JWM Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Hi, The Stranraer (original Matchbox production) was a kit waiting for many years in my stash. It is about 30 years now. The main reason was the complicate riging and some conversion needed to do as the kit is reproducing some post war changes. I decided to do her in RCAF livery (and machine of Canadian build), and I am very grateful to all BM fellows who took part in a topic providing many useful information on those differences. First of all I thanks Chris ( @dogsbody ). This thread is here: So, the list of modificarions are: 1. removing of carago doors on right side and add additional window 2. cut out the place for cockpit window to move back on right side 3. 4 blades props 4. The a bit reshaped cowlings 5. Fairing of the rear gunner position 6. Browning MGs, and doubled in mid upper site. 7. DF loop control rod between wings 8. Bombs bays for 20 lb bombs and bombs racks under the wings More corrections are landing and positioning lights, pitot tube, some rivets on surface (very delicate, almost invisible, unfortunately) and bombs (20 lb stolen from Airfix Swordfish, bomb chargies scratch bulid) and driving mechanism of ailerons on the bottom side of wings. I done riging by EZ. The scheme presents machine from 117 Squadron (BR) RCAF. The story of this particular machine is described here http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_901_950_detailed.htm as "With No. 117 (BR) Squadron, RCAF Stations Sydney, Dartmouth, Bella Bella, BC, and Jericho Beach, BC August 1941 to March 1944, in camouflage, last date: 8 March 1944 - Struck off". Here she is: An undersides (sorry for wide angle distortion) Comments welcome Regards J-W 64 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Oh, my- that is one beautiful Stranraer, J-W! Very realistic weathering, too. Well done! A very elegant flying boat- sure glad Matchbox did it, as it's not one you would think would be a big money maker for a mainstream company...sure wish they had done more between-the-wars kits, as they are clearly their best releases! Mike Didn't realize they carried an ADF football on the upper wing! Neat touch! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangor Lad Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 What a great build.....BUT....I wish people would stop posting these excellent builds of some of Matchbox's finest! I now have two I need to track down! Thanks 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Wow, that looks amazing J-W, and nice rigging work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Wow! That turned out great, J-W. Well done. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 4 hours ago, 72modeler said: Didn't realize they carried an ADF football on the upper wing! Neat touch! Some did later on. The first ones didn't have any. Later on some were fitted with DF loops. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Excellent job on the Stranraer, J-W! I wish someone would come out with these wonderful between-the-war British flying boats in IM (in 1/72nd scale of course). Legend has it that Matchbox might have come out with some additional such boats if they had lasted longer (Matchbox, not the flying boats). Regards, Jason 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Turned out great I was following the article about the Canadian Stranraers too and now I feel the itch do do one... Cheers Markus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Magnificent job again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 You`ve done a lovely job on this one Jerzy,......love the subtle modifications too,...... I`d like to do a RCAF Stranny myself one day. Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazontipede Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Gorgeous work J-W. That rigging looks amazing! Well, the whole thing looks amazing! It is remarkable that these old birds soldiered on as long as they did. It kind of reminds me of the venerable RNZAF Singapores chugging around Fiji in 1942. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Now the Singapore's one I'd love to see in IM plastic! Regards, Jason 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Lovely Stranraer JW - the rigging in particular looks neat. Didn't realise that some Stranraers used 4 bladed props. Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Lovely work, Jerzy although I think you're starting to show off with your rigging work now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 Superb build and finish, great weathering too! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK4m Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 (edited) Well done, Brother.... Rare subject, heavily modified and extensively rigged. BTW don't you think that a Southampton (or a Scapa at least) could be buildable from the same kit? Ok, just kidding Cheers Michael Edited March 27, 2020 by KRK4m 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK4m Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, KRK4m said: doubled post - sorry Edited March 27, 2020 by KRK4m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted March 27, 2020 Author Share Posted March 27, 2020 On 3/25/2020 at 2:46 PM, 72modeler said: Oh, my- that is one beautiful Stranraer, J-W! Very realistic weathering, too. Well done! A very elegant flying boat- sure glad Matchbox did it, as it's not one you would think