What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Dremel have entered the 3D printer market, costing about a grand over in the states and around £650 over here in the UK. Not too sure on the European launch date.
As a Whiffer I can see a market for small parts, etching and decals. Fuselage stretches or even car parts spring to mind.
Aircraft engines and conversions.
I suppose its down to cost for the additional plastic sheets.
I know that some small companies use this for model railway wagons, although from what I've seen I haven't been that impressed with the end product.
Sure given time and technology the price will come down and the ease of useable friendly instructions will make or take Whiffing to a new level.

Can't wait until I get my Christmas bonus and get back to building a few kits.

[McColm]

I seem to be going around in circles.
Just need to get my hands on a Lockheed Neptune and the circle will be completed as this was my first Whiff.
As already discussed in detail the Airfix 1/144 Hoverspeed Hovercraft.
I know that with two kits the deck space is huge. This time I'll be using strips of plasticard for the roof supports and walls. Care must be taken if cutting the roof as this has a tendency to crack depends on the plastic.
I did dry test runs using parts off a 1/144 B-2 Stealth bomber and engines from the Revell 1/144 C-17. Ended up using parts from the Revell 1/144 Lockheed Sea Shadow stealth boat.
The air cushion landing system can be built from the remaining parts, works well on a 1/72 C-130.

One slight problem if you want to go the military carrier route. Can't get many Sea Harriers or helicopters in the hold or on deck. Might need a rethink on deck arrangements.

Still plenty of Airfix BAe Nimrods, Revell Br.1150 Atlantics and the odd Lockheed P-3 Orion.
Both of the Atlantic and Orion have a few problems if adding the Nimrod wings but the transformation is well worth the effort.

Lots of airliner variations of the Valiant and Vulcan. Found the Victor a bit too fiddly for my liking. Maybe a smaller scale might be better.

[McColm]

Airfix has updated the 1/72 English Electric Lightning F MK 6 and whilst they haven't got the two seater in the pipeline Sword has released the T MK 4 or T MK 5.
Which begs the question to kitbash the two kits ending up with a two seater with the larger F MK 6 belly tank. Proposed alternative engines were considered on the Sea Lightning VG, so these could be sourced from the Tornado F2/F3.Taking this one step further, a solid nose and side air intakes. Sort of research aircraft for the pre-production Tornado.

[PR19_Kit]

Airfix has updated the 1/72 English Electric Lightning F MK 6 and whilst they haven't got the two seater in the pipeline Sword has released the T MK 4 or T MK 5.
Which begs the question to kitbash the two kits ending up with a two seater with the larger F MK 6 belly tank.

That'd be a Saudi or Kuwaiti T54/55 then.

Matchbox made rather a pig's ear of their attempt at the T55 but the Airfix/Sword solution should make a much better model, once you've ploughed your way through the 'PE heavy' Sword cockpit build anyway.

[McColm]

Thanks Kit.

[McColm]

Another T.55 idea would be a V/STOL version.
Using parts from a MKI or MK5 Harrier. Nozzles and out rigger landing gear. I think this has been built by another Whiffer, but can't remember where I saw it.

[McColm]

I guess that I'm used to seeing the B-17 in highly polished metal, so if the RAF Bomber Command applies its paint scheme the Fortress looks sinister.
This paint scheme would look great on a B-29/50 or the C-97. Even the Connie, although it was never in service with the RAF and neither was the C-97/B-50.
The B-29 and B-17 kitbash would look good as well.

[Captain Canada]

once you've ploughed your way through the 'PE heavy' Sword cockpit build anyway.

Let it go lol. you could always get away with painting the Matchbox seats  Anybody seen the Sword two-seater ? Wonder what the canopy glass looks like ? Also wondering if they have an 'open' option.

[PR19_Kit]

Anybody seen the Sword two-seater ? Wonder what the canopy glass looks like ? Also wondering if they have an 'open' option.

I have that one, thus my comments about the 'PE Heavy' stuff. The canopy looks great and it can be mounted in the open position too, and they supply the jack to hold it there as well.

[Captain Canada]

I have that one, thus my comments about the 'PE Heavy' stuff. The canopy looks great and it can be mounted in the open position too, and they supply the jack to hold it there as well.

I keep getting the two T birds mixed up from thread to thread !

I'll get to my Sea Lightning one of these days....but I was thinking the same thing. mashing the two

[PR19_Kit]

I've got T-birds coming out of my ears just now, Hunters, Harriers, Lightnings, Vampires, Meteors, Scorpions, Javelins, Torndaoes, Phantoms, Su-27s, A-4s, you name it, I've got one! 

[McColm]

A four seater T-55 Lightning would be feasible, based on the Grumman Prowler layout.
EF-55 Crow?
May need to stretch the fuselage to add the two rear seats.
Don't ask me why, but extra pylons above and below the wings and the distinctive tail from the Prowler or EF-111A.

[Captain Canada]

When you absolutely positively need your EW now !

[PR19_Kit]

Stretching a Lighting fuselage is very feasible as it's parallel forward of the wings until the nose taper starts.

I did that with two M'box F6s kits to make my 2 seat tandem F8 and it worked a treat. It may be a tad more difficult with the T55 as it has the bulged fuselage by the cockpit but not impossible to my mind.

[McColm]

This is still in the concept stage, kits haven't been bought yet.
Heller Dassault Mirage IVA and F-104.
The Mirage is 23 feet longer than the Starfighter, but if you added the Starfighter's wings, nose cone , tail and undercarriage. I know the Heller kit has a flattish lower fuselage so parts from the Starfighter and plasticard will be be used.
A kitbash between the two kits is more likely, the 7ft 7in wing might need changing, F-16 springs to mind.