Shorts Windermere MR.2 with photos

[McColm]

This started as the 1/72 Revell Blohm & Voss Bv222 v5 but had six engines reduced to four R-4360 radial pistons, the wheels from the Academy KB-29P, radome from a Revell Avro Shackleton AEW2, ECM vertical tail pod is off the Mach2 Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic and the MAD boom from the Airfix BAe Nimrod MR.1. Dipping sonar is from the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2 retractable radar.
It was originally intended for the Operation Downfall Group Build but I ran out of paint and decided to make a few modifications which will include the LACI CV-580 Allison 501 turboprop engines which after dry fitting and a bit of fettling do fit. Just need to get another set .

Backstory:

 SJMcColm Engineering Limited brokers an agreement with Blohm & Voss to build the BV 222 Wiking under license for the transatlantic passenger and cargo routes, carrying 90 passengers in comfort (business class). Fitted with six R-3350 radial engines. The alterations are carried out by Short Brothers to produce the amphibious layout. The Mark 1 having permanent fitted wheels, the Mark 2 would get the retractable landing gear and better soundproofing. The first seven Mk 1s were converted into freighters with the remaining nine upgraded to Mk 2 standard.
 During World War II the Shorts Windermeres were painted dull green and only flew at night for the passenger service, the seats could be turned into beds. The Air Ministry carried out a study of using the freighter version as an anti-submarine hunter in a similar manner to the Shorts Sunderland, they were flown by 201 Squadron. After the war SJMcColm Engineering Limited were given the contract to replace the Sunderland and the Avro Lancaster in the maritime surveillance role. Sunderlands reduced to the Search And Rescue duties. Forty Windermere GR.1s would be used by Costal Command, five would be brought up to V.V.I.P. standard all with retractable landing gear and sixty built for commercial customers.
 With the Golden Age of the flying boat beginning to fade SJMc began to replace the radial engines with Allison 501 turboprops which meant that the outer engines were replaced by fuel tanks this prompted the RAF during the 1960s to fit thirty-five with  Rolls-Royce Tynes, new avionics and underwing pylons although the winch system was continued. The guns removed and new technology installed. Export customers were few but the US Coast Guard would place an order for fifty with South Africa ordering nine examples and spare parts for five.
 During the 1970s a replacement was sort, the best MR.2s kept for the TAPESTRY flights and SAR reducing the numbers down to twenty-four, SJMc would buy the surplus rather than the scrapman's cutting equipment.
 All  Mk 3s were rebuilt aircraft using modern materials and technology during the 1990s, the Windermeres received a lifeline by the United Nations in the relief and natural disasters as they could access areas that a helicopter might have problems landing. The Allison 501s upgraded to the T56s.
 With the retirement of the BAe Nimrod from service the Shorts Windermere MR.3P stepped in as a stopgap in the maritime patrol role and SJMc had been working with Norhrop-Grumman using the AN/APS -145 radar these fitted to the upper fuselage to replace the Boeing E-3D Sentry. Twenty of each variant remains in service with the RAF.

[The Rat]

 

[McColm]

Thanks

[steelpillow]

Sounds promising. Got any piccies of the build to date?

Meanwhile, a rather dark and obscure note on the backstory. Blohm & Voss were of course banned from building aircraft after the war. The British destroyed everything they could find - it survived the ferocity of the Hamburg firestorm, only to fall to the spite of British bureaucracy. B&V were however allowed to keep much of their maritime business. The more senior of the two Blohm brothers had been an enthusiastic Nazi, and the company had been running forced labour camps. I believe that to this day they are still paying reparations for their treatment of the Jewish labour force. Back in Whiffland, the income from the BV 222 license was an absolute godsend in those early postwar days of utter deprivation and chaos, and for the first few reparations payments.

[McColm]

Sounds promising. Got any piccies of the build to date?

Meanwhile, a rather dark and obscure note on the backstory. Blohm & Voss were of course banned from building aircraft after the war. The British destroyed everything they could find - it survived the ferocity of the Hamburg firestorm, only to fall to the spite of British bureaucracy. B&V were however allowed to keep much of their maritime business. The more senior of the two Blohm brothers had been an enthusiastic Nazi, and the company had been running forced labour camps. I believe that to this day they are still paying reparations for their treatment of the Jewish labour force. Back in Whiffland, the income from the BV 222 license was an absolute godsend in those early postwar days of utter deprivation and chaos, and for the first few reparations payments.

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Work has started on fitting the LACI Allison 501 turboprop engines to the starboard wing, milliput filler has been applied. MAD boom, ECM pod, dipping sonar, wheels and radome have been added along with the twin-tail fins.

http://flic.kr/p/2sna9aD


http://flic.kr/p/2sneVQC

http://flic.kr/p/2snh39

[steelpillow]

Very nice. You've even wrapped the Allisons properly over the tubular steel main spar-cum-fuel-tank.

[McColm]

Very nice. You've even wrapped the Allisons properly over the tubular steel main spar-cum-fuel-tank.

The trick is not to cut too deeply on the spar as it weakens the wing. There's a guy on eBay that sells 3D printed alternative engines for the Wiking, best make the conversion before the wings are glued on.