51
... where imagination trumps reality
News:
 | |
Canadian GB |
Recent Posts
52
Canadian GB / Re: CAF Beluga - An Almost-Was
« Last post by apophenia on October 15, 2026, 04:15:01 AM »Pugnamus Finitum! = We fight to the end!
Indeed. And quite appropriate for a unit that began on bombers with No. 6 Group
53
Canadian GB / Re: Bristol Watchman
« Last post by apophenia on October 15, 2026, 04:13:12 AM »That is awesome ... and the backstory is excellent! Plus you have succeeded in making the Bristol 170 look even more bulbous - no small accomplishment 
On the underwing turbojets, the original type might have been the same as for Fairey Canada's 1959 Neptune refits - twin 3,400 lbf Westinghouse J34-WE-36s. IIRC, that was same model of J34 that the RCAF was considering for the Boxcar upgrades. [1]
_________________________
[1] The proposed C-119 upgrade programme was later cancelled when the GoC insisted upon buying the CC-130B Hercules instead.
On the underwing turbojets, the original type might have been the same as for Fairey Canada's 1959 Neptune refits - twin 3,400 lbf Westinghouse J34-WE-36s. IIRC, that was same model of J34 that the RCAF was considering for the Boxcar upgrades. [1]
_________________________
[1] The proposed C-119 upgrade programme was later cancelled when the GoC insisted upon buying the CC-130B Hercules instead.
54
Land / Re: The Addams Family goes to the beach
« Last post by apophenia on October 15, 2026, 03:57:24 AM »Here's a pic that pretty much says it all...
That came out beautifully! Now all we need is a sandy diorama base for the beach
55
Aero-space / Re: 1/48 An-2 Colt in Czech Markings
« Last post by Old Wombat on October 15, 2026, 02:57:49 AM »Hadn't thought of that! I'll think about it, Frank. 
56
Land / Re: The Addams Family goes to the beach
« Last post by Frank3k on October 15, 2026, 12:39:29 AM »They all look great! I love the raised jeep!
57
Aero-space / Re: 1/48 An-2 Colt in Czech Markings
« Last post by Frank3k on October 15, 2026, 12:34:37 AM »You should make the registration "OK-GUY"
58
Land / Re: Unmanned Recovery, Disaster Response and Hazard Mitigation vehicle.
« Last post by Frank3k on October 15, 2026, 12:31:43 AM »The blue pipe is a fluid line for either water, flame retardant, encasing foam or disinfectant, depending on the need. I used a length of silicone coated stranded wire, pulled out the wire, replaced it with a short length of copper wire and bent it to shape.
59
Aero-space / Re: 1/48 An-2 Colt in Czech Markings
« Last post by Old Wombat on October 14, 2026, 04:24:26 PM »What she should look like a mild whif of;
60
Canadian GB / Bristol Watchman
« Last post by Acree on October 14, 2026, 02:58:39 PM »In the middle 1950s, the United States and Canada became increasingly concerned about transpolar attack from the Soviet Union by bombers, and later by ballistic missiles. After an MIT study demonstrated the vulnerability of the two countries from such an attack, an agreement was reached to build a massive defense system, part of which would become the Distant Early Warning Line, or DEW Line. Construction of the DEW Line was authorized in 1954, and the actual construction was accomplished from 1955 through 1957. The DEW Line consisted of a chain of radar installations across the far arctic north of Canada, stretching 3000 miles from Alaska to Baffin Island. During construction of the line, and even after it was completed, there were always gaps in the coverage. Those gaps were covered in part by airborne assets: specifically, Lockheed WV-2 Warning Star aircraft of the US Navy, and similar EC-121s of the USAF.
Late in 1954, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent ordered the RCAF to provide additional assets to cover gaps in the DEW Line. To augment and complement the US aircraft, the RCAF needed an aircraft that was not limited to the use of established bases with well-groomed concrete runways, but rather, one that could be based on a temporary basis near the various DEW Line facilities to plug gaps caused by outages or periodic maintenance. The aircraft chosen was the rugged and reliable Bristol Freighter that was already in RCAF service in Europe. Significant modification for the role was necessary, however.
