Truro Model Builder Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) This is all I know, so I can add no more to it. Yesterday two gentleman from Revell were due at RAF St. Mawgan to 'take a look' (as it was described to me) at the station's gate guardian, Shackleton Mk.2 WL795. Make of that what you will. Edited November 19, 2014 by T7 Models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 So, a repop of the old kit... with decals to depict the gate guardian of St. Mawgan! Alex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 So, a repop of the old kit... with decals to depict the gate guardian of St. Mawgan! Alex The old kit from Frog was a Mk3 thus different & why would they travel all the way down here to Cornwall to just realise the same kit !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) Oh no not the Baedekker Gang. You know know what happened last time they went on a tour of Britain Edited November 19, 2014 by Darby 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 @grizzly: just kidding. Sorry for not putting a smiley after the first post! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moaning dolphin Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 The old kit from Frog was a Mk3 thus different & why would they travel all the way down here to Cornwall to just realise the same kit !!! Because they stopped off on their way to Culdrose to update their Seaking kit to a MK5 SAR version to trump Airfix Did they visit Flambards afterwards? I think they still have a front end for a shackleton in the 'Village'. Cheers now Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Maybe they wanted to buy it? https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/374917/20141113-Schedule1_Shackleton_clean.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 St Mawgan's gate guard is being sold off? This is giving me a nasty itching sensation between the shoulder blades ... ... and I don't much fancy the prospects for getting her out in a salvageable state, neither. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Because they stopped off on their way to Culdrose to update their Seaking kit to a MK5 SAR version to trump Airfix Did they visit Flambards afterwards? I think they still have a front end for a shackleton in the 'Village'. Cheers now Bob Yes it is still there the only aircraft or should I say part of one, left from their one time great collection. Should we break out the tin helmets Te he. Great new Sea King from Airfix though now maintained down here, they used Sultan one to scan for kit. Bet the guys at St Mawgan who have looked after & done up the old girl to a high standard are well wee weed at MOD selling it off from under their feet. There again they are trying to get enough money to buy a F35B for the RAF!!!!! regards Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 The Shack has got a lot of problems, apparently. The undercarriage is in a fragile condition, and there were until recently plans for it to join the Classic Air Force collection. That seems to have stalled (like much to do with CAF, it seems) and I think that there were concerns about how easy it would be to move even to their hangar. The good news is that much of the fittings are owned by other organisation, particularly the Shackleton Preservation Trust. I understand that the Cornish Aviation Society, who maintain WL795, suggested loaning rather than donating items as sale of the aircraft was always a possibility, and it was better if much of what was there could be removed and returned if the eventuality arose. Now that's what you call forward planning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richw_82 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Revell have been looking to do a new Shackleton, and approached RAF St Mawgan late in October. We had some contact with them prior to that but for our own reasons declined to be involved with their project - not least of which was the tone of their initial e-mail.WL795 is up for tender and the rumours regarding the undercarriage are true. The tailwheel leg is badly corroded, and the port main landing gear leg is not far behind it. It will take some work before WL795 could be towed in any way. We have registered our interest with the MOD, in an attempt to save the aircraft from the scrapper.We have a few bits of kit on loan to CAS, but not that many in the aircraft itself, this being limited to some of the mission equipment (Radar, Sonics.) They are quite upset, but the Shack was on borrowed time after the replacement with a Wessex was announced a couple of years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I personally hope Airfix beat them to doing a Shackleton, there's a better chance of it looking like one. I don't mean that to sound bitchy, but building a Halifax that looks right is quite an expensive outlay once you've done the corrections. