P6M SeaMaster, on a tender- Finished

[sandiego89]

Next up, a pair of P6M SeaMasters being serviced by the USS CURRITUCK (AV-7) seaplane tender.  1:426 scale.  

Part of the plans for the Seaplane Striking Force involved several classes of ships to support the SeaMasters, SeaDarts and the Tradewinds. Converted landing ships (LSD's) would serve as dry docks, but tenders with their extensive shops, weapons spaces and maintenance capabilites were also required to support the P6M's.  The ALBERMARLE and the CURRITUCK were selcted for conversion, (all the preceeding is true).

WHIF- the CURRITUCK in service supporting forward deployed P6M-2 SeaMasters.    

The Kit:  1:426 Pine Island coverted to USS CURRITUCK in a SSF role.  The SeaMasters will be mostly scratch with some 1/350 parts from a A-3 Skywarrior and S-3 Viking.

The inspiration, from Stan Piets/Al Raithels excellent Martin SeaMaster book, page 168  

I think I have a SeaMaster problem.  

Here is the start of my build with some previous efforts out.  In the rear is an unboxed PINE ISLAND which will serve as the tender.  A previoulsy built CURRITUCK in her post war set up.  She will be untouched.  In the middle is a scratch built balsa 1/700 scale tender with a scratch SeaMaster on deck.  Lower right is the ancient box scale P6M  

[PR19_Kit]

The inspiration, from Stan Piets/Al Raithels excellent Martin SeaMaster book, page 168

I think I have a SeaMaster problem.  

You and me both re the Seamaster problem, what an aircraft!

And that book is the Seamaster bible for sure.  

[NARSES2]

This will be good 

Love the Seamaster must admit. Maybe it's that British softspot for the good idea that's just a little to late for it's time ?

[sandiego89]

Whew, finally got a chance to start this one.

Opened the P6M production line.  Kitbash in 1:426 scale.  

1/350 S-3 Viking providing the cockpit and nose.  Scratch styrene hull.



1:426 plan view printed.  First hull placed over the plan view to ensure I got the size right.  The outer 2/3 section of the 1:260 scale B-1 bomber wings are almost spot on after shaving a little off the chord.  You can see the uncut B-1 wing at lower left in dark green.

P6M Hulls shaping up.  Top hull has been shaped up.  1/72 scale Italeri Mk 84 general purpose bombs serving as the rounded top of the aft fuselage.  1/72 Mk61 nuclear bomb serves as the lower forward hull, but you can not see it here.  You can see the curve of the Mk61 in side view picture below. The hull closest to camera is still just the S-3 cockpit and styrene sides.  Much shaping to do.  

Two hulls built, still need finishing. Cut B-1 wings are dark green.

Rough lay up with port side wing fitted.  Cut down 1/350 F-18F aft fuselage provides the engine nacele.  

Wing mating in custom high tech jig to ensure the wings are at the correct angle.  The production P6M had much less anhedral than the early prototypes to prevent dragging the wing tip floats with the higher weights.

[PR19_Kit]

That's astonishing, and in such a minute scale too! 

I'm seriously impressed! 

[ericr]

Great work!

i love seaplanes anyway ! 

the use of Skywarrior and Viking seems to fit quite perfectly ot the plans : how did get to the idea?
wild gess? deep competence? just talent?

[sandiego89]

I was hoping to use the front of the S-3 Viking, and the main fuselage of the A-3 Skywarrior glued on behind the S-3 , but the even with the two fuselages I was coming up too short and skinny, so went with styrene for the main part of the hulls.  Neither the s-3 or A-3 was tall enough, so the bottom hull at about the waterline mark had to be added.  Each hull has a S-3 Viking nose/cockpit, 7 main strips of styrene to get the correct hull shape, and lots of putty.   

[Captain Canada]

Wow...this is epic ! Love small scale boats and aeros...especially when scratch built like this ! Love the first pic. The Currituck class open so many whif doors.....

[NARSES2]

That's astonishing, and in such a minute scale too! 

I'm seriously impressed! 

My thoughts exactly 

[The Rat]

Wow! Love the Seamaster, but in that scale my old eyes would be unionizing and walking out. I'll be hanging on this thread to be sure, as long as my short memory doesn't get the better of me. 

I see you have the lumps of plastic commonly known as the Revell version, I wrestled with one of those a while ago, and I think Bud Sliger did as well. Fun, eh?

[sandiego89]

Thank you all.  Rat, yes the old Revell mold has much to be desired. The raised detail is terrible.  I saw a built version of the Anigrand kit, but I am way too cheap to pay that much.

Hulls are about done.  Need to re sand a few spots and then work on the tail surfaces.

Two hulls, with the engine naceles close by.

[jcf]

 Very cool, are you going to do the nuke-powered version and it's catamaran tender next? 



... or the LSD tender perhaps? Note the modular engine unit on the derrick.

[sandiego89]

P6M's about done, still need decals and paint touchups.

1/350 A-7 Corsair donated it's main wing to serve as the T-tail (inverted).  Stock A-7 wing is on the right, trimmed down version on the left. 



Overhead shot

[Gondor]

That's some building 

Gondor

[philp]

Great little builds.  Now bring on the ship.