What's on the workbench!

[McColm]

There has been a few Whiffers that have built the HS/BAe Nimrod with propellers instead of the Rolls-Royce Spey engines.
A thought occurred to me using the vacform Nimrod fuselage glued on top of either the Airfix or Academy B-29.
The cockpit will be the Nimrod so the B-29 glazed nose would be come solid.The vertical tail and rear would also be from the Nimrod with everything else from the B-29.
There was a metal update conversion set to build the BAe Nimrod MR2P. Got one in the stash.
Could be an alternative to the Avro Shackleton.
Another weird but doable idea is the Pregnant Nimrod. Take off the maritime gadgets and create a transport/ cargo version with a swing tail section. Outsized loads. The Mk3 tail.

[McColm]

With the success of the Avro Carlton AEW, the next stage would have been a test aircraft used for the development work of the Erieye.
In the real world the first aircraft chosen was the HP Jetstream but was replaced by the Fairchild Metro TP88.
Kits
The donor kit will be the 1/72 Revell Avro Shackleton AEW2 mixed with parts from a Chematic Avro Shackleton MR3. The engines will be replaced with turboprops.Apart from the cockpit details there interior won't be seen as I am going to use the interior on the Rotodyne.

[McColm]

I saw an article in one of the modelling magazines about the HP Victor C2 transport aircraft which had 'people pods' under the wings and under the central fuselage.
This gave me the idea of doing the same to the Airfix Vulcan. I used a cut down Revell Rotodyne to create the centreline pod however since moving into my new room certain builds got broken by over enthusiastic roommates. The Vulcan being one of them.
Whilst rummaging through my various boxes of spare parts I came across a broken Learjet minus its landing gear and engines.
This has been glued to the front of the Vulcan. The Vulcan cockpit glazing has been broken off and the landing gear will need replacing.
Another idea was JSTAR, by painting windows on the existing fuselage and either scratch building or buying the FlightPath JSTAR radar set. Perhaps change the name to the Avro Sentinel R1.

[lenny100]

there is precious little room in the Vulcan for any extra crew, believe me i sit in a one most Sundays, and because xl319 last job was with 44 squadron who used her as a training aircraft its fitted with 2 extra jump seats between the rear crew seats and the upper deck and when we have 5 visitors all seated it very small, as one boy scout visiting recently described it as a reverse tardis, massive on the outside and tiny on the inside,  and there is a large equipment bay/ fuel tank aft of the crew compartment so if you had a passenger compartment under the aircraft  their would be no way to move between the two areas and most of the upper part of the bomb bay is covered by the spars holding on the wings/fuel tanks so nowhere to put in windows

[McColm]

Thanks for the info, the closest I have been to one is at the RAF Museum at Hendon.

[McColm]

Yes I have took the plunge and bought a 1/72 AMT North American XB-70 Valkyrie, a bargain at £35.
I have seen drawings of the American nuclear powered bomber and came to the conclusion that one of them looks like a
XB-70 flipped over with the engine air intakes behind the cockpit. The cockpit in the drawing is more fighter style than bomber.
I can't make any judgements until the kit arrives.

[McColm]

Wow the stash is just full of surprises, questions like why did I buy that? And what am I going to do with it .
It seems to me that my former USSR aircraft could be Westernise especially the Su-27 Flanker, Su-34/32 and T-50.
Where as the two seater Mig-21 will be getting the VG wing for the EE Lightning.
On the car stash side the Triumph  TR8 3door hatchback (Lynx) needs painting and a general tidy up.
Been surfing the web for ideas for the European Ford Capri and came across a German Custom Car Company that had turned a Capri into a panel van, another Capri used the body of the Cortina estate and Granada estate body. Crayford did a rag top conversion on the Mk1.
I was thinking of a Batmobile look-a-like and a four door version.

