Rotodyne and Convertiplane Themed Build

[Joe C-P]

I'm making progress - the main base coat of paint is on, and the brush-on mask worked perfectly. Now I need to paint the smaller bits, then add some details. Photos I promise once more progress is made.

[Mossie]

Good-oh!

[Tomintoul Wildcat]

Westland/Fairey War Hammer AT-AT (Armed Tactical Assault Transport)

Had to get me one of those. Bit of a mess right now but, progress being made. Kit was the moderately ancient Revell Rotodyne. Laziness has prevented me from conjuring up a back story for now .

Apart from badly warped fuselage halves, assembly has been relatively easy. The greatest amount of effort has involved my ham fisted modifications!!

I believe the original prototype was a bit underpowered due to the Napier Eland turbo props failing to deliver their promised 2900 shp? Any how, I've installed a pair of Allison T-56 engines from an old C-130 kit. With nearly 8500 hp between them, I reckon it ought to be enough.  The Allison nacelle fronts were just about spot on depth wise ( at the wing leading edge) but, they were considerably wider than the kits engines!. I didn't want to reduce the width as, that would have made the props too wide so, I went the other way & widened the kit nacelles. You can see the extent of the damage in the photo! Actually, it was quite simples!!

I didn't feel that a row of big windows was necessary either so, I've used filler to cover most of them before sanding them flush. Most of the surface detail has of course been sacrificed.
The extended wing tips also came from the C-130. Tip tanks are from a 1/72 Jaguar. I want this thing to have SERIOUS firepower. So, I'm installing 4 hardpoints for rockets/gun pods etc. The wings are not a great fit - bit of a gap top and bottom. Tail assembly fitted well together - it will be installed later.

As this thing would be going into harms way, I reckoned the lower nose windows would have made it too vulnerable to small arms /machine gun fire around the nose/cockpit. On the assumption that these windows would be plated over & some form of light armour plating installed, I've puttied over & sanded them flush .I'll be using the kit u/c legs but, have replaced the wheels. The kit ones look a bit undernourished for what will be quite a large machine.

I have yet to decide on colour scheme/markings. I've considered the following ;

RAF / RN
USAF/ US Army Vietnam
Israeli Air Force desert camouflage

[Joe C-P]

I can offer that mine is RN, and ever so slowly coming together. I just need a new bottle of paint for the wheel colour (I agree the wheels do seem a big small), finish clearing the paint of the nose glazing, paint and attach the props, and finally decals. Soon!

[kerick]

I really like the extended wingtips. Just a thought, have you considered a C-130/MV-22 style cargo ramp? It would update it a lot.

[Joe C-P]

November was a horrid month, but mine's almost done - just the side doors to attach, and then cargo for the rear and a base to glue it down, since it's tail-heavy. I'll put weights in the front of the engines and under the cockpit when I built my USMC attack version.

[coolpop6307]

How is everyone's 'dynes coming along?


Thanks
  Joshua

[Joe C-P]

Life is lunacy.
I just have the side doors to attach and a couple more decals, but now I have to move my entire hobby room to allow my sister-in-law to move in. 
Let's hope 2013 is more stable or else... 

[Captain Canada]

Tasty...looking forward to seeing some of these. When is the deadline ?

[Mossie]

No deadline, there's an open timescale.  Got anything planned, RCAF SAR maybe???  Forgot to mention, your Ospreys fit in to this TB as it's open to all convertiplanes.

[Mossie]

There's a pic in the Gibbings book of a Land Rover being loaded and IIRC it had the top removed, I'll look it up.  The Z/FA.1 would have been able to handle the Landie comfortably.

[Mossie]

I looked it up, the pic was pretty much as I remembered it.  There's a 50's era car being loaded (which fits easily) onto the Rotodyne prototype, with a Land Rover waiting behind it.  It appears to be a Series I Landie, with Fairey company titles.  The top has been removed, the windscreen and side windows are still in place.

So if you're using the JB/Airfix kits, just leave off the tops.  You could even stow the hard top in with it, or have a roll of a canvas and a bit plastic rod for the soft top.

[Captain Canada]

Nice SAR Rotodyne !

[McColm]

Thanks Mossie for your tips.

[Mossie]

Nice SAR Rotodyne !

Thank you!  Inspiration???