Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Informal Lockdown/COVID-19 GB => Topic started by: robunos on April 25, 2020, 03:59:04 AM

Title: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: robunos on April 25, 2020, 03:59:04 AM



When I saw the Arrowhead fighter from Gerry Anderson's 'Stingray', I decided  to build one. While waiting for the kit to arrive, I also decided to make some changes to my version . . .
I've started the build, but unusually for me, haven't finalised the backstory, or chosen a name yet, hence the 'No Name' thread title. This will change before I've finished.
Okay, here we go . . .
I'm using an old Hasegawa F-5A kit I got secondhand. Glued the fuselage halves together,


(https://i.postimg.cc/tJvzNqyF/01-fus-joined.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


and while they were drying down, I cut the wings and tail surfaces away from their respective centre-sections.


(https://i.postimg.cc/T139bL8R/01-wings-cut.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/B6gpt5VY/01-tail-cut.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


These will later have their roots trimmed to fit their new mounting points on the fuselage.
As an experiment, I'm also using cellulose thinners, rather than cement, to glue the parts together. So far, it seems to work just as well, bearing in mind the drying time is a bit longer. Also, it's a lot cheaper . . .
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: My 'No Name' Build . . .
Post by: Buzzbomb on April 25, 2020, 05:38:38 AM
Nice.. interested to see how this comes together
Title: Re: My 'No Name' Build . . .
Post by: robunos on April 25, 2020, 05:45:43 AM
So am I . . . it's definitely a case of 'make it up as I go along' ! I know how I want it to turn out, but the details are still somewhat flexible . . .

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: My 'No Name' Build . . .
Post by: apophenia on April 27, 2020, 08:30:03 AM
Looking good  :smiley:
Title: Northrop 'Eagle Claw'
Post by: robunos on May 01, 2020, 12:27:21 AM
Okay, backstory decided and written, and thread renamed . . .



Northrop 'Eagle Claw'


Following the poor performance of USAF F-4 Phantoms in combat with North Vietnamese MiG-17s, the USAF deployed Sidewinder missile armed Northrop F-5s as a replacement, under 'Operation Dog Star'. They proved highly successful, able to match both the speed of the F-105 and F-4 bombers they were assigned to escort, and the agility of the NVAF Migs during a dogfight. However, following the introduction of the MiG-21 into the NVAF, the tables started turn back in favour of the Vietnamese. Northrop responded with an improved F-5,  modified to a canard configuration, under the Northrop program designator 'Extreme AGiLity - Canard Lift Against Aft-mounted Wing', or EAGL-CLAAW.
A demonstrator, named  'Eagle Claw 1', was hurriedly designed, built and tested. However the USAF decided that it would take too long to bring the aircraft into production and service, and declined to proceed further. Northrop decided to retain the 'Eagle Claw', however, as a research aircraft for the upcoming LWF program. Many people still remember it's showstopping display at the 1975 Paris Airshow . . .


My model will depict the  'Eagle Claw' demonstrator as it appeared at the 1975 Paris Airshow.


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: My 'No Name' Build . . .
Post by: robunos on May 02, 2020, 02:46:14 AM



Okay, just a quick update, today,
Flying surfaces attached, the joints are a bit flismy at the moment, especially the canards . . .


(https://i.postimg.cc/7PWH2SZK/01-surfaces-on.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


 I will wait until the glue has gone right off, then I will re-inforce the joints with cyano . . .
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .


 cheers,
Robin.

Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw'
Post by: GTX_Admin on May 02, 2020, 04:25:21 AM
Looking good
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw'
Post by: apophenia on May 02, 2020, 06:59:21 AM
It is! And the canards are better-placed than on the Arrowhead version  ;)
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw'
Post by: Buzzbomb on May 17, 2020, 07:50:53 AM
Rechecking some older builds.

I do like the shape of this
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw'
Post by: robunos on July 02, 2020, 04:48:32 AM

Northrop N-156 EC 'Eagle Claw' technology demonstrator, Paris Air Show, 1975.


(https://i.postimg.cc/KjTSCWmL/eagle-claw-03.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/9Xwh4DyM/eagle-claw-04.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/R00rvhMv/eagle-claw-05.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/bwpcFLWD/eagle-claw-06.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/g2sF98bM/eagle-claw-07.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/CLyVbw44/eagle-claw-08.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/vHWwzCqw/eagle-claw-09.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/432DyGdV/eagle-claw-10.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/DZH3jh3n/eagle-claw-00.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/LXqrZWY7/eagle-claw-11.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)


(https://i.postimg.cc/DZtRQc1z/eagle-claw-12.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)




That's All, Folks . . .


cheers,
Robin.

Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: Frank3k on July 02, 2020, 05:37:13 AM
Wow! Looks great. It would look good in Captain Scarlet's universe! Or maybe in a dogfight with your Mig-21?
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: elmayerle on July 02, 2020, 06:06:32 AM
Damn, that's a beautiful finished model.  My hat's off to you.  It wouldn't surprise me, though, if, internal to Northrop, it was known as "Tiger Claw' given the F-5's association with the "Tiger" name.
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: robunos on July 02, 2020, 11:21:37 PM
Damn, that's a beautiful finished model.  My hat's off to you.  It wouldn't surprise me, though, if, internal to Northrop, it was known as "Tiger Claw' given the F-5's association with the "Tiger" name.


Thanks,   :-[ , but it's just my usual 'Six Inch Finish' . . . but I am rather pleased with it.   8)
If I can get hold of the kits ( should read,when I have the money to get hold of the kits ), I'd like to build a better version of the prototype, a production Tiger Claw, in service markings, a developed, F404-powered version ( F-20, or X-29 as the base kit ), as well as a F-5 'Dog Star', as mentioned in the backstory. But I need better kits than the old Hasegawa kit I used this time round . . .


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: apophenia on July 03, 2020, 10:22:32 AM
Excellent scheme. And you've got a bit of a canard theme going here  :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: The Rat on July 11, 2020, 08:19:40 AM
Beauty!
Title: Re: Northrop 'Eagle Claw' - FINISHED
Post by: ericr on July 11, 2020, 10:46:54 AM
 :smiley: