An Aussie Scooper: Canadair CL-215 in 1/72

[KiwiZac]

Heller 1/72 Canadair CL-215 - NSCA "What If?" paint scheme by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Published 24 March 1989*
For some years Australian authorities had been using helicopters and some light aircraft to fight fires but, unlike the United States and Canada, had never used large propeller-driven aeroplanes to combat major conflagrations. But in the 1980s this would change thanks to the vision and energy of the man behind the modern rebirth of the National Safety Council of Australia as he engineered the purchase and introduction of the Canadair CL-215 flying boat.

Heller 1/72 Canadair CL-215 - NSCA "What If?" paint scheme by Zac Yates, on Flickr

John Friedrich, charismatic Executive Director of the NSCA, signed a contract for two aircraft with the Canadian firm. Canadair had produced and exported CL-215s around the world to government agencies engaged in forest protection and large-scale firefighting, both in North America and throughout Europe. The new NSCA aircraft would be posted to the Victorian Division at their Moorabbin base in Melbourne but would be made available for operations anywhere around Australia.

Heller 1/72 Canadair CL-215 - NSCA "What If?" paint scheme by Zac Yates, on Flickr

The purchase was announced by Friedrich on 7 September 1986 and delivery was anticipated early the following year. The two machines (registered VH-NSE and VH-NSF) were painted in the distinctive NSCA scheme of overall yellow with black cheatlines and test-flown at Canadair's Montreal base in February 1987, performing without problems. Fitted with ferry tanks in the fuselage the two aircraft were ferried across the Pacific together and made a triumphant arrival to Moorabbin on 6 April.

Heller 1/72 Canadair CL-215 - NSCA "What If?" paint scheme by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Over the following weeks NSCA crews trained and familiarised themselves with the type, and in time the Conservation Forests & Lands logos were applied to the aircraft tails. Since then the pair have been at work around the nation during bushfire season and have been a vital, valued and publicly visible part of the NSCA.

Heller 1/72 Canadair CL-215 - NSCA "What If?" paint scheme by Zac Yates, on Flickr

*Following the financial collapse of NSCA and the arrest and subsequent suspected suicide of John Friedrich in 1991 the aircraft fleet was sold off, both CL-215s returning to Canada after being purchased by Buffalo Airways in the Northwest Territories.

***
When my Dad was recovering from a broken back before I was born my Mum collected up to issue 60 of the weekly magazine Airplane, which I inherited as I grew up. The magazine was broken up into four sections, each covering civil and military aircraft and operators/missions as well as an A-Z of aircraft. The first, civil section of one issue covered a flying boat that young Zac had never heard of before, specifically made for waterbombing. I loved the look of it and then craved a model, even though I had no idea what colours this hypothetical build would end up in. (About eight years ago I thought about an RNZAF aircraft but, really, the demand for such an aircraft doesn't exist here – we use far more helicopters than fixed-wing for firefighting - and even with my imagination I didn't feel comfortable with the idea.)

Fast forward about 20+ (Jeeeeezus!) years from first reading about the 215 I had an idea. I discovered the story of John Friedrich and the NSCA and was taken with the concept of the organisation, the simple colour scheme and the fact that bushfires are such a danger in Australia that they have to lease in aircraft from the USA to help. What if the NSCA had bought CL-215s?! Jackpot!

This is the Heller kit, which was later retooled into the turbine-powered and modified CL-415 (fairly recently reissued by Italeri). I built it OOB without any filler and it all went together very well – based on Scalemates this was the first boxing which may explain how it fell together. That big tail and surprisingly small area in the nose meant a problem in the form of getting enough noseweight. I crammed in as much metal as I could find (and that would fit) and had the balance perfect, only to realise AFTER CA-ing the lower nose in place that the horizontal stabilisers weren't fitted. I contemplated tearing into the nose to see what else I could put in but I think I would've ended up with more damage than I could handle fixing. Thank goodness that Heller included the access ladders – perfect tailstand!

The decals are from my spares box. The cheatlines are a big part of the NSCA look and I was going to paint the larger ones but I ran out of black paint a little while ago and can't afford more, so I decided to use decals. They were invasion stripes and decal sheet borders from Airfix kits (port side) and a Heller P-51D sheet (starboard). I did the port side first, cobbling together several decals and struggling to keep them straight. Then discovered the Heller sheet which had two very large black rectangles that just needed to be cut into one each thick and thin strips. Sigh. Ah well, I'm happy with how both sides turned out!

So there we have it – childhood Zac's dream of a model Canadair CL-215 is realised, and it has a downunder link to a fascinating story that's worth reading into. Hopefully some of our Aussie members remember this (presumably very exciting) era of their aviation history and get a kick out of this build.

Heller 1/72 Canadair CL-215 - NSCA "What If?" paint scheme by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[Tophe]

With the current huge fires on the East of Australia (the TV channels say), this will be The Saver! (for 1/72 fires at least)

[zenrat]

Good job Zac.  I don't like the colour scheme from an aesthetic P.o.V. but it works really well on a firefighter.  Excellent.

[PR19_Kit]

Nicely done Zac. 

Is the backstory RW then?

[comrade harps]

Neat! 

And the backstory has potential. I remember the NSCA's failure and the manhunt and stuff. It was all quite a scandal.

[Captain Canada]

Nice one Zac ! Looks right at home like that. And the reg NSF nails it for a company with no money lol

[chrisonord]

Very nice  Zac 

[63cpe]

Very plausible! Paint job is very well done! luv it

David aka 63cpe

[rickshaw]

Ah, I remember the NSCA scandal very well.  Loads of waffle and fume from the Politicians and other authorities.  Loads of money blown away.  Loads of people, very specialised people, out of work.  Knew a ex-SAS trooper who became a "para-jumper" for the NSCA who got dumped.  He wasn't a happy chappy at all.  They had loads of interesting aircraft and equipment, all bought at great expense.   

[The Rat]

 

[Draggie748]

 
I've got the 415 to do as a 38SQN RAAF aircraft. 38SQN were given the new aircraft after losing their KingAirs and in the aftermath of the 2013? bushfires. They had 8 on strength including 2 inservicing.

[AndrewF]

Nice job. Best to keep out of the way of these things when they're picking up water though... https://youtu.be/PStKOJSE1mo

[zenrat]

Nice job. Best to keep out of the way of these things when they're picking up water though... https://youtu.be/PStKOJSE1mo

Thanks, but i'm watching it shouting "HOLD THE DAMN PHONE STEADY".

[DogfighterZen]

Very good indeed! Nice work, Zac!

[AndrewF]

Nice job. Best to keep out of the way of these things when they're picking up water though... https://youtu.be/PStKOJSE1mo

Thanks, but i'm watching it shouting "HOLD THE DAMN PHONE STEADY".

Indeed - but I'm surprised the guy didn't just drop his phone and run at this point...