1/144 Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind Gas station on the sea

Anigrand Craftswork - 1/144 Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind Gas station on the sea. Includes Bonus aircraft of the Convair XFY-1 Pogo, Bell XHSL-1 and Vought XF7U-1 Cutlass. In 1944, the U.S. Navy asked the industries to enter a design competition for a 105,000 pound patrol boat powered by four radials. At the end of the war, two German Bv.222 flying boats were captured by US forces. Convair acquired one for evaluation at Naval Air Station, the intensive studies leading to the hull design of their Model 117. In early 1946, Convair received a requirement from the U.S. Navy for a large flying-boat using the new laminar flow wing and the developing turboprop technology. It was awarded a contract for two prototypes, designated XP5Y-1 Tradewind. After the first aircraft crash in 1953, the Navy decided not to proceed with the patrol boat version but changed into a passenger and cargo aircraft. The Tradewind program was redesignated R3Y. Six flying boats were built as the R3Y-2 with a lifting nose for landing ship duties. In practice, it was almost impossible for the pilots to hold the aircraft steady and nose on to the beach while the aircraft was loaded or unloaded. The aircraft were converted into tankers for the in-flight refueling role. Subsequently three more aircraft were lost through engine failures, all the Tradewind aircraft were grounded in 1958.