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richw_82 Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 From the emails I had with the three people acting on behalf of Revell, this was the most explicit as to their intention -"...they wish to produce the Shackleton AEW.2 as the main version, with optional parts included for the earlier (standard) MR.2."Fun, as there isn't a 'standard' MR Mk.2, you have a choice of at least three different phases of modification, and all are different yet again to the AEW. There's even more difference between MR.2 and MR.3. Even thinking simply such as measuring one Shackleton up just gets you that particular Shackleton. They're all individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share Posted November 22, 2014 I don't read the email like that; to me it says that they are using the terms 'earlier' and 'standard' interchangeably. Perhaps the SPT really should be involved, if it means Revell produce an accurate kit rather than one we'll all be throwing brickbats at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richw_82 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 (edited) I suppose it could be taken that way.As a modeller myself, I hate to say it, but making sure an accurate Shack kit enters the market isn't top of our list of things to do, we're concentrating on rebuilding our aircraft to fly. The tone of the e-mails was rather demanding, and it not only annoyed us, it annoyed the Trustees. We are a volunteer team and our time is valuable, so now Revell can wait until we're ready.Sorry guys. Edited November 22, 2014 by richw_82 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 A new shackelton would be nice but companies should really be more helpful to volunteers or museums even help with some funds in order to get assistance .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Although the vast majority of us have not read the original emails/letters written by the ROG team, how many of us have misinterpreted the written word in things we've read over time. I can honestly say that it is one of the major issues with today's social media and very often the cause of arguments where no harm was originally intended. Some of these modelling forums are also good examples of that! I have also witnessed and been involved with International issues where due to English not being their first choice lauguage, the words used were not quite appropriate for the message they wanted to deliver. This is often smoothed over once you meet face to face or converse over the phone. Once again - besides those directly involved with this Revell Shackelton request, I do not claim that anyone has misinterpreted anything - I'm just trying to state that it can and often occurs where international written communication is concerned. Hopefully this episode has not put the ROG team off if/when considering other great British aircraft subjects. Cheers.. Dave. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Even thinking simply such as measuring one Shackleton up just gets you that particular Shackleton. They're all individual. So, by that logic, no matter which company will eventually make a Shackleton kit, it will always be a copy of one specific one, or a mix of various versions/airframes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Just seen this on Facebook, quoted in full "The German company Revell came to Gatwick Aviation Museum a couple of months ago and took many photos of our mk3 Juliet. They plan to produce a model of it, but not the mks1or 2, in the new year. Keep an eye on their web site." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richw_82 Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Pretty much for the MR2/AEW2.By the end, the last few Shackletons had been rebuilt that many times they all had their own little quirks. Even major structural items such as spar booms were individual to each aircraft. We've had a couple of panels and hatches that are brand new out the box to fit on WR963, and try as we might they won't go. Check the labels with the part and it says (for example) to fit aircraft WG556, WL745, WL747.The survivors in the UK (WR960, WR963, WL795) are all at different stages. WR960 is a perfect AEW but left service in the mid-1980's so didn't get the last upgrades. WR963 had the final upgrades, but has then had various parts removed for use on WL790 in the USA, and we started putting her back to MR2. WL795 has been put back to MR2, but has been heavily robbed over the years by the BBMF and others.WR960 is closest to being a 'standard' aircraft from which you could take a good reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 Pretty much for the MR2/AEW2. By the end, the last few Shackletons had been rebuilt that many times they all had their own little quirks. Even major structural items such as spar booms were individual to each aircraft. We've had a couple of panels and hatches that are brand new out the box to fit on WR963, and try as we might they won't go. Check the labels with the part and it says (for example) to fit aircraft WG556, WL745, WL747. The survivors in the UK (WR960, WR963, WL795) are all at different stages. WR960 is a perfect AEW but left service in the mid-1980's so didn't get the last upgrades. WR963 had the final upgrades, but has then had various parts removed for use on WL790 in the USA, and we started putting her back to MR2. WL795 has been put back to MR2, but has been heavily robbed over the years by the BBMF and others. WR960 is closest to being a 'standard' aircraft from which you could take a good reference. They could always go to Pafos airport ,they have two AEW2 in very good condition, saw them back in May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) Are those the ones in Cyprus? I thought they were in pretty bad nick. Getting back to the kit, I hope Revell and/or Airfix do an MR.2 and/or an MR.3. In fact I'd like for Revell to do all the marks and Airfix to do all the marks, that way I can pick and choose between the lot. That's a lot of quid going out the window, but I'm a certified (and certifiable) Shackleton-nut. Regards, Jason Edited November 23, 2014 by Learstang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 The tone of the e-mails was rather demanding, and it not only annoyed us, it annoyed the Trustees. In fairness, they could start out trying to ask as nicely as they knew, and it would still end up sounding like a demand for Danzig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now