Firebirds! Forest Fire Fighting Aircraft GB.

to the forumI've been looking for an excuse to build a Cobra in those colors. Count me in.

Here's my Firehog I built last year.

    Eddie

Well crap I was going to this GB after I finished my Model I'm doin right now here a good website with a lot of ideas http://www.airtanker.com/

I miht join this later.

I do have a question. I tend to do things a bit "different" you might say. Could my entry be a What if AH-64. I know there's a Cobra in the USFS, but I have a 1/32 Apache in my possession right now. It would save me a drive if I could. If not, I can still get the Cobra and work on my other helo on the side.

     Eddie

Hello again.

Looks like we have some interest.  Hello FLTMEDIC, Eddie, deattilio and willjanuary.

I'm quite excited about the subject.  I've been out of the fire program for 5 years now and building this kit will refresh some memories and some modelling skills.  The CL-215 will be the first, others I have and hope to build include a Tracker, Twin Otter, Piston Otter, Beaver, and a DC 3 in Austin Airways colours.  I sound like many of the modellers on this forum!

Eddie, in reponse to your question, you may build what makes you happy.  Many different types of aircraft have been employed over the years in the task of wild fire control.  PBY's, Avengers, B17's, if it flew, it probably worked fire.  After WW2 they even tried, with debatable success, to dive bomb small fire with Thunderbolts using drop tanks filled with water!

That's what neat about this GB, now we get to build these great aircraft and paint them crazy colours!  Eddie, consider yourself a man ahead of your time with that Apache!

When would be a sensible date to start?  Febuary 15? With a finish date around May 24?

I would like to keep this to a narrow time frame, as an incentive to finish a least one kit (CL-215) and perhaps do another Firebirds GB next January.

Alright! This model was purchased at a garage sale for $1 and you can see why. Whoever started it use A LOT of tube glue and everything up. This is probably going to be a very large desktop model.( read no interior details with opaque glass.) One thing I'm going to try is to simulate turning rotors with a clear piece of plastic. I'm going to have to hang this one, so it will have to look like it's in flight.

      Eddie

Interesting Group Build...try this out...www.scalefirebombers.com   

I was only going to get into 4 Group Builds this year...then , this one comes up!  I have two A26's in my stash...I will think about it...

Okay.  Since you are allowing "what-if's".  I am going to do one that I read about awhile back.

Seem's that the C.D.F. was kicking the idea around about using retired S-3 Viking airframes as fire bombers.  I was going to do an F7F in TBM, Inc. colors but, my current situation will not allow me to purchase the Lone Star conversion.  So, it will have to wait.

I will be doing the S-3 in Aero Union colors as I don't think the C.D.F. scheme is that eye catching.  I may even do an A-37B Dragonfly as a lead plane.

I won't be able to post progress pics on a very regular basis as I will be going off-line today or tomorrow.  But, I will try and keep everyone abreast of my progress.

I am looking forward to this as I use to work with Moore Aviation in Visalia, CA.  They also own TBM, Inc.  I used to go out to Sequoia Field and look at all of the old fire bombers.  B-17s, F7Fs and TBMs. 

Talk to y'all later.

Oh Shucks shouldda......I wish this groupd build had of been last year.  Completed a CL415 in French livery and a CL215 in Newfoundland's peas-and-carrots colors.  Some photos attached.....

I'll keep checking back now and then to see the builds.......I JUST LOVE ANYTHING THAT FLIES AND CAN DROP WATER AS WELL.....

Good luck gang.....

RODC

RODC,

  Those are some very fine airplanes you have there.

I'm starting mine now for 2 reasons. One, I'm working with damaged goods and two, I can't wait.

 The main rotor assembly is a glued together mess. I decided to try and make them work, so I drilled out the damaged parts and with a little sprue and sheet plastic, I've got it to where it will spin okay. Next, the tail rotor.

      Eddie

Sorry, my bad.

Okay.  I cleared off the bench last night and dug out one of my Monogram A-37Bs and the AMT/ERTL S-3A.

I'm ready!!!  This just might be fun!!!  If I get done in time I may even do a 'what if' A-20 Havoc.  The kit has an auxillary fuel tank for the belly that could be easily enlarged and converted to a water tank.  Hmmmmm.  I'm getting all kinds of ideas!!!!  An A-20 in TBM, Inc. colors!!!!

I got more progress to report. At this rate, I'll be able to do the Cobra that I had planned on doing in the first place. The blades have their white stripes. Next is red. The rotor head is painted and dry brushed and the fuselage has it's white primer coat. The engines are going to be a challenge to fix.

   Eddie

The red went on tonight.

    Eddie

Yep there is some interest, this past week I pulled out some of my partially completed air tanker builds and I started a TBM Avenger last night, then I come over to FSM today and I find this, so you can count me in. What I build will depend on when it starts, I'm currently working on a P2V Neptune  (Minden air Tanker 55), an S2 (CDF Tanker 82), an AF-2 Guardian  (Aero-union Tanker 21), an A-10 "Firehog", an Allouette 3, a Ford Tri-motor smokejumper plane and the TBM I just started (haven't decided how to paint it yet, I'm split between Sis-Q and one of the New Brunswick ones).

On the shelf waiting to be built I have a DC6, PBY-5A, A-26, F7F Tigercat, Cessna O2A, OV-10 Bronco, S-64 Skycrane, Bell 205 and a Bell 212 so I'll be ready to go whenever a date is set. All are 1/72 scale.