[McColm]

Been on the Welsh Models website and they seem to have the conversion kits that I need but in 1/144 scale.
Still a bit miffed about finding a sketch or line drawing of a Boeing 707-320 with the proposed Mission Systems Avionics (FASS- fore and aft radomes) alternative to the E-3 Sentry and Nimrod AEW.3.
Anigrand seems to be the only provider for the 1/144  BAe Nimrod AEW.3. It would great if the radomes and tail section was sold separately similar to the 1/72 Mastercast resin set, then Whiffs of the Revell 1/144 BAe 146,767,747 and HS.748 or APT could be built.
I have no idea how easy or difficult this would be.
As to the EL/M-2075 Phalcon based on the Boeing 707 FlightPath do a 1/72 resin and white metal set without the conformal cheek pouches, these can be obtained from Whirlybird.com or Blackbird Models. Early versions of the Phalcon have a rear radome and a few have a hump on the upper fuselage.
There is a copy of the 1/72 AMT EC-135E/N available but the kits that I have had are warped with parts that don't line up. Resin engines can be bought separately from FlightPath as well.
S+M Models do a range of 1/144 rotodomes, whereas RVHP do a range of resin 1/72 conversion sets but are expensive.
Although most aircraft have had one form or another concept artwork or scale model made for AWACS/AEW roles there's still a few Whiffs to build. Especially now I have the prototype 1/72 Erickson Erieye in my stash.

[McColm]

I bought a secondhand Airfix Vulcan B2 from eBay a few months ago.
The idea was to fit a 'people pod' in the space of the bomb bay using the Revell Rotodyne fuselage, removing the rotor stack and landing gear. Similar to the HP Victor proposed transport variant.
The ground clearance being the main problem, I managed to find a 1/72 Gates Lear jet. Bashed minus engines and wheels. My next idea was to cut out the crew station on the Vulcan and nose. Then cut the fuselage from the Learjet to fit. This would give the Vulcan a bigger cockpit additional seating. Vulcan C4 transporter.
It was whilst reading Chris Gibson 'The Air Staff and AEW' book that an idea formed in my head.
In 1954 the Bristol Britannia and the Avro Vulcan had been proposed as test aircraft to carry an AEW type radar 25ft X 8ft (7.6m X 2.4m) providing a range of 130NM/241KM. Unfortunately the Working Party advised the military that they would recommend the Stage 2 air defence system instead.
Although the Bristol Britannia would be reconsidered as an AEW platform nothing further is mentioned about the Avro Vulcan in the book.
Hence the reason for this Whiff. With the people pod removed and bomb bay doors glued in the closed position, I have added the  larger radome from the Heller 1/72 EC-121 Warning Star to the lower fuselage, in line with the engine air intakes. The main landing gear will be extended  in the wheel wells and the nose gear moved forward. I'll have a rummage for another tail fin and change the exhaust pipes.

[McColm]

Wow the stash is just full of surprises, questions like why did I buy that? And what am I going to do with it .
It seems to me that my former USSR aircraft could be Westernise especially the Su-27 Flanker, Su-34/32 and T-50.
Where as the two seater Mig-21 will be getting the VG wing for the EE Lightning.
On the car stash side the Triumph  TR8 3door hatchback (Lynx) needs painting and a general tidy up.
Been surfing the web for ideas for the European Ford Capri and came across a German Custom Car Company that had turned a Capri into a panel van, another Capri used the body of the Cortina estate and Granada estate body. Crayford did a rag top conversion on the Mk1.
I was thinking of a Batmobile look-a-like and a four door version.

Found out that I have 12 boxes of spare parts plus some almost complete kits, so there's no need for any more apart from the odd resin or metal etching improvement kits.
Came across my collection of 1/72 vacform kits. I might need a bit of help with the VC-10 when I get around to building it. Definitely need some more shelving or advice on how to hang models from the ceiling.
Some very interesting Whiffs to build, but first I have to finish the current lot.

[McColm]

The engines on the Heller 1/72 Boeing E-3A Sentry have been altered to fit on the Mach2 Martin Mariner, whilst the Sentry gets the resin production nacelles from the Anigrand Martin P6M-2 SeaMaster.
The SeaMaster has gained the wings from the Airfix BAe Nimrod kit.
I have removed the radome from the Avro Sentinel as the undercarriage clearance is limited. Possible E-2 style Rotodome on the vertical tail fin.
Still filling in gaps on the current builds ready for painting.

[McColm]

Finally got around to use the 1/72 Anigrand Martin SeaMaster kit with the recycled Cammett BAe Nimrod AEW3 resin radomes. With a bit of persuasion they fit on the nose and the rear. As for the Anigrand kit well there are issues. Gluing up the fuselage must be done in stages to get a good fit. I've been using the Am-Tech  sliding clamps bought in the Pound Shop. Although the lower fuselage is a good fit the upper surfaces pose the most problems hence the FASS antennae configuration.
The plan was to use the Airfix BAe Nimrod wings but I've gone with the ones provided by the kit and used the second set of engines with the Nimrod exhaust pipes and fan blades. For this build they should be Rolls-Royce Spey engines. I might be able to find some decals on line with the RR logo. The right wing went on without any problems but the left one needed a gig to hold it in place. I've left the cockpit blank. Unlike the Mach2 kit I couldn't get it right, tried working on the Mach2 nacelles but they are too cumbersome at the rear. Might use them for another build.
I'm going for a V-tail as I intend using the T-tail on the Caravelle.
I'll let this dry overnight.

