Dutch Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 (edited) This just hit SCM. PlusModels has announced a series of three kits of the early & late Teledyne Ryan KDA-1/BQM-34A Firebee target drones. What is not evident from the sprue shot below, is whether each box gets the whole sprue or the sprue is separated into thirds. AL7028 USAF BQM-34 Firebee Target Drone AL7035 Firebee with cart [DC-130A/JD-1/DP-2E pylons] AL7036 USN KDA-1 Firebee (early) Sprueshot for AL7035 Edited February 3, 2020 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Yeah, I´m in for at least a Firebee! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted February 3, 2020 Author Share Posted February 3, 2020 (edited) HAJO, I will need a couple for my DP-2E build. Well at least the DP-2E pylons. I already purchased a set of two KDA-4 from Belcher Bits at the IPMS-USA Nationals in Chattanooga last summer, but they include the Lancaster pylons. Edited February 3, 2020 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 (edited) Very cool! I've seen pics of an Invader with Firebees under the wings. Should be a cool modelling subject. Google's image search shows a Canadian Lancaster loaded with Firebees. Also nice. Edited February 4, 2020 by ChernayaAkula Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 A few ideas in case you want to hang something under the wings: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/bgm34/ Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Cool! I hope they do 1/48 versions! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 6 hours ago, dnl42 said: Cool! I hope they do 1/48 versions! Second that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
picknpluck Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Sweet! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 @Dutch, I did a DP-2E a couple of years ago! Pictures and stuff are "on my other" computer (I´m on vacation), and I think all that I put online is resting silently on photobucket.... HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 (edited) Another very happy modeler here! Just a few months ago I bought the Black Dog 1/72 BQM-34A, but it was a huge disappointment. Here's my list of errors: overall length should be 275.71" = 97.3 mm. I measured 80.9 + 10.5 = 91.4 mm, 5.9 mm too short, or 94% of the real length the fuselage is too fat in the middle, giving it a pregnant look. It's also too fat behind the wing. Ryan drawings show 28.12" max width, 9.9 mm in 1/72, the model is 12.3 mm the nacelle is too short the wings and tailplanes have 'root ribs' embossed on the fuselage, to which the flying surfaces are to be butt-jointed. This makes for weak connections, difficult sanding, and missing gaps. The Italeri method with recessed pockets is so much better and realistic the wings and tailplanes all have a completely unrealistic wedge-shaped wing profile, flat on the top and bottom sides. The unique drooped-leading edge profile of the main wing is absent the tailplanes attach to the main parachute cone, that is ejected during recovery, instead of the rear fuselage the tailplane endplates are of a type that I have never seen the panel line that separates the radome from the fuselage is placed too far forward, making the radome far too small most panel lines on the rear fuselage are missing the electronics hatch on the rear left fuselage is positioned too far forward the spine starts too far aft the inlet shape looks strange there's a concave area behind the exhaust that does not exist the cart is of a type that I've never seen The new PlusModel Firebee looks good on the sprues. On the built-up models the vertical tail keeps attracting my attention, it looks like the sweep angle is too small. Both the LSM and Belcher first-generation Firebees (Q-2A / KDA) have problems, so I'm very happy that PlusModel gives these a go. I hope they do the air force version too, that has a smaller nacelle and no bullet in the inlet. I've been playing with the Italeri 1/72 BQM-34 for ages, modifying them into various AQM-34 versions, like the AQM-34M below. If you want to know more about the AQM-34, check out my website: https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/aqm34.htm Rob Edited February 6, 2020 by Rob de Bie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted February 7, 2020 Author Share Posted February 7, 2020 (edited) Rob, Groeten! You are the acknowledged expert on modeling the Ryan BQM-34 Firebee drone. I have been a big fan for years, and have both Lightning Bug books. I have also visited your website numerous times for information and inspiration. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. K/r, Dutch Edited February 7, 2020 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 5 hours ago, Dutch said: <...> I have also visited your website numerous times for information and inspiration. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Same here! :thumbsup: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Yeah, for me the name also sounds familiar! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob de Bie Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Dutch, ChernayaAkula and Hajo: thanks for the compliments! Here's the most recent one I built, a faux-metal deskmodel for Craig Kaston, my number one source of information of the AQM-34 website. Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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