Gulfstream MC-55A Peregrine / G550

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

The RAAF is replacing their AP-3C(EW)s in the next year or so with a new fit-for-purpose ELINT platform based on the Gulfstream G550, a number of air arms operate EW and AEW variants based on the G550 including Israel, Italy, and Singapore.

 

 

I am slowly modifying a Sova M Shavit kit as an MC-55A, it is the kit that is closest in configuration to the proposed MC-55A

 

So on to the build, I started with some quick assembly of the wing and rear fuselage

 

Some mocking up with my yet-to-be-finished GIV

 

I moved on to sorting out the tail area and cockpit, I wasn't sure how to tackle it and then decided Milliput was the way to go.

 

A few sessions refining the shape then occurred.

 

Initially, it was too long and it was shortened by about 5mm, and the shape of the tip refined.

 

It still needs some filling and possible further refinement.

 

The cockpit was straightforward with some nice detail.

 

The paint stage has now commenced on the cockpit as well.

 

And how it looks taped up with the new tail section.

[David H]

Cool. When i worked at Gulfstream (1996-2000) i remember how hard the Special Missions guys were trying to land a deal with the Australians.

 

-d-

[phildagreek]

Looks interesting!

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

20 hours ago, David H said:

Cool. When i worked at Gulfstream (1996-2000) i remember how hard the Special Missions guys were trying to land a deal with the Australians.

 

-d-

It certainly took them long enough David, the AP-3C(EW)s have doing the role since around the mid 90s I beleive. Now the P-3s are running out of hours Gulfstream's efforts have paid off.

 

[GRIM REAPER]

Or you could really go all out and try to build an EC-37B.😉

[Pappy]

G'day Ray!

 

Wow, it looks like you have not wasted any time with this one. Lots of mods to get it to match RAAF specs, it looks like you are past the worst of it now.

The rear 'stinger' does not look quite right IMHO, it needs a little more upsweep on the underside instead of being a symmetrical hemisphere?

 

Keep it up, I cannot wait to see how it turns out. Do you already have decals or will this need to be a custom jobbie?

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[Bell209]

Coming along very nicely, Ray! I have one of these and the VC-37A to build one later once we get delivery.

 

On 9/3/2022 at 2:30 PM, Pappy said:

The rear 'stinger' does not look quite right IMHO, it needs a little more upsweep on the underside instead of being a symmetrical hemisphere?

 

 

I'm not so sure, Pappy. It isn't too bad from my eye. The design shape is the same as the Singaporean G550 AEW aft fuselage. You actually need three different model kits to make all the MC-55A shapes!

[Pappy]

Fair enough

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[TheyJammedKenny!]

Nice job on this so far!  Is the Gulfstream GIV on your workbench from RHVP?

[David H]

i just forwarded this thread to my friend Tony, who is a model builder and works in Experimental Flight Test at Gulfstream.

 

-d-

[TheyJammedKenny!]

@David H: Not to hijack this thread, but what is the status of the cross-deck program for the EC-130H to the smaller Gulfstream platform?  The platform's external appearance should look similar to that shown above.

[David H]

5 hours ago, TheyJammedKenny! said:

@David H: Not to hijack this thread, but what is the status of the cross-deck program for the EC-130H to the smaller Gulfstream platform?  The platform's external appearance should look similar to that shown above.

Being that it's an Australian programme, you'll have to take it up with them.

-d-

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

On 9/3/2022 at 2:00 PM, Pappy said:

G'day Ray!

 

Wow, it looks like you have not wasted any time with this one. Lots of mods to get it to match RAAF specs, it looks like you are past the worst of it now.

The rear 'stinger' does not look quite right IMHO, it needs a little more upsweep on the underside instead of being a symmetrical hemisphere?

 

Keep it up, I cannot wait to see how it turns out. Do you already have decals or will this need to be a custom jobbie?

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

 

Cheers Pappy, I think the shape is close, I have been refining it as I go along.

 

No decals yet, see how we go when one breaks cover in paint.

