Currently reading Red Gambit series (patiently awaiting book 5..hurry up :thumbsup: :thumbsup:) by Colin Gee, an alternate WWII novel, where the Soviets attack into Western Europe in July 1945. Heaps of whiffing fodder there.
So was ratting around the stash and found an older Airfix Lancaster, the 1980's update. Imagine the surprise when I opened the box and found that somewhere along the line I had put a Maintrack Saddle Tank Resin conversion in there. Then the Eureka Moment of a plan, how about an AEW Version of the Lancaster
If figure that an aircraft that could routinely carry 8000lb+ of bombs could fit some Improved ASV RADAR that generally was shown to fit in Wellington's and even some much improved Air to Air that was in Mosquitos and Beaufighters.
Fitted the saddle tank and began work on the active detector nose using the ball from a deodorant bottle.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc1.jpg&hash=b3c75ac347eb2ba691b21380d12d492e76eadf19)
All the major bits now largely completed. It has had a preliminary Goof Coat of primer and aside the usual "fix 'em as you see 'em" is almost there.
Although it barely looks like a Lanc now.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc4.jpg&hash=bec28104dac15e0129e7454aecec9fac4566ea46)
At least Plan view still has Lanc lines.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc5.jpg&hash=6184cacae5c5140dc8b4488f0d6bb4e318cea130)
We did have clearance Clarence... the ventral dome fits the standard gear without a problem
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc6.jpg&hash=211f1617014e68abbc3d6b5fc5e9954740922bbb)
Few more detaily bits, like the radio arrays then finish the FN82(ish) Rear Turret with .50 cals, then painting
Currently leaning towards a daylight late war scheme, Sky Grey undersurfaces, Grey/Green Upper surfaces, for a bit of a change.
Looking good.
The nose looks a bit wacky, but the AEW Nimrod also looked a bit weird... Great concept, I like it very much so far. Lokking forward to the livery!? :thumbsup:
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on May 04, 2014, 11:38:54 PM
The nose looks a bit wacky
I am trying to restrain myself from painting it red
I did not want to suggest that, but must admit that the idea came to my mind... ;)
I think a Rudolph nose art would be fitting though
Wow ! That's awesome ! Love the look.
:wub:
Wow, that is really ugly- but in a perfectly great WHIF way- keep going :thumbsup:
Oh, that does look good. Great start :thumbsup:
If you are fitting the FN 82 may I suggest that you fit it with Village Inn, the AGLT radar for the rear turret.
Gondor
My Lancaster AEW III is here:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,34939.0
I've a second at the primer stage, based on a Revell kit. I'm very tempted to do another based on a Lancaster VI airframe (possibly with the Lincoln nose) and Merlin 85s.
Neat idea, like the look it :wub:
Quote from: Gondor on May 05, 2014, 10:15:19 AM
If you are fitting the FN 82 may I suggest that you fit it with Village Inn, the AGLT radar for the rear turret.
Gondor
Already on there.. just visibile in the plan photo. Got Radar at one end.. gotta stick it on the other too.
Wooksta.. your AEW was part of the insiration for mine when I saw it on here.
My thoughts were that the Saddle tank would give a longer loiter time
Very interesting. The front view looks absolutely un-Lancaster-like! :smiley:
And it needs an adequate nose-art with that nose. ;D
I am looking forward to seeing finished.
I think to really set it off buzzbomb, is a set of Merlin 85 nacelles ---
This is looking pretty damm cool.
There's no real need for the saddle tank (which incidentally was hated by the test pilots and caused no end of problems), given that the nose and bomb bay area of the Lancastrian carries additional fuel.
Actually, I think you'd need additional fin area to compensate for the tank. Certainly extra power would have been needed, given the weight of the addional fuel and the very bulky radar gear and associated black boxes.
The saddle doesn't have to be all fuel.....more room for those black boxes and operator stations etc. Besides, it looks cool !
:cheers:
Having walked up and down inside a Lancaster a couple of times, I know you can't stand upright in it (mostly you have to stoop in a real uncomfortable position). Instead of being a fuel tank, it could just be an extended fusealge just so you can walk upright.
Quote from: Captain Canada on May 06, 2014, 04:37:31 PM
Besides, it looks cool !
:cheers:
The Whiffer's mantra. ;D ;) :thumbsup:
Well, noted engineering feedback aside, got this together as far as it is going to go for a Whiffer.
I think I will go for the Saddle tank having some fuel and some black box space, that works for me.
So in my version of a daylight scheme, for the crude MK1 version of the AEW Lancaster, perhaps used by Coastal Command.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc7.jpg&hash=77623789bb09c777eac06cae6f0adf8da600b8a7)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc8.jpg&hash=36de4baa769794f935c0eb7c28e8e939f2daaf2e)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc9.jpg&hash=adc27e6f3f6ad1bc46877f98af3fd3a9c7554170)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelblokez.org.au%2Fbthpix%2Fwhatif%2Fspooks%2Faewlanc10.jpg&hash=e89893a0aa2b898c4a3b406b303ebd7eb08e0198)
Thanks for the nice words folks
Interesting aircraft. Never going to win a beauty contest but well executed. Nice detail with the aerials. :thumbsup:
Good job :thumbsup: that saddle tank sure makes a difference to the look of a Lancaster.
I've been puzzling the nose, and I've finally worked it out ;D it reminds me of the nose
On the Canberra T.17 :rolleyes:
Regards
Keith
Quote from: rickshaw on May 11, 2014, 07:40:07 PM
Interesting aircraft. Never going to win a beauty contest but well executed. Nice detail with the aerials. :thumbsup:
Very much so. Really good build and I do like the colour scheme :thumbsup:
Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!
Love the astrodome on the bulge-front and imo has a big-Beaufort and Albermarle look. That nose has got just Attitude!
Gorgeous colours ..... work of art.
The tanktop would make nipping over the main spar a lot easier .... ???
It's a nice model, certainly a good build, but it doesn't really work for me. It just doesn't look right. The radomes don't fit in with the time frame - the ventral one would have some serious problems with reflections from the props.
The Village Inn radome doesn't look right either - the Hasegawa Lancs all have this as a standard part on the sprues. It's not a fixed radome as it swivels with the turret. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Gun-Laying_Turret http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviation/village-inn-3372-2.html#post877563
Harsh? No. If I wanted to be really picky there's a few things I'd single out. I'm not criticising the concept or the modelling. Just a difference of opinion. I've been thinking about AEW Lancasters and whiffed Lancaster variants for so long that I seem to have a fixed view of how the company would have progressed.