Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Floaty GB => Topic started by: Old Wombat on March 22, 2017, 09:41:51 AM
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OK, the chances of this being finished before the end of the GB is nil, nix nada & zilch but it has given me the incentive to start it.
So, first images:
The boxes
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4266_zpsmflrcaxv.jpg)
What's in the boxes (well, some of it, anyway)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4267_zpslwnhlfnb.jpg)
First cutting done (last night)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4268_zpsuupdp4ev.jpg)
What a Sunderland looks like without its belly
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4270_zpsug2uzljs.jpg)
Where I'm going with this
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4269_zpsr7xltiwk.jpg)
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Cool. A near perfect fit. So will you shorten the hull or lengthen the fuselage?
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Possibly a bit of both.
Not 100% sure on where I'm going with it. I'll definitely extend the Tracker nose forward & (probably) fit a radar nose; however, if I shorten the tail, I can fit the MAD boom or I could extend it & fit a tail radar, instead.
Decisions! Decisions! :-\
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Looking very promising! :)
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Very nice piece of scale-o-rama 1/48+1/72... :-*
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Great scale-o-rama perception. Having good vibes about this build. :)
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Looking good! :)
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Thanks, guys! :)
This build has been calling to me for quite some time now & I'm really enthused (Almost like an armour build!) by it. Hopefully it stays that way!
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Well I will give you all the encouragement I can! This looks to be Epic!
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Hackage.. begin.
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Thanks! :) :)
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Think I've settled on a SAR role for this build, with a radar nose, & wing mounted DF units (to home in on EPIRB's), plus the Grumbly's search-light, & the sonobuoy chutes can be for flares.
I'm still tossing up whether to do a radar tail or enlarge the MAD boom housing to become a chute for emergency bundles (a tube with an inflatable raft, medical supplies, food & water).
I'm currently in the process of trying to work out if I have the skill-set/confidence to make it an amphibian.
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I'm currently in the process of trying to work out if I have the skill-set/confidence to make it an amphibian.
Is it too late to find a different amphibian kit for the hull containing the wheel cavities?
Maybe the old Monogram 72nd scale SA-16 Albatross kit? Not sure about other amphibians that would be good candidates for your kit bash.
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I'm looking at my 1/72 Catalina with a view to copying its gear to fit the Tracker & kit wheels. Looks complex but do-able. ;)
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Things have been happening. Slowly, I'll admit, due to work & 1:1 scale fernery construction, but happening, none the less.
I hope to get some photo's up sometime in the next day or two - mostly it's been detailing the sadly sparse cockpit & fitting the nose-wheel well.
:)
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I'm looking at my 1/72 Catalina with a view to copying its gear to fit the Tracker & kit wheels. Looks complex but do-able. ;)
You would be better off using CL-215/415 gear which you can get from Scale Aircraft Conversions
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I'm looking at my 1/72 Catalina with a view to copying its gear to fit the Tracker & kit wheels. Looks complex but do-able. ;)
You would be better off using CL-215/415 gear which you can get from Scale Aircraft Conversions
Nah, I'll stick with the Cat gear. :)
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Photo's of minimal progress:
Almost all the lumpy-bumpy bits are scratch-built;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4271_zpsiyzmigrl.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4272_zpsdestfeni.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4273_zps2xscbrqo.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4274_zpso0lozufg.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4275_zpsaksjujgn.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4276_zpsdhrrxdaq.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4277_zpsizcbbncv.jpg)
Most was built from my memory without references but I've brightened up the panels because it's not a Tracker. The vertical control column is what our (RAN) E's & G's had (don't know what model the kit's front-panel style column came from), I'm pretty sure I have the wing-fold controls modelled on the top panel somewhere, & the curtain is to block the void behind the cockpit.
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Killer interior work. At least order of magnitude beyond my best. :)
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Thanks, Bill! :icon_alabanza:
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Next update:
The fuselage bunged together with some filler strips (more required) & the radome nose fitted.
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4278_zpsedd8hv4u.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4279_zpsdjjpu48f.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4280_zps82k7c496.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4281_zpsmhjsqofl.jpg)
Still don't know what to do with the rear end; drop chute for survival equipment or radome?
Suggestions? ???
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Oh my but that is looking mighty fine! :)
I would have thought that a MAD boom à la the P3 Orion was the obvious addition to the rear... but perhaps too obvious?
