I’ve been looking for a DC4, DC6 Martin Mars Flying boat and a PB4Y2 (Navy B24 with a single tail fin and glass nose), not having a lot of luck anyone know of these kits or conversions for them? Thanks
Hmmm, a -2 eh? take a look at the Koster listings at http://www.greatmodels.com
You can see the end results for some of these conversions at these links …
http://www.swannysmodels.com/PB4Y.html
http://www.kitparade.com/features00/pb4y-2sh_1.htm
http://www.kitparade.com/features00/pb4y1lg_1.htm
http://www.kitparade.com/gallery01/pb4y2er_1.htm
Matchbox made a PB-4Y2 in 72nd scale if thats any help.
Ray
The only DC-4 & DC-6 I can think of are the Minicraft in 1/144. I beleive these are going to be military though so you’ll have to convert them. It seems like FSM did a review of the C-54 that was done as “Sacred Cow” which was FDRs’ plane.
Heller made a pretty nice DC-6. Mach 2 just came out with a DC-4 & Matchbox made a pretty decent PB4Y-2 Privateer. I’ve seen the DC-6 & PB4Y-2 on Ebay quite a few times. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Revell of Germany reissue the Privateer. They seem to be reissuing a lot of old matchbox stuff. The Mach 2 DC-4, in my opinion , is way overpriced. I’ve seen it listed from $72.00 to $104.00. All of the above are 1/72.
The Mach 2 is the only kit in 72nd of the DC-4 and if it anything like their other kits, it is high priced and a lousy build.
Just curious, Aaronw, but based on your inquiry, are you looking to do a series of water bombers? That would be a rare and interesting series. What with P2V Neptunes, Avengers, A-26s and every other type used for that purpose.
That would be correct, I’m looking to build aircraft I’ve had overhead, I’m currently working on a California Department of Forestry S2, I’ve been able to find the P2 Neptune, P3 Orion, CL-415 and C-130, but those listed in the title have been ellusive.
Sometime down the road I might take on some of the older ones, TBM, B-17, PBY, A-26 etc but I haven’t had the pleasure of having the real thing overhead with any of those, although when I was a kid I remember a B-17 flying over while camping which looking back I realize was probably a tanker.
I originally planned to do these in 1/144 but it seems the range is more limited in that scale and 1/48 is just to big. Ironically they have the DC series but not the S2, or P2 in 1/144.
Thanks for the replies so far, this is a long term project that will take me some time so hopefully Revell or one of the other model companies will get around to these at some point.
Aaron,
You may have already found this but if not, this is one of the best sites for firebombers.
http://www.daveroofchallenge.com/always/index3.html
I have a P-3 that I want to make this way. Just need to scratchbuild the tank and tail cone. Been thinking that I would make molds and sell a few to others who are interested. Just not sure if there are enough out there who would be interested to make it worth while.
As for 1/144 scale, don’t count it out. There are lots of garage companies out there making new kits in this scale. Check out this site. http://airalex.homestead.com/
His collection is all 1/144 (or close)and includes both a Tracker and a Neptune. He also has a very extensive links page.
As for the Mars, it would be immense, even in 1/72nd, but they’ve done the Sunderland and Viking to that scale and they’re both about same siez. I would check Combat Models catalogue for anything large. I never count them out, though you have to scratchbuild everything but the airframe itself. Evergreen Airlines, who in their spare time were CIA contractors, operated P2V firebombers, I believe. Wonder if they have a website with photos of their planes?
Evergreen’s latest Firebomber is a Boeing 747. http://www.evergreenaviation.com/supertanker/
That would be a fun project in 1/72.
Hey Aaron.
You might bfe interested in knowing that there is a member here on the site who is a bomber pilot. His name is aerialresponder.
Check out there website. It’s on my signature.
Randie [C):-)]
I’ve been to the airtanker.com site, great resource, I had not seen the other two. A part of me would prefer 1/144 (the part that has to find a place for these things) but 1/72 is easier to work with and more “fun” since there is more to see. Nice to see that I may have the option though.
I am sure the Mars would be huge in 1/72 I’ve seen the real thing at fairly close range (it was filling from a lake) and it was impressive.
I don’t see the 747 actually getting used, it is huge and would cost a ton (and the government is cheap, I know I work for them) but I am thinking about doing a Firehog (A-10 converted to an Air tanker) even though it looks like that won’t happen either. I also plan on doing a series of helicopters, anyone know of an after market bambi bucket? I guess it wouldn’t be that hard to scratch build one but if there is one out there I’d like to have a look.
Another site with good AT photos is
http://www.wildlandfire.com/photos.htm
Thanks for all the help.
Combat Models does do a Mars 1/72 Vac kit and it’s huge (and on my wants list!)
http://www.swiftsite.com/rosemonthobby/
Some English company, IIRC, did a 1/144 scale Vac, maybe Welsh Models and Czechmaster Resins announced a resin model as a future release. HTH
gary
Wow, thats not a bad price at all for a kit that must be the size of my car. Do you have any experience with this company?
Combat Vacs are very basic kits. Usually just the main parts. They definitely are not for the first time vacuformer but if you have done a few in the past and can make things like props, etc, they can be made into great kits.
www.kingkit.co.uk - seach for matchbox and privateer
I’ve never built one but have seen them done. They are very, very basic, just the main components, the rest is up to you but think of the possibilities!! I do plan on getting a couple of there kits and having a go. There was an article in Scale Aircraft Modeller a ways back on building the Boeing Clipper kit. Let me know and I’ll copy it for you.
I’ve never done a vaccuform kit so I guess that puts the Mars further down on my list, eventually maybe, but I’m still working up the nerve to try a resin kit.
Gary if you can let me know which magazine it was in I’ll see if I can find one locally, if not I may take you up on a copy of the article, just so I can see what I may be getting myself into.
Thanks for the link but the one they have is more than I’ve seen them go for on ebay, I guess I’ll just keep watching ebay and hope to catch one that slips by.
Aaronw, im right with you there on the dc-4. the dream is to have it or a P-3A or any varient of a P-2 in 1/48 (ya never know though!) i’ll settle for 1/72 (and yes i know about the haswegawa)
those were the things that went to the trumpeter wish list!
anywho, it wouldn’t be too hard for a company to make, all the interior they would need would be the cockpit (in my opinion the p-2 would be the easiest to mold), since in the main cabin all the chairs have been pulled out, its just a shell. (ARDCO has the absolute cleanest dc-4 you would ever ever seen inside and out)
if you want to add a touch of realism, some pilots bring there bicycles (for those days just waiting around) sometimes lawn chairs and a table (if you want to get really interesting, make a deck of cards!) along with gear and supplys!
aaron, are you a ground pounder? are you with a water tender or are you on a crew? since only the P-3’s are currently flying, if you see T-23 give him a wave, that my good buddy Phillip
as for evergreen they say there not, but everyone who is in the industry knows they want to be a monopoly so many guys arnt very happy about it. its still a 50/50 chance they’ll get certified.
Airtankers are ment to be in the Air!