The Neptune has been in the wings for quite a while. I finally found a few minutes to select the wood and rough cut some parts.
Lou
Parts are block cut.
Lou
The radar radome, canopy, wings, and engine nacelles are shaped and the wing and stab are notched to the fuselage.
Lou
Fuselage and wing subassemblies are coming along.
Lou
I have a few minor quality control issues prior to the final assembly.
Lou
The Neptune is sanded, and ready for the paint booth. First attempt at doing propellers are less than satisfactory, hence new ones are in the works.
Lou
Primed and ready for paint. Next will be fashioning the undercarriage. Decals have been received. I will be using the props held by the clothespins.
Lou
Another great 1:44 model. Was it only the American versions with the secondary jets?
Fraser
All Neptunes eventually had the jets engines retrofitted. My 1/72 plastic kit has the same configuration.
Lou
My Neptune is out of the paint shop. There is a small issue under the tailplane that I may just ignore. Otherwise, things went well.
Lou
A nice sized model . Looks great in the blue.
A Neptune has been on my list for a while.
Many years ago as an Air Cadet I had two Neptune's to myself . With a pile of cloths and a can of something ( which today would probably be banned) and was told to clean all windows. In through the nose hatch and out the back. Great Days.
Cheers
Gordon
I don't have any Neptune experience as they were gone from the RCAF when I joined. I was reluctant to attempt one, and now find it was a fairly easy build if it is broken down into subparts.
Lou
Some slow progress today.
Lou
Rollout occurred 8 Apr 2023. Decals are CanMilAir and are excellent as usual. Note there was no need for a tail support. That was a very pleasant surprise. Undercarriage wheels are dowels and the struts are bamboo sticks.
Lou
Very pretty model Lou. Was it land based only?
Fraser
Thank you Fraser. They were based on both coasts. With a 103 ft wingspan, no carrier could accept a Neptune.
Lou
That is much bigger than I thought. I was thinking more of a tracker sized aircraft with folding wings.
Fraser
I will take a photo with a Tracker for comparison.
Lou
So, technically, a Neptune could be landed on the Bonnie and JATO could help it take off again.
Lou
Thanks for the visual comparison Lou. It is certainly a bit out of place on a carrier deck.
Thanks,
Fraser
Some were modified nuke bombers and launched from an American carrier, however, no landing was ever attempted.
Lou