What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

Took the National Express down to Falmouth in Cornwall yesterday.  A pleasant ride which was a few minutes ahead of schedule.
Visiting my mum and younger sister for a few days.

The card model of Hogwarts Castle was greeted with comments of building it in a larger scale. As it would look cool in 1/72 scale!
Other ideas included building 1/48 helicopters and using R/C parts to get them to fly.
Came back this evening to find that someone had tidied up. I will need to restore a few builds.
Got to pop down to the Post Office in the morning to collect three packages.

[McColm]

Grab a sandbag and your favourite brew.
I've found a suitable stand so it's gear up on this build.
The flying boom has parts taken from the EC-135N "Snoopy" kit with the basket attached for refuelling and the RVHP Lockheed Constellation rotodome conversion added.
Pictures on Facebook and Flicker.

[McColm]

Grab a sandbag and your favourite brew.
I've found a suitable stand so it's gear up on this build.
The flying boom has parts taken from the EC-135N "Snoopy" kit with the basket attached for refuelling and the RVHP Lockheed Constellation rotodome conversion added.
Pictures on Facebook and Flicker.

Part 2
The large rotodome halves are not flush when put together but with some green-stuff filler/ putty applied this soon disappears. Drilled a hole for the locator pin.
As there isn't any surface details on the resin parts I might get the E-3A Sentry etching set from Flightpath.

[McColm]

Just had an idea to build my version of the Martin Mariner using the 1/72 Hasegawa Martin Marlin as the donor kit.
A raid in my spare parts bin should come up with the twin tail fins and retractable landing gear  (Catalina ).
Other parts from the Catalina could be used along with an engine change possibly jets or a triple arrangement from one of Convair concepts.

[McColm]

Donor kits so far include;
1/72 Italeri C-130E/H
1/72 Heller Lockheed Constellation Super-G
1/72 Zvezda Mil MI-26 Halo

I've built the C-130 per instructions with a bare cockpit .The loading ramp is glued in the closed position as I have cut off the vertical tail fin. Plastic card has been used to fill the gap.
The triple tail fins from the Connie kit have been glued and attached.
The main rotor gear and engine housing from the Halo cut from the fuselage sections and glued up.
The main rotor blades trimmed but not assembled.
Might use the engines from the Airbus A4000M Grizzly/Atlas on the wings.
 There's an artist impression on the "C-130 topic" on which I have based this build.

Part2
To stop this being a tail-sitter I've added the resin nose from the 1/72 Cammett Nimrod AEW3 conversion. This sits very well under the windscreen.
I'm using Green Stuff putty to fill most of the gaps but using Milliput on the larger ones as it can be shaped just like clay when water is applied.
Tempted to add some lumps and bumps along the fuselage and rear loading ramp.
With the fine weather I'll be able to give this a good sanding down ready for primer.

[McColm]

I'm using the Heller EC-121 Warning Star as a donor kit with parts from the Academy KC-97G & L models.
The basic shape will remain the same but the boom, boom operator's window and other parts will be fitted.
May change the engines to turboprops  ( could add two J57 jet engines in a layout similar to that of the KC-97L ).

Part 2
The fuselage windows and basic cockpit have been glued in place. Inserted towards the rear is the clear glazed flying boom operator's window and flying boom from the Academy KC -97G.
Fuselage glued together and wings added.
Where the wingtip fuel tanks would have been fitted the resin C-130 hose & drogue in-flight refuelling pods have been cut and glued.
The outer engines have been replaced by the twin jet engines as used on the B-47 and the inner engines haven't been fitted yet.
As you can't see a lot of detailing through the cockpit windows this will be filled with ballast.

Part3
The triple tail fins have been replaced with the single vertical tail fin from the KC-97G and tail arrangements. I've also cut the vertical tail fin close to the rear fuselage to form an air-intake.
The inner engines are from the Heller EC-121 Warning Star but I've extended the prop-shaft so it looks like the second set of propellers are contra-rotating.
The spares bin has been raided to provide gap fillers in the wings where the two sets of twin jet engines taken from the Avro Endeavour have been fitted. Lumps and bumps fitted above and below the forward fuselage.
Might keep the U.S.Navy paint scheme for the Warning Star and add arctic red to the tail, wings and front.

Part 4
There's not much left of the original parts taken from the Heller 1/72 EC-121 kit. On the wings the inner engines have been blanked off with the nose cones from the Airfix Super Constellation and the nose cone cut from the Warning Star.
With the removal of the nose cone and cockpit seats the resin Cammett Nimrod AEW3 resin tail section is rather a good fit. When cleaned up, this will be superglued to the fuselage and a suitable nose landing gear fitted, as well as a new cockpit.
I may change the name to 'Atlantic Star'.

[McColm]

As previously stated the 1/72 Be-12 Mail was an upgraded Be-6 with wooden engines  (turboprops); MAD boom and front radar dome. The landing gear is scratched built.
I've added;
A pair of ESM pods on the wings
A pair of spinners and propellers from the Italeri C-130E/H kit
The stack off the Airfix Rotodyne
and the Rotodome rotodome off an 1/72 Hawkeye kit.
Just waiting for these new parts to dry.

[McColm]

Managed to buy an already built Airfix TR7 on eBay at a reasonable price.
The decals are yellowing on the white plastic body and the windscreen has a few blotches on it. One of the wheels keeps falling off but this left-hand drive hardtop just needs some TLC.
Meanwhile Revell TR8 Targa has a new roof and hatchback from an MPC Omni 024.
I will add my own tinted rear windows to the side.
I've got hold of a 1977 British Leyland brochure on the TR7.The interior has the tartan seats and door cards in green & red with embossed white on black on the switching and dials. The TR8 didn't have this.
The Triumph Lynx didn't have the trademark crease in the door hence the TR8 hatchback.
This will be a pre-production vehicle with an extended roof sun visor . Paint finish to be decided although the kit does come in red plastic for the body and all the other parts are in black plastic.

