Neat. I esp. like the re-porposed tractor. 

Thanks Dizz.  As I didn't put the crane on the tractor I really should have rebuilt the split cab as a single unit.  But to be honest I didn't think of doing it until now.

    

Thanks mate.

That looks very evocative Fred, and I love the backstory.

What a good use for the JGSDF vehicle as an aircraft tug too! I've got one of those kits, but that had never occurred to me.

Quote from: zenrat on April 28, 2026, 04:42:34 AMThanks Dizz.  As I didn't put the crane on the tractor I really should have rebuilt the split cab as a single unit.  But to be honest I didn't think of doing it until now.

Or just leave one of the cabs off completely and make the tipper body a pure flatbed. As an alternative to that fuel(?) tank, you could put the working bits of a starter trolley from one of the ground equipment sets on it, together with a big sign on the back that says:

FOLLOW ME
    -slowly...

Quote from: zenrat on April 25, 2026, 05:16:59 AMNorthrop Delta.  Vic Air.  Martha Island 1977

Northrop Delta - 15 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

After post WW2 sea level rises saw Victoria's Mornington Peninsula become the Mornington Archipelago a number of Victorian companies set up seaplane and flying boat services amongst the islands.
Frankston Skycabs operated a pair of pre-war Northrop Deltas that serviced the major archipelago islands and the Gippsland Lakes for ten years before being replaced by more modern aircraft.

Northrop Delta - 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Both Deltas were bought by Vic Air with the intention of using them for exclusive tours of the Archipelago's wineries ("you drink, we fly") and were overhauled and given a luxury refit in line with this role.
Unfortunately the times were not right for upmarket vino-tourism and in 1964 the Tours Department was shut down with the aircraft being withdrawn from service.
Vic Air management saw in them two ideal runabouts ideal for taking senior managers and their "secretaries" on weekend "business conferences" at some of the more "stimulating" archipelago islands.  Both aircraft had their already luxurious cabins upgraded further with a small galley being built into what had originally been a rear cargo hold.
The executives were in the process of organising a rota (based on seniority and secretary's legs) when the owners of Vic Air, zenrat industries, stepped in and commandeered both Deltas for their Special Flights division.

Northrop Delta - 5 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Understandably no details of how the aircraft were used are available but some photographs exist taken as they went about their business.  It appears that the Vic Air livery and registrations were retained with the addition of subtle zi signage.  This suggests they were not being used for grey or black operations, but probably for moving VIPs and for the purposes Vic Air had in mind.  Given this, it is likely that they were based at zi's facility on Martha Island.  Around 1976 one aircraft disappears from the photo record.  While it could have been involved in an accident (none were publicly admitted to), or transferred even deeper into the organisation, it is most likely that it was retired to provide a source of spares for V-ZIPY.
The remaining aircraft was transferred to zenrat industries Heritage Fleet in 1989 and moved to the Victorian Aviation Heritage Collection at Dadswell Bridge.  It can be seen there in the Seaplane Pavilion which is situated on the big lake.

Northrop Delta - 3 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.

Special Hobby Canadian Vickers Delta Mk.II RCAF "On Snow and Water" built more or less OOB.  It's a typical Special Hobby offering needing some, but not massive amounts, of PSR.  Biggest chore was rescribing the panel lines lost during this process.
Home made transfers.
Beaching Trolley scratchbuilt from evergreen and balsa.  Gun carriage wheels.  Construction of a beaching trolley was required because I forgot to add weight to the front of the floats.
Tractor is Aoshima JGSDF Materials Handler lightly modified.

Northrop Delta - 24 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Northrop Delta - 21 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Wonderfull

         Nice!!