Mars gets my vote.
I have the Ginter book on the Mars, Naval Fighters 29. It looks to me like other than general arrangement, there is very little in common between the XPB2M-1 fuselage that was in the silver and yellow, and the JRM-1 fuselages that were all Gloss Sea Blue. The wings and floats are little changed between the two. The step was moved back 4 feet on the JRM, and the fuselage aft of that is just totally different.
But then what’s to stop you from doing the Goose and the Mars in what if airline colors? Now there’s a romantic thought. No turbines!! No big airports. Giant seaplanes rule this alternate reality.
I was afraid of that. The biggest thing I’m lacking is a comparative side view between the prototype and the later examples. If they were close, I might give a go at it. If they are just too different, I may not even bother.
“Giants of the Sky” by Bill Gunston mentions the differences between the fuselages, but there’s no diagrams (which would REALLY help).
Just a little FYI:
I saw a Martin Mars firebomber twice this Summer in Northern California.
Once in late June moored on Shasta Lake. It had quite an array of support vehicles on the shore. Then I was alerted from inside the house the first week-end of August by loud, airborne noise (near Cameron Park Airport). Yep… Ran outside to see (probably the same) Martin Mars floatplane droning on overhead at about 10,000 ft. The thang IS flippen’ humongous.
I vote Mars, about nine years ago I was on the west coast and saw two of them flying together on their way back to Vancouver Island, a pretty awesome sight, I know one of them also broke down in Skaha lake where a bunch of my family live, that’s a pretty big machine to have to paddle back to shore.
Well, after a bunch of thinking, I think I’ve come to a decision. And, of course, in my typical “do what other people DON’T do”, I went with the most logical choice- the one which recieved the LEAST amount of votes.
That’s right. I’m probably going to pick up the Vickers Windsor.
Why, you ask, when the overwhelming majority of you would like to see a Martin Mars? Simple economics.
The Vickers is honestly the biggest bang for my buck. For the main vacuform parts, white-metal detal parts (props, landing gear), clear parts, decals, AND shipping, it would cost me just under $40.
Compare that to the Mars. To get ONLY basic fuselage and wing pieces it would cost me $45. For an extra $20 I could get resin engines and props. Still no decals in either of these cases. No clear parts, either. Add up all of this (kit + details) with shipping costs, and I’m already pushing over $70. For these prices, I could have just stuck with the Skypirate.
This is not to say I will NEVER be getting a Martin Mars in the future. On the contrary, you guys pretty much talked me into it- eventually. Right now, however, $$$ is once again the great decider.
So, much like the Canadian astronaut, although you were shooting for Mars, unfortunatly you’ll have to settle for Windsor.
Thanks for everyone’s participation, however. I can guarentee all of you that the Mars is next up on my “want” list, and I’m sorry if I disappointed anyone.
[;)]
WHOOOOHOOO! Hurray Windsor! [party]
It just go to show, even my one vote counts for something!
I just thank gawd you’re not gonna be building crusty ol’ tanks… or some other lowyl rusty armored vehicle.
So I guess it wont help to vote for the Mars again?
It couldn’t hurt. [8D]
Ok then I am officialy voting for the Mars in fire bomber colors…again…[dinner]
First let me say that both the Do-X and Mars are Combat vacumform (VF) kits which I rate as rough at best and one requiring considerable experience with VF kits as well as scratch building techniques. Having recently built the Mars I can tell you it is a bear to get a quality result. I wrote a detailed build article for the project which is in the hands of the British Magazine Scale Aircraft Modeller but not yet published. If you build in 1/144 scale the other VF Mars might be a better choice. As for the Windsor I have the kit as it was originally produced by Elliot. I have never evaluated the kit so I can’t comment on its quality. I also have the Elliot kit of the Tu-28 (?) a Russian heavy twin engine fighter. That kit has a serious problem in that the two fuselage halfs differ in shape with one side not having the correct area rule shaping. That may be an indication of the general quality of an Elliot kit.
If you are interested in some pictures of my Mars build send a direct E-mail to mats.man@cox.net. Also Iwrote a general review for SeaWings which appears on the internet. I will need to look up the address for Seawings but you may be able to connect by simply requesting Seawings.
As for recommendation on what to build alot depends on your experience level and your fortitude. I believe the Windsor would be yourbest bet.
Incidently, I don’t think itis possible to convert the Combat Mars to the prototypeas there are considerable differences in th entire aircraft. Also, I haven’t seen any good drawings to use to realize that convrsion.
Richard
My vote is most definately the mars. [tup] In yellow and silver.
…Guy
This wouldn’t be yours, would it?
http://www.seawings.co.uk/KitRev-GuestRev-MartinMars.htm
It was, in fact, the first time I realized they actually MADE a Mars in 1/72. This is what began my search for Combat Model kits in general, and the aquiring of their full list of products and the realization they ALSO made a Do X.
I also realize that no matter what I get (which, incidentally, is going to be the Windsor), I’m going to have to work at it. After what I’ve gone through with my Spruce Goose (and am still going through), I feel confident with whatever I get.
Also, the Windsor is something I TOLD myself I was going to get eventually. I have the Wellesley and Wellington, and am going to do my best to find a Warwick so I can complete the set of geodesic bombers.
The Mars, on the other hand, is one I’d like to have, but not what I NEED to have… as it were. That’s why I can wait.
THIS is why I would like to find comparative diagrams. Minor fuselage differences I can live with. The nose could easily be reshaped, and the top of the tail could be cut off, filled in, and have two more tail fins attached to it. It’s only when we get into the nasty areas like the planing bottom and bottom of the rear fuselage where things really get interesting.
I think I’m going to hold off getting the Mars until I get some more literature on them. If I think that a prototype conversion is even REMOTELY possible, or the two versions have ANYTHING in common (like wings and, oh, say 2% fuselage commonality) I would be VERY tempted to try it.
But I digress. If you have any photos of the Mars other than in the link, I would be happy to see them.