Wee Canadair Argus

[Captain Canada]

Hi guys !

Happy to report that after an epic road trip across this giant post card of a country ( 7000 kms driving and 2 ferries later  ) I'm up in Labrador 'working'.

To kill time I've brought a small stick of balsa, plus an old hacked up sheet of styrene, a knife and some sandpaper.

Plan A : A 350th scale Canadair Argus. Plan B ? Whatever scale this is ! I tried to scale it myself but I'm hopeless at math. So I traced what was on the computer screen onto paper and this is where I'm at now.

[McColm]

Good luck with work and your builds.

[Tophe]

Yes, go Captain go!

[JayBee]

I really look forward to seeing this finished Captain.
Is it going to be a Mk1 or a Mk2?
I ask this as I saw both when I was at CFB Shearwater in 1967, and I like them. 

[Gondor]

If I can find my pictures from an air show at RAF St Mawgan in the 80's I will scan and send them to you as I took a couple of the Argus that was visiting at the time

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Thanks......that would be neat to see !

Not sure what mark. Probably none 

[Captain Canada]

Coming along nicely I must say ! Basic fuselage shape is done.



Overall configuration. I traced the screenshot onto paper, and then cut the paper out, and retrace that onto the styrene. I wasn't happy with my first wing, so bought a cheap ruler to keep things straight. I have also notched out a groove for the vertical tail to sit in.

[JayBee]

Ahoy Capn,

Looking very good, you should think about droping it into a vat of silicon moulding compound when it is done.
Anyway here are the only two slides that I can find from my visit to Shearwater in 1967.









Jim

[Captain Canada]

Gorgeous shots Jim ! Love this aeroplane...what a beast !

I would like to cast it, but this is just a test shot kinda deal. I have to figure out the specs in 350th scale. My calculations have it 11.2 cm long and 12.28 cm wingspan, but that seems kinds big to me !? Anyone ? Bueller ?

[Captain Canada]

By them nacelles are alot of work !

[PR19_Kit]

Why 1/350 scale Cap'n? Or was it dependant on the size of the raw materials to hand?

In any case it already looks pretty much like an Argus.  And I'd echo JayBee's opinions about the Argus, what a wonderful looking aircraft, I'm sure they'd be able to frighten submarines away without dropping anything 'orrible on them. 

Sad to say I never saw one, and probably never will now.

[The Rat]

Coming along nicely! Oh, don't forget that there's a windshield wiper on the nose glazing. 

[Captain Canada]

Thanks guys !

I picked 350 scale as that's my favourite wee ship and a/c scale. And if I could do one up right it would look pretty cool in a dio over an O-boat, or on the tarmac with a Tracker.

I was lucky enough to see one fly, only once, and it just flew overhead on approach to Trenton. I was at my Granparents place just outside the base, when the whole house began to rumble and shake ! I ran outside to see the mighty Argus trundle overhead. Wow.

Other than that, I've seen the one at the RCAF Museum in Trenton ( probably the same one I saw fly, as the others went straight to Mountainview I think ) as well as the one at Summerside, PEI/ The Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum has a lovely flight trainer, which was awesome to climb around in !

And I'll see what I can do about that nose wiper Rat !



PS-Still looking for proper 350 scale dimensions if anybody can sort that out it would be greatly appreciated !

[NARSES2]

I am impressed sir. The way our grandfathers modelled 

[JayBee]

PS-Still looking for proper 350 scale dimensions if anybody can sort that out it would be greatly appreciated !

According to my trusty "Observers World Aircraft Directory" of 1961, the dimensions are :

Span 142 Ft 3.5 Ins.
Length 128 Ft 3 Ins
Height 36 Ft 8.5 Ins. I assume that is standing on it's u/c.

That gives in 1/350 scale
Span 4.88 Ins or 12.39 cm.
Length 4.4 Ins or 11.18 cm.
Height 1.23 Ins. or 3.12 cm.

So your calculations are pretty damn close.