Reconnaissance (or Scouting for the hard of spelling) Chat

[Pin]

Looking at my stash I think the following kits qualify. Quite a few

 

Bartini DAR (Long Range Arctic Scout)

 

Beriev MBR-2 or MBR-5 (Short Range Sea Scout)

   

 

Blackburn Perth

 

Bréguet 521 Bizerte

 

Felixtowe F.2A

 

Grigorovich ROM-1 or ROM-2 (Open Sea Scout)

 

 

Latecoere 523

 

Polikarpov R-Z or Tupolev R-3

 

 

Short Singapore

 

Supermarine Stranraer

 

 

 

 

 

[vppelt68]

I want to build one of the off-the-shelf stock and standard P-51D fighter planes the USAAF 8th AF Scouting Force used. The actual recce element was the pilot, not his airplane. They were experienced, tour expired lead bomber pilots who flew ahead of bomber formations to determine weather conditions over the target, and if found unfavourable, directed the bomber stream to secondary or targets of opportunity. V-P

[danbuoy]

34 minutes ago, vppelt68 said:

I want to build one of the off-the-shelf stock and standard P-51D fighter planes the USAAF 8th AF Scouting Force used. The actual recce element was the pilot, not his airplane. They were experienced, tour expired lead bomber pilots who flew ahead of bomber formations to determine weather conditions over the target, and if found unfavourable, directed the bomber stream to secondary or targets of opportunity. V-P

Nice choice! An often overlooked part of the Eighth Air Force.

[Adrian Hills]

I have already built a Marcel Bloch Mb 200 which, until I'm proved wrong (and I have a PhD on the subject) is the world's first television reconnaissance aircraft (albeit experimental). In 1935 there was the Balckburn CA 15C (need to scrathchbuild) aircraft which got TV images but didn't send to ground. Also one or maybe two Avro Ansons which flew with a Marconi-EMI Emitron camera to see fall of shot in 1940 - the ordnance was fired from the, then tired, Iron Duke (Jellicoe, Jutland). If anyone wants more info please PM  me.

[Col.]

There's a great variety of worthy subjects coming to the fore here

[psdavidson]

I think this counts

 

 

AEW is recon I think

Whether I can do it in a GB timescale is a different matter

 

/P

[Stefan Buysse]

Hi,

 

There are dozens of subjects that fit into this GB that I'd love to build some day. 

Here's one that I find pretty cool: an RB-36H. Probably the biggest heavier-than-air reconnaissance aircraft ever. 

It is the Hobbycraft kit. I also have the Roden kit, but I think the Hobbycraft kit is better for an RB-36.

Hobbycraft released a dedicated RB-36 boxing which I don't have. That's Hobbycraft HC-1274 "SAC Big Eye".

Luckily my boxing HC-1272 includes the ECM blisters that I need for the RB-36.  The locating holes for the blisters are flashed over.

I had a look at the Roden kit and I found no blisters and no flashed-over holes for them, maybe they'll never release an RB-36.

I plan to use the Caracal sheet to build option 1: an RB-36H from the 72nd BW at Ramey AFB.    

 

 

Cheers, Stefan.

[John Masters]

Pretty sure this is a no go, but would the Skyraider qualify in any way?

[Adrian Hills]

On 11/18/2022 at 11:09 AM, Pin said:

Looking at my stash I think the following kits qualify. Quite a few

 

Bartini DAR (Long Range Arctic Scout)

 

Beriev MBR-2 or MBR-5 (Short Range Sea Scout)

   

 

Blackburn Perth

 

Bréguet 521 Bizerte

 

Felixtowe F.2A

 

Grigorovich ROM-1 or ROM-2 (Open Sea Scout)

 

 

Latecoere 523

 

Polikarpov R-Z or Tupolev R-3

 

 

Short Singapore

 

Supermarine Stranraer

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly Italian emigre to Russia Bartini also worked with Beriev to produce a multi-role craft the Bartini Beriev VVA 14. Might fit in this category. I will be building my kit for the Sea based GB starting in January 

[Pin]

1 minute ago, Adrian Hills said:

 Bartini Beriev VVA 14. Might fit in this category.

It cannot as it was not a recce aircraft

[Scargsy]

 

Hi all sorry for the delay in response of late, just found out I'm being made redundant at work! Luckily it seems my skills are in demand though, so I've had lots of dealing with interviews / job agents, etc.

 

Thanks to all who voted and got this over the finish line!

 

On 15/11/2022 at 15:11, Bertie McBoatface said:

Hey @Scargsy, congrats on getting this one through!

 

I was planning to do a Sawn Off Daimler Scout Car (Gecko) for this build. I'm planning my calendar and overlaps with other GBs reduce my time on Recce to the point where ANYTHING by Gecko will be a bit of a rush job. Would you say that a 1918 pattern Rolls Royce armoured car is eligible? I see that you mention light tanks and the Roller is lighter than those and was, I think used well into the thirties for recon duties. I've been thinking of it as an offensive vehicle but perhaps its a scout as well? What's the word from the chief, Chief? 

I'd say armoured cars qualify as lightly armoured / armed.

 

On 16/11/2022 at 18:52, danbuoy said:

 

 

I assume this would be eligible? Two of the options are from reconnaissance units;

 

 

Recce units will be fine!

