Airline Bomber based training aircraft

[McColm]

The only airliner that I have come across that is used for bomber aircrew training is the Tu-134 UBL.
The only kit conversion is in 1/144 by smallstuffmodels.com , there is the Eastern Express kit as well.

This got me thinking on what other airliners are used, the Boeing 727 has been used to test radars and most of these kits are in 1/144 scale.

I was thinking about using the Mach 2 1/72 SE-210 Caravelle III/VIR instead.
The Swedish military used them for surveillance, but if the fuselage cross-section is the same as the Vulcan cockpit cross-section then this could be converted into a training aircraft.
I know that the Vulcan does fit the B-29/50 as I have tried this out on a previous build by swapping over the forward fuselage sections from the Airfix 1/72 model kits.
As in most Mach 2 kits the clear canopy is rubbish, so changing it or replacing it would be an improvement. The engines could also be replaced.
There are seats provided in the kit, so these can be used on other projects. Lumps and bumps added could make an interesting build.

[Gondor]

How about the Avro Anson?

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Anson would look funny with a Vulcan nose. Now, if you added the new Airfix Blenhem nose to an Anson....you'd be on to somat !

[zenrat]

I'd like to see a Blenheim IV nose on a Vulcan...

[McColm]

I was thinking more in terms of the forward cockpit shape than the bizjets. The nose cone of the Tu-134 resembles the Backfire.

[PR19_Kit]

I was thinking more in terms of the forward cockpit shape than the bizjets. The nose cone of the Tu-134 resembles the Backfire.

It's more like a Tu-16 Badger really.

The Tu-16 begat the Tu-104 airliner, which in turn begat the 4 engined Tu-110, they then went back to two engines with the turbofan Tu-124 and that morphed into the rear engine Tu-134. From the look of the photos they never changed a thing forward of the wing roots during the entire escapade!

[Gondor]

I was going by the title when I suggested the Anson as it fulfilled all three roles.

Gondor

[pyro-manic]

While not really an "airliner", the Beech 18 was adapted for all sorts of roles, including a bomber trainer, as the AT-11 Kansan. It was given a glazed bomber-style nose and a dorsal bubble. Kind of ruins the beauty of the design, but still interesting.

[pyro-manic]

Can't argue with that! I have 1:72 PM kits of a standard '18 and a Kansan. Not too bad, quite basic, but look like they'll go together ok. And they were very cheap.

[famvburg]

The Grumman TC-4 is an adaptation of the Gulfstream I to train A-6 Intruder crews.