Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Old Wombat on June 10, 2016, 08:57:33 PM
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Based on an F4D-1 Skyray, I give you the F4D-1P Skychase:
My second build for the GB over on What If is going to be a F4D-1 modified with a PR nose from another kit.
Idea is that the RAN purchased a four of these aircraft in the early 1960's for evaluation purposes to replace their F9F-8's but opted for the F-8 Crusader, instead.
The Naval Aircraft Research & Development Unit (NARDU), the RAN's version of its RAAF equivalent, retained these aircraft for weapons, stores pylon & targetting system testing.
In the mid-70's three of these aircraft were retired & used for parts to keep the 4th flying.
This aircraft was modified by fitting a PR nose to the airframe & was used as a chase-plane to record test flights of other aircraft & the effectiveness of weapons delivery systems.
It was scrapped in 1984 after a crash-landing at NAS Parafield, SA.
What I'm starting with:
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/ecb7aaae-74bc-4cfc-9f6b-6e4b050ad146_zpsziyq5kfk.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/ecb7aaae-74bc-4cfc-9f6b-6e4b050ad146_zpsziyq5kfk.jpg)
Not huge progress but it is moving. I've painted & put together the photo-recce gear & put it in the main body of the PR nose. To finish this bit I have to glue the glazing into the other 3 panels & fit them to the body-work.
In a fit of misplaced enthusiasm I glued the nose to the cockpit section; :-\
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3698_zpsaagpvnwb.jpg)
In this shot we have the original F4D-1 nose for comparison;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3701_zpsvc70ewte.jpg)
So, next job is to remove it & work on the cockpit. ::)
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"NARDU" Wombat, really??? ;D ;D
Cool Whiff of one of my fave 50's Navy birds!! :)
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"NARDU" Wombat, really??? ;D ;D
Cool Whiff of one of my fave 50's Navy birds!! :)
Hell, yeah, bro! ;)
Fits into my RAM Alt History time-line, formed at approximately the same time as the ARDU but at NAS Parafield (which is why the ARDU moved to Edinburgh, just a few klicks away). :))
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Was wondering 'bout the airfields' proximity to each other. Betcha the Govt. would've closed the Parafield site by now and we'd be stuck at Edinburgh with the RAFFies ::) ::)
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Different universe, old son! Mine! ;D
Navy is running 3 mid-sized fleet carriers, 3 escort carriers plus 3 LHD's.
The idea is that we're really running 3 carrier groups & 3 rapid reaction groups but with each group cycling through a maintenance/refit phase.
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If only old son, if only!! :) :)
Sorta fits the Whiff fleet I was yappin with you about don't it? I've got a fair bit done for that too ;)
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Nice details in that camera bay!
I've got a couple of these in the stash in 1/72 & 1/48, not sure what I'm going to do with them, your project may give me a little inspiration.
If the rest of this baby comes out as nice as that camera bay, you're going to have a real prize-winner on your hands when all is said and done!
Brian da Basher
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Nice, WRE/DSTO would be kept busy and AEW at Penfield would probably still be running doing support work for them.
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If only old son, if only!! :) :)
Sorta fits the Whiff fleet I was yappin with you about don't it? I've got a fair bit done for that too ;)
Have you shown pic's, yet? I don't recall any. ???
But then, I do seem to be getting Old-Timers'. :-\
Nice details in that camera bay!
I've got a couple of these in the stash in 1/72 & 1/48, not sure what I'm going to do with them, your project may give me a little inspiration.
If the rest of this baby comes out as nice as that camera bay, you're going to have a real prize-winner on your hands when all is said and done!
Brian da Basher
Thanks, BdB! :icon_alabanza:
I hope that my builds can inspire you, you're off-beat builds amuse the heck out of me, & I hope both my builds end as well as they've started!
Nice, WRE/DSTO would be kept busy and AEW at Penfield would probably still be running doing support work for them.
As FAAMAN said ... "If only!"
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Beautiful! What aircraft did the camera bay and nose come from? It certainly encourages me to consider a F5D-2P.