 

On 17/11/2022 at 09:52, 2996 Victor said:

Hi,

 

I wonder if I could join in with the Reconnaissance GB? My potential builds would be a Sword 1/72 RAF Spitfire PR.IV or/and a 1/72 MAC Distribution KuK Luftfahrtruppe Phonix D.I.

 

All the best,

Mark

 

Once the GB opens it will be open for all, provided the subject matter fits - Spitfire PR fits the bill, Phonix D.I. I'm not overly familiar with (more of a fighter, though the wiki page suggests that some were later converted with cameras for recce).

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

39 minutes ago, Scargsy said:

just found out I'm being made redundant at work!

Oh my You do have my condolences. 

 

40 minutes ago, Scargsy said:

Luckily it seems my skills are in demand though, so I've had lots of dealing with interviews / job agents, etc.

This is good news though. I hope you not only get a job quickly but that it has better compensation and benefits. 

[John Masters]

Looking at the previous threads and considering my own future, it feels as of the 'Scout' and 'Recon' concept is as broad as the sky.   I think I might have to throw my Mohawk onto the gradually increasing pile.

[John Masters]

I think choppers might be a good fit...

 

The Allouette will most likely be a search and rescue option, if that is allowed.  

 

 

And then there are these fine aircraft.  I have been anting to build the Porter for some time.  I have heard both good and bad reviews about the Mohawk kit, mostly in reference to over-engineering.

 

 

--John

3 hours ago, Scargsy said:

just found out I'm being made redundant at work! Luckily it seems my skills are in demand though, so I've had lots of dealing with interviews / job agents, etc.

A curse and a blessing.  Good luck!

[Bertie McBoatface]

5 hours ago, Scargsy said:

Hi all sorry for the delay in response of late, just found out I'm being made redundant at work!

 

Eek. Sorry to hear that. I hope it's one of those redundancies that opens up new opportunities and turns out to be a good thing, however unpleasant it feels at the time. 

[81-er]

6 hours ago, Scargsy said:

Hi all sorry for the delay in response of late, just found out I'm being made redundant at work! Luckily it seems my skills are in demand though, so I've had lots of dealing with interviews / job agents, etc.

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully this will turn into one of those "nice redundancy package & stright into a better job" deals

 

James

[2996 Victor]

7 hours ago, Scargsy said:

Hi all sorry for the delay in response of late, just found out I'm being made redundant at work! Luckily it seems my skills are in demand though, so I've had lots of dealing with interviews / job agents, etc.

So sorry to hear about your job situation, what a rotten time of year for it  but fingers crossed and all best wishes for finding a new role asap!

[2996 Victor]

7 hours ago, Scargsy said:

Spitfire PR fits the bill

great, thanks!

 

7 hours ago, Scargsy said:

Phonix D.I. I'm not overly familiar with (more of a fighter, though the wiki page suggests that some were later converted with cameras for recce)

Indeed there were, and some dedicated squadrons, Flik 12P for instance. A camera was mounted vertically in the fuselage behind the pilot. However, I'm happy to set this one aside.

 

All the best,

Marl

[helios16v]

Recon has made my priority short list.  It's one of my favorite military subjects alongside SEAD.  Current front runner from the stash for this is a 1/72 Italeri RB-66...in SEA camo of course.  

[Col.]

20 hours ago, John Masters said:

Pretty sure this is a no go, but would the Skyraider qualify in any way?

The AEW version certainly would John.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

12 hours ago, John Masters said:

I think I might have to throw my Mohawk onto the gradually increasing pile.

 

The O in OV-1 stood for "observation".  In my book that's scouting and recce.

 

Which kit will you be using?

[John Masters]

1 hour ago, Col. said:

The AEW version certainly would John.

Mine are both the same kit---56th SOW, assigned to the 606th Air Commando Sq out of Thailand.  Close Air Support.  I'll wait for a more suitable GB for these...

 

49 minutes ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

Which kit will you be using?

The new Clear Prop kit...I hear it is a challenging kit.  There was a build review here on BM somewhere recently.  

 

I might keep my Fairchild Provider for the Transport GB and build chopper, the Porter and the Mohawk.  That'll be a lot.  If I have time and inclination I can always find something else in the  stash.  

 

Scratch the Porter/Fairchild Peacemaker.  Too nebulous of a history to really qualify for recon.  

 

 

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

3 minutes ago, John Masters said:

The new Clear Prop kit...I hear it is a challenging kit.

 

 

I should say so...

 

 

But please don't let that put you off. 

[John Masters]

9 minutes ago, Enzo the Magnificent said:

But please don't let that put you off. 

I won't.  I will learn from my betters.  I thought it was you who posted that WiP.  Going forward I think I will...

A-- not use most of the PE.  

B-- Be very careful with the nose-wheel gear.

C-- Be very careful with the nacelles and exhaust.

D-- Consult your WiP frequently.

 

 

 

[Enzo the Magnificent]

1 minute ago, John Masters said:

 

A-- not use most of the PE.  

B-- Be very careful with the nose-wheel gear.

C-- Be very careful with the nacelles and exhaust.

D-- Consult your WiP frequently.

 

 

 

E--  Make a better job than I did.