What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Stumbled on the idea for an AEW version of the V-22 Osprey. Instead of the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye Rotodome roto-dome why not use the Search water radar as fitted to the Westland Sea King AEW. Mk2/ASaC.Mk7 and Sikorsky SH (AEW) Sea King?
I've seen pictures of the AgustaWestland EH-101 Merlin using one during trials and I'm guessing that the AW101 Mk112 has been looked into as well.
Freifhtdog do the deflated radome in 1/72, so I'll be putting in an order once pay day arrives.
The Aerospatiale SA321 Super Frelon could be whiffed and Chinese decals added to make the Changhe Z-18.
Also the CH-53 or MH-53.
Not too sure if it will fit the small helicopters such as the Lynx.
The Rotodyne springs to mind, so does the Mil-24 Hind.
Could even fit on the C-130 either on the loading ramp or the side of the rear fuselage.
Or even the Lockheed Neptune instead of the AN/APS-20B radar.

[sandiego89]

Stumbled on the idea for an AEW version of the V-22 Osprey. Instead of the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye Rotodome roto-dome why not use the Search water radar as fitted to the Westland Sea King AEW. Mk2/ASaC.Mk7 and Sikorsky SH (AEW) Sea King?

There were several ideas to do just that for the new UK carriers before It was decided  to go Merlin with the side blisters scabbed on- hang the Searchwater out the back ramp of the MV-22.  check the wiki page for the Gannet AEW3 as it has a drawing of one- others on line if you google image search MV-22 AEW.  

[McColm]

Thanks,
That Lonewolf Sidetrack Harrier conversion has me thinking of either the Airfix Jetstream or the Airfix HS Domine as possible whiffs.
Got both in the stash
Not too sure if it would work on the RA-5C Vigilante as I"be got the Frog kit in the stash as well.
I know that the Canadians modified an McDonnell F-101 Voodoo (EF-101). Could work with the wingtip pods,  as I have one on order.

The ACI conversion for the Vickers Wellington MkIC and MkXIV would work on the Airfix Stirling's either with the MkV resin conversion parts, sort of early AEW alternative.

[McColm]

I tried building this before but ran into problems cutting the Heller/Airfix fuselage. Whilst one side turned out okay the other wasn't. Which meant that the Super G was a lot shorter than than the standard size. Next problems with the wings. Not as simple as I expected. But the wings from a C-130 could be used and the main undercarriage as well.
Whilst parts from the Academy C-97 were also tried, such as the vertical tail and tail guns from the B-29.
It might be easier with the vacform kit, as a new tail unit and bomb bay. Cutting would also be easier, still haven't mastered cutting curved surfaces with a razor saw! Although a fixed circular saw might be the way forward, a bit pricey for the modelers version.
  Should be an interesting build, but I must finish all those started kits first.

[McColm]

With the success of the Shackleton/Carlton reducing 4 engines down to 2. An idea to do the same with the Airfix B-24J seems doable.
Convair did propose a twin engine B-24 for the military and as transport for civilian airliners but never got built.
There were transport versions of the B-24 and if you buy the Revell or Matchbox Privateer there's parts in the kit to build one.

Meanwhile, I've put the bulk of the stash away in a cupboard under the stairs. This is to stop me building more kits. I can now finish off the started builds. Got to get more paint and filler/putty.

The Vulcan & Nimrod kitbash (Vulrod or Nimcan) "Fat Vulcan " in the Chris Gibson book Nimrod's Genesis-front cover photo . Turned out okay with one wing the other fell off. I'll fix the main undercarriage legs before gluing the wing back on.

[McColm]

The Wyton now has a solid nose off the 1/72 EC-135N/E. Almost a good fit in most places.
Looks a bit like the XEC-97 AEW concept.
Been look at the Russian Tu-126 "Moss" AEW. The radome would look better on the stack belonging to the Fairey Rotodyne instead of the Hawkeye stand and it would cover two holes in the upper fuselage.
With this to be glued in place and a little filler/putty work..
Another model to join the painting stage.

