What's on the workbench!

[Captain Canada]

This looks hot....your best yet I'd say !

[McColm]

This looks hot....your best yet I'd say !

Thanks Captain Canada,
I've put some filler/putty around the cockpit canopy to make it blend in with it's surrounding area.Tail lower section also filled in with putty.Gaps in the wings filled in and all other gaps.  Air intake strakes not quite lined up hence searching for FOR doors, may have to make my own.Found the missing undercarriage nose part.Will reglue the other EMS pod to wingtip.Just need to add cooling exchanges.  Should be ready next month for a coat of primer.

[McColm]

Bought six under-the-bed storage boxes for the present stash just need to label them for contents purposes.
I came across the 1/72 Hasegawa Martin SP-5B Marlin which was a surprise. I knew that I had purchased the 1/72 Shin Meiwa PS-1/SS-2 as I had plans for a Nimrod winged version or a Gunship variant.
The Shin Meiwa wasn't all there which gave me idea to use the T-tail and the landing gear.
As the fuselage is roughly the same size as the Marlin these parts should fit in theory.
A turboprop twin version would make sense as I can't find the Shin Meiwa wing however I have found the torpedo pods.
I can remember seeing a three engined Marlin look-a-like in one of my Convair books. Known as the P6Y, but that used a Wright R-3350-32W and two J85 jets that provided full Boundary Layer Control flow over the entire wingspan.

Day2 of the build
Fuselage windows painted black and glued into place. Cockpit fitted and both sides glued together.
Undercarriage wheelwells from the SS-2 glued in place including the nosewheel well.SS-2 MAD boom fitted at rear.
Wings, engines,  floats and nose radar glued in place.
Slight gaps around the engine cowlings. Flaps lowered.
left to set.

Biffo Rotodye has got it's contra-rotating propellers fitted.Will lengthen spindle to clear propellers.

Probably go and visit the Royal Artillery Museum on Saturday.

[McColm]

Bought six under-the-bed storage boxes for the present stash just need to label them for contents purposes.
I came across the 1/72 Hasegawa Martin SP-5B Marlin which was a surprise. I knew that I had purchased the 1/72 Shin Meiwa PS-1/SS-2 as I had plans for a Nimrod winged version or a Gunship variant.
The Shin Meiwa wasn't all there which gave me idea to use the T-tail and the landing gear.
As the fuselage is roughly the same size as the Marlin these parts should fit in theory.
A turboprop twin version would make sense as I can't find the Shin Meiwa wing however I have found the torpedo pods.
I can remember seeing a three engined Marlin look-a-like in one of my Convair books. Known as the P6Y, but that used a Wright R-3350-32W and two J85 jets that provided full Boundary Layer Control flow over the entire wingspan.

Day2 of the build
Fuselage windows painted black and glued into place. Cockpit fitted and both sides glued together.
Undercarriage wheelwells from the SS-2 glued in place including the nosewheel well.SS-2 MAD boom fitted at rear.
Wings, engines,  floats and nose radar glued in place.
Slight gaps around the engine cowlings. Flaps lowered.
left to set.

Biffo Rotodye has got it's contra-rotating propellers fitted.Will lengthen spindle to clear propellers.

Probably go and visit the Royal Artillery Museum on Saturday.

Day3 Name change
The main landing gear legs didn't go to plan so I used the PS-1
legs instead.

Though of calling this build the Martin EP -5C Marlin AEW  as the Rotodome from the Grumman Hawkeye E-2 fits. (Dry tested). Still keeps it's ASW equipment as the prototype.
Since the U.S. Navy stopped ceased operating the flyingt-boat in July 1968 and the RAF looked for a replacement for the Sunderland which resulted in the Shackleton. The Royal Navy could of held trials as a replacement for the Gannet AEW  which fits into my theme.
Just need to build a Gannet AEW.

Day4
Yet another name change, as I've fitted the two Rolls Royce Tyne engines from the Revell  04329 Dassault Breguet Atlantic  MFG3 "Anniversary " to the Marlin amphibious seaplane. In order to get the engines to fit the old engine cowlings and weapons bays have been removed. I will use parts from the Shin Meiwa PS-1. The shape now resembles a Whiff Be-12 Mail  flying boat without the twin tail fins.  The MAD boom is from a BAe Nimrod  and the nose radom is from the PS-1 kit. Two EMS pods also from the Br 1150 Atlantic are in place on the wingtips. I'll stick to 'Sea Moose'

[McColm]

The paint job continues using Vallejo acrylic colours. The matt black goes on a treat, the matt white is patchy in some areas but I'm using worn wet and dry papers 400 grit between coats.
Probably use silver or gun metal for the glazed cockpit as you can't see any interior detail.

Having second thoughts about the Marlin may revert back to the ASW version and keep the Rotodome for the Neptune build.
Ironically I've bought another PS-1/SS-2 on eBay. Should be able to build the turbojet version with a spare pair of BAe Nimrod wings or those from the Airfx Valiant.
Just need to finish off some previous unfinished builds first to get some work space.

[McColm]

The paint job continues using Vallejo acrylic colours. The matt black goes on a treat, the matt white is patchy in some areas but I'm using worn wet and dry papers 400 grit between coats.
Probably use silver or gun metal for the glazed cockpit as you can't see any interior detail.

