Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => The Tankbuster GB => Topic started by: Acree on November 20, 2025, 02:46:17 PM
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Started on the BAC Tankmaster tonight. No pics yet (as progress so far is quite basic - just cockpit assembly and painting. I'll post photos when there is something to see.
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Looking forward to it!
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Looking forward to it!
Ditto :D
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Mods to the cockpit are done and I;m ready to close up the fuselage. I meant to take photos of the cockpit before I glued it into the fuselage-half, but I forgot to. Very little detail will be seen once the single canopy is installed. Anyway... first WIP photos...
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I apologize for the photo format. I'll try to repost in a better format tomorrow.
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Progress has been happening, but life has been busy. I had the PSR around the new canopy installation 97% done when I sanded through the polysterene plating over the right cockpit. I kept looking with my failing eyes and asking, "What is that black spot?" It wasn't a black spot, it was a hole! The hole (actually there were two) has been filled, and more sanding to follow when the putty is dry. Meanwhile, I've got to relearn how to post pics. The last ones were posted as HEIC files and were too large to be displayed. Any hints?
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Certainly coming along though
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Your images saved as .jpegs . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/LhD9TS9C/IMG-5077.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LhD9TS9C)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Jtxrq8rp/IMG-5078.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Jtxrq8rp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kDsJcCJj/IMG-5079.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kDsJcCJj)
cheers .
Robin .
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Thanks, Robin.
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The Tankmaster is complete, but I am not particularly happy with the result. My return to modeling was premature and I did not have a good place to work. In addition, my determination to work with what I had (and not purchase anything) held me back too. But worst of all, my hands are not as steady as they used to be, and my eyes are definitely not good enough to do good work in 1/72. With all the excuses complete, here's the story...
BAC had had a mild success with their Strikemaster conversion of the Jet Provost trainer, producing nearly 150 for almost a dozen air forces. However, most of the Strikemasters ended up being used only in the training role. Nevertheless, a few customers expressed a desire for a more specialized anti-tank version of the Strikemaster. One of the main points that potential customers wanted was an effective internally-mounted, anti-tank gun: smaller air forces were very susceptible to both budget constraints and the winds of political change, and so did not want to be dependent on the supply of modern anti-tank missiles, preferring the simplicity of the old-school gun. In order to mount an internal gun, BAC removed the right (co-pilot's) seat, using the space to mount a 30mm ADEN gun, with the barrel projected through the upper right portion of the nose, shrouded by a large flash-hider (found to be necessary, especially during low-light operations). Underwing pylons could carry external weapons ("dumb" bombs or unguided rockets).
By the time of its first flight in 1969, the Tankmaster was definitely inadequate against any modern armor, especially those fielded by the US, NATO or USSR. But that was not the intended mission for the Tankmaster. Rather, it was to be used by small, "third world" air forces to counter the World War II-era armor being used by their small, "third world" adversaries. As such, the Tankmaster was an easy-to-operate, easy-to-maintain weapon with reasonable effectiveness. Nevertheless, only a few dozen were built and sold, never recouping the investment in their development.
Our model is one of the 12 Tankmasters sold to Guatemala in 1971 to counter a (mis-)perceived threat from Honduras. Because that threat never materialized, the Tankmasters were never used in anger and were retired by the end of the 1970s, replaced by Cessna A-37B Drangonflies which proved much more useful to the FAG.
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Not a bad return! :smiley:
Yes, you're possibly a bit rusty in the skills department & you hobbled yourself with self-imposed limitations, but none of us are perfect & we all impose limitations on our builds (none of us is Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos). ::)
As for you eyes ... Why do you think I work mostly in 1/35 & 1/48? ???
Nope, definitely a good job! :smiley:
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Looks good to me. The reinforcing strips over the right cockpit are an interesting touch.
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Thanks for the encouragement, gents! I knew you lot would be encouraging.
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Fits right in. For a return piece, bang on the money.
Skills will re-emerge and develop... keep producing :smiley:
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Fits right in. For a return piece, bang on the money.
Skills will re-emerge and develop... keep producing :smiley:
What he said. It is a neat little concept, and you backstory gives it heft. Only reason I never transitioned to 1/48 and 1/35 was expense. (That and space.) Figure I have a few good ideas left in the hands, anyhow. Hang in there colleague, and welcome back.
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... bang on the money...
And quite a big bang at that! ;D
Love the asymmetry of your Tankmaster and the unexpected details -- huge barrel shroud, reinforcing strakes over the cannon bay, Mustang canopy ... what's not to love? :smiley: :smiley:
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Great job! 80% of a successful whiff build is getting the concept right in your head before you even start - the rest sort of flows from that initial plan and inspiration. You are clearly on the mark. Love the backstory too. :smiley: