What's on the workbench!

[Captain Canada]

The Canadair Argus. Could have two variants, one standard low-level with the radials and a turbo for high altitude and AEW work.

Maybe get an Academy Sea Rescue B-17 with the lifeboat to fit onto the Shak ?

[McColm]

The Canadair Argus. Could have two variants, one standard low-level with the radials and a turbo for high altitude and AEW work.

Maybe get an Academy Sea Rescue B-17 with the lifeboat to fit onto the Shak ?

The lifeboat does fit the Shack and the B-29. I had it fixed to a C-69 Connie- SAR version with the searchlight off the Neptune wing tip tank. Definate rebuild in Coastal Command colours.

[McColm]

Slight setback,
The 1/72 Frog Lockheed Neptune kit looks like someone has stepped on it. The fuselages are broken in many places, glazing shattered, wings missing tiny pieces but the rest of the kit is in good order.
The Heller 1/72 Hawkeye E-2C is in good order.
Thought of using the wings from the Neptune on a Shackleton and adding the MAD boom, maybe the vertical tail fin could be cut and added as well.
I'll see what else I can salvage.

[NARSES2]

That's a bugger as they say

[McColm]

Been meaning to build this ever since I joined this site, but you know how it is one thing leads to another.
With the Neptune kit smashed to bits apart from the auxiliary jet pods, landing gear and searchlight pod.
I'll fit the auxiliary jet pods under the wings and use the Rotodome & stand off the Hawkeye kit. The tail will get two winglets off the Hawkeye kit, heat exchanges. The clear nose will be replaced with a solid radome, where the dipping radome is, blanked off. ESM pods either aftermarket kit or off a Airfix BAe Nimrod. Might dry fit parts off a Harrier swivel nozzle for the exhaust.
Inflight refueling probe to be sourced, chin FLIR.
USCoast Guard colours or a demo colour scheme.
May get another one.

[McColm]

I think that I may have an answer to making the Connie flying boat. I've been looking at the Revell 1/72 Blohm & Voss BV222 V-2 model.
I used to own on, only had it for two weeks before selling it on but the wings could be shorter. From six engines down to four.
Whereas the Connie has a roundish fuselage which can be cut up and rearranged so it would fit on top of the Viking. Thinking of using the Airfix Super G as a kitbash. The triple tail fins ans Connie engines. Landing gear utilized.
If I can whiff the Viking into a land plane, perhaps loose those German looks for something British or Canadian.

[McColm]

Been searching the net for 1/72 Lockheed Neptune kits that I can afford and came across two kits. Over the next few months the stash will increase but I've set myself a limit this time of no more than six model kits.
However this doesn't include broken/spare parts or aftermarket accessories.
I'll try my hand at some Falcon conversion kits as well.

[McColm]

The internet connection has been a bit patchy, been watching YouTube or trying to. An interesting article on Soviet Air Power.
With the British giving the USSR jet engines which in turn went to power the Mig-15/17.
This gave me an idea of an Anglo-Soviet collaboration.
The Rotodyne with contra-rotating rotor blades similar to the Helix.
Lightning with Mig-21 wings.
Yak-141 developed by BAe.
BAe Nimrod AEW3 layout on an Tu-16.

[Captain Canada]

Too bad about the Neptune. Really looking forward to seeing some of these ideas come to life !

[McColm]

This might lead to a Super Neptune by kitbashing the Airfix Stirling and parts from the Frog Neptune kit.
I could use the Stirling fuselage, add the cockpit area from the Neptune, change the wings as both have shoulder mounts. The Neptune vertical tail is still intact, so too is the MAD boom.
Blank over the upper turret.
I think SAC do a metal landing gear and I could change the tyres to resin ones.
The radar/radome will be sourced and replacement glazing
Engines will need to be replaced or Whiffed to turboprops.
Could use the decals from the Stirling kit.
Or use the spin top from the E-2C kit.

[McColm]

Although not a new idea, one that keeps surfacing in my mind. To use the Academy 1/72 C-97/ Stratocruiser as the base and add the 1/72 Hasegawa E-2C parts of the spinning radome & stand,parts from the tail, heat extractors and aerials.
Seen a few kits on eBay and saving my pennies just in case I have to pay the full price.
Thinking of keeping the engines but improving the turbochargers.

As my stash improves, I'll build another one with a bomb bay from a B-29 with gun turrets.
The third will have the cockpit area from a B-17 fitted above the fuselage.

[McColm]

Although not a new idea, one that keeps surfacing in my mind. To use the Academy 1/72 C-97/ Stratocruiser as the base and add the 1/72 Hasegawa E-2C parts of the spinning radome & stand,parts from the tail, heat extractors and aerials.
Seen a few kits on eBay and saving my pennies just in case I have to pay the full price.
Thinking of keeping the engines but improving the turbochargers.

As my stash improves, I'll build another one with a bomb bay from a B-29 with gun turrets.
The third will have the cockpit area from a B-17 fitted above the fuselage.

If the resin Turboprop conversion set for the Dakota from Heritage Aviation Models Limited fits the engine mounts from the Academy kit then the YEC-97J Waddington can be built.
I'll need two sets and invest in two more.

[McColm]

The Revell kit arrived without any broken parts. Read through the instruction manual and will go with the German version upto the lower half of the fuselage. As the AEW & C doesn't carry ASW or iron bombs the weapons bay can remain closed, the sonobuoy multi-launch tubes aren't need so the French/Netherlands parts can be used. The FLIR will be fitted under the nose. Going for a solid nose radome and blanking over the dipping radar dome. Could be used for forward crew access if a ladder was fitted.
Will be attaching jet auxiliary pods under the wings (from the Frog Neptune kit) and parts off the Heller Grumman E-2C Hawkeye kit. Large outer fins will be used as stabilziers on tail fins. MAD boom cut and sanded to shape.

[McColm]

If you've ever tried building this kit, you'll know not to rush it.
The rear fuselage is almost complete; weapon bay doors glued closed.Glazing in place, tail and rudder glued in place. MAD boom fitted.I opened the box section where the wings fit, as this needs strengthening.
Started on the lower cockpit section as this will have a solid nose and weighted. Upper panel started , awaiting painting.

A couple of gaps on the rear fuselage just waiting for payday so I can get some filler. Glued up radar-dome and stand off the Heller Hawkeye kit. Glued up auxiliary jet pods and searchlight wing pod from Frog Neptune.

Building modules from instructions, so they can be added at a later date after been painted.

[Captain Canada]

Sounds good. We defo need some pics tho....some times it's hard to keep up with where you are going otherwise !