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Yeah, mate. I'm making her a SAR bird, plus, if I was to fit a MAD boom, I'd use the Tracker's retractable item (less chance of damage on take-off & landing).
Also, if I was to make her an ASW bird, there'd need to be a second (different) aircraft type with her to drop the ordnance.
Options I'm toying with are;
Sonobuoy chutes are going to be for smoke-flares, with
1) A chute coming out the rear, loaded & launched by the non-pilot crew, for cased emergency equipment with maybe 4 or 6 internal reloads.
2) 2 x wing-mounted drop-cases & a radome on the butt
3) Go for nothing & just square off the end, with the crew relying on the smoke-flares to guide in watercraft if they can't land.
Note: The casings will have a small raft (3/4 person) & emergency supplies (medical, water, food) in them for those situations when the water is too rough to make a landing.
(Odd thought: How does one "land" on water? ??? )
Edit: Tidied up reply, it was a mess.
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Doh! Please excuse my buffoonery, I entirely missed your plan to go down the SAR line. :-[
A smoke/flare chute out the rear seems logical, as does the under-wing containers. Probably also need a high powered search light (could be fitted in the wings as a fixed mount) or in some sort of turret for maximum flexibility. Perhaps said turret could also mount a thermal camera system too.
Not sure if the turret could fit in the rear but it's worth a thought.
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S-2 Tracker comes with an insanely brilliant arc light mounted on the starboard wing as is (there's a joystick for it next to the co-pilot's window) but I may try to find a way of fitting a thermal/IR camera system to the port wing, too.
:)
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...and Doh again! You can probably tell that aircraft really aren't my bag at all. As an ex-ground-based-air-defender they are all just a bunch of targets anyway!! ;)
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I'm a dabbler.
General knowledge in most fields but nothing too deep, although I do have my favourites - the Tracker being one of them (me being an ex-RAN Tracker Whacker).
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:) 8) 8) :)
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Crossed scales and countries in same build to get this configuration - brilliant :)
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Thanks, Bill!
Scale of pieces used so far: 1/72, 1/48 & 1/35 :)
Fuselage PSR complete, for now.
Photo's tomorrow later today, if I don't spend too much time at the South Australian Aircraft Museum, which is having an "open cockpit" day, with 9 cockpits available to sit in - camera is charged & ready to go!
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So, after a couple of rounds of PSR, the fuselage is in the following state;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4483_zpsxzwtvi7x.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4484_zpsdaqdibc8.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4485_zps0b4pgfin.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4486_zpsvc7gwv1y.jpg)
More needs to be done before it's completely complete (landing gear wells, landing gear & the butt-end) & I can fit the wings & engines, which are what I'll start work on next.
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Can see it becoming more legitimate :)
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Definitely looking very interesting :)
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Thanks, guys! :)
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Amazing PSR job on the fuselage nose!
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Thanks, Frank! :)
I knew the look I wanted & I put more effort into getting the PSR right this time (still some faults but much better than my usual).
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Looks smooth as silk!
Talk about impressive!
Brian da Basher
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Can't wait to see the finished result.
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Reminds me of an Albatross now with that nose! I could say something about Jimmy Durante but I won't......
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OK, so this is a fail for this GB. :(
This is where I got to:
Wings are just dry-fitted to the fuselage & the nacelles are just dry-fitted to the wings.
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4487_zpsp0mxds64.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4490_zpsczkxi2ul.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4491_zpspedozvhh.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4492_zpspzzndfco.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4493_zpsddnkxisc.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Grumman%20FB-2G/DSCN4494_zpsaxib44ej.jpg)
However, the build goes on! ;D
Looks like a bit of internal structural framing is required, then it's PSR time! (Oh, joy! ::) )
The future is here: http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=7092.15 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=7092.15)
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I really like the look of those engines with that amazing hull you put together!
Will be keeping an eye peeled for further updates!
Brian da Basher
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Thanks heaps, BdB! :icon_alabanza:
Don't forget to follow the build as it continues in the Physical Models "Aero-space" forum: http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=7092.15 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=7092.15) :)
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Yeah! nice work :) :) :)
Did the same when I was putting this below together
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Pity.. so moving on to the next forum topic to see it continue then