[McColm]

Got the Dominie in the stash and thought of kitbashing an AEW version, but when I found that Lonewulf Models did the Sea Harrier AEW project, just had to get one.
Sea Harriers and Harriers don't seem to last that long after they are built as little fingers from my niece and nephews always seem to find there way back to Falmouth Cornwall .
Should make an interesting project as a test plane or as a trainer.

[kitnut617]

Dominie with side track is too far back, do one of these instead

[McColm]

Thanks,
That's where I got the idea from. A two seater  Harrier or even the twin seat Eurofighter Typhoon would look good..
Got the 1/72 Matchbox RF-101B/F-101F Voodoo as another possibility. The Frog N.A. RA-5C.
Might have to scratch build the wing pods.
Or buy another kit, the EA-6B is another contender.

[McColm]

Finally got my hands on an 1/72 F-15D, this will become a RF-15D. Using the reconnaissance parts from the Matchbox Voodoo kit.
A roommate has his eye on my F-35A, but having collected the Harrier GR1, GR5, Sea Harrier MK2,and X-32 it will look good with photo etch F-35B parts. the F-35B is proving a little bit expensive. Although the F-22 would make a good kitbash V/STOL.

Work is slowing up on the nearly finished builds. The XEB-29 Wyton is looking more of a flying test plane, still working out a suitable paint scheme.
The Sky-guardian (stretched Airfix HS/BAe Nimrod MR1) with Nimrod 3 vertical tail and Harrier type 2-D directional tail pipes with Hawkeye rotodome. Putty/filler sanding stage.
Sea Moose is undergoing a cockpit update and weathering to the Tyne engines.
Beagle auto-gyro gunship, undercarriage needs to be lowered. Managed to find an A-10, so main gun and stores will be added.
Carlton just needs decals adding to it.
Jet Shackleton, undercarriage, cockpit need sorting out.
Victor AEW no work since last update.
Vulrod put into long term storage.
P-3C AEW 2016 build
Atlantic AEW - four engined Tyne turboprops, E-3A rotordome 2016/7 build .
Douglas DC-6A ASW 2016 build.

[McColm]

Stumbled across the McDonnell XV-1 experimental compound gyroplane that could reach speeds of 174Kts. Like the Fairey Rotodyne, the programme was terminated due to the noise from its rotor tip mounted jet engines.
There is a 1/32 kit and I think there is a 1/144. I'll have to do a bit of research to see if there was a 1/72 kit.
Looks like the Gazelle helicopter with twin tail twin boom and single rear mounted engine with a short wing.
I've placed an order for an Airfix Gazelle. A raid in the spares bin (remains of the Matchbox A-10) and some plastic tubing could come up with something similar.
I'll use the XV-1 design in the Beagle build. Found a pair of C-130 underwing fuel tanks, so I've glued them to the Bristol Super freighter wings. The main gun from the Matchbox A-10 is glued in place.
Removed the main undercarriage, may have to remove the weapons bay bulge.

[PR19_Kit]

There's a vacform XV-1 and I have one.

I think it was done by Eagles Talon, but if not kitnut617 will be able to tell us. 

It's LONG OOP though, and I bet  they cost a bomb on auction sites.

[kitnut617]

Well Kit, under Eagles Talon in the 'Big Book' there's nothing listed for that -- and that was after checking the four Addendums too.  It does say that ITC made a 1/32 scale injection kit of it which was re-released by Glencoe after they bought the moulds from ITC. It then says Anigrand does a 1/72 resin kit of it.

http://www.anigrand.com/AA2006_XV-1.htm

Not thinking of something else are you, maybe the XV-3 or X-13 which are done by Eagles Talon

[PR19_Kit]

Could be, I've got quite a few of those weird NASA test planes of the period. I'll check.

[McColm]

I've recycled the autogyro Beagel Gunship into the Bristol type 170 Rotodyne AEW.
As most of the heavy machine gun barrels have snapped off.
The MH-53 Sea Dragon landing gear and spares off the Airfix Sea King AEW kit have also been added.
Sort of alternative to the Fairey Rotodyne.
The Biffo keeps the twin RR Griffon engines and viper jets, with twin tail fins. All armament has been removed.
Could also take on the role of COD.