R.A.N Grumman Tracer AEW

[rickshaw]

R.A.N Grumman Tracer AEW

When the Royal Australian Navy took delivery of an older ESSEX class carrier from the US Navy in 1969, they also took on an airgroup of aircraft.  Grumman Trackers, Tracers and Vought Crusaders and Douglas Sky Hawks.  The Trackers were ASW assets, the Tracers AEW aircraft and the Crusaders were fighters and the Sky Hawks strike aircraft.

This model depicts a Grumman Tracer in 1982.  It is flying as a member of 817 squadron, part of the complement of HMAS AUSTRALIA.  In 1981 the decision had been taken to change the radial engines for turbo-prop engines just had occurred for the Trackers.   This enabled commonality to be continued.  The aircraft had a substantially greater range and higher speeds and altitudes.  With revised avionics the range at which it could detect a fighter was also much greater.









The Kit

The kit is a resin one from Brazil.  It was made of the toughest resin I have encountered.  The Turboprops were from Germany.  A great deal of work went into fitting the turboprops while changing it to one with the wings folded was also the result of a great deal of work.   It is not a kit I would recommend.  I was aware that there was also a Mach-2 kit but had built several of those before and didn't think it would be worth the effort.   Appears I bit off more than I could chew!   Painted with a hairy stick and the decals came from the spares box.

[zenrat]

That's good.  I like it.

[rickshaw]

Arrrgh!  I've just noticed one of roundel's Roos has drifted!  Bugger me!  I hate multipart roundels!!!!   

[PR19_Kit]

That Roo on the radome could be LOTS bigger! 

That looks great Brian, and very logical too. 

IIRC Falcon do a Tracer conversion in their 'Triple Packs' designed to go with the Hasegawa Tracker I presume, which may have  been easier than your Brazilian concrete kit.

[Old Wombat]

History as it should have been, where Able Seaman Old Wombat goes to Officer Training School & retires as Rear Admiral Sir Old Wombat, KCB, AK, MG, DSM.

[zenrat]

History as it should have been, where Able Seaman Old Wombat goes to Officer Training School & retires as Rear Admiral Sir Old Wombat, KCB, AK, MG, DSM.

That would be the same timeline where young fred zenrat had 20/20 vision and grew up to become Biggles.   

[PR19_Kit]

History as it should have been, where Able Seaman Old Wombat goes to Officer Training School & retires as Rear Admiral Sir Old Wombat, KCB, AK, MG, DSM.

That would be the same timeline where young fred zenrat had 20/20 vision and grew up to become Biggles.   

And where young Kit Spackman didn't have asthma and joined the RAF to become a Wing Commander Engineering Officer on BAC Eagle GR4s (which used to be called TSR2s....)

[rickshaw]

That Roo on the radome could be LOTS bigger! 

That looks great Brian, and very logical too. 

IIRC Falcon do a Tracer conversion in their 'Triple Packs' designed to go with the Hasegawa Tracker I presume, which may have  been easier than your Brazilian concrete kit.

I was aware of the Falcon one but didn't know where to buy it.  This one came up on Evilbay and so I purchase it from a bloke in Brazil.  Took months to get here and another month or so to rebuild it how I wanted it.  The Roundel on the radome was the biggest I had available, so that was it.  It looks a little understated but it is still 20mm across.

Thank'ee one and all for the praise.  It isn't a great kit but it was worthwhile.  It took about 12 months or more for me to decal it.  So, it's been sitting on the side of desk waiting all that time.   

Now, who is going to recommend it for a Whiffie?   

[NARSES2]

That's come out well sir 

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Good thinking - very plausible!

[The Rat]

Arrrgh!  I've just noticed one of roundel's Roos has drifted!  Bugger me!  I hate multipart roundels!!!!   

He got seasick and he's trying to get to the edge of the ship to heave his breakfast overboard.

But seriously, congratulations for sticking with it and turning out a good one! 

[chrisonord]

Very nice and well worth all the hard work you have put into it 
Chris

[Captain Canada]

Turned out great ! That family of aeroplanes is one of my favourite. Just love the look and the sound of them. Mind you, I like the look of the turbine example as well !

[kitnut617]

I was aware of the Falcon one but didn't know where to buy it. 

Direct from Falcon Brian, or JAYS Models.

That is very well executed though, tempted to do a RCN one now 

[rickshaw]

I was aware of the Falcon one but didn't know where to buy it. 

Direct from Falcon Brian, or JAYS Models.

That is very well executed though, tempted to do a RCN one now 

Stick with the Falcon one is what I recommend!