MC-55A Peregrine / Gulfstream G550 ** Finished!**

[RayS]

The RAAF is replacing their AP-3C(EW)s in the next year or so with a new fit-for-purpose ELINT platform based on the Gulfstream G550, a number of air arms operate EW and AEW variants based on the G550 including Israel, Italy, and Singapore.



I am slowly modifying a Sova M Shavit kit as an MC-55A, it is the kit that is closest in configuration to the proposed MC-55A


So on to the build, I started with some quick assembly of the wing and rear fuselage





Some mocking up with my yet-to-be-finished GIV


I moved on to sorting out the tail area and cockpit, I wasn't sure how to tackle it and then decided Milliput was the way to go.


A few sessions refining the shape then occurred



Initially, it was too long and it was shortened by about 5mm, and the shape of the tip was refined.


It still needs some filling and possible further refinement

The cockpit was straightforward with some nice detail



The paint stage has now commenced on the cockpit as well.


And how it looks taped up

[hrtpaul]

That looks cool as mate

[RayS]

Some more progress happening.

I forgot to mention that the MC-55A has an extra cabin window, you may have noticed on appearing in the last set of shots.




Some filling with PPP.


And cleaned up and prior to polishing.


The cockpit went together quickly, I used console decals from the spares as only the instrument panel one was supplied.



Some liquid gravity for the nose to counter the milliput down the back.


and in the canoe fairing


The major assemblies ready to go together 


and glued

[hrtpaul]

Looking good there mate. Shouldn't be a tail sitter with all that lead

[RayS]

No way Paul, it will sit nicely on its gear.

I managed to eventually get the windscreen transparency fitted. I had no end of issues fairing the part in without getting crap inside while sanding. 

After the third attempt, it is on and the masks applied


I also started on the generator bulges on the engine nacelles


and finally started to add the ribs/cable ducts from the rear fuselage up to the rear radome assembly

[RayS]

​​​​​​​I managed to add some putty to the nacelle generator humps and rear fuselage.

[Adam the Akrodude]

Crikey that's some serious plastic surgery! Great work!

[hrtpaul]

Loving this one mate

[RayS]

With a few more images of RAAF Peregrines doing test flights gracing the internet I am motivated to move on with this one.

12 months has passed since the last update.  So with this update the landing gear has been attached, the engines and tail surfaces are on and in need of some putty.


I also added another antenna dome on the rear fuselage. I am checking reference images for the locations of the other blade antennas, some of which will have to be scratch built as the donor Shavit kit does not contain them. I also added the APU exhaust, the kit part is one for a civil G500 and the MC-55 images show the a different arrangement so I modified the kit part to suit.

[tor lives]

An absolutely fascinating build so far Ray.
TOR