Supermarine Stalwart GR.I of RAF 205 Squadron, Ceylon, Summer 1945 (pics@p.6)

[Dizzyfugu]

It's an early post and not my normal routine, but this time, through the sheer size of the project (for my usual kit size standards) I'd put up a kind of WiP thread.

Titel says it all: I'll do a Beriev Be-6 conversion (ex VEB Plasticart kit, in this case the Revell re-boxing), which I had on the agenda for long - and Radish's recent (re)post of a respective conversion of this kit motivated me to finally tackle mine.

This is the "original"...




As the title suggests, this one will also end up in late WWII RAF service, and since the ex GDR kit is SO basic it will see some major changes, including:

• New engines & props
• Some interior, e. g. a cockpit instead of void space
• Armament (guns, guns, guns!)
• Other details, like radomes for an ASW radar

Stay tuned...  

Direct link to the finished conversion's beauty pic on page 6: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,40608.75.html 

[Dizzyfugu]

First of many steps: a cockpit implantation - this one comes from an Airfix B-17, OOB the kit is simply empty...

Making of 1:72 Supermarine Stalwart GR.1 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The side windows are filled with Clearfix, since the OOB clear parts are horribly thick. Interior will probably be painted with RAF Interior Green, or a darker shade of that tone.

[Thorvic]

Should be interesting to see how this build develops, i hope the plastic is Revell softer stuff rather than the original VEB tank grade plastics

[Dizzyfugu]

No, it is 100% the VEB kit... hard, brittle and 3mm thick stuff, decorated with "Wall of China" panel line. 
But nothing that can't be dealt with, I think.

[Captain Canada]

Cool. Like Geoff said can't wait to see how this develops ! Such cool looking birds to begin with.

[Dizzyfugu]

Progress is good. Already worked on the wings (engines, ASW radomes), cockpit has been painted yesterday (FS 34096, already with the final paint scheme in mind), and rhinoplasty for a nose turret started.

Wait for donation parts for further body work, but German postal service is on strike. 

More to come later... 

[philp]

Another fun project.

Are you going to modify those telephone poles that attach the wing floats to the wings?  Always looked out of place to me.

[Dizzyfugu]

I'll probably leave then OOB, but I already glued them together and started sanding them down to a more oval diameter shape.

[The Wooksta!]

Two recommendation from me:

1. Change the manufacturer.  Supermarine was already overburdened with manufacture and design for many types - Spitfire alone.  Saunders Roe would be better.

2.  Engines.  Given the size, a pair of Bristol Centaurus would be needed.  Matchbox Tempest or Frog/PM Sea Fury cowlings?

[Captain Canada]

You tease.... Sorry to hear about the strike, that will really slow things up eh ?

[Dizzyfugu]

Two recommendation from me:

1. Change the manufacturer.  Supermarine was already overburdened with manufacture and design for many types - Spitfire alone.  Saunders Roe would be better.

2.  Engines.  Given the size, a pair of Bristol Centaurus would be needed.  Matchbox Tempest or Frog/PM Sea Fury cowlings?

I pondered a lot about both; it will remain Supermarine, because they made several interesting proposals, including huge flying boats, and I deemed it about time to show this talent in hardware form. 
And, yes, I'll move even beyond the Centaurus. Was my initial thought, too, and actually have/had two cowls + props from PM Sea Furies - but they are too small in diameter! Even if I could bridge the area between cowl and wing section, it would not look good. You might power up a Catalina with Centaurus', but not the Be-6... at least IMHO.

But I found an alternative solution, concerning parts and history. I'll "use" the Bristol Orion, a real project and basically a scaled-up Centaurus with 67 liter(!) displacement. With added turbo compound parts for long range, that might look good - and I have some Constellation resin engines that better suit the bulky Be-6, even though integrating them still takes major surgery. Fury props will be used, though. 

[JayBee]

You might power up a Catalina with Centaurus',

He, He, He. A flying wing, and a separate boat, but not connected for long! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Some news: engine comparison, new vs. old...

Making of 1:72 Supermarine Stalwart GR.1 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Keen eyes will recognize the styrene tubes in the center on both: I started with the OOB parts and added my standard solution for moveable props, but eventually rejected them in favor of those nice resin Connie engines. They are a bit warped, though (probably due to shrinking while curing?), so the prop axis is off-center, but I mended that with a tube, too. Plan is to use a Sea Fury 5 blade prop, so the huge spinner will cover most of the flaws. 

Another add-on: ASW radomes (resin, too) for the outer wings, originally for/from a Sunderland Mk. III. A lucky find last weekend at a local modeling shop, and rather cheap - and immediately integrated! 

Making of 1:72 Supermarine Stalwart GR.1 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Captain Canada]

It's all in the details ! These extra bits are really going to make her look unique.

[Dizzyfugu]

Yes, that's the intention. I'll keep the basic airframe, but many add-ons will be changed. I guess that the gun turrets I plan to install will make the Stalwart rather look like a Martin Mariner in RAF colors - but that's not the worst result.

I also plan to scratch a beaching gear for display, but there's no idea yet how to tackle this... 

Later I will also post a comparison pic of the OOB engines and the PM Fury Centaurus cowlings. The difference is dramatic!