Using the Academy 1:48 CH-46A/D as my base, I am going to convert this into a Fire Fighting aircraft as part of a “Firebirds!” Group Build on the FineScale Modeler Forum.
The concept behind this “What-If” is that some enterprising company purchased a surplus CH-46D to convert for use in the fire suppression role. So it will be somewhat “demilled” and modified with the necessary upgrades to achieve its new mission. The project has been deemed “Tinkle Bug” with the company’s motto being “Tinkling On Fires Is Our Specialty.”
Some of the modifications will include: Blister windows for both flight crew doors and main cabin observation stations; cable cutters; installation of external fuselage re-enforcements and hard points; UHF/VHF/GPS antennas; FLIR, high intensity flood lights; fire suppression equipment; high vis markings and paint scheme and more as the project progresses.
I intend to show each step of the process including the means and methods I used to do the modifications. Already some are asking me how I intend to do the “bubble” windows, so that will be a chapter in itself. This should be a fun project, one that I am looking forward to both building as a means to have fun, but also to provide helpful tips and techniques for others to use in their modeling endeavors.
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