuselage. Could cover this with the large radome from the EC-121 and use up parts in the spares bin.The Ocean Patrol proposed version could be built. Whilst building the twin boom Fairchild Phoenix pre-C130.
I think building in groups, should work. Then the two Connies, Bristol Superfreighters.

[McColm]

Acrylic and enamel paints should be arriving soon, so I can paint the lower fuselage of the Carlton/ Shackleton and add the storage doors. Will be using the colour scheme from the Italeri AC-119G. Will apply this to the Proteus II as well.

A lot of the Airfix B-29 parts will end up on the Super-G, and will get the triple tail fins from the EC-121. Did this before on a similar build almost a perfect match. A kitbash in the making. Often wanted to use the Airfix Nimrod wings, will get a new cockpit as well.

[McColm]

Can't sleep, so decided to kitbash the RR Tynes off the Revell Br.1150 Atlantic and onto the Superfreighter. Dry fit test , great improvement. Engines will be moved further away from the fuselage to allow clearance for propellers.
The Rotodome off the Heller Grumman E-2C Hawkeye fits on top of the upper fuselage. Will use parts from the Airfix Lockheed S-3A Viking for main landing gear. Hawkeye tail. Will keep the windows as this could double up as a COD with arrestor hook. Inflight refueling probe from an EA-6B.
Possible name change Sea Freighter.

[McColm]

Just checked on eBay and won the Revell Atlantic German Anniversary ATL1. With the fuselage section in the spares bin I can go for a stretched version. The weapons bay doors will be kept shut. The four engine proposal RR Tynes and two auxiliary turbojets. MPA version in RAF colours, solid nose but keeps the dipping radar bin, inflight refueling probe. Airfix BAe Nimrod parts added. Probably build this and the MPA Sea Valiant at the same time.

As discussed before if the wings from the Hasegawa 1/72 Boeing B-47E fit the US-1/PS-1 flying boat then I'll use the Be A40 Mermaid as a guide to build my own version.

The Hasegawa Lockheed P-3C and the wings from the Airfix BAe Nimrod almost make for a good fit. A bomber version with two weapons bays fore and aft of the wings. The rear where the sonobuoy tubes would have gone and the front will need cutting out. The lining made from plasticard,racks from the Atlantic kits. Nimrod ESM pod on the vertical tail.

Will have a to see if the wings fit from the 1/144 747 on to the fuselage of the 1/72 B-47. Perhaps use the leftover parts from the Airfix S-3A for a new forward cockpit.

Scratched build spin-tops for other AEW concepts.
Kitbash using the Airfix B-29 and H.S. Dominie. But will wait until other started builds are completed.

[McColm]

Can't sleep, so decided to kitbash the RR Tynes off the Revell Br.1150 Atlantic and onto the Superfreighter. Dry fit test , great improvement. Engines will be moved further away from the fuselage to allow clearance for propellers.
The Rotodome off the Heller Grumman E-2C Hawkeye fits on top of the upper fuselage. Will use parts from the Airfix Lockheed S-3A Viking for main landing gear. Hawkeye tail. Will keep the windows as this could double up as a COD with arrestor hook. Inflight refueling probe from an EA-6B.
Possible name change Sea Freighter.

Part 2
With the Hawkeye quad fin tail glued in place resembling the Grumman E-1B. Looks like an Elk or Moose. So naturally the Bristol " Super Moose" AEW & C. RR Tynes work well on the wings just need a bit of filler to blend in. Thinking of squaring up the wingtips- possible wing-fold. Been working on the cockpit, looking for alternative nose section might use the Magna kit when it arrives or shape a solid nose from the spares box.
Haven't seen any AEW aircraft in camouflage colours or schemes.

An off-the-wall idea comes from the Boeing C-97. To use the Airfix B-29 as the lower fuselage to a Airfix Super Constellation/Super-G. Not quite Constitution but could be the missing link. Turrets used on upper fuselage, gets a new cockpit, single tail fin, rear and front guns. Keeps Connie wings with B-29 engines. Could use the parts from the Heller EC-121 instead.

Running out of space, so will need to look for suitable shelving unit.

[McColm]

I went on Google to try and get a kit review of the Revell 1/144 Space Shuttle and Boeing 747 carrier. Most modellers have gone down adding booster rockets, rocket launch pad or shuttle "crawler" .
Although not the best kit to buy due to raised panel lines, there are aftermarket kits to improve this, I was thinking along the lines of an airliner. Like the Boeing widebody concept . The kit comes with the engine cone. If this was fitted with over-the-wing engines from the 747.
Second thought stealth boat, utilizing the large cargo bay.

Other uses for the 747 have included a flying boat. Whilst looking at the kit , not impossible. Just need to reinforce the box junction in the new shoulder wing position. CFM engines above the wings, might use the B-47 engines if they aren't too big.

[kitnut617]

I went on Google to try and get a kit review of the Revell 1/144 Space Shuttle and Boeing 747 carrier.

Now don't be a wussy, build it in 1/72 scale ---- 

[McColm]

I don't have the room at present, if circumstances change. I'll let you know.