tc2324

Couldn`t agree more with you both. Looks like a Lanc/Manc at the front without the prop but hope that will change once the parts and markings all come together.

Thought someone had discharged their breakfast all over your Whif there for a moment until I realised it`s tack.... I think the scheme looks great though and looking forward to the masking to come off.

I do like that. The NMF really does go well with the model and era it was supposed to operate in. P.S. Gerry Anderson wants to know where his model went to....?

Looking good and don`t worry to much about the decals, it is a `What if` after all.

Been busy of late and so progress has been slow. Tonight however I got round to building up the `Amerika` bombers engine to the nose of the Do 217. Trying to use as much plastic as possible to save on filler. First picture is of the nose section followed by an overall picture of how it will look with all the main sections loosely fitted together.

So, what do I think of the old Airfix Dornier 217 kit?? Can answer that in one word..., rubbish. Don`t get me wrong, it`s easy to build and the parts fit together quite well but here are a few things I`ve noted while cracking on with this kitbash. First and foremost, if you follow the instructions on how to fit the cockpit to inside of the aircraft and place it on the indentation as instructed, you end up with this...., No idea how the pilots and gunners are meant to fly and fight.... Secondly the rudders and ailerons have been made from the same mould so on one half of the model you get those circular casting indentations... It`s also the first time I have included weight to a tail dragger as I wanted to make sure the extra plastic at the front didn`t effect the models CoG. Last shot is of how the Dornier Testbed will look towards the end of the build with the large `Amerika` bomber engine on it. I turned the P-38`s engine upside down to give it a more German appearance, I hope... Still plenty of `bashing` to do on this one.

Thanks for the compliments guys. I`m pretty proud of this build as it came together nicely and looks the part in the pictures. Now just waiting for the KGB to knock at my door......

A very well built `Tiger`. 74 would have been proud of that one....

Nice job. Now you can actually have fun building the kit now.

Glad to hear that TT. `Whif`s` aren`t always fast pointy things with weapons and I`m looking forward to the finished pictures of members projects that involve more than 2 engines. As for a machine..?? Well, lets just say I`m full of weird, wonderful and down right bonkers ideas.......

Wrap around camo would be an excellent change to the normal `grey`. Look forward to your choice in colour sir.

Based on that Hustler build I think you should Alclad it. Would look very cool sitting next to eachother.

Thats very nice and works for me. Looking forward to the next post.

Just a couple of pictures for `proof of concept`. A little bit of a kit bash on this one. Have had a Do 217`E` kit for a while now but never given it much thought on how I was going to proceed with it. That is until I wondered how the Germans may have tested the powerplants for their infamous New York Bomber concept. (yes, I know it was supposed to be a jet powered aircraft but lets say for arguments sake that it wasn`t and they planned to use props). Anyway, got the 1/48 prop from my P-38 kit that I `butchered` into my now broken up for scrap XP-55 Skunk so I will look to modify it into something a little more German looking. So the `big` prop will go on the nose for inflight testing while the standard Do 217 engines will remain where they are for take off and landing.

Thanks for the kind comments guys. As long as you all found it entertaining then it`s job done and I`m happy.

Funny enough I`d had a beer or two by then so I was very relaxed about the whole thing. Just glad I took the pictures I needed for the GB. :shithappens: (Hope they don`t ask for up to date ones...?)

And for those of you who prefer colour pics.............,

Sliding Doors....., well..., naval attack aircraft at the least...! By 1957 both Grumman and Blackburn aircraft companies had proposed and designed naval attack aircraft to counter the new Soviet Sverdlov class cruiser. With tensions rising in the cold war and development problems with the Grumman design the US department of defense opted for the safer and more durable design from Blackburn which had already taken it`s maiden flight by 1958 with promising results. It entered service with the US Navy in 1961 and served well until 1997 when the last US Navy Buccaneer was withdrawn from service. It`s battle honors included Vietnam, Middle East and the last weapon dropped in anger was during the 1st Gulf war. Attached below are picture of the Buccaneer in service during the Vietnam war. This particular example was lost in combat in 1971 over Hanoi with the loss of both crew. With Grumman failing to win the order for the US Navy the company looked for an overseas customer. The Royal Navy had been interested in what Grumman had to offer due to the companies reputation of building reliable aircraft. By 1962 the Intruder made it`s maiden flight and by 1964 was in service with the RN. The Intruder only ever dropped it`s weapons in anger during the 1st Gulf War and this was when all the FAA Intruder`s had been re-assigned to the RAF in 1980 after the retirement of HMS Ark Royal. The example photographed below is armed with Sea Eagle anti ship missiles while on `shore leave` at RNAS Lossiemouth in 1974.

Sliding Doors....., well..., naval attack aircraft at the least...! By 1957 both Grumman and Blackburn aircraft companies had proposed and designed naval attack aircraft to counter the new Soviet Sverdlov class cruiser. With tensions rising in the cold war and development problems with the Grumman design the US department of defense opted for the safer and more durable design from Blackburn which had already taken it`s maiden flight by 1958 with promising results. It entered service with the US Navy in 1961 and served well until 1997 when the last US Navy Buccaneer was withdrawn from service. It`s battle honors included Vietnam, Middle East and the last weapon dropped in anger was during the 1st Gulf war. Attached below are picture of the Buccaneer in service during the Vietnam war. This particular example was lost in combat in 1971 over Hanoi with the loss of both crew. With Grumman failing to win the order for the US Navy the company looked for an overseas customer. The Royal Navy had been interested in what Grumman had to offer due to the companies reputation of building reliable aircraft. By 1962 the Intruder made it`s maiden flight and by 1964 was in service with the RN. The Intruder only ever dropped it`s weapons in anger during the 1st Gulf War and this was when all the FAA Intruder`s had been re-assigned to the RAF in 1980 after the retirement of HMS Ark Royal. The example photographed below is armed with Sea Eagle anti ship missiles while on `shore leave` at RNAS Lossiemouth in 1974.

Spent this evening finishing off the FAA Intruder. Was happy with the end result so thought I`d post a pic. Will post diorama pics and small backstory tomorrow. Will also finish the USN Bucc tomorrow and do the same.

FAA Intruder and USN Buccaneer update.

When ours backs were turned, my mates 2 and a half son put the XP-55 through another `test flight` with said results........., ............., gonna have to send it to the great bone yard in the loft now..!

A excellent build. Hope my USN Bucc comes out as good as that.

Progress so far, both models primed with the Intruder getting it`s first coat of war paint and pictured with their respective weapons fit.

Quick update as to where I am at the moment with these two. Also an interesting comparision between the two kits. Note that the Airfix Buccaneer kit has had to have filler applied at the wing joints, where the tail meets the main body and also the randome had to have some as well as the gaps on this particular kit were so bad. The Intruder kit meanwhile seems to fit perfectly.