 

On 9/6/2022 at 12:21 PM, Bell209 said:

Coming along very nicely, Ray! I have one of these and the VC-37A to build one later once we get delivery.

 

 

I'm not so sure, Pappy. It isn't too bad from my eye. The design shape is the same as the Singaporean G550 AEW aft fuselage. You actually need three different model kits to make all the MC-55A shapes!

 

Yep, though at least one is a Broplan vacform. A pity Sova M has not decided to do an AEW version yet.

[Pappy]

4 hours ago, Romeo Alpha Yankee said:

 

Cheers Pappy, I think the shape is close, I have been refining it as I go along.

 

No decals yet, see how we go when one breaks cover in paint.

 

 

Yep, though at least one is a Broplan vacform. A pity Sova M has not decided to do an AEW version yet.

 

G'day Ray,

 

I agree. I only saw the initial shape and did not realise that you had refined it in the subsequent piccies. I was looking at one of these yesterday as it happens. If I had known that you were buildinging one I could have taken some walkaround pics of the RSAF example that was at the Pitch Black open day

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Some more progress happening.

 

I forgot to mention that the MC-55A has an extra cabin window, you may have noticed on appearing in the last set of shots.

 

Some filling with PPP.

 

And cleaned up and prior to polishing.

 

The cockpit went together quickly, I used console decals from the spares as only the instrument panel one was supplied.

 

Some liquid gravity for the nose to counter the milliput down the back.

and in the canoe fairing

 

The major assemblies ready to go together 

and glued

 

 

[Bell209]

Some very nice progress there, Ray!

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

2 hours ago, Bell209 said:

Some very nice progress there, Ray!

Thanks Rob!

[Ad-4N]

Man, that’s a good size machine.  Very impressive construction going on.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

On 9/3/2022 at 10:08 AM, GRIM REAPER said:

Or you could really go all out and try to build an EC-37B.😉

I have the JSTARS kit but it lacks the slab antenna fairings on the sides and the tail sensor pack I just made for this one, maybe one day

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

On 9/7/2022 at 12:15 AM, TheyJammedKenny! said:

Nice job on this so far!  Is the Gulfstream GIV on your workbench from RHVP?

 

Thanks, sorry missed your post, the G-IV is the Welsh kit and was being built for the Turning Japanese GB, it was almost finished and I was not happy with the paint so it has been stripped and reprimed. might finish it one day

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

I managed to eventually get the windscreen transparency fitted. I had no end of issues fairing the part in without getting crap inside while sanding. 

 

After the third attempt it is on and the masks applied

 

I also started on the generator bulges on the engine nacelles

 

and finally started to add the ribs/cable ducts from the rear fuselage up to the rear radome assembly

 

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday Ray, she's certainly a sleek looking aircraft and although I don't know much about them you're doing a very good job of this. In early posts in the thread you seem to have a number of aircraft on the go.       Regards, Jeff.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

3 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said:

Gidday Ray, she's certainly a sleek looking aircraft and although I don't know much about them you're doing a very good job of this. In early posts in the thread you seem to have a number of aircraft on the go.       Regards, Jeff.

Thanks Jeff,

 

It is coming along nicely, most of the major mods are done, just some tidying up and the antenna farm can go on.

 

As for the number of builds, I loose interest quickly or am distracted easily   The Il-28 is finished now and the other Gulfstream and the P-3 and progressing slowly.

 

I managed to add some putty to the nacelle generator humps and rear fuselage.

 

And first pass with sanding

[Pappy]

You make me want to buy shares in putty 😊

 

Seriously good work going on though👍

 

Pappy

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

With a few more images of RAAF Peregrines doing test flights gracing the internet I am motivated to move on with this one.

 

12 months has passed since the last update.  So with this update the landing gear has been attached, the engines and tail surfaces are on and in need of some putty.

 

I also added another antenna dome on the rear fuselage. I am checking reference images for the locations of the other blade antennas, some of which will have to be scratch built as the donor Shavit kit does not contain them. I also added the APU exhaust, the kit part is one for a civil G500 and the MC-55 images show the a different arrangement so I modified the kit part to suit.