I can say the kit wasn't to blame (well partially, as some parts really did not need to be PE and only increased the difficulty unnecessarily) as it was mostly my fumbling fingers that mucked it up.I only tell you the to let you know where I am with this project. You would think I would build something easier (a nice jet, for example). But no, I am jumping from one building disaster to another (potential) disaster. Remember that Lysander conversion I did a while back ( http://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t ... =seamaster )? That was really done for me to get a taste of building with vacuformed (VF) parts in preparation to build this SeaMaster kit. I had been putting it off as I learned I didn't really care for VF modeling. But when I sent an email to the friend who sent me this kit, in which I complained / whined about the Dreadnought model, he jokingly asked how my progress was with the SeaMaster. I felt a little guilty, as he is also sick now, so I thought I best get cracking at it.
So, I've begun this "little" project and anticipate it will be ongoing for a while as it will require a lot of scratch building and working with VF parts. Both skills I lack.
Maybe I should go back to the Dreadnought?
The Martin P6M SeaMaster
In 1949, the US Navy planned to create a Seaplane Strike Force (SSF) which would consist of jet-powered seaplanes that were capable of carrying-out nuclear strikes (in addition to conventional bomb loads / mines). In 1951, the Navy began accepting proposals from various aircraft manufacturers. By late 1952, the Martin Aircraft Co., was awarded a contract to build six evaluation aircraft (designated XP6M-1) and twenty-four production aircraft (designated P6M-2).
The construction of the first P6M-1 was completed in Dec., 1954. Flight tests began in July, 1955. Initial testing revealed that the engines had a tendency to burn the rear of the fuselage (limiting the use of the afterburners). In Dec., 1955, the first prototype experienced control problems and broke-up in flight - killing its crew of four. Flight tests resumed in May, 1956. The second prototype, now fitted with ejection seats, went out of control during flight tests in Nov, 1956, and crashed. The crew was able to eject safely. Apparently there were miscalculations regarding the tail assembly which was the cause of these accidents.
Changes were now made to the design of the aircraft. The problems with the tail were corrected and the engines were moved back from the wing's leading edge (to reduce seawater ingestion) and splayed-out from the sides (no more burnt fuselage!). Flight tests resumed in Jan., 1958. The aircraft, which carried its munition inside a rotating, water-proof, bomb-bay (think F-102 / 106 aircraft), also began doing practice bomb runs. Testing began to show the aircraft had real promise with the new design changes. The first production aircraft, the P6M-2, was delivered in early 1959.
The P6M-2 was also equipped with new and more power engines. The SeaMaster could fly "on the deck" at Mach .09 (the B-52 could only do .55). Unfortunately, just as things were getting started, the Navy began to see the future was not with large subsonic seaplane bombers. Instead the future was with submarine launched nuclear missiles - the Polaris. With three completed P6M-2 Seaplanes, and five in production, the US Navy cancelled the program in August, 1959. The existing aircraft were to sit unused for years before being broken-up for scrap.
Specifications (from Wikipedia)
Crew: 4
Length: 134 ft 4 in (40.94 m)
Wingspan: 102 ft 7 in (31.26 m)
Height: 33 ft 10 in (10.31 m)
Wing area: 1,900 sq ft (176.52 m²)
Empty weight: 97,439 lb (44,198 kg)
Useful load: 86,841 lb (39,390 kg)
Loaded weight: 162,932 lb Combat / 184,280 lb T.O. (73,905 kg Combat / 83,588 kg T.O.)
Max. takeoff weight: 190,000 lb Calm water / 160,000 lb Rough water (86,183 kg Calm water / 72,575 kg Rough water) **Allowable 6 to 9 ft (1.8 to 2.7 m) swells**
Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney J75-P-2 turbojets, 17,500 lbf (77.8 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed: (Sea Level) 596 kn (686 mph (1,104 km/h)) - (20,000 ft) 564 kn, (35,000 ft) 520 kn
Cruise speed: 465 kn (535 mph (861 km/h))
Stall speed: 132.2 kn (Power off, flaps down, T.O. wt) (152 mph (245 km/h))
Range: 1,810 nmi (Combat) (2,083 mi (3,352 km))
Combat radius: 750 nm (863 mi (1,389 km)) (Carrying 30,000 lb (14,000 kg) payload)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
Rate of climb: 7,380 ft/min (37.5 m/s) - Sea Level, T.O. wt, Military Power
Wing loading: 100 lb/(sq ft) (310 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.368
Armament
Guns: 2 × 20 mm cannon in rear remote operated turret (1,000 RDS/20mm)
Mines: 28 x MK36 Mod 1 (1,001 lb/ea, 454 kg/ea) - 28,028 lb/Tot (12,713 kg)
Mines: 15 x MK25 Mod 2 (2,030 lb/ea, 921 kg/ea) - 30,450 lb/Tot (13,812 kg)
Mines: 36 x MK50 Mod 0 (504 lb/ea, 228 kg/ea) - 18,144 lb/Tot (8,230 kg)
Mines: 15 x MK52 Mod 0,1,2,3,4,5,6 (1,348 lb/ea, 611 kg/ea) - 20,220 lb/Tot (9,172 kg)
Mines: 8 x MK39 Mod 0 (2,025 lb/ea, 919 kg/ea) - 16,200 lb/Tot (7,348 kg)
Mines: 15 x MK19 Mod 2 (540 lb/ea, 245 kg/ea) - 8,100 lb/Tot (3,674 kg)
Mines: 5 x MK10 Mod 9 (1,960 lb/ea, 889 kg/ea) - 9,800 lb/Tot (4,445 kg)
Reconnaissance: High Altitude Reconnaissance Camera 4,050 lb/Tot (1,837 kg)
Reconnaissance: 27 x M120(T9E8) Photoflash (154 lb/ea, 70 kg/ea) 4,158 pounds (1,886 kg)
Bomb: 2 x MK91 (3,500 lb/ea, 1,588 kg/ea) - 7,000 lb/Tot (3,175 kg)
Bomb: 1 x MK28 (1,800 lb/ea, 817 kg/ea) - 1,800 lb/Tot (817 kg)
Fire-Control System: Aero X-23B AGL Tail Turret, ASQ-29 Automatic Navigation & Minelaying System
Photo is public domain
AirModel SeaMaster Kit
Here's are photos of what I have to work with:
Two sheets of good-quality VF plastic. Moldings aren't the crispest, put are not unexpected for the age of this short-run kit (I believe it is from the late 1980s).
The instructions, I will say, are not the best in the world. The VF canopy is at the bottom.
One sheet is now (roughly) cut-out. This took about 15-20 minutes.
You can see I have my work cut-out for me. I'll keep you posted as the build progresses. But don't be surprised if I need to stop and regroup now and then.
