Author Topic: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72  (Read 8778 times)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« on: September 14, 2015, 05:43:05 AM »
Hi all,
The ultimate version of the navalised P-40, the Kittiwake FB.5, was cancelled before the prototype was completed. It would've been a real beast of a fighter/attacked, with the big Griffon 65 driving a six-bladed contra-rotating propeller. To help with stability it received a taller tail as well as the bubble canopy first trialled on Mk.I WA031 during WW2, and a semi-retractable tail hook relocated to aft of the tailwheel. The prototype, never given a serial, was scrapped in late 1957.

A full-size replica of the aborted FB.5 project was built over several years by a team of enthusiasts in Portsmouth. The project was purchased by collector Lawrence Hardy, who contracted the team to complete the aircraft to airworthy standards. Upon completion the aircraft was trucked to the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford, where it was painted in FAA colours and first flew on 18/12/2014 as G-XLHV. It remains at Duxford, operated by Historic Flying Ltd on Hardy’s behalf.

This model will represent G-XLHV, wearing the typical FAA scheme of Extra-Dark Sea Grey uppers and Sky sides and underside but with a distinctive red spinner.



Well, it would, if any of it were true! As some of you may recall, I came up with the Kittiwake concept some years ago and it's only now that my skills (and income) have caught up with me to the point I can actually build some of the aircraft. The basis for this build is Pegasus' very tidy XP-40Q, with some additions:

- turned brass long-fairing Hispano cannon for the Fairey Firefly by Master Models
- Aeroclub Seafire 47 prop
- vertical stab and rudder modified from a Revell P-47
- Italeri A-4 tailhook
- carb air intake from an Airfix Wellington




The Pegasus kit has beautiful surface detail but doesn't build as nicely as it looks - some modelling skill required! If I'd got one 11-12yr ago I'm sure it would've been binned as too hard for me. OOB the wing has no dihedral so some shaving on the fuselage, along with the tape you see, was needed, and I had to squeeze the canopy into place. The fuselage fits together nicely, though. The kit has white metal landing gear and prop (not used) which are very nice, but as there was some mould alignment issues I've used some Academy P-40 mainwheels.



It's an exciting build for me! So far the biggest mod apart from the tail was removing the moulded carb intake under the nose and reshaping the lower cowl to look more Griffon-y. The canopy went on after these photos. The next bit is sanding the radiator inlet fairings to be a bit smoother, then it's on with the paint.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2015, 05:48:59 AM by KiwiZac »
Zac in NZ
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Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2015, 08:10:37 AM »
This is awesome Zac!!  I like your use of the P-47 Horizontal Stab as a rudder. Very reminiscent of the late mark Spitfires and Seafires.
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Offline Tophe

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2015, 10:33:09 AM »
I am not sure, but I guess this may become a marvel... :)
Will it have a Spitfire 14/24 (beautiful) nose instead of the ugly P-40E/N nose? (with radiator chin)
I wish you will create such a beauty... I am waiting, take your time, but I hope that my wishes will be fulfilled, by chance... ;)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2015, 12:18:55 PM »
Thanks gents. :-[

Tophe - it will have a very pretty nose! It will almost resemble the racing P-51D Precious Metal, with the intake moved to the top: http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/survivors/serial/87-4488
Zac in NZ
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Offline Tophe

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2015, 11:26:23 PM »
Aesthetical surgerer, aren't you? ;)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2015, 11:25:27 AM »
Hi team,

It's very cold out there this afternoon but I managed to finish it!





I'll do some better photos next week :-)
Zac in NZ
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Offline Camthalion

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2015, 12:50:17 PM »
Looks good.  Nice work

Offline Tophe

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2015, 01:12:00 PM »
HURRAH !!! Glory to this Miss Universe 2016 (or 1946) :-* :-*

PS. As this pretty girl lacks power, a little, may I Photoshop-help her with a twin-sister into a Zwilling?
« Last Edit: September 20, 2015, 01:14:32 PM by Tophe »

Offline TurboCoupeTurbo

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2015, 02:36:05 PM »
This makes me happy to see! Very well done.

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2015, 07:17:13 AM »
 :-[ Thanks folks! I'm rather pleased with how it turned out, especially the nose.

Tophe - underpowered? This little lady packs more than 2000hp...a normal P-40 has 1150hp! But I do like the idea of a zwilling... :-* :-*
Zac in NZ
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Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2015, 07:50:11 AM »
Wonderful build Zac. I like your use of components from other A/C and in the wrong place.  ;D
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Offline elmayerle

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2015, 08:29:30 AM »
Gorgeous bit of work, Zac.  The backstory works well, too.

Offline Tophe

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2015, 08:44:13 AM »
Tophe - underpowered? This little lady packs more than 2000hp...a normal P-40 has 1150hp! But I do like the idea of a zwilling... :-* :-*
Poor Zac, impressed by 2,000hp... Don't you know the Twin-Twin-Griffon one (Twin-Kittywake+) had more than 8,000hp? I know you know her, but don't be shy: she is no more a secret jewel:

(Thanks again, Zac!)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2015, 12:38:01 PM »
 ;D Nice work, Tophe! I only have one suggestion for improvement - a single horizontal tail, like the Twin Mustang...can you do it?  :-*
Zac in NZ
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Offline Tophe

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2015, 10:43:27 PM »
Thanks!
For the P-82-like tail... ahem, this is less easy:
1- creating the missing (link fuselage to fuselage) part, I may try but I fear it will not be as realistic as the photograph of a true part
2- removing the external tailplanes, and the shadow below the port one is also difficult, needing to create new pixels without basis
I think I will try 1 and not 2, maybe today or tomorrow.
Thanks again!

EDIT : done!
« Last Edit: September 21, 2015, 11:33:28 PM by Tophe »

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #15 on: September 27, 2015, 02:01:19 PM »
Nice work, Tophe!

Here are some final photos of the FB.5 replica, I'm finishing work on the 1/48 version of WA201 and have started on the 1/72 RCN one. Good fun!






Zac in NZ
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Offline Tophe

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2015, 02:41:04 PM »
Good fun!
Yes, thanks for sharing this fun (and aesthetical deep emotion) with us!

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2015, 09:39:23 PM »
Superb build Zac. I'd like to see more aircraft from the Curtiss-Fairey drawing boards.
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I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

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Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #18 on: September 28, 2015, 03:40:02 AM »
Well TBG, the only ones I'll be doing are Kittiwakes, so get used to much of the same!  ;)
Zac in NZ
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Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #19 on: September 28, 2015, 06:06:31 AM »
Same is good Zac. Looking forward to your FB.6, 7, 8, 9  and 10.

Carl
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #20 on: September 28, 2015, 09:55:15 AM »
Nope, you're out of luck! The FB.5 was it, there are a couple of Mk.I/FB.1 and a few Mk.II/FB.2s in my future though.
Zac in NZ
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Offline Acree

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #21 on: September 29, 2015, 02:03:16 AM »
That is the best and most potent looking P-40 I have ever seen!  (though it hardly looks like one anymore)  Congrats!

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #22 on: September 29, 2015, 11:05:03 AM »
Thanks for your kind words, acree! That's what I was going for!  8)
Zac in NZ
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https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Curtiss-Fairey Kittiwake FB.5 - 1/72
« Reply #23 on: October 01, 2015, 06:48:47 AM »
Oh my now that really finished up a treat, Your Lordship!

I don't think I've ever seen that famous Royal Navy scheme rendered more faithfully!

This beauty sure is easy on the eyes and then some!

Nicely done, Old Bean!

Brian da Basher