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Was wondering 'bout the airfields' proximity to each other. Betcha the Govt. would've closed the Parafield site by now and we'd be stuck at Edinburgh with the RAFFies ::) ::)
I would have thought NARDU would be based at HMAS Albatross (formerly Naval Air Station (NAS) Nowra) or perhaps at NAS Jervis Bay thus accommodating both land/carrier based aircraft as well as float/seaplanes at the nearby HMAS Creswell ;)
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Aww come on GTX, that would make too much sense wouldn't it? ;)
Wombat is ultimately Whiffing about "Government: decisions isn't he??? ::) ::)
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Was wondering 'bout the airfields' proximity to each other. Betcha the Govt. would've closed the Parafield site by now and we'd be stuck at Edinburgh with the RAFFies ::) ::)
I would have thought NARDU would be based at HMAS Albatross (formerly Naval Air Station (NAS) Nowra) or perhaps at NAS Jervis Bay thus accommodating both land/carrier based aircraft as well as float/seaplanes at the nearby HMAS Creswell ;)
Nah, you see when the decision was made the Defmin, Finance minister and Foreign Minister were all South Australians.
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Oooooh! Cameras!! :)
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Curious if the camera nose is from the KH recce Cougar? And if so is there another nose option in the kit?
Was thinking of an RA-4 Skyhawk with a belly pod but that nose you're using might look good.
thanks
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Noooooo !!! Not an RA-4 :o :o How could you??? ;D ;D
Wasn't it bad enough that Kiwi's got our A-4G's for next to nuthin' ;) ;)
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Curious if the camera nose is from the KH recce Cougar? And if so is there another nose option in the kit?
Was thinking of an RA-4 Skyhawk with a belly pod but that nose you're using might look good.
thanks
Hi, Gary! :))
Yep, the Kittyhawk kit comes as the F9F-8/F9F-8P, so you get the standard fighter nose & the PR nose.
And I'd love to see a RA-4! ;D ;D ;D
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::) ::) You would Wombat ::) ::)
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Thanks for the info, Wombat. May have to look around for that Cougar.
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::) ::) You would Wombat ::) ::)
Yeah, Baby! ;D
Thanks for the info, Wombat. May have to look around for that Cougar.
Not a problem!
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Just to show that I've been doing some modelling:
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3709_zpswm4yi7zk.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3710_zps6yhftxqw.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3708_zpse5xzozjp.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3719_zpswkqwe70b.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3715_zpseffvw0pj.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3716_zpsl9yntj4z.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3718_zpsiwqvxa6a.jpg)
I finally got to glue the nose on for real! :D
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Looks like you and your putty will be getting a lot of alone time on this one where the narrow Skyray fuselage meets the nose section from the Cougar.
PSR
:)
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Progress is always good Wombat :)
Try using plastic card formers and then fill in with filler ;)
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I have a plan, my Lord! ;)
Hopefully it's cunning. ::)
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(http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/61/21/811360726-baldrick-cunning-plan-fox.jpg)
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([url]http://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/61/21/811360726-baldrick-cunning-plan-fox.jpg[/url])
Nope, but it appears to have worked! :D
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A plan huh? Well . . . . . (foot tapping) . . . . . give it up Wombat ::) ::)
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After a certain amount of PSR & repairing of 2 glazing panels that accidentally got popped in (That's not fun, believe me!), a moderately cunning plan has come together.
The Underbelly;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3784_zps4j5yifwm.jpg)
Nose-on;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3787_zpszmfjqdlu.jpg)
Possibly flight-profiles, nose-on;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3788_zpsiqam6bkz.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3786_zpsdolibfgb.jpg)
Top views;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3782_zps50f7yzmu.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3781_zpsbpg8k28l.jpg)
Side views;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3783_zpsmgemnkig.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3785_zpsngyy7kce.jpg)
The nose gear doors have been lowered into the new profile by cutting part of the wheel bay area away with some of the fuselage sides, which have been spread out to the new width, adding some styrene sheet shaped to measure into the wheel bays & PSR'ing into the required profile to blend the different fuselage shapes.
I think it looks pretty good, though I'm sure there'll be flaws brought to light by a shot of primer which will need to be rectified. After which I'll figure out some panel lines.
Thanks for waiting & watching!
:icon_alabanza:
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That new nose really stands out on that Skyray :)
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Thanks, Jeff! :D
I think?! ???
I'm struggling for a name for her but they all revolve around her nose;
1) Droopy Snoopy - for comic/cartoon fans
2) Droop Snoop - for the literal-minded
3) Bignose - for movie buffs
4) Camera Conk - another for the literal-minded
5) Cyrano de Bergerac - for the literati
Bearing in mind that any references (to movies, etc.) have to be pre-1984, when, in my time-line, she crashes & is scrapped.
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Nicely faired Wombatus!! Keep up the good work :)
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It's a duck nose!
(http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/images/pekin-duck.jpg)
Beautiful, ditto! Can't wait to see it finished!
Regards.
