Douglas Skysearcher AEW(K)1

[sandiego89]

The time line would allow for a nose leg launch bar so I'll add one and add a bracing bar at the rear too.

Perfect, the bracing bar to the rear will be needed- that's a lot of weight to fling off the deck.

While the other recommended schemes of EDCG overall or a Falklands "Barley" gray are very plausible, everything is boring when compared to a FAA EDSG and Sky two tone job.

-Dave  

[PR19_Kit]

Looks like it's tending to ESDG over Sky........... 

[kitbasher]

Given the wingspan of this build, I have reason to believe that the real Kit Spackman has been kidnapped by aliens and replaced by a pod person.

[PR19_Kit]

Given the wingspan of this build, I have reason to believe that the real Kit Spackman has been kidnapped by aliens and replaced by a pod person.

Waves of hysterical laughter here are threatening to bring Mrs_PR19 out of bed wondering what the DEVIL I'm laughing about. 

In 'reality' the FAA didn't have any need for a higher flying version of the Slysearcher and they'd had quite a problem spotting them on the generous decks of the QEII and DoE with the existing wing span.

As I've left my usual putty at home I can't go any further with the PSR work on the Skysearcher, so I've been working on the artwork for the 849 NAS monster tail flash decal, complete with 'Bee'. See below for a scale view as if it was applied to the model.

[Old Wombat]

Great looking build, (pod-person) Kit!

Paint scheme is a difficult one given that the RN went through several scheme changes over the described time frame.

EDSG over Sky is an awesome scheme. Not personally keen on blue/grey over white or overall DSG/MSG. As she'd be a relatively high-flying bird, perhaps a WhIf scheme of Medium Sea Grey over Light Grey? Maybe in the same pattern as the EDSG over Sky?



Guy

[kitbasher]

As she'd be a relatively high-flying bird, perhaps a WhIf scheme of Medium Sea Grey over Light Grey? Maybe in the same pattern as the EDSG over Sky?

Good for a Falklands War or post-Falklands finish.

[PR19_Kit]

Finished the main assembly of the Skysearcher, which went OK except the engines don't fit all that well at the front. A bit of PSR and some heavy filing sorted that out and then I added the canopy with acrylic glue and added a small radar warning aerial on the fin. It already has one on the trailing edge but I added a Brit Standard one to the leading edge (see RAF Harriers, Phantoms, Jaguars etc etc....)

Then I masked up the canopy totally and put the first coat of primer on. There won't be a second one, not in this colour anyway, as I ran out on the very last pass over the model! As it's going to be a mostly Sky colour coat I'll do the 2nd primer coat in that odd yellowish shade Halfords have as I have a can of that in stock.

That tail bumper things doesn't really fit at all well, there's a 1/8" gap at the forward edge of it as built, but that succumbed to some PSR as well. 

[Captain Canada]

Is that ever looking good. I like the overall EDSG idea, like the first generation AEW Sea King. The one over sky looks too retro...

[Librarian]

Looking really good. Nothing more satisfying than a good coat of primer, like a blank canvas.

[PR19_Kit]

I've just sprayed the underside Sky colour onto the aircraft and I'd post a piccie of it except it's Xtracolor and will probably take a week to dry.........

It is looking good though, even if it was a REAL pain to get paint onto the inside of the engines and the pylons.

[McColm]

wow!! I hope my attempt on building an MPA version turns out as good as yours.

[Gondor]

It is looking good though, even if it was a REAL pain to get paint onto the inside of the engines and the pylons.

I think someone needs to come up with a design for a nozzle that will spray around corners!

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Look forward to seeing it !

[PR19_Kit]

Amazingly it's drying quite fast, maybe ready in the morning, but it really needs another coat as it's a pretty thin colour.

[kitbasher]

Stay strong Kit - we're coming to rescue you from the clutches of evil Pod Person Kit so you can put bigger wings on the Skysearcher in time for Telford!