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JYAI Merlin HC4

Previews, discussions and support for projects by John Young.
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DaleRFU
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by DaleRFU »

Fantastic work there John.
Please visit my YouTube channel @ https://www.youtube.com/user/daledelboy
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VulcanDriver
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by VulcanDriver »

Nice work John. All we need now is scenery for QE class carriers. :)
John

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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by jakestabb »

Have you got a Date/Time that your aiming to release this package by? As it looks amazing!
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tango234
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by tango234 »

Whilst tempting perhaps it is always best not to ask that. It will be ready when John considers it ready and all the better for it.
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John Young
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by John Young »

Dave, who works at Yeovilton, tells me that the last two green Merlins are still there, but will be going to the manufacturer at Yeovil shortly to be converted to the HC4 standard. Thinking about it, it would probably be useful to include those in the packaging - there are just a few small additions to the model and a change of paint colour. It would provide the model and paint kit for anyone who wants a retro green RAF HC3 set-up. I can keep the alternative Navy grey textures for those two serials so users can switch them to the HC4 model after the conversion if they wish. Not a big job.

Apart from that, I have the cafe buildings to make for Brian to add to the Yeovilton scenery (2 or 3 days) and the conversion of the Navy Wildcat textures for FS9 (10 minutes). Numbering up the Merlin's and adding them to the flight plan is the last component before I write the manual and package up. Everything else is done I think.

John

PS: I had thought about a separate project to add the few remaining historic aircraft that operate from Yeovilton. However the Sea Vixen, that I already have modelled made a belly landing a couple of years ago and is unlikely to fly again. Then, this evening, I saw this report of the crash of a Sea Fury:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-56920390

The crew are fine, as was the Sea Vixen pilot, which is a blessing of course, but it is so sad to see iconic aircraft like this in this state.
paul64
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by paul64 »

John I don't want to your already huge and impressive workload but have you thought about the crowsnest variant?
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by Garysb »

John
I was at the Culdrose Air Day when the Sea Fury crashed last time, it cost £350k to repair, it looks a lot worse this time.
They do not have the money to repair the Vixen so the chances of the Fury returning as well looks very slim

Cheers

Gary
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vortex471
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by vortex471 »

John, I agree the other historics wouldnt be worth doing right now. The only thing I could thing of is the Chipmunk based there.
The remaining green examples would be very useful.
Completely understand about not wanting to do the other examples, you deserve a break. I do wander if the radar nose version would be much work to do? Would enable the Norwegians Italians, Danish and retro RAF to be painted up by someone.
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by Firebird »

So a simple scheme for Mike Cronin's Chippie would do for that bird.

On the Sea Fury, I read that it cost that amount and took 3 years to fix. I then looked at the pics, that one was a simple engine out belly landing. This one is upside down with the wings off and various other nasty bits of damage.

The RN is not going to fix that. I think that maybe the best chance to see it fly again will be if they sell it all to a specialist company that will take on the repair job but it will take quite a few years to get back. Maybe the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar would be interested, although they tend to focus on Spits, they do other vintage machines but normally for customers willing to pay for it.
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John Young
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by John Young »

Could people who are interested in Merlin variants, post the specific countries and variant names that they are interested in please, including an explanation of the "Crowsnest"? I know about the CH-149 Cormorant (Canada) that Gavin has already suggested to me. I'm not promising everything but I can start by scoping what's involved with the popular choices and then decide what I might do.

Remember the aircraft will need overlaid AFCADs and flight plans, so users who are prepared to take on those aspects will stand a better chance of getting what they want.

John
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by jgowing »

Concerning ex RNHF, it doesn't get any more iconic than the Swordfish; I can see LS326 doing a slow fly past with a white ensign hoisted. It's a nice thought, but only if you really fancy it, John.

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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by Firebird »

If a Swordfish does anything other than a slow flypast it is categorised as a landing.
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paul64
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by paul64 »

Hi John, sorry I should have explained crowsnest. Its the new AEW bolt on swinging bin attachment to the merlin. Very similar to the seaking AEW which it replaces in RN service.
Kind Regards
Paul
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John Young
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by John Young »

That looks doable Paul. I can swing the bin to the downward position with an altitude trigger.

John
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by paul day »

From what I remember working at Fleetlands in Hampshire an Seakings just before they were withdrawn from service. The inflateable radome and all the hydraulics and electrics were mounted on a frame that was bolted to the floor just inside the door. I thought one of these was sent to Yeovil to see the feasibility of fitting them in a Merlin so maybe the crowsnest was originally fitted to the Seaking.

Regards Paul Day.
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by jgowing »

Firebird wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 13:53 If a Swordfish does anything other than a slow flypast it is categorised as a landing.

Yes, a fair point! It's maybe better filed under Scenery rather than Aircraft.
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by bismarck »

John Young wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 11:32 Could people who are interested in Merlin variants, post the specific countries and variant names that they are interested in please, including an explanation of the "Crowsnest"? I know about the CH-149 Cormorant (Canada) that Gavin has already suggested to me. I'm not promising everything but I can start by scoping what's involved with the popular choices and then decide what I might do.

Remember the aircraft will need overlaid AFCADs and flight plans, so users who are prepared to take on those aspects will stand a better chance of getting what they want.

John
Hi John, as first step, I'd say that there are 3 or 4 models for Italian Navy and Air force.
Navy: EH101-ASW; EH-101-UTY
AF: HH-101 Very similar if not the same as the UTY.

If you want to go deeper, let me know. I'll be more precise and start searching photos.

Ciao, Giorgio
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paul64
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by paul64 »

Sounds good to me John, it would just complete a carrier air wing if a carrier was to come along.
Kind Regards
Paul
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by Garysb »

John
I think the Crowsnest is fitted to the other type of Merlin not the HC4

Gary
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John Young
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Re: JYAI Merlin HC4

Post by John Young »

Yes it is. I think I can do that though.

John
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