Douglas Skyliner GR.1

[McColm]

This build is based on the Douglas DC-4E, the one with the triple tail fins that didn't see major production numbers but was bought by a Japanese airliner and back-engineered into a bomber.
It's not going to be accurate and the purpose might change, I did intend this to be an AEW but my original idea for an attack bomber using the 1/72 Heller Douglas DC-6B seems to be a better option, now that I have all the parts.
The engines are a Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce hybrid, super and turbo charged to provide speeds of up 375 knots at cruising height.

https://flic.kr/p/2say6N7

Line drawing of the 1942 Douglas C-54 bomber which this build is also based on.

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

[McColm]

The Douglas Skyliner had the fuselage of a DC-4 but lengthened by 41 inches,  powerplant upgrades and a triple-tail fin layout along with a pressurized fuselage.  Nipon Airways of Japan ordered six and the British Air Ministry placed an order for 150 but only received 94 but lengthened the fuselage by a further six inches (105 ft 7in/32.18m) fitted with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines with 2,500hp with water injection. Rolls-Royce produced a hybrid of this engine to include turbo and super chargers.
The Royal Air Force was in need of a long-range submarine hunter and the Skyliner with a few modifications fitted by SJMcColm Engineering Limited could turn the aircraft around in less than four weeks. The RAF received fifty maritime attack examples, the GR would be replaced with MR during the 1950s.
The conversion saw the upgraded H2S ground mapping radar as used by Bomber Command developed into a air-to-surface radar moved to the position behind the nose wheel landing gear, a large weapons bay underneath the fuselage and a remote control rear gun turret. Above the fuselage two more remote controlled gun turrets. Towards the rear of the fuselage on the starboard side six flare or dye marker chutes and in the floor a pair of sonobouy launch tubes. Additional weapons could be carried under the wings on racks. The fuselage interior was split in two: port side the workstations and on the starboard side the generators, electronics and refrigeration systems. Along with two hobs, tea urn, seating area and two folding bunk beds. The toilets had been leftover from the airliner days. The flight engineer, radio operator and tactical navigator all had separate workstations for the thirteen crew members.
Missions sometimes lasted for fifteen hours but averaged to eight hours which doesn't include the transit time to the search area. Extra crew members were sometimes required for the longer flights or for training.
In-flight refueling was used during the flight from Britain to the Pacific but seldom used for maritime reconnaissance once they had arrived.

The build now has the landing gear, remote controlled gun turrets, weapons bay and radome fitted. Revell filler has been applied to fill in all the gaps.

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

[McColm]

Yes the nose wheel landing gear did snap off so this build now has a rear tail wheel. PSR continues. All wheels are now glued on.


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