Having second thoughts about the Marlin may revert back to the ASW version and keep the Rotodome for the Neptune build.
Ironically I've bought another PS-1/SS-2 on eBay. Should be able to build the turbojet version with a spare pair of BAe Nimrod wings or those from the Airfx Valiant.
Just need to finish off some previous unfinished builds first to get some work space.

Part2
Been retouching the paint scheme on the Wyton matt white and black. Once dry I put the decals from  Air-Craft Models  ACD72002 sheet. The large decals went on well, just had trouble with the aircraft number kept coming off. So I changed to WF503 of 90sqn based at Marham.
My build still lacks the turbochargers but has gained nose art with two car stickers.
Pictures are on my Facebook page.
I need to pick out details of the cockpit canopy and blend the nose art with the upper deck.Fix the flaps and propellers. I may have packed away the B-17G but have found a bag of small parts for the Avro Shackleton MK3.

Inbetween the gaps with the decals I have assembled JB Models LWB LandRover soft top with G.S. trailer. Basically to see how many will fit in the "Flying Cross" which is 15 & 1/4 inches long looking like seven Landies. Under carriage is from a V-22 Osprey.
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[McColm]

Found a pair of 1/72 Frog/Novo Avro Shackleton MK3 RR Griffon engine fronts and contra-rotating propellers which have been fitted to the Marlin kit.The engine exhaust pipes will come from the Aeroclub Avro Shackleton Mk2 set. (Pipes are white metal,  found a pair of seats for the cockpit as well).
Extra power could come from a spare pair of turbojets from the Neptune or KC-97 kits in the stash.

Back at work and looking forward to three weeks off in March.
The first Hasegawa Shin Meiwa PS -1/SS-2 arrived at work. The instructions are in Japanese but I do have an instruction sheet in English.
Will build one jet powered version and the other either US-2A /MR-2A.
Just a thought a sort of whatiff the Martin XP6M-1 had been fitted with turboprops?  If the wings fit off the Hasegawa PS/SS on the Anigrand Sea Master and vice-versa.

[PR19_Kit]

Just a thought a sort of whatiff the Martin XP6M-1 had been fitted with turboprops?  If the wings fit off the Hasegawa PS/SS on the Anigrand Sea Master and vice-versa.

The hull might need to be deeper to give the props enough clearance, either that or mount the engines on pylons ABOVE the wings.

[Dizzyfugu]

The mounting position must also be moved further aft, due to CG reasons. Massive body work, IMHO.

[McColm]

Thanks Guys

[McColm]

A roommate has stepped on the Sea Moose by mistake. The damage is beyond repair,  however the two RR Tyne engines will be recycled and used on the Revell Br1150 Atlantic German Anniversary edition. Thus becoming a four Tyne engined AEW with the stand & rotodome from the Heller Boeing E-3A Sentry.
EMS pods will be recycled along with the "spoof roof".

Son of the Sea Moose will be the Heller CL-415 with a Rotodome off a E-2 Hawkeye.

[McColm]

You may of noticed that the theme of AEW fixed wing and rotor/tilt wing is slowly being merged with flying boats/Seaplanes.
I haven't been able to any information why the idea or concept of a flying boat or Seaplane wasn't used in the AEW role. Whereas they were used in the ASW.
Japan, China and Russia still use flying boats in ASW and SAR with troop transport and water bomber roles.
I've seen photos of the SeaMaster as a tanker.
This opens a whole host of possible Whiffs.
If they turn out as good as the Matchbox HP Victor Mk3 AEW.

[McColm]

The model is based on the Revell 1/72 PB4 Y2 (RY-3 & P4Y-2).
Although I started this build as a civil airliner with two engines,  fingerprints and some parts eaten by the carpet monster. The next step was a twin engined ARE version using parts from the  AeroClub multimedia Avro Shackleton Mk2/AEW conversion set and the HBM 72012 resin Lancaster RR Merlin 85's engine set. Which are a better fit than the Elands.  The AEW radome is  glued to the upper fuselage behind the glazed cockpit.
The outer engine moulds have been filed off and will be filled in.
Could have been a stopgap between the Vickers Wellington MkIC & MkXIV and Avro Shackleton AEW Mk2.

[McColm]

As already mentioned I have two SeaMaster kits; Mach2 and the Anigrand model.
The revised plan is to build a AEW using the Anigrand kit and the Mach2 kit as a water bomber or cargo/Airliner  (SeaMistress).A false floor is possible if the inner fuselage could be sanded.Either two large cargo doors scribes or placed in the open position. Maybe some windows and seating.
Going to have to get another one, either a kitbashed  job or one of the other two kits.
I believe that there was only three Mk1s and three Mk2s built
although the numbers had dropped down to eight as ordered by the USNavy before being cancelled in 1959.
Further research suggests that the SeaMistress was a much larger seaplane looking similar to that of the Lockheed C-5 in size with 8 jet engines instead of 4 but in the same layout as the SeaMaster. Whilst others suggest that the SeaMistress was the general name for the civilian SeaMaster.
In Chris Gibson's book "Nimrod a Genis " there is the briefest of mentions.

[McColm]

I think the addition of small or sub-assembly on my builds is paying off.
In the past it was a rush to finish builds but now if I get board or frustrated I can just pick up another build and carry on.