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Thank you, gents! :icon_alabanza:
Speaking of ducks brings Mr Percival to mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Percival (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Percival)
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Thank you, gents! :icon_alabanza:
Speaking of ducks brings Mr Percival to mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Percival (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Percival)
Oh that looks like great fodder for a back story if I ever saw it...
Speaking of great, I'm really enjoying the play-by-play! It's a treat for me to watch the progress.
Brian da Basher
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Well, in my absence modelling has been happening & this is the result:
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3798_zps3s8om1qx.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3799_zps0apej8k8.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3800_zpsn5acp0mr.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3801_zps0agzarjl.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3802_zpsawh5arak.jpg)
No clean-up done, yet, just glued together (except the engine, which is only fitted for photo purposes).
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You've done well old son!! :) :)
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Rhinoplasty...goood goood :D
Honestly,I really like it,has a very interesting and modern look with the new nose...this work promises a lot!
Keep up !
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Thank you, gents! :icon_alabanza:
She has a bit of a high-speed pelican look about her, so I'm leaning towards Mr Percival as a name (it also fits the time period). ;)
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From the Northern Hemisphere, I would say it has the Jimmy Durante look.
Good work Guy.
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Thanks, tBG! ... Oops, & Brian! :icon_alabanza:
Personally, I'm not keen on Jimmy Durante & the reference is far too obvious, plus he's not Australian.
The "Storm Boy" reference of Mr Percival is more appropriate for country & time period (mid-70's).
(Also, the Australian pelican has the longest bill of any bird. ;) )
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I am seriously tempted to copy that nose for a F5D Skylancer conversion
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Go for it! :)
I'm not copyrighting or patenting my ideas for that very reason. ;)
(I wish the RAAF would stop being hard-arse about their roundels being published on decal sheets for anything other than "approved" aircraft, too. ::) )
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(I wish the RAAF would stop being hard-arse about their roundels being published on decal sheets for anything other than "approved" aircraft, too. ::) )
Example?
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(I wish the RAAF would stop being hard-arse about their roundels being published on decal sheets for anything other than "approved" aircraft, too. ::) )
Example?
Not heard of this, could you elaborate?
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OK, it's more something that I've heard rather than have 1st hand information on - a forum member elsewhere said that he had had to buy Aussie roundels "under the table" because the manufacturer had said that the RAAF would not allow them to print (for sale) any roundels or markings not specifically approved of by them.
However, the lack of RAAF roundels available anywhere (& I've been looking pretty hard over the last several weeks) except in sets for any but a few aircraft seems to support this. ???
If you guys know of anywhere I can buy generic RAAF early-WW2 & modern roundels, & marking numbers/letters & codes, I'd love to know where! :))
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Sounds like BS to me.
As for roundels etc try the following:
http://www.modelflags.com/acatalog/RAAF01_Roundels.html (http://www.modelflags.com/acatalog/RAAF01_Roundels.html)
http://www.modelkitsonline.com.au/pages/main/search.php?Category=Aust+Decals&Make=Aussie+Decals&Scale=Mixed&Search= (http://www.modelkitsonline.com.au/pages/main/search.php?Category=Aust+Decals&Make=Aussie+Decals&Scale=Mixed&Search=)
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Thanks, Greg! :)
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Gosh that does sound very odd! Straight sheets of RAAF roundels maybe a bit hard to find at times so just raid specific aircraft sheets.
NovaScale have a great selection and can be found pretty easy on evilBay, plus Red Roo Models is a great place to get all things RAAF!
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Good to see the RAAF has its snout in the trough so to speak.
Nice proboscis work
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OK chaps, just to prove that I have been doing something, I finally reached a point worthy of photo's.
Here's where I'm up to now. Colours are on, touch-ups & fixes required (luckily only small ones). Still needs a pre-decal gloss coat, etc.
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3807_zpsj0n2w1ym.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3805_zpsfphysy89.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3804_zps3ejatnpj.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3803_zpsquil48xp.jpg)
Obviously I chose the easy colours! ::) :-\
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Nicely executed old son :) 8)
A couple of days worth of masking there?
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Nicely executed old son :) 8)
A couple of days worth of masking there?
Thanks, mate! :)
About 3, actually. :-\
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Hoooo baby, that is looking cool! Very ARDU!
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Nice job on the paintwork!! That masking really paid off!
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OK, paint job ain't perfect but it came together better than the F6F's.
Most of the decals are on (I'm taking a little coffee break from them at the moment :-\ ).
