CT Modeller Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Grumman SA-16B (ASW) Albatross 330 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force, 1962 This is the old Monogram kit which had been in the stash since 1997. The recently released RVHP resin conversion kit prodded me into building it. The original was covered in thousands of rivets (Frog Shackleton like) which all had to go. The RVHP kit provides the radome, MAD boom, sonobouy dispenser, searchlight and additional pylons. It also has a top quality decal sheet with Spanish and Greek options as well as the Norwegian. For the price I was kind of expecting some resin for the interior, but there is none. I scratched some cockpit details but left the cabin bare as you would struggle to see anything in there anyway. This was a build of compromises really as I wanted to keep the working retractable undercarriage (yes, I know, but it has to be done doesn't it?). Hence the legs are chunky and doors very basic, but it does work. If you fit the resin nose provided there's no room for the nosewheel to retract so half of it was sawed off but by adjusting the cut line on the kit it all fitted OK. It's a tail sitter because I didn't want to load up that U/C too much (there's a pin under the rear fuselage - which I must admit I photoshopped out in these pics!) Chris 59 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Seriously cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Very neat. I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Happy Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Wow‼️😲👍 Very cool CT Modeller😎 Great job , Mr.Happy(In name only) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Fantastic build and well done for keeping the original Monogram 'working' undercarriage. Remember the real thing from airshows at Prestwick and Leuchars when they were operational complete with RATO take-offs lighting up the quite often Scottish gloom and rain that no show was complete without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Great looking Albatross ... really like the scheme. And am developing a soft spot for Norwegian marked aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 CTM, What a great build of an iconic plastic kit- Monogram was so far ahead of its time; can you imagine what they would be capable of turning out today? Your build looks very good, even with the operating and overscale gear and doors, but good for you for keeping them. I remember building this one when I was in the 6th grade and being sooo careful with that pin that connected the upper and lower gear struts so they would pivot. Fond and painful memories of pressing down on those Monogram decals every five minutes or so for an hour so that they would lie down over all those rivets.....ah, those were the days! Thanks for bringing an oldie but goodie new life! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggles.w Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Very nice! Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Very good model! It's a pity that the provided roundels are not too accurate, though. Nils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Nice work Chris, having built the same kit I know how much effort you have put into sanding and rescribing. The Norwegian scheme and config looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Magnificent build,great schemr too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 tasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Modeller Posted August 30, 2017 Author Share Posted August 30, 2017 Just now, Vingtor said: Very good model! It's a pity that the provided roundels are not too accurate, though. Nils Hi Nils. I agree - shame about the roundels as the decal printing is top quality. I think the wing upper surface roundels are a bit too big and the blue ring needs to be wider. I also struggled with the fact that they weren't provided with a white outline, but then did actually find one or two photos of 330 Sqn machines without the white outline. Overall by the time I reached the decalling stage there were so many compromises in the model that I went ahead and used the roundels provided! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I really like that. An attractive aeroplane beautifully rendered from an old kit. I must say the retractable undercarriage, while a bit chunky, looks really cleverly designed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Hello CTM, Monogram, always good.You turned it into a real nice model. I have never seen one before in the Norwegian Colors. My compliments. Regards, Orion / The Netherlands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 8 hours ago, CT Modeller said: Hi Nils. I agree - shame about the roundels as the decal printing is top quality. I think the wing upper surface roundels are a bit too big and the blue ring needs to be wider. I also struggled with the fact that they weren't provided with a white outline, but then did actually find one or two photos of 330 Sqn machines without the white outline. Overall by the time I reached the decalling stage there were so many compromises in the model that I went ahead and used the roundels provided! There were two marking alternatives for Norwegian Albatrosses. The first one was as for your model, borderless roundels and large registration letters. These markings were eventually replaced with roundels with a white outline and smaller British style letters. A well-built model like this deserves better decals. Nils 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Very cool indeed. I do like that you kept the retractable undercarriage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 I have this kit and the conversion kit and knowing what you started with can only say..very well done indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Excellent result! I really like the Albatross and you have made a cracking job on this one. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 A lovely result, i like it a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boman Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Love it, just love it - very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowbrow Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Really like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted August 30, 2017 Share Posted August 30, 2017 Great result. I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Very ambitious project, which you have pulled of superbly. I'm not one for working gimmicks (like retractable u/c) but each to their own, eh? Knowing how old this kit would be, I can barely imagine the work needed to get it looking so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Really terrific job on that one Am just about to start mine for the Flying Boats GB - hope it turns out half as good as that! Dermot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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