1/72 Shorts PD.17 VTOL Platform to GOR.339

[scautomoton]

So for those who don't know about GOR.339, it was the requirement that led to the TSR.2. One of the more extreme submissions came from English Electric and Shorts Brothers. EE decided to design a conventional take-off and landing aircraft without the short runway or rough airfield capability the RAF wanted (the P.17A), instead opting to rely on Shorts designing a heavy-lift platform which would launch and recover the "TSR.2" from dispersed locations (the PD.17). Obviously, this is completely bonkers, and I want whatever they were smoking... Instead I had to settle for wine.

I started this a year or so ago and promptly got distracted by almost everything else. But, having recently completed the MDC 265-1 ahead of time, I realised I could get this done in time for Telford. So I promptly got to work, finished the CAD and got printing. Now, its not quite up to the standards of the kits I go on to sell, since this is just for myself (mainly due to the sheer amount of time it takes to print the large sections), so I had to rely on a bit of filler to get the finish right, and some additional bracing inside since it was a tad flexible.

In the interests of getting it done I also scavenged bits from elsewhere; Vulcan undercarriage (fettled) and wheels; Eduard etch for Vulcan wheel bays (I sized them accordingly); resin bang seats; and B-52H cockpit etch (since it had the most instruments!).

At Telford it generated quite a lot of interest and conversation. It even led to me giving an interview to the IPMS Media chap about the Project Cancelled SIG stand for their Youtube channel (apparently it'll be online soonish. Hopefully I don't look or sound too awful).

Kit - My own 3d design; bits from Airfix Vulcan (wheels & modified undercarriage)
Extras - Pavla TSR.2 resin seats; Eduard B-52H Cockpit etch, Vulcan Undercarriage etch; OO gauge styrene chequerplate
3d Print - Er, lots?!
Vac Forming - The canopy
Scratchbuilding - 0.5mm stainless wire for main undercarriage door straps
Primer - Mr Surfacer Grey 500 and 1000, Red Putty
Paint - Alclad II Stainless Steel, Dull Aluminium, Semi-matt Aluminium; Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black, X-11 Chrome Silver, X-32 Titanium Silver, XF-69 NATO Black, XF-81 Dark Green (RAF 2); Mr Gunze Aqeous 8 Silver, 27 Tan, 52 Olive Drab, 61 IJN Gray, 77 Tyre Black, H331 Dark Sea Grey; Molotow Liquid Chrome
Weathering - Tamiya Weathering Master Burnt Blue, Burnt Orange, Snow, Oil Stain, Soot, Silver, Gunmetal; Sludge wash; Alclad Hot Metal Violet
Varnish/Finish - Tamiya X-21 Flat Base, XF-86 Matt Clear; Gloss Coat Gauzy Agent
Decals - Model Alliance TSR.2, Xtradecal C-130 Walkway stripes, various random bits raided from the spares drawer

Anyway, here it is in all its "ST.1" glory (it was the only classification I found that sort of fits it's role):





















And finally, here she is carrying a TSR.2 until such time as I model the EE P.17A:

[Weaver]

And people thought the Mirage V was sponsored by Rolls-Royce...    

Terrific model - it looked great on the table at SMW.    

[Charlie_c67]

The more I see these designs, the more I wonder what some of these designers were smoking! Just looks completely different from anything else before or since.

  

[seadude]

That is really futuristic looking.    Love it!
If I had one of those crafts (Not the TSR.2 on top), knowing me, I'd probably build it into some sort of advanced craft that was tested at Area 51.
The shape of that really looks like it could have come from there. 

[The Rat]

Wow! But why not just put wings on it and use it as a bomber? 

[Supertom]

It's so daft I can't even. But brilliant. There's a lot more detail in this that I didn't notice when I saw it on SMW. Nice work!

Also here's the interview in question. A couple of us were awkwardly standing in the background, trying to look nonchalant. Whether or not we succeeded will depend on the footage.

[Mossie]

Anyway, here it is in all its "ST.1" glory (it was the only classification I found that sort of fits it's role):

I think a TB classification would suit it, straight out of a Gerry Anderson show. 

Great work, it really looks good and good to see the beast in model form. Bonkers idea, even the smallest of Shorts flying platforms were crazy.

[Steel Penguin]

without the TSR-2  on it, it looked very Thunderbirds,  the other suggestion we voiced was paint it red  and with the end plates on the body / wing it looked like it came from the pages of " the rise and fall of the Trigan empire"

but it is a monster of a model,   

[scautomoton]

It's so daft I can't even. But brilliant. There's a lot more detail in this that I didn't notice when I saw it on SMW. Nice work!

Also here's the interview in question. A couple of us were awkwardly standing in the background, trying to look nonchalant. Whether or not we succeeded will depend on the footage.

Coincidentally I just watched the interview to make sure I didn't come across too awkwardly (I think it was ok, but watch and decide for yourselves) All you see of people in the background is a pair of legs here and there. Video: 

[Mossie]

without the TSR-2  on it, it looked very Thunderbirds, 

Here's the shot. 

[PR19_Kit]

Needs longer wings..................   

But what a MONSTER, it looked magnificent on the Telford stand.   

[PR19_Kit]

Coincidentally I just watched the interview to make sure I didn't come across too awkwardly (I think it was ok, but watch and decide for yourselves) All you see of people in the background is a pair of legs here and there. Video:

The PD.17 bit starts around 32:40, but the rest of the vid id pretty good too.

[scautomoton]

Needs longer wings..................    

I've fixed that for you 😛

[PR19_Kit]

Needs longer wings..................   

I've fixed that for you 😛

Hehehehe, so true! 

[Mossie]

Proves the old saying that with enough thrust a brick will fly.