Cal Fire Grumman S-2T Turbo Tracker COMPLETE

Hi,

I'm really looking forward to seeing more of of this build.  It looks like a fascinating topic.

Pat

Hello!

Indeed, very interesting stuff! That resin really looks good. Having the real thin in your neighbourhood sure is an inspiration. Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Oh yea, I'm in for watching this build.  I think the Turbo Tracker is a cool looking plane.  

Nice start, unique build.  I'll be following.

Toshi

Great pic of the retardant stains, I'll try to simulate this

Working on the nacelles - still a ways to go.  Mocked up the fuselage to check the wing fit - very nice.

Decals arrived - very nice (lost my pic - this is the Draw Decal image)

Keavdog,

Glad to see this under way.  The resin looks fantastic.  How long did it take to get the conversion kit once you ordered it?  If you want to lose a couple of hours, go to YouTube and search for fire bombers, lots of cool videos.

Don't You Tube fire bombers, look for air tankers instead.

Nicxe subject, and some very nice work on this.

lewbud

Keavdog,

Glad to see this under way.  The resin looks fantastic.  How long did it take to get the conversion kit once you ordered it?  If you want to lose a couple of hours, go to YouTube and search for fire bombers, lots of cool videos.

 

It came within a week or two - from Germany.  It's some of the nicest crip resin casting I've seen.

I've been doing a lot of research on line and ya - easy to get lost in way to many great subjects in interesting markings. 

All the surgery is done - now I've got a boatload of sanding ahead

Went over to my local airport and took a look at the Cal Fire aircraft - I think I'll do #70

Still working on sanding and filling after the surgeries :)

I like the project.  It looks like a unique topic.  I look forward to seeing your progress.  Those tail numbers are cool.  They remind me of NASCAR numbers.

Now that's a unique and interesting project,cool looking aircraft too.

Wing on, test fitting the horizontal stablizers.  The extension on the wing and stablizers really make the flying surfaces dramatic.  I have the tank on and the rear filler adapter as well.  I just need to clean up all the surgery with sanding and filling.

Hello!

Lookin' good! Whole lot of surgery is going on here! Good luck and have a nice day

Paweł

Just about ready for paint.  Horizontal stabilizers on.  Lots of finish sanding. Looking pretty clean... or clean enough!

Nicely done sir.  I can’t wait till the first coat of primer/paint goes on.  Everything looks fantastic.

Toshi

I'm enjoying watching your build. Interesting aircraft.

OT: Back on Friday the 13th of October 1972, as a young man (29 at that time) I moved from Manhattan (NYC) to live with a friend of the family's in Rancho Santa Fe which, I believe, is about 30 miles from Ramona where I think your aircraft are residing. I never visited Ramona but I did drive to the airport in Carlsbad from time-to-time to feed my used, 1969 Mercury Marquis Brougham with a 429 some 100 octane high lead aircraft fuel since I'd advanced the spark to the point where it would run best on that gas . The price of the gas was outrageous but I used it a few times. ($.80/gallon). I always tipped the guy who was kind enough to break the rules and pump it into my car.

Nice!  Did you run that beast at the raceway?  Im also a car guy. My 09 charger ran 11.5 at fontana.  Since then ive done a new build on her.  Forged motor, 1000 hp trans and lots of other fun stuff.  Dyno said 760 rwhp on q16 and the race tune.  Yet to get her on the track but should be in the low 10s.

Wow keavdog, rwhp at 760?  That’s very cool.  Back in the day I had a ‘66 Mustang 289 bored 30 over that I rebuilt with a friend.  It was a classic!  That was my first car.  My second car was a ‘79 Mercury Zephyr straight six (Remember those) that I rebuilt to original specs. (It was my dads car purchased brand new in’79) two toned gray.  It was a nice car to drive around as a daily driver.  Both cars were nothing close to your car in terms of hp.  But I learned a lot about cars from those rebuilds.  Today I’m just driving around a 2008 Kia Sedona LX.  lol!  

Toshi

Looking good Keavdog!

"Did you run that beast at the raceway?"

Keavdog, No, I didn't ... LOL - that old Mercury was so heavy and I'm not a car guy - at that time ..young, full of p__s and vinegar, and always broke .. I just did the basic tune ups myself. I had some basic tools, bought a timing light and did the best I could just to keep it running. It was a monstrously heavy car with a large engine but a 2 barrel carb. No way would it ever race. I did burn rubber after leaving my favorite bar in Cardiff by the Sea ... The Kraken. Oh what an idiot I was in those days .

How's the build progressing?

Want to see that Tracker when she's finished.

Fire Eaters are great subjects.

We live in a fire state, I'll take an earthquake over that any day.

Those jets are really making a difference now, the BaE's.

Very cool subject, Keavdog.  The resin parts do look very good.

I'll be following your thread.

Kensar

Difficult two piece canopy from the hasagawa kit is on.  Shot primer and its coming along!

 Last bit of surgery - cut off the bulb under the tail and inserted a bit of brass tube to represent the retardant tank fill hookup.

First time trying Alclad chrome and its impressive.  I had painted these with testors chrome and I shot the Alclad over it just as an experiment - pretty impressive.  Next time I'll do the proper gloss black undercoat.  These need a bit of polishing when they dry

A couple years back Cal Fire lost a pilot and one of the S2-T birds.  Here's the story  - man, what a project.

 Here's the story: ( Link to the video - https://youtu.be/G5ZGzzwllBw )

Back on this build.  I shot the gloss white tonight - turned out nice, really liking Mr Color paints.  I'll let this cure for a couple of days before the heavy masking starts.  None of the red stripes are provided as decals