SJMc Campbelltown C.1

[McColm]

I've wanted to build the 1/72 Grumman C-2A Greyhound and looking at the photos in the book American Secret Projects 3 I think that I can use the vacuform Avro York conversion kit using parts from the Grumman E-2CJ Hawkeye and the Italeri Lockheed Martin C-27J Spartan.
 The Campbelltown will have a rear loading ramp, I've already used the wings from the Spartan with the engines and quad tail fins from the Hawkeye with the Avro York fuselage. The new tail ramp will help prevent a tail-sitter as I will add a nose wheel.
Filler will be used along both fuselage sides to reduce the windows and cargo doors. The cockpit might be reworked

[McColm]

Backstory

 The SJMc Campbelltown started life as a project to give the Avro York a pair of turboprop engines. SJMcColm Engineering Ltd had won a contract for the Northern Territories of Canada to supply and support the Distant Early Warning Line. The Avro York proved to be an ideal bush plane but spare parts for the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines became harder to find. SJMc did  change the engines to the Rolls-Royce Griffons and then the turboprop Darts before a rethink on how to make improvements.
A new lighter but stronger wing, uprated landing gear and a pair of Allison T56-A-8B turboprops,  the fuselage would get a rear loading ramp with a strengthened floor. Whilst this was going on the Avro York got a swing-tail and quadruple tail fins similar to those fitted to the Grumman E-2A Hawkeye.
 This caught the eye of Grumman who was considering using parts from the Hawkeye to form  a Carrier On-board Delivery aircraft for the USNAVY. A partnership was brokered between the two companies to allow SJMc to use the tail fins and later the wings from the Hawkeye. In a twist the Campbelltown would be fitted with the Hawkeye avionics and rotodome for AEW training and during the 1990s a pair of turbofan engines were fitted. The Campbelltown would go on to be a trials aircraft including V/STOL for the US Military.
VTOL experiments ranged from tilt-wings to lift the aircraft off the ground,  lift jets and
tilt-engines, sponsored by Sikorsky, Bell and Boeing. This research would provide valuable information.
Meanwhile the SJMc Campbelltown became very popular with Canada, Australia, India and South America. It took a while to be accepted by the Royal Air Force for Transport Command but the Royal Navy used them for  navigation trainers, parachute jumping, freighter and for the Special Forces.
On the commercial side the Campbelltown became a cheaper option as a freighter rather than a regional airliner. The fuselage was stretched for customers who required more room to carry cars and spares by racing teams, some being converted to V.I.P. spec whilst others would be used for fire fighting, parachute clubs and the Oil Industry.
 During the 2000s the Campbelltown was updated with new features and modern materials, SJMc Engineering Ltd provides customers with a service to upgrade their aircraft and buy back for refurbishing.

[McColm]

The Campbelltown  has rear loading and can fit three ho gauge Volkswagon T2 vans in the cargo hold or two 00gauge cars. I can also fit a ho lorry with the doors open at the rear so unloading and loading of parcels can be undertaken.
If I use the Mach2 kit then the rear loading ramp will be the part of the piece I have cut out, the vacuform kit didn't separate in one piece. Next time cut before assembly.

[McColm]

 The alternative backstory.

 The SJMc Campbelltown was used by the Military Air Transport Service during the Vietnam War to deliver food and equipment from bases in Singapore to the front line. It was an ideal STOL cargo aircraft, rugged and easily repaired even if the mechanic was wearing gloves. Some ended up as Carrier On-board Delivery for the USNAVY during the campaign, the unpressurised fuselage even saw use as a gunship for light vehicles or light tanks.
 New Zealand used the Campbelltown in conjunction with the Bristol Freighter ferrying food from the North to the South whilst others were used as car-air-ferries. With a lot of soundproofing the Campbelltown could hold upto 40 passengers in a business class arrangement but most were operated as a combo as and when required.
Experimental versions saw the turboprop engines replaced by turbofans either pairs or quads depending on the customer. Skis and floats were also available.
A maritime and AEW variations were promoted with the US Coast Guard receiving 40 examples all converted back into cargo airlifters after the trials had finished.
It's usually seen at most airports in the background as a freighter for parcels and the odd passenger for a chartered flight,

[McColm]

This is what the SJMc Campbelltown C.1 is based on. A squared bodied Grumman C-2 Greyhound.

https://flic.kr/p/2rYYCwm