SJMc Allison Gannet

[McColm]

This is based on the 1/72 Novo Fairey Gannet AS.1 model kit, mine was almost completed by the previous owner. The crew are painted and the glazing is in place along with the arrestor hook, the wings have been assembled but haven't been glued to the fuselage and the tail was also in place.
Naturally I have replaced the Armstrong Siddley Double Mamba engine for the Allison T56 turboprop. Then superglued the wings plus the AN/APS-20S radar radome which came from the Airmodel Fairey Gannet AEW.3 conversion kit. This had to be modified to fit the weapons bay doors.

The backstory being that a cheaper alternative to the AEW.7 proposal using existing airframes for AEW or ASW working in pairs. Arguments put forward from the Admiralty suggested that the Allison Gannet could carry a heavier payload than the Westland Seaking and stay on task for 5-6 hours. SJMc modified one of the Gannets for air-to-air refueling, the probe not in the usual place but behind the pilot to avoid the rotating propeller or plummed in on the wing .
 The wing option was more favorable for buddy-buddy refueling. Successful trials were flown from HMS Ark Royal and HMS Invincible using the AN/APS-20S the same as those fitted to the Avro Shackleton AEW.2, with one Gannet carried the Searchwater radar in the radome but due to budget cuts the Allison Gannets never got the radar update.
The Admiralty penciled in 15 refurbished Gannets for the Fleet Air Arm , aircraft came from Germany and Indonesia, with France taking an interest and leasing five over a six year period. Italy followed them and placed an order for seven, more examples were found but the FAA only flew nine as parts became an issue until France retired their Gannets in favor for the Grumman E-2F Hawkeye.
SJMcColm Engineering Limited started retooling parts to keep the fleet flying, some say that after the major overhaul they were new aircraft using modern materials and avionics. The nine SJMc Allison Gannets soldiered on filling the gap created by the Crowsnest Melin AEW helicopter due to technical problems.

Back to the build, the nose landing gear has been glued on and PSR has started.

[Gondor]

Perhaps if you called this the "Allison Gannet" as the real thing was a turboprop.

[McColm]

Perhaps if you called this the "Allison Gannet" as the real thing was a turboprop.

Changed.