What If ideas/goals for the upcoming year, what are YOUR plans?

[McColm]

I'm still aiming to finish off my current started builds by the end of next year. Two more 1/72
B-47E s will be bought.
The stash is looking good but most of the kits are likely to be used for spares so I can complete the current fleet.

[McColm]

I've been reading the book 'The Air Staff and AEW ' ProjectTech Profiles written by Chris Gibson,  in it on page 13 it mentions that studies were carried out by the RAE September 1954 for the Avro Vulcan and Bristol Britannia to carry a 25ft x 8ft (7.6m x 2.4m) elipital antenna, which would lead to the Britannia Early Warning Airborne Radar Equipment. The plan was to use the AN/APS-120 radar taken from the Grumman Hawkeye.
I would place the rotodome underneath the Vulcan, I haven't built the new Airfix model yet but I did try and build the Mach2 Bristol Britannia. I got frustrated with the engines and binned it. I think that I will have another crack at it next year.
Another Mach2 kit is the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, the Royal Radar Establishment Avon Argosy: the inboard Dart turboprops are retained and the outer ones replaced by a pair of Avons. I have a pair of Rolls-Royce Nenes from the Combat Model Avro Lancastrian Rolls-Royce Nene test aircraft. These have been used on several builds.
 1/24 or 1/25 American Muscle Cars,the unsung heroes.

[Diamondback]

So, you guys are gonna laugh at this... my very first gunsmithing-class project in college twenty years ago has now become a "Twelve-Inch Scale" WHIF as my last to be completed once I regain full use of my right arm. Not sure where to post it or even if I *should* given how too many on both sides have to inject politics into Every. Little. Damned. Thing. and can't appreciate simple craftsmanship...

*IF* community interest warrants and everybody agrees to play nice and understands that I *will* be asking the mods to watch it REAL close and curbstomp anyone who gets nasty, I'll stick up a post on the project and how my gal turned it into a "real-world WHIF."

[Old Wombat]

So, you guys are gonna laugh at this... my very first gunsmithing-class project in college twenty years ago has now become a "Twelve-Inch Scale" WHIF as my last to be completed once I regain full use of my right arm. Not sure where to post it or even if I *should* given how too many on both sides have to inject politics into Every. Little. Damned. Thing. and can't appreciate simple craftsmanship...

*IF* community interest warrants and everybody agrees to play nice and understands that I *will* be asking the mods to watch it REAL close and curbstomp anyone who gets nasty, I'll stick up a post on the project and how my gal turned it into a "real-world WHIF."

I'm up for it. 

[Rick Lowe]

So, you guys are gonna laugh at this... my very first gunsmithing-class project in college twenty years ago has now become a "Twelve-Inch Scale" WHIF as my last to be completed once I regain full use of my right arm. Not sure where to post it or even if I *should* given how too many on both sides have to inject politics into Every. Little. Damned. Thing. and can't appreciate simple craftsmanship...

*IF* community interest warrants and everybody agrees to play nice and understands that I *will* be asking the mods to watch it REAL close and curbstomp anyone who gets nasty, I'll stick up a post on the project and how my gal turned it into a "real-world WHIF."

I'm up for it. 

Me too. 

[NARSES2]

Right with my Moderators hat on.

I'm fairly open minded when it comes to what's posted, the only subject areas I'd likely get "uppity" about immediately would be the obvious politics and also anything sexual. So go for it and I think we can trust the membership, but obviously it's something I'd keep an eye on. Mind you I read every post anyway 

As for where to post it ? Then I would have thought as a Blog entry woud be an ideal spot ?

Chris

[McColm]

Update most of my photos on this site.

[Diamondback]

Right with my Moderators hat on.

I'm fairly open minded when it comes to what's posted, the only subject areas I'd likely get "uppity" about immediately would be the obvious politics and also anything sexual. So go for it and I think we can trust the membership, but obviously it's something I'd keep an eye on. Mind you I read every post anyway 

As for where to post it ? Then I would have thought as a Blog entry woud be an ideal spot ?

Chris

Fair enough, Chris - right in line with my intent that it stay merely technical/concept/craftsmanship despite having had a life experience where five people owe our lives to a pistol on my hip In The Line Of Duty even though it never left holster back when I was on a protection detail (more like, I WAS the entire detail) in my college days. (That's a story for Private Messaging only.) Supertom thought figures, but starting a blog for various projects both current and on-ice might be better.

[NARSES2]

craftsmanship

I think that's the thing we can all appreciate 

[McColm]

The Bristol Type 216 a replacement for the the Bristol Freighter powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines but I think the Basler BT-67 turboprop conversion or a turbofan version might be better.
The aircraft could have been considered for the Royal Navy in a variety of roles, the Air Ministry dismissed it as being too slow for short to medium maritime surveillance but with a few changes it could be.
Could also be a contender for a kitbash using the Airfix Fairey Rotodyne, front loading heliplane and a revised gunship variant.

[McColm]

Someone mentioned that the Boeing E-3 AWACS was to have the FASS radar layout fitted to it as an alternative to the current rotodome. I haven't been able to find this information nor any artwork/line drawings.
However the Boeing EC-135N could be the basis for the build, either using a 1/72 AMT C-135 with the DB Production/Flightpath conversion set or the AMtech model kit.
The AMtech model comes with resin parts but has a lot of fitting issues due to wrapping, an experienced modeller could overcome these problems but I think that the Heller 1/72 E-3A/
E-3B with the turbofan engines or Boeing 707 would be a better option. Then the parts could be grafted on.
I do have a spare nose radome from the Flightpath EC-135N set so this will be fitted at the rear of the fuselage. The tail section will be moved forward.
As you know I'm not one for accuracy so I'm happy if the wings have no gaps or are level hence using the other kits.
This will be an expensive build but once I have all the parts it should be interesting, the leftovers can go to form the maritime surveillance version which wasn't built but studied by Canada and I think Australia with the engines in a similar fashion to the B-52H. If funds can be stretched then the Mach2 Douglas DC-8 looks like the donor model

[Charlie_c67]

It's interesting that they're carrying on with the 707 airframe rather than transitioning to a more economical 777 or 787. If they want to keep four engines, I'm sure there's plenty of 747s around 

[McColm]

Was there a four engined Douglas DC-3 or C-47? Not the DC-4 as the wings are different and the fuselage is longer.
I might be buying a few more A & A Models 1/72 turbo Dakotas kits as the engines can be used on various radial powered models.

[PR19_Kit]

I've never heard of one, but those American bush pilots are enterprising characters! 

[McColm]

Hannants.co.uk are selling the re-released 1/72 Rolls-Royce Dart engines in a four pack to go with the Mach2 Vickers Viscount although they could also be used with the Mach2 A.W. Argosy.
I have discovered that there's a Boeing B-17F that was converted into a firefighter which had it's engines replaced with Rolls-Royce Darts, so there's a possibility for the Avro Shackleton to be re-engined.
I know that there was never a transport variant of the Avro Shackleton but with the variety of decals now available through AIM Transport Wings anything is possible.