[McColm]

Finally got around to use the 1/72 Anigrand Martin SeaMaster kit with the recycled Cammett BAe Nimrod AEW3 resin radomes. With a bit of persuasion they fit on the nose and the rear. As for the Anigrand kit well there are issues. Gluing up the fuselage must be done in stages to get a good fit. I've been using the Am-Tech  sliding clamps bought in the Pound Shop. Although the lower fuselage is a good fit the upper surfaces pose the most problems hence the FASS antennae configuration.
Part2
The plan was to use the Airfix BAe Nimrod wings but I've gone with the ones provided by the kit and used the second set of engines with the Nimrod exhaust pipes and fan blades. For this build they should be Rolls-Royce Spey engines. I might be able to find some decals on line with the RR logo. The right wing went on without any problems but the left one needed a gig to hold it in place. I've left the cockpit blank. Unlike the Mach2 kit I couldn't get it right, tried working on the Mach2 nacelles but they are too cumbersome at the rear. Might use them for another build.
I'm going for a V-tail as I intend using the T-tail on the Caravelle.
I'll let this dry overnight.

Part3
Found parts for the Airfix Vickers Valiant, wings, wheel wells , landing gear and engines. They are a much better fit and more flexible than the Mach2 kit, so I've painted the inside engine intakes mat white and engine fans silver. Glued them together, whilst drying painted the well wells mat white and removed some of the plastic from the inner main wing for a better fit. The pre-built sections have all been added and glued in place. There are a few gaps but the filler should hide them before the paint stage.

[McColm]

A big package was waiting for me this morning, turned out to be the 1/72 Mach2 Caravelle.
Kit was right the Airfix HS/BAe Nimrod fuselage and wings aren't a straight forward conversion. The Caravelle fuselage is a tad wider/thicker than the Nimrod, however the Mach 2 Vickers Valiant wings seem to fit on a dry test.
I have read kit reviews and there are problems with the glazed canopy and wings. I think this is a long-term build, so it will go on the top shelf for now.

[McColm]

Finally got around to use the 1/72 Anigrand Martin SeaMaster kit with the recycled Cammett BAe Nimrod AEW3 resin radomes. With a bit of persuasion they fit on the nose and the rear. As for the Anigrand kit well there are issues. Gluing up the fuselage must be done in stages to get a good fit. I've been using the Am-Tech  sliding clamps bought in the Pound Shop. Although the lower fuselage is a good fit the upper surfaces pose the most problems hence the FASS antennae configuration.
Part2
The plan was to use the Airfix BAe Nimrod wings but I've gone with the ones provided by the kit and used the second set of engines with the Nimrod exhaust pipes and fan blades. For this build they should be Rolls-Royce Spey engines. I might be able to find some decals on line with the RR logo. The right wing went on without any problems but the left one needed a gig to hold it in place. I've left the cockpit blank. Unlike the Mach2 kit I couldn't get it right, tried working on the Mach2 nacelles but they are too cumbersome at the rear. Might use them for another build.
I'm going for a V-tail as I intend using the T-tail on the Caravelle.
I'll let this dry overnight.

Part3
Found parts for the Airfix Vickers Valiant, wings, wheel wells , landing gear and engines. They are a much better fit and more flexible than the Mach2 kit, so I've painted the inside engine intakes mat white and engine fans silver. Glued them together, whilst drying painted the well wells mat white and removed some of the plastic from the inner main wing for a better fit. The pre-built sections have all been added and glued in place. There are a few gaps but the filler should hide them before the paint stage.

Part4
An even better fit than the Airfix Vickers Valiant is the wings from the Airfix Avro Vulcan, by removing the weapons bay this slides over the top of the fuselage of the Anigrand Sea Master. As I have always wanted to build a flying boat version of the Vulcan and an AEW , I can build both. I'll still keep the name the Avro Sentinel AEW.1. I'll have to rework the landing gear and outer floats.