Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Acree on May 21, 2015, 07:19:43 AM
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Just wanted to give you guys a heads up on what I am working on. Since I have a very limited stash (and even more limited stash-space), I usually decide my next build based on what partial aircraft is sitting forlornly in the stash needing to be kitbashed. In this case, I had a 1/72 Hasegawa F6F-5 which had contributed it's engine and cowling to my SPU-1 Stingray and it's wings to my recent SK-1 Malt. It was such a nice fuselage just sitting there... So I decided to replace the original engine with a much-smaller R-2600 from a B-25, supplemented by a jet in the tail. The intake for the jet is directly under the R-2600 engine cowling, just ahead of the wing. Having transplanted the wings to the SK-1, I looked in the stash for some wings that are not already dedicated to a future project... about the only things I had available were the upper wing from a Gladiator (definitely out!) and the wings from a Kingfisher. I decided on the Kingfisher wings, which had two problems: 1. No landing gear. I solved this problem using a dremel to cut out wheel wells and I'll make doors out of sheet styrene to cover the F6F gear. 2. The Kingfisher wings are too short for this Hellcat fuselage - I hope to address that somehow with high-lift devices and backstory.
I have already installed the jet exhaust, which looks really good, I think. I have also begun to craft the intake trunking and modified the B-25 cowling to keep the exhaust out of the jet intake. The back story will involve the jet Hellcat being a backup to the Ryan FR-1. If I had thought of it in time, I would have saved this for the WWIII GB, but I think I am too far along for that. Even so, I may put it on hold to try to get another (different) entry into the Extended Service Life GB, if I can gather parts in time AND there is an extension.
I will post WIP photos later tonight or tomorrow. Comments and suggestions welcome!
Chuck
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A couple of WIP photos to give you an idea what I'm talking about:
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This build is more involved than it first appears. Good job :)
Fireballs were retired in 1947 due to excess corrosion. Jet Hellcat was needed.
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Nice project and good start, go on! :)
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I was expecting a pure jet Hellcat, something more like a Ta-183 "Hückebein" at the front with the tail as you've done it.
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Yes, I probably should have said "Mixed-Power Hellcat." I never really considered a pure jet. But it would have been a real challenge considering the size of the Hellcat's nose - it was really HUGE - about the same as a Thunderbolt!
I think the Navy had good, logical reasons for going with mixed power before going pure jet (fuel consumption and unreliability of early jets being top of the list).
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I think the Navy had good, logical reasons for going with mixed power before going pure jet (fuel consumption and unreliability of early jets being top of the list).
I think the slow spool up time of the early jets was also a key issue - especially for failed traps etc.
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I think the slow spool up time of the early jets was also a key issue - especially for failed traps etc.
Absolutely! I remember even in the 80s the (50s technology) T-37 had THIRTEEN SECONDS spool-up time. I would have hated to try to land something like that on a carrier!
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This build is more involved than it first appears. Good job :)
Fireballs were retired in 1947 due to excess corrosion. Jet Hellcat was needed.
I couldn't agree more!
Looks like you found a gap that needs filling, Chuck!
You're off to a wizard start, too!
Brian da Basher
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Well, the more I worked on the Jet Hellcat, the less Hellcat it became! So, to see the end result, see my new thread: Bellanca FE-1! See here: http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5654.0 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5654.0)