What's on the workbench!

[PR19_Kit]

The fastest rail borne vehicle in the world is an unmanned rocket powered sled which reached almost 6500 mph (M 8.5  ) in 2003.

The fastest manned rail vehicle ran at 632 mph back in 1954 for goodness sake! The 'driver' was Col. John Stapp and he did it without a windscreen of any sort. Respect!

Both of those took place at Holloman Air Force Base NM.

[scooter]

The fastest manned rail vehicle ran at 632 mph back in 1954 for goodness sake! The 'driver' was Col. John Stapp and he did it without a windscreen of any sort. Respect!

[McColm]

Thanks Guys for the info, looks like a future Whiff build.

[McColm]

I've started to collect model kits under £20 on eBay. As Woolwich Arsenal doesn't have a model shop. KitKrazy being the nearest.
Three kits so far all in 1/72; Sea Hurricane, SP-2H Neptune, E-2C Hawkeye.
I think as the Neptune is to be turned into an AEW & C , the nose could be solid and the radome removed from the lower fuselage. May need to use the Heritage Aviation Models Limited resin turbo Dakota resin conversion set with parts from the Hawkeye engines, blades and exhaust pipes.
The Hawkeye becomes a COD or transport/cargo, could even become an ASW platform.
I need to buy another cheap Hawkeye kit or two.
Second rotodome to be fitted to an Avro Shackleton MR3 or if funds are available the Sud Caravelle/ Br1150 Atlantic/C-160. Depends which is available first.

[McColm]

Been on Google and it appears that I'm not the only one interested in changing the aircraft engines from piston to turboprops in the Real World and as a Whiffer. Seems the early jets also had an alternative prop engines, some were fitted whilst others never got passed the drawing board.
Secret Projects and Aerolists have sections dedicated to this.

[McColm]

I typed in Lockheed Neptune unbuilt concepts on Google and got those two titles.

Another idea that I have is kitbashing the Lockheed P-3 Orion with the BAe Nimrod. I tried this before and know where I went wrong. What I should have done is file down the fuselage of the P-3 Orion so it fits the Airfix BAe Nimrod weapons bay and lower wing. Strips of thick plasticard would then strengthen the wings. Taking the Orion from a turboprop to a turbojet. The weapons bay would then be deeper and longer.
The alternative AEW & C taken from the Nimrod Mk3, still appeals to me. As I've yet to see one using the resin kit.

Whiffing the Lockheed Constitution into an ASW or my version using a Constellation and C-97.
Meanwhile I did stumble over a piece of info about the Lockheed Starliner, there was a vacform conversion kit.
Came across a 1/48 vacform Lockheed P-3 Orion by a firm called Tiger. It's on eBay.
As to the ConstellationII reminds me of the Caravelle with four twin engines similar layout to the VC-10.

[McColm]

Its Tigger vacform kits in 1/32 and 1/48 scale. The range is limited but there are a few suprises in the catalog.

[McColm]

What if you used the lower half of the 1/72 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser and added the Lockheed Constellation on top?
Problem solved if the wings are relocated to shoulder mounted.
A-seaplane
B-bomber if using parts from the B-29/50.
C-single tail fin and 377 wings

Flying boat version of the Stratocruiser. Shoulder mounted wings, sponsons. Airfix BAe Nimrod wings or Valiant wings.

With the top half of the Stratocruiser on the bench another Whiff could be the R6V Constitution or something looking similar.

RR Tynes or turboprops off a P-3 Orion. Both work. Short Stirling landing gear.

I think if I use the nose section off the Revell 1/72 Br1150 Atlantic on the kitbash the Constitution will look better. Just need to buy two kits, as I can extend the fuselage on the other.

[McColm]

Forgive me if I'm repeating myself here. I did try and combine the Sea Dragon (3-engines) with the MH-53J.
As discussed on another topic the ASW and AEW & C versions using the Sea King resin parts or Airfix/Revell kits as donors for the parts.
Another idea is to use the S + M 1/72 helicopter decal sets or other civilian airliner decals.

