Shorts Swallow MR.2 with photos

[McColm]

This build is based on the 1/72 VEB/Nu-Bee/Revell Be-6 Madge flying boat, its an antique compared with modern plastic injection kits. There's no interior detailing or paint guides to choose from. My guess would be grey but you're not going to be able to see the interior through the clear plastic parts unless you have any pictures or photos for reference.
 I've made a start with the Nu--Bee kit, glued the clear plastic windows inside the fuselage, glued the fuselage pieces together, glued the wings on and the twin tail fins.
I had a rummage and found the remains of the Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic upper engine covers which I have cut to size, they are now glued on top of the engine cowlings. The engines are from the Trumpeter Tu-142 Bear H,cut to size and glued. The landing gear is from the Italeri Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird, the propellers are from the Monogram/Revell Convair B-36 Peacemaker.
 This build will be the flying prototype as I intend to build a few more at a later date.

The backstory could be that the Air Ministry was retiring the Shorts Sunderlands and needed a coastal SAR/Maritime Surveillance flying boat. Talks with Ivan had resulted in the licensing of the An-2 Colt and Be-6 Madge. This would lead to the Mil-24 Hind, il-70 Candid and Su-47 .
The Madge would be westernised having turboprop engines, new avionics and landing gear fitted, plumbing for air-to-air refuelling and a dedicated maritime reconnaissance with some used for the Special Forces and transport duties.
 Prototype aircraft would be fitted with a Hamilton three-bladed propellers during trials,  then upgraded with the Rolls-Royce Tynes with four blades, the same as the Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic .
There would be a total of 50 Shorts Swallows built, the majority ending up as aerial water bombers, a few bought for the private sector, the others used by the Coast Guard, anti-pollution,  TAPESTRY, SAR  reverting back to maritime surveillance as and when required.

I have added a new nose and scratch built M.A.D. boom. PSR is next.

[McColm]

Day 2 of the build.

The shaping of the engines, nose and trying to blend in the seam edges with a bit of PSR. The landing gear is fixed, made some holes in the fuselage and trimmed down the legs to fit. The underwing floats are now glued on. There's a flight refuelling probe and ECM pod fixed using superglue.
I doubt it will be finished before the end of the month, the M.A.D. boom looks like it could be retractable due to the angle, but it's been extended. I haven't worked out the paint scheme yet. White with grey/green upper wings 1950-1960s.

[McColm]

Photos of my work so far.
I will be using the Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic with another Madge on my next build as the parts seem to fit.

[kitbasher]

How about the Shackleton's Dark Sea Grey scheme?  Xtradecal sets available for those.

[The Wooksta!]

With or without the white top decking?  I'd go for the older Med Sea Grey over white. That's what I did with a pair of Shattipusses, admittedly 13 years apart. Two cans of primer.  Sorted!

[McColm]

With or without the white top decking?  I'd go for the older Med Sea Grey over white. That's what I did with a pair of Shattipusses, admittedly 13 years apart. Two cans of primer.  Sorted!

Most of the Be-12 Mail were painted in different shades of grey, bright colours used by the fire-fighting water bombers or dedicated SAR  aircraft.

[McColm]

Day 3

Slight changes are taking place using parts from the 1/72 Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic.

[McColm]

There's been a few changes to the build, the twin tail fins have been replaced with the vertical tail fin from the Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic kit but with a T-tail configuration. One of the heat exchangers from the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye has been glued on the upper fuselage. The M.A.D. boom has been repositioned. PSR continues. Where the original main landing gear was stored they are now two weapons bays with one windshield on the outer edge.

[McColm]

The Mach2 Rolls-Royce Tyne engines have been removed and are now on the Lockheed Cormorant MR.1 this is now an anglicised Lockheed P-3C. I'm using the engines from the Revell Dassault Aviation-Breguet Atlantic kit as the replacement.

[kerick]

Interesting evolution! Nice cockpit change.

[McColm]

The revised version.

[Captain Canada]

Looks good now !