Martin Model 307 SeaMistress

McColm · November 03, 2014, 11:40:06 AM

There has been a lot written about the Martin P6M SeaMaster and is a very popular model to build. Mention the SeaMistress and there is a scratching of heads. This was the civilian variant of the SeaMaster. But look again and the two are very different. Whereas the SeaMaster could fly at mach 0.9 the SeaMistress depending on what info you look at was to reach mach 1 and beyond. There was a wind tunnel model built and various drawings which differ from each other. One of them shows a Lockheed C-5 nose and front loading hinge. The wings have between four to six engines with the air intakes in the wing resembling either the Valiant or Victor.
The jet pipes in the drawings appear straight, a distance away from the fuselage.
I can only speculate that a landplane variant or amphibious version would have been developed for the airliner and seating between 100-150 passengers.

As this proposal was cancelled the Whiffing prospects look good.This also depends on the scale used. The 1/72 SeaMaster is big in plastic, resin and vacform.
1/144 or something smaller is more workable.

One of my wacky designs was to use a B-52 as a donor, this now seems plausible. As the wing can be made to droop with shaped floats fitted to the wingtips.The engines would be fitted SeaMaster style, intakes scratch built from plasticard. I dear say a 1/144 Victor/Valiant could donate its wings or be kitbashed. The new nose either reshaped from the B-52 or a C-5 grafted on. Even a Boeing 747 nose section could be considered if you decided to buy the 1/144 SeaMaster kit.
A T-tail and civvie markings. Although the SeaMistress would make a great ASW aircraft, tanker or AEW.

ericr · November 03, 2014, 12:08:25 PM

sounds goods : seeing would be even better

love seaplanes, immoderately

PR19_Kit · November 03, 2014, 12:22:10 PM

This somewhat fanciful view of some SeaMistresses unloading onto Mexifloat type thingies comes from THE book on the SeaMaster by Stan Piet and Al Raithel. It would have been a BIG 'boat!

McColm · November 03, 2014, 01:13:00 PM

Thanks Kit.

McColm · November 04, 2014, 01:14:32 AM

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy could be the donor aircraft, as its shape is almost the same profile as the SeaMistress. With the landing gear in the up position (doors closed) and the rear doors glued shut all you'd need is to either scratch build or kitbash the engines over the the wings, or simply glue the engines provided above the wings on their pylons. Four extra engines could be paired up just like the B-52 engine layout or contra-rotating engines off the flying wing. The engines from a 1/144 B-2 would look great as well.
Either way this isn't a cheap Whiff to build unless a secondhand kit becomes available .

McColm · November 04, 2014, 01:36:08 AM

Been on line and there are 1/72 and 1/144, resin, plastic and vacformed kits. A bit pricey but there is the Revell 1/144 An-124 Ruslan kit for around £25. With a bit of kitbashing on the tail and engines , this too would make a great SeaMistress.

royabulgaf · November 04, 2014, 04:05:16 PM

Another place to start could also be 1/72 Hasegawa P5M.

McColm · November 04, 2014, 08:49:04 PM

I was going to Whiff that into the Boeing XPBB-1 two engine seaplane which would have been the USNavys' largest flying boat at the time.
I read somewhere that China are building the world's largest seaplane.

royabulgaf · November 06, 2014, 01:35:58 PM

Thanks for the XPBB-1 idea. Somehow I find myself with three Marlins in my stash, with, to paraphrase Jimmy Buffet, How they got there I haven't a clue.

McColm · November 06, 2014, 06:07:36 PM

Good luck with your build.
Been reading up on the Be-10 Mallow the Russian jet powered seaplane. There is/was a vacformed 1/72 kit, not too sure if it is still available.
The Bison was considered as a possible jet seaplane conversion, I was thinking that the Badger would make a great seaplane Whiff. I'd need to check on the prices or cheaper manufactures.

royabulgaf · November 08, 2014, 04:34:35 PM

Go with the Bison. You don't need no stinking Badgers.

McColm · November 25, 2014, 01:56:51 PM

Martin also came up with the Model 329 C-1.
A smaller version of the SeaMaster with six jet engines.
Another thought poped into my head, by using the SeaMaster fuselage and perhaps change the wings. By adding a pair of turbofans to the rear of the wing sort of A-40 Mermaid configuration. Perhaps the wing from a B-47.

McColm · February 12, 2016, 12:12:23 PM

Just had a thought of a SeaMaster/Mistress with swing-wings. The prices for the Tu-22M in 1/72 scale are a bit steep but the 1/48 F-111 seems reasonable. The wing tip floats could be attached to a pivoting pylon.
Not too sure if this idea has been Whiffed before or tests carried out in the real world. Perhaps air-to-air missiles/stores carried above the wing.

McColm · February 17, 2016, 01:59:01 AM

The Revell 04221 1/144 Antonov An-124 'Ruslan' would make a great donor kit for this build. As the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy in the same scale is expensive.
The four turbofan engines would be relocated above the wings. I think I've got something suitable to make the hull fromand the T-tail.