What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

I've come up with a few ideas that will keep me busy this year,but I now have to concentrate on getting ready for the Hendon Show.
The Neptune just needs packing, but the Mad Hatter needs some more cleaning up before the paint stage.
There is a third the F-16B 1/72 front end and toy end SR-71 aka Boxcar. Painted in Oxcart colours. Just needs USAF decals applied.
The Connie Francis is becoming a problem,but a bit of tinkering should solve this.

[McColm]

Using the shoulder section of an Italeri 1/72 C-130 and undercarriage box sections the stretched C-97 has a new wing section and the Warrior AEW a new landing gear. Just needs a bit of filler in places to blend it into the Sunderland fuselage. Will add the underwing fuel tanks and rear landing wheel.
Been adding parts to the Mad Hatter from this kit.
May stretch the AC-130H for more heavy guns. Herk nose would look great on the Atlantique.
Solution found on the Connie Francis, I love it when builds get to the paint stage.

[McColm]

Went to work in the front garden, sanding first and primer after lunch or that was the plan until the Mad Hatter got stepped on by one of the other tenants I share the building with.
I salvaged the major parts but the vertical tail fin, tail section and rotodome got broken beyond repair. The wings were cracked. All these pieces were removed, but all is not lost. On the shelf is the Italeri 1/72 AC-119K Gunship.
The Gunship parts are going towards the Heller Nord 2501 Noratlas whilst the tail boom, engines have been assembled and are now fitted on the remaining fuselage. Can't really call it the Mad Hatter anyone, more like the Fairchild XC-83 Packing Create, based on the C-82 Packet.
In memory of the Mad Hatter, the Welsh Harp Sea Monster will be renamed and become an AEW & C thingy.

[McColm]

Work continues on the Connie Francis it now has four sponsors from the Italeri MH-53 helicopter kit and landing gear. Cut to fit flush against the middle float, will need a bit of filler and paint to blend in to the existingfuselage. Just need to paint the props not being glue to engines to save breakage whilst in transit.

The Warrior ex-Airfix Sunderland has got landing from a C-130,most of the round windows along the fuselage sides have been cut out to allow the landing gear surround to fit. Must use a ruler next time!!
Nose heavy due to large resin part using Airfix nose landing gear as this is thicker than the one in the Italeri kit. Besides I've used the Italeri cockpit parts in the Airfix AC-130H.

[McColm]

The other plan B
I have revised what to take to the Hendon show.
All in 1/72 scale, two F-16 projects, Lockheed Neptune turboprop and the Connie Francis .
All other builds are on hold as these have less chance of breaking.
Photos to follow, and I think I've cracked the link so my other builds can be shown here. I'm working over Easter , Happy Easter everyone!!

[McColm]

Just been dusting down the Neptune, might add a bit of detail to the cockpit screen and front glazed area using very thin strips of masking tape. Got a Squadron Publication as a reference.
The two F-16s , one just needs decals the other filler and painting.
Connie Francis might not be ready in time, but as soon as she is finished photos will go up, plus my other builds in progress.

[McColm]

Itching to get started on the builds for Hendon.
Been reading past issues of Jets magazines. May/June 2013 has articles on the Gloster Meteor. I've got the 1/72 NF.11 in my stash and can build the NF.14. Maybe add the wings from the Airfix U-2 kit, a raid in the spare parts bin may turn up a different radome.
The PlayFIX 1/100 Trident rear end will be used on one of the Airfix BAe Nimrods, whilst having a rumage around in the 1/144 Boeing 747 collection of unbuilt kits came across the tail section of a Boeing 727. Another project to be built.
Must get back to finish the AEW & C builds as I can get the large builds out of the way and onto some shelves out of the way.
Honest Johns Car Lot can get under way, got lots of ideas for 1/24 / 1/25 kits plus one or two kitbashing projects. Thinking of the DB5 alternative for James Bond a Jaguar MkII instead!
Joking aside I fancy building a flying ship, got the idea from the trailer of The Three Muskerteers.
As to the Guppy builds still looking out for a Rugby ball or a similar shape to fit over the fuselage of a C-97 . Perhaps papier mache!
So many builds to do and finish off.

[McColm]

Working on the Hendon builds is indeed very slow as I don't want to spoil the look.
As for the Connie Francis, removed the rear sponsors. Looking for a suitable stand as this would be better. Have tried using a polystyrene box lid to simulate a water landing scene. Didn't go to well.
Rising from the ashes is the Fairchild Packing Create might rename this the Phoenix.Deliberating on the engines.
AEW Cloud Master DC-6  Heller kit based. Changing the engines, did try using the RR Tynes but have gone for the engines from the Acadamey C-97 as they are a better fit. Undercarriage legs are off a Lockheed Constellation as the Warning Star under fuselage radome doesn't leave any clearance.
The Shorts Warrior front landing gear in place. Still shaping the mountain of filler to hide the joins . Looks like a goose with that long neck.
Started a production line for the Griffin engines, seem to be using a lot. Worked out a way of using them on the B-50/C-97 wings. Flatter layout than the B-29 wings less cutting to do.

[McColm]

I'm not sure which one of us used the resin parts for the BAe Nimrod AEW 3 on other builds. I came across deviantart stealthflanker artwork whilst searching under concept AEW aircraft and there it was for all to see. The similarity between my Shorts Warrior and the stealthflanker are uncanny. Okay so his concept has jet engines and a different tail and wings.
There is another concept using a Nimrod with resin AEW parts wth a VC-10 tail and wings. I might build that using the PlayFix kit.
Going to need more shelves for these built models.

[McColm]

As the date for the Hendon show grows ever closer , I've had a rumage around and found a few restoration builds, I'll be taking those along with turbo Neptune and F-16 forward swept canards.
If I finish any others in time, that will be a bonus.
Four should be enough.
The Shackleteer 3/4s Shackleton and 1/4 Privateer maybe ready for the show. Either troop transporter or airliner. As the resin parts for the Lancastrian ,the two cones dry fit. Just need to get some superglue.

[Captain Canada]

Nice to hear you'll be taking kits to a show....somebody will be able to get pics for us !

[McColm]

Yes,
When I see how they put pics on this site, so will I.

[McColm]

Painted the interior windows black, as they are so small no details can be seen through them. Haven't decidedon the cockpit.
Glued the two fuselages together, left side twisted and a pain to line up evenly. Vertical tail is from the EC-130V.Had to cut the top down to size, looked too big.
Nose wheel doesn't fit so good, but the nose section off the Privateer solves that problem.

[Gondor]

Yes,
When I see how they put pics on this site, so will I.

Try following the instructions here McColm -> http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,32096.0.html

There are similar instructions for how to upload photos in the Forum listed under General Modelling Forum entitled General Modeling topics

I hope this helps as I would love to see the results of your ideas

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Me too ! It's super easy with Photobucket. Just click the little wheel in the right hand corner of your pic, select 'get links' then right click and copy the .img code, and paste it to your post.