Since I'm a firefighter for the US Forest Service it would be nice if we could get this started pretty soon before it starts getting busy for me, Feb 1 or earlier would be great for me.

Is anybody here talented enough to make a GB badge?

Well answering my own question I decided to fool around and see how hard it would be to make a badge, these would need a little work but I'll offer these as ideas. I did one fixed wing and one helo since both are covered in the build. I thought the appropriate badge could be picked based on what was being built, maybe both for those who do one of each? These are just an idea and I certainly don't want to step on toes if someone else has an idea for a badge.

Hello Firebird builders,

Rodc, I laughed when I saw your "Peas and Carrots" CL-215, not that it isn't an excellent build, which it is.  I saw the Newfoundland Airforce in action in  June of 1996 in Dryden, Ontario.  There were lots of starts (lightning) and it was hot dry and windy.  There was an aggressive fire near the new Walmart at the edge of town, and in Dryden, that means boreal forest.   Anyways the "Flying Dog's Breakfast" did some serious flying, helped to save the day and gave the new Walmart a good bath!

Eddie, awesome work with that Apache.  You have set a standard of excellence for the GB.  Others, fltmedic,deattilo, chopperfan and myself are getting geared up for February 15, the official start.  Joerugby and willjanuary, are you in?  ALL ARE WELCOME!

Welcome to Aaronw.  Those GB logos look great!  Cool that there is one for both fixed and rotary wing AC.  Good work.

The rules are simple, start and finish at least one Firebird by May 24 (pronounced "May 2-4": Queen Victoria's birthday, and in Canada, a bigger party date than New Years Eve).   Previous starts are allowed but at least 60% of the kit must be uncompleted to qualify as a "new start".

Those that complete by May 24 get their name entered in a luck draw.

Aaronw, please feel free to start at your convenience.  I have a feeling that it's going to be an early spring.

Ok, well then unless someone else has an idea for a badge I'll clean those up.

I was wondering if anyone knows more about the P-47, I have seen one pic of the P-47 fitted with large underwing drop tanks supposedly from one of the tanker tests. Anyone know if any were ever used even semi-operationally and did the water drop out of the tanks like other tankers or was it supposed to drop the tanks like bombs. I know some of the earlier ideas were focused on "bombing" the fire with things like wooden kegs full of water. The first operational tankers were just Ag planes with up to 150 gallons of water, I would think a P-47 could have carried more if they figured out a tank system for it. I was thinking a P-47 tanker would be kind of neat even if it is a "what if" build, but would be more fun if they had actually used them a couple of times, kind of an old school Firehog.

shouldda wrote:

Eddie, awesome work with that Apache.  You have set a standard of excellence for the GB.  Others, fltmedic,deattilo, chopperfan and myself are getting geared up for February 15, the official start.  Joerugby and willjanuary, are you in?  ALL ARE WELCOME!

Thank you. I must say that if I'd had a "virgin" kit, I would have spent a more considerable amount of time to present a more detailed aircraft. I'm just tryin' to make lemonade out of a lemon this time around.

Here's a test fit of the rotor assembly and a look at the engines from the rear.

      Eddie

shouldda wrote:

...Others, fltmedic,deattilo, chopperfan and myself are getting geared up for February 15, the official start.  Joerugby and willjanuary, are you in?  ALL ARE WELCOME!...

Ugh...Lets see -- 2 A26's in stash...Builds already in -  "Aces", "Aussie", "Out of the Box", "Carrier"...Okay, this will officially make number five...that should be enough (then again who am I really kidding here?)

I am in -- 1/72 A26.  I will go to www.scalefirebombers.com and pick my scheme...

Great call on this Build by the way...enormous amounts of options both real and "What Ifs"...Kewl, Kewl...

Here's how the beast looks today. I'm sure everyone can see the shaft extending from the bottom of the helo. That's so I can spin the rotors and make my son go"WOW"( he's 4, so he's easily impressed.) If anyone else asks, it's PTO shaft for an intake pump on a tank it can carry.

     Eddie

That Apache is coming along nicely, its not obvious you started out with a gluebomb.

I got some work done on the Avenger, I decided to go with a Sis-Q tanker. I've got it mostly together and the turret is faired over, I'll try to get some pics up soon.

Well I did a little more tinkering on the GB badges, here they are.

Thanks Aaron. I had a bit of a set back when I tried to put a flat coat on the main rotor assem. I either put it on too thick or it was too humid when I did it. The result was a cloudy finish. I had to repaint it.

Here's the small bit of progress for tonight.

    Eddie

Hello everyone, 

Big day today here in Wiarton, Ontario.  Our famous white groundhog woke up and predicted an early spring.   We better get organized for our official start!  Fast approaching!

Question- how do you include photos to this message?  I would like to share a photo of an Otter I built a few years ago.

I need a Leading Edge decal set for an Ontario CL-215, 1/72 Heller kit.   ( What happened to Collector's Lane Hobbies in Scarborough?) 

Can anyone help by providing this decal set or a contact?  Oddly enough when I started this GB I was prepared to free paint the kit, as I didn't know the aftermarket decal set existed.   It makes an awesome job.

Builders- Officially register for this GB by the 15th and qualify for an early bird luck draw!   Others are welcome to build after the official date and will qualify for the final lucky draw upon completion of the Firebirds! kit by May 24, 2006.

I would like to throw my entry into the ring. Go to the community assistance part of the forum and there should be info on how to post photos. If you need any more help, PM me and I'll help out.

     Eddie