Chematic (ex Frog mould) meets Airfix in this Avro Shackleton MR3 hybrid.
I've no idea what possessed me to take the interior out of Dad's discarded Airfix kit and shoehorn it into the Frog fuselage as a cut away version of the venerable "Growler". There were issues with marrying two totally different kit versions into one but I somehow managed it!
Anyone who knows anything about Shackleton interiors or aerial placements will gasp in horror at the potential inaccuracies (I know about part of the wing spar sitting higher than the wing root too...). "Artistic licence" I would reply.
At least the decals are representative of an actual Shackleton.
Challenges? There were a few.
The fuselage sections were badly warped (manufacture or storage, I have no idea) which took a load of rubber bands and clamping to straighten out.
The Chematic nacelles and propellors were a direct inheritance from the Frog ones; namely atrocious fit issues.
The decals were toast; some old Revell ones from 1996 did the job nicely.
Despite jamming the nose and nacelles with all sorts of metal the Shackleton will happily sit on it's bottom if pushed. The kit must weigh 3 times it's original weight and it's still not enough...!
Having said all this though; The challenge and the fun had during the build were well worth the effort. It's not perfect by any means but I like it!
I've no idea what possessed me to take the interior out of Dad's discarded Airfix kit and shoehorn it into the Frog fuselage as a cut away version of the venerable "Growler". There were issues with marrying two totally different kit versions into one but I somehow managed it!
Anyone who knows anything about Shackleton interiors or aerial placements will gasp in horror at the potential inaccuracies (I know about part of the wing spar sitting higher than the wing root too...). "Artistic licence" I would reply.
At least the decals are representative of an actual Shackleton.
Challenges? There were a few.
The fuselage sections were badly warped (manufacture or storage, I have no idea) which took a load of rubber bands and clamping to straighten out.
The Chematic nacelles and propellors were a direct inheritance from the Frog ones; namely atrocious fit issues.
The decals were toast; some old Revell ones from 1996 did the job nicely.
Despite jamming the nose and nacelles with all sorts of metal the Shackleton will happily sit on it's bottom if pushed. The kit must weigh 3 times it's original weight and it's still not enough...!
Having said all this though; The challenge and the fun had during the build were well worth the effort. It's not perfect by any means but I like it!