First, the Freighter had to be fitted with appropriate radar gear. This involved the fitment of AN/APS-20 search radar and AN/APS-45 height finding radar. The antenna for the AN/APS-20 could not be fitted under the fuselage as it had been for the Lockheed aircraft, but instead was installed as a replacement for the Freighter’s clamshell nose doors, changing the shape and size of the Freighter’s nose (and making it even more bulbous). The AN/APS-45 antenna was installed in a dorsal hump, as in the Lockheeds, although smaller in size (with somewhat diminished capability).
The cargo loading door of the Freighter was replaced by a smaller personnel door, and the interior was fitted with operator stations, removing the fuselage windows.
In order to increase the loiter time for the new variant, fuel load was increased by the addition of a fuselage fuel tank, and additional tanks in the outer wings (not present in any other Freighter variant). Because of the additional weight and drag of these additions, takeoff performance of the aircraft had to be augmented by the addition of a pair of underwing boost engines, in the form of two General Electric J-34 turbojets which were already being considered for the RCAF's Lockheed Neptune fleet. This in turn caused the need for even more fuel, which was met by the addition of two underwing external fuel tanks, dedicated to carry JP-4 for the turbojets.
Because the new aircraft was to operate from austere strips in the arctic, it would be equipped with skis on its fixed landing gear.
The aircraft entered service in September, 1957, and, since it was no longer a “Freighter” was given the new service name of Bristol Watchman. Seven Freighters were converted to Watchmen at the Bristol facilities in Winnipeg, and were homebased at RCAF Station Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island, though they spent most of their lives spread out along the DEW Line where they gave yeoman service for about 5 years.
Late in 1954, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent ordered the RCAF to provide additional assets to cover gaps in the DEW Line. To augment and complement the US aircraft, the RCAF needed an aircraft that was not limited to the use of established bases with well-groomed concrete runways, but rather, one that could be based on a temporary basis near the various DEW Line facilities to plug gaps caused by outages or periodic maintenance. The aircraft chosen was the rugged and reliable Bristol Freighter that was already in RCAF service in Europe. Significant modification for the role was necessary, however.
First, the Freighter had to be fitted with appropriate radar gear. This involved the fitment of AN/APS-20 search radar and AN/APS-45 height finding radar. The antenna for the AN/APS-20 could not be fitted under the fuselage as it had been for the Lockheed aircraft, but instead was installed as a replacement for the Freighter’s clamshell nose doors, changing the shape and size of the Freighter’s nose (and making it even more bulbous). The AN/APS-45 antenna was installed in a dorsal hump, as in the Lockheeds, although smaller in size (with somewhat diminished capability).
The cargo loading door of the Freighter was replaced by a smaller personnel door, and the interior was fitted with operator stations, removing the fuselage windows.
In order to increase the loiter time for the new variant, fuel load was increased by the addition of a fuselage fuel tank, and additional tanks in the outer wings (not present in any other Freighter variant). Because of the additional weight and drag of these additions, takeoff performance of the aircraft had to be augmented by the addition of a pair of underwing boost engines, in the form of two General Electric J-34 turbojets which were already being considered for the RCAF's Lockheed Neptune fleet. This in turn caused the need for even more fuel, which was met by the addition of two underwing external fuel tanks, dedicated to carry JP-4 for the turbojets.
Because the new aircraft was to operate from austere strips in the arctic, it would be equipped with skis on its fixed landing gear.
The aircraft entered service in September, 1957, and, since it was no longer a “Freighter” was given the new service name of Bristol Watchman. Seven Freighters were converted to Watchmen at the Bristol facilities in Winnipeg, and were homebased at RCAF Station Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island, though they spent most of their lives spread out along the DEW Line where they gave yeoman service for about 5 years.