I did attempt to build a stretch version, next time I'll stretch the fuselage by removing the gear box/engine fitting. Then reposition afterwards, rather than take out a saw when the model is almost completed.
I could get hold of the Helix, twin main rotors and no tail rotor. (Could use the tail fins from the Hawkeye kit, if they fit!) A-10 tail would fit just as good.

Could even be the basis for a Rotodyne build.

Prices seem reasonable, the hostel has had an offer from the Chinese Restaurant below and the Landlord is finding suitable accommodation rather than chucking me out on the streets.

[McColm]

Test shots of the Airfix MR2 Shackleton look great, although I couldn't help but notice traces of filler used along the top side of the fuselage.
A pair of cargo doors wouldn't seem out of place on the starboard fuselage. (Future transport/cargo version).
I hope that there's a few aftermarket kits when it comes to the weapons bay either SAR or iron bombs.
In the past I've gone for a flat nosed version, but I can see an advantage if the airliner version was Whiffed. Remove the guns, ASW equipment. A few extra windows and some new engines. Dan Air decals.
I'll have to see what is user friendly on the alternative engine side and see about the twin engine variant.
Loads of ideas for the single fin and AEW & C test aircraft.

A water bomber version would also look great.
Going one step further, move the wings to shoulder height. A whole lot of new Whiffs spring to mind, even a seaplane version with a V-shaped hull. Just need a pair of floats for the wings. I can see the 1/72 CL-415 kit been used for donor parts on this build.

[Spey_Phantom]

ive seen a couple to testshots from Airfix's new shackleton, it really looks great, but i dont know if im going to buy one of these.
the recent releases from airfix look great, but they have become a bit pricey for my liking
i think i might get one revell's older ex-frog shackletons when they get re-released this year, might look good as an Indian Navy MPA 

[Thorvic]

ive seen a couple to testshots from Airfix's new shackleton, it really looks great, but i dont know if im going to buy one of these.
the recent releases from airfix look great, but they have become a bit pricey for my liking
i think i might get one revell's older ex-frog shackletons when they get re-released this year, might look good as an Indian Navy MPA 

Revell are not re-issuing the Frog Shackleton MR3, they are doing a new tool AEW2 !

[McColm]

ive seen a couple to testshots from Airfix's new shackleton, it really looks great, but i dont know if im going to buy one of these.
the recent releases from airfix look great, but they have become a bit pricey for my liking
i think i might get one revell's older ex-frog shackletons when they get re-released this year, might look good as an Indian Navy MPA 

Revell are not re-issuing the Frog Shackleton MR3, they are doing a new tool AEW2 !

I haven't seen any test shots of the Revell Shackleton AEW2 only photos. You could convert the AEW2 back into the MR2, with or without the twin cannons. A lifeboat was fitted to a MR2 and trials were carried out with a tail  M.A.D. boom. I read somewhere that the Shackleton was considered for despatching paratroops.

[McColm]

The Royal Air Force flew the Lockheed Neptune whilst waiting for the Avro Shackleton, what if they had kept them?
The MR1s could have been replaced by the SP-2H model and renamed as the MR2. No doubt the RAF would have kitted it out with their own equipment and changed the engines from pistons to turboprops (RR Tynes come to mind).
Two fuselage plugs fore and aft of the wings to increase the cabin space.
As the radar is the same spec as the Avro Shackleton AEW2, the MR2 could have been used in the same role. (Another topic of mine has two alternative fuselage mounted long range radars).

Been drawn to a floatplane version of the Neptune using the CL-415 layout as a guide. Won't know until I geta 1/72 Revell or Heller model in my hands. Would make a great kitbash if they did! May need to increase engine power. The 1/72 C-160 kit would make a good donor.

[McColm]

So what about if the Avro Shackleton hadn't been built?
The RAF were flying Washingtons, Lincolns were MR aircraft and a few Sunderlands still flying.
The Shorts Stirling as a maritime Whiff- kitbash with a Shackleton MR3.
Boeing B-29, B-50 and C-97.
Lockheed Constellation C-121-  done before, weapons bay included, ESM wing pods, searchlight, MAD boom. Pylons under wings. Change the engines.
DC-6/7
B-47 with S-3A parts.
Valiant with Nimrod wings, resin AEW kit to follow. Might work on a Vulcan bomber-sort of!