Consolidated P3Y Falco Long Range Patrol Bomber Flying Boat

[zenrat]

My Sky the Free Winds - A Dieselpunk anime from studio zenrat

Since long before the sintering of the numerous fiefdoms, notion states, polyarchies, socialist constituancies, anarchies, free slavedoms, merry menageries, fascist stateholdings, religious bigotries and private hunting lands into the Amorican Cofederation the scattered islands making up the Septoribean Dominion had been the lair of pirates, smugglers, brigands, buccaneers, privateers and freebooters preying on the rich shipping lanes to the North and East.
Consolidated P3Y Falco 3 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Following the hijacking, passenger ransom, celebrity executions (broadcast live on the wireless to over 10,000 listeners!) and subsequent scuttling of the Iberio-Hungarian luxury cruiser SS Titanattic II, international pressure, public opinion, private lobbying and diplomatic threats forced the Cofederation to take action.
Historically sea patrols through the area had proven ineffective due to the ease with which those being sought could vanish amongst the many islands so the AC Navy turned to the air.
Consolidated P3Y Falco 11 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Initially dirigibles were employed, successfully locating several of the raiders' strongholds before they fought back by modifying their gun mounts to enable their weapons the elevation needed to shoot at aerial targets.
As airship losses rose the Cofederational Procurement Panel sought a fixed wing equivalent and following the usual rounds of bribes, kickbacks, payoffs, sweeteners, introductory fees, development costs and special expenses Consolidated were allowed to produce the P3Y Falco as the Navys' new Long Range Patrol Bomber Flying Boat.
Consolidated P3Y Falco 8 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Powered by an ACME X2346 liquid cooled 24 cylinder X configuration engine driving a single propeller through an arrangement of shafts and gears the Falco could carry a maximum crew of six at a cruising speed of 250mph for up to 18 hours.  Armament consisted of two Smyth and Watson Spitfire 0.5" machine cannons on flexible mounts in the observers nose blisters, four 500lb bombs on underwing racks and a single defensive Springfield 25 calibre machine gun at the rear of the cockpit (which was generally removed as without shooting off ones own propeller its arc of fire was next to useless).
Consolidated P3Y Falco 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The Falcos were used hard, carrying out round the clock patrols and while they did not completely eradicate the raiders from the Septoribean they certainly reduced shipping losses to a level acceptable to governmental finance committees.
Consolidated P3Y Falco 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Popular with their crews due to their being extremely stable and easy to fly plus having the ability to return home with large holes in them from surface fire the Falcos soldiered on until well past their planned retirement date despite their increasing vulnerability due to the rise of air piracy within the Dominion.  Built to last, many remain in operational condition to this day being used as fire bombers, air taxis, for sight-seeing flights and in one case as a flying houseboat complete with a wingtop patio.
Consolidated P3Y Falco 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The model - 1/72 Falco by Aoshima from the Anime Future Boy Conan.  Built OOB but for replacing the fixed guns with antennae, adding 4 bombs from an Airfix Pe2 and replacing the crew with volunteers from my stash of little people.  Paint is Vallejo Acrylics over silver car paint and decals are from my big decal folder.
Consolidated P3Y Falco 13 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Last one for 2016, and yes, I have forgotten to attach the sea rudder.
Its a nice kit to build but don't trust the stand.  While moving this it took a nose dive off, landing upside down and snapping a prop blade.  It's also susceptible to wind blown wobbling whilst taking photos in the back yard.  Removing one of the vertical sections has made it much more stable.

[Dizzyfugu]

Sweet. And a nice conversion, too. 

[RAFF-35]

What an interesting design   well executed too, but my mind can't help but wonder what it would look like if it were stretched so it looked less eggy   could be an interesting real world whiff..... *Starts concocting whiffy ideas*  

[Rheged]

I LIKE it!  Inspired whiffery in both styrene and story!

[Captain Canada]

That is so cool ! Love the way the cockpit looks ! Great job all around. Neat little ( or big ? ) aeroplane.

[Tophe]

The model - 1/72 Falco by Aoshima from the Anime Futre Boy Conan.  Built OOB but

I am surprised, I did not know this one at all, and I like it a lot, like an egg flying boat, thanks! (and congratulations for your one)

[PR19_Kit]

How does it stay upright when it's on the water though? It doesn't have any tip floats or Dornier style stub wings.

[Librarian]

OK, the models a beaut but your introduction...way too short...I want more...at least 300 pages....by Monday . I nominate you a Wordsmith 1st Class .

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

Kit - It's stabilised by engine driven gyros built into the wingtips...

Glad you liked it Max.  I was trying to channel Iain M Banks' writing style with the extremely long sentences the like of which Mrs Jenkins would chastise me for in English lessons 30 odd years ago.

[PR19_Kit]

Kit - It's stabilised by engine driven gyros built into the wingtips...

Ah, stupid of me. I should have realised that of course.