So, just have to finish the decals, gloss coat, pin-wash the panel lines & semi-gloss coat.
Oh, & do all the little bits I've overlooked whilst focussing on the F6F issues, like drop tanks, & landing gear, & hook, & .... :-[
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Remember seeing Skyrays on ramp and flying.
Impressed that and how you built Spyray. Lovely :-*
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My that's a tasty color scheme!
Brian da Basher
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Thanks, guys! :icon_alabanza:
Oh-Kay ... You know how you get to the last couple of bits of a build & then "Uh-oh!"? :icon_surprised:
You've gone through the entire thing & only now do you realise that way back at the beginning you made a real rookie mistake? ???
Well, I've just realised that I forgot to drill out the holes in the wings for the drop tanks. :o
They're the last thing I need to do before this baby is done. So, I shall now have to do my chores for the day, then I can come back to her & do what needs to be done. :-\
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Just be gentle Wombat ;)
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Righto, this baby's done! :icon_music:
No photo's tonight - gotta go to bed, got a call this evening & I've got a double shift tomorrow (0800-2300).
So, may do photo's tomorrow night or Sunday morning.
There are little stuff-ups everywhere but I'm rather pleased with the result.
Until soon ... :icon_beer:
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No photo's tonight - gotta go to bed, got a call this evening & I've got a double shift tomorrow (0800-2300).
That's a pathetic excuse! We demand photos. Now! Now! Now! Now! Now! Now!!!!!!!
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Have to agree with you GTX, a poor showing, NOW . . . . . . . . . . please :)
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In 1962 the RAN purchased four F4D-1's for evaluation purposes to replace their F9F-8's but opted for the F-8 Crusader, instead.
The Naval Aircraft Research & Development Unit (NARDU), the RAN's version of its RAAF equivalent, was gifted the aircraft & retained them for weapons, stores pylon & targetting system testing.
In the 1973 the F4D-1's were showing their age & heavy usage, so three were retired & used for parts to keep the 4th flying.
This 4th aircraft, which just happened to be the 4th airframe purchased, was virtually rebuilt during its refit & was modified by fitting a PR nose from a F9F-8P to the airframe, & designated as an F4D-1P, the only one of its kind. With the big, long PR nose it was only natural that everyone began calling it "the pelican". Then, in 1976, the SA Film Corporation movie production of Colin Thiele's novel "Storm Boy" was released & the plane had a name - Mr Percival.
Mr Percival was a busy aircraft, being used as a chase-plane to record test flights of other aircraft & the effectiveness of weapons delivery systems he clocked up almost as many flying hours as all other test aircraft combined.
On the 4th of June 1984 an undercarriage failure caused Mr Percival to crash on landing at NAS Parafield, South Australia, luckily with no loss of life or serious injury. However, after the inquest into the accident, Mr Percival was officially scrapped on the 30th of June that same year.
These images show Mr Percival in mid-January, 1984, just 5 months before the crash.
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3828_zpshyr68m6c.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3829_zpsms27fpk1.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3831_zpspmidvkty.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3832_zpsxkqa2sfq.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3834_zpsjisbmvuz.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3836_zpsmcakybwc.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3837_zpsqczsnrtm.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3838_zpsjsicxspm.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3839_zps5817zdqd.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3840_zps959iyvr1.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3841_zpsghrqmmy4.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/F4D-1%20Chaser/DSCN3842_zpsrmxmud8k.jpg)
Well, that's one down! ;D
One to go! ???
Hope you like him! :)
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Excellent back story to accompany your most excellent what-if yet.
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Five stars quality! :icon_alabanza: :-* :)
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Excellent finish ! :-* Well done !
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Outstanding! :) :)
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Bloody ripper!
Terrific colour scheme and great build
Will I see this at the Adelaide show this year, pretty much decided I am coming over
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Brilliant Wombat!! 8) 8) Great to see those Charlie tank spillages and staining represented :) :)
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Thank you all very much, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza:
Sorry, Brian, work knocked back my leave request for the SAPMA Expo weekend, so I doubt I'll be there. :icon_crap:
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All I can say is "Damn, that's gorgeous and with a perfectly done backstory!" I'm definitely in awe of this one.
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Just amazing how well that works out, who'd believe you'd be able to graft that nose on so convincingly and the paint job is superb.
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Thanks, gent's! Appreciated! :icon_alabanza:
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Spyray really rocks, is cool. 8)
Pictures bring out fine points of this fine build.
Looks every bit of its interesting backstory.
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Thanks, Bill! :icon_alabanza: