Shorts Windermere MR.1

[McColm]

The Allies had captured five Blohm & Voss Bv222 Wiking flying boats, after evaluation two were given to the Americans and two to the British the remaining one was stripped for parts before being used for target practice.
Reports that Consolidated Aircraft Corporation had used the Wikings as prototypes for the XP5Y and XR3Y Tradewind studies, the whereabouts of these two aircraft are still unknown, across the pond the Air Ministry had called on SJMcColm Engineering Limited to convert them into maritime surveillance platforms in a similar scheme to those of the Shorts Sunderland.
 Trails had been carried out on Lake Windermere hence the name change and Shorts of Belfast provided the Royal Air Force with the Sunderland it was agreed to use this, the engines would be replaced with the Wright R3350 turbo-compound radials. Six reduced to four with the outer pair blanked over to create a fuel tank.
The AN/APS-20S radome was installed on the upper fuselage with provisions for a dipping sonar and magnetic anomaly detector at the rear end of the fuselage. Weapons to be fitted under the wings and the use of sonobouys, carried internally but launched either side of the fuselage, dye markers, flares and chaff was also carried. Electronic warfare support measures to counter the radar threats or to jam their systems.
 After an extensive rewiring the first of the two Shorts Windermere GR.1s later changed to
MR.1  (Maritime Reconnaissance) and joined 201 Squadron of Flight X deployed in the South Atlantic to hunt submarines they then became part of the Zebra Force and took part in Operation Downfall. Not before an update had been carried out for the plumbing for in-flight refueling and a permanent landing gear. The Windermeres received both USAF and the underdevelopment hose & drogue refueling systems. It was a request from Bomber Command that a fixed landing gear be tested for long-range bombing missions using hardened runways instead of grass, this would later be changed to an amphibious layout the wings would also be replaced during the late 1950s.  Rocket assisted take offs was a common thing both on land and at sea due to the increased weight or shortening of the runway.
The Windermeres also carried several reconnaissance cameras for day and nighttime photography. They could also perform search and rescue missions and be used for troop transportation or supplies when needed. The gun positions were retained throughout the fuselage being replaced with upgrades of avionics or relocated .
The Shorts Windermere was the largest flying boat operatored by the RAF at the time which consisted of; pilot, copilot, two flight engineers, radio operator, navigator, tactical navigator, electronics officer and six electronics operators with four observers ( two maintenance technicians). There was a galley with seating and a rest area with bunks for the longer flights.
 After the war SJMcColm Engineering Limited bought them but were leased out to the RAF and Royal Navy. The RN converted one into a gunship whilst the other served as a troop transport and training in electronic warfare. When they were no longer needed by the British Armed Forces they had a full strip down maintenance overhaul and received the wings from a pair of Avro Vulcan B.2 bombers along with the detuned engines to become airliners on the 'around the world flying cruise '. One flying down to Australia and the other, heading over the North Pole journeying down south on a nostalgic trip. The 1970s saw yet another conversion into water bombers, airborne fire fighters contracted out to Canada, Northern America, Australia and Europe. They were in high demand that SJMc went to great lengths to introduce carbon fiber materials and economical turbofan engines. Their flying hours were redistricted to seasonal work which meant that they were loaned out to museums as exhibits or to film crews. By 2026 only one of the Shorts Windermeres' was still flying the other grounded due to fatigue in the wings. Parts were taken off and it's now a residential house for the Chief Executive of SJMcColm Engineering Limited.

[McColm]

The build

I'm using the 1/72 Revell 03792-0379 Blohm & Voss BV222 V5 plastic model kit with a few spare parts.
Used one already as there's insufficient round windows provided.  The AN/APS-20S radome doesn't quite fit in the nose so it will be relocated. I'm going for a unobstructed nose, removing the gun turret.
Work has started on the fuselage interior with the upper and lower decks. Additional glazing fitted.

[Andrew Gorman]

For round windows at that scale I just add a web of white/PVA glue to the hole with a toothpick. It dries clear. A drop of clear enamel will make it glossy at the last step. Best of all, you can skip masking the portholes and make the windows as the last step. Just a suggestion! A current project has a number of small styrene portholes, each one with a prominent air bubble in the middle.  Off to the parts bin with them. 

[McColm]

For round windows at that scale I just add a web of white/PVA glue to the hole with a toothpick. It dries clear. A drop of clear enamel will make it glossy at the last step. Best of all, you can skip masking the portholes and make the windows as the last step. Just a suggestion! A current project has a number of small styrene portholes, each one with a prominent air bubble in the middle.  Off to the parts bin with them. 

Thanks for the tip.

[McColm]

One slight problem is that once the two fuselage halves are glued together with the doors in the closed position you can't see any of the interior. Yes there's a slot in the roof which can be removed and the cockpit does allow for some detailing.
I've painted all of the lower windows black and blanked out the four gun positions.

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



Fuselage halves glued together, with the nose. The AN/APS-20S radome and twin tail fins.

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

MAD boom, wings and engine mounts. Wing guns removed.

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

[McColm]

I found the Transport Wings XCG-17 conversion set to make the 1/72 Douglas Dakota Glider, using the parts from the Revell Bv222 V5 kit they fit. The Pratt & Whitney R3350 cowlings are from the spare parts box.


https://flic.kr/p/2scYQ4j

[McColm]

It's coming together, a bit more PSR. Got to sort out the landing gear or a cradle for the paint stage.

The underside.

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

The profile of the nose, sets it apart with the four engines.

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

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

https://flic.kr/p/2sdtaF1

[McColm]

Fixed landing gear taken from a 1/72 Italeri Lockheed C-130 E/H and the dipping sonar is from the Airfix Avro Shackleton MR.2.
One and two pennies are some change that I had.

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

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

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

https://flic.kr/p/2sdGve1