[McColm]

The 'Sky Guardian' stretched HS/BAe Nimrod AEW and in-flight refuelling tanker has had it's plastic landing gear fitted . Couldn't use the orginal wheel wells in the wings so I had to improvise.
Just sanding and filling where needed.

[McColm]

I'm using the Heller EC-121 Warning Star as a donor kit with parts from the Academy KC-97G & L models.
The basic shape will remain the same but the boom, boom operator's window and other parts will be fitted.
May change the engines to turboprops  ( could add two J57 jet engines in a layout similar to that of the KC-97L ).

Part 2
The fuselage windows and basic cockpit have been glued in place. Inserted towards the rear is the clear glazed flying boom operator's window and flying boom from the Academy KC -97G.
Fuselage glued together and wings added.
Where the wingtip fuel tanks would have been fitted the resin C-130 hose & drogue in-flight refuelling pods have been cut and glued.
The outer engines have been replaced by the twin jet engines as used on the B-47 and the inner engines haven't been fitted yet.
As you can't see a lot of detailing through the cockpit windows this will be filled with ballast.

Part3
The triple tail fins have been replaced with the single vertical tail fin from the KC-97G and tail arrangements. I've also cut the vertical tail fin close to the rear fuselage to form an air-intake.
The inner engines are from the Heller EC-121 Warning Star but I've extended the prop-shaft so it looks like the second set of propellers are contra-rotating.
The spares bin has been raided to provide gap fillers in the wings where the two sets of twin jet engines taken from the Avro Endeavour have been fitted. Lumps and bumps fitted above and below the forward fuselage.
Might keep the U.S.Navy paint scheme for the Warning Star and add arctic red to the tail, wings and front.

Part 4
There's not much left of the original parts taken from the Heller 1/72 EC-121 kit. On the wings the inner engines have been blanked off with the nose cones from the Airfix Super Constellation and the nose cone cut from the Warning Star.
With the removal of the nose cone and cockpit seats the resin Cammett Nimrod AEW3 resin tail section is rather a good fit. When cleaned up, this will be superglued to the fuselage and a suitable nose landing gear fitted, as well as a new cockpit.
I may change the name to 'Atlantic Star'.

Part 5
You might have seen a picture up on my Facebook page or under Facebook Models.
With the addition of the new extended nose;  nose landing gear and cockpit. The Connie has gained a new shape sort of early '50s jet bomber especially with the Boeing B-47 twin jet engines and glazed cockpit could be Lockheeds' version of the jet bomber. ( next Whiff project ).
Nose landing leg is a spare main gear with HS/BAe Nimrod nose wheels.
The bulge will contain cameras - where the old wheel well is located on the Heller kit.
Renamed KRC-121W Atlantic Star.

[McColm]

Donor kits so far include;
1/72 Italeri C-130E/H
1/72 Heller Lockheed Constellation Super-G
1/72 Zvezda Mil MI-26 Halo

I've built the C-130 per instructions with a bare cockpit .The loading ramp is glued in the closed position as I have cut off the vertical tail fin. Plastic card has been used to fill the gap.
The triple tail fins from the Connie kit have been glued and attached.
The main rotor gear and engine housing from the Halo cut from the fuselage sections and glued up.
The main rotor blades trimmed but not assembled.
Might use the engines from the Airbus A4000M Grizzly/Atlas on the wings.
 There's an artist impression on the "C-130 topic" on which I have based this build.

Part2
To stop this being a tail-sitter I've added the resin nose from the 1/72 Cammett Nimrod AEW3 conversion. This sits very well under the windscreen.
I'm using Green Stuff putty to fill most of the gaps but using Milliput on the larger ones as it can be shaped just like clay when water is applied.
Tempted to add some lumps and bumps along the fuselage and rear loading ramp.
With the fine weather I'll be able to give this a good sanding down ready for primer.

Part3
Glued the C-130 wings on and just tidied up the fuselage.

[McColm]

 Got my paws on a Dakota and I think a fellow Whiffer had the idea of turning it into a bomber aircraft. 
This got me thinking of where I'd seen a twin engined  Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. This could have been battle damaged as some of the B-17s where converted into civil airliners.  Not too sure whether they were fitted with the Rolls Royce Griffon or modern turboprops.
Had a rethink on the Avro Endeavour  (Eland Shackleton ). These will be replaced with a pair of turboprops and the Elands fitted to the Grumman Albatross.

[sandiego89]

There was a firebomber B-17 with four Dart turboprops, that looked rather nice (or perhaps everything looks good with Darts) 

http://www.tailsthroughtime.com/2010/06/in-late-1950s-many-of-surplus-boeing-b.html

[McColm]

There was a firebomber B-17 with four Dart turboprops, that looked rather nice (or perhaps everything looks good with Darts) 

http://www.tailsthroughtime.com/2010/06/in-late-1950s-many-of-surplus-boeing-b.html

Thanks

[McColm]

The Italeri 1/72 No.1338 Dakota Mk.III works well with the resin DB Handley Page Halifax VIII or Halton conversion set.
Should make an alternative bomber with a pair of RR Griffon engines.
The South African Air Force used the Dakotas in the maritime surveillance  role after the Shackletons had retired.
The baggage hold is the right shape for either a bomb bay or aerial water bomber. Might convert the Avro Endeavour into a water bomber.