would be a big money maker for a mainstream company...sure wish they had done more between-the-wars kits, as they are clearly their best releases! Mike Didn't realize they carried an ADF football on the upper wing! Neat touch! Thank you! Indeed, the Stranraer, whan it was released by Matchbox in 1978 was a surprise for many modellers. Maybe it was and aftermath of appearance of her in Hendon yhose years? I remember my visit to Hendon some time about 1975 when I've learn about existance of this type. I was teenager from Poland visiting in summer his Grandpa who lived in London but I thought before it that I know all WWII British types as a fan of airplanes.... On 3/25/2020 at 6:41 PM, dogsbody said: Wow! That turned out great, J-W. Well done. Thank you! Without your photos and discussion with you the results would be worse for sure On 3/25/2020 at 8:25 PM, Learstang said: Excellent job on the Stranraer, J-W! I wish someone would come out with these wonderful between-the-war British flying boats in IM (in 1/72nd scale of course). Legend has it that Matchbox might have come out with some additional such boats if they had lasted longer (Matchbox, not the flying boats). Regards, Jason Thank you! The only hope for injected Singapor, Southampton or London as well as Larwick is in mid or east European short runs producers i am affraid to say... On 3/26/2020 at 1:23 AM, tonyot said: You`ve done a lovely job on this one Jerzy,......love the subtle modifications too,...... I`d like to do a RCAF Stranny myself one day. Cheers Tony Thank you. I am sure that yours one will be excellent model On 3/26/2020 at 5:28 AM, Gazontipede said: Gorgeous work J-W. That rigging looks amazing! Well, the whole thing looks amazing! It is remarkable that these old birds soldiered on as long as they did. It kind of reminds me of the venerable RNZAF Singapores chugging around Fiji in 1942. Thank you, indeed, the Singapore would be nice to have. Still it produced by Contrail, I think - so the only chance currently is a second hand one . On 3/26/2020 at 10:42 AM, Vinnie said: Lovely work, Jerzy although I think you're starting to show off with your rigging work now. I just think the I should hurry up and do all biplanes from my stash before beeing more older... On 3/26/2020 at 7:13 AM, Baldy said: Lovely Stranraer JW - the rigging in particular looks neat. Didn't realise that some Stranraers used 4 bladed props. Cheers Malcolm Thank you. Since of total 57 build 40 were constructed in Canada and majority of them had four blades props, but in the thread on RCAF Stranraers we were not able to find up the rule, why some Canadians has 3 and some other four blades props. Maybe it is about the war time shortages? Many of you noticed rigings - I done it in my recent variant, that I glued together upper wing after doing riging. When I glue the bottom part of upper wing the whole upper wing is set up together using Tamiya tape. This is a bit tricki to avoid glueing all by chance. Some photos from build just to show critical steps: The 4 blades props are copied in resin from AZ Gauntlet (below right prop on above photo) and then extended as shown above. Please note that to do rigings I had to cut out wing above engines, just to have access to stretch EZ cable. Mike, Dave, Chris, Jason, Markus, Tony, Gazotiped, Malcolm, Vinnie, Wulfman and Michał (Michael) - many thanks for your good words in your comments. I appreciate them all . Regards J-W 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 What a stunning Stranraer, great work Jerzy. Thank you for sharing. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 J-W, I wouldn't mind if some of the East/Central European short-run manufacturers such as Azur, Amodel, or Modelsvit moulded some of these flying boats. Of course Special Hobby just recently made a post-war Sunderland - maybe they'll start going back in time with these flying boats. We can always hope. I do agree that these short-run producers are the only types of manufacturers likely to bring out any of these pre-war flying boats in IM plastic. But if someone did come out with a Perth or a Singapore, I might just learn how to rig! Best Regards, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcanicity Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 That's a brilliant result, well done Jerzy for taking on all the modifications like the freight door removal and the props - it really shows! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 So nice to see a completed model not long after being part of an excellent and informative BM thread. That has turned out great and will inspire many more Stranraer hoarders to finally take the plunge and start their kits. Cheers and well modelled.. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 Many thanks for comments! Appreciated Regards J-W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalako Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Beautiful work mate and you have done an excellent job with the rigging; one of the most demanding details in this scale. Cheers, Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Looks lovely J-W, the Walrus style props really set it apart as a RCAF aircraft. I quite fancy doing one of the rare overall white ones,..... but those props are putting me off,...... so well done overcoming this obstacle, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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