Sorry chaps, been a bit of a slacker and haven`t been on this site for some time mainly due to real world builds, new job and running/helping on a couple of other websites. I`ll try my best in future to stick up some results and WIPS in future.
So here`s the first of a couple of recent builds, this one being a complete kit bash involving a high number of kits.
Vickers Supermarine Sceptre F.1
74 (Tiger) Squadron
RAF Coltishall
1961Developed from the much larger Vickers Supermarine 559 proposal from 1955, the Vickers Supermarine Sceptre F.1 was born from the 1957 Defence White Paper and entered service in 1959 as a point defence fighter.
It`s role was very much influenced from the theories and thinking of the day in that nuclear missile technology was expected deliver a knock out blow to the infrastructure of NATO and it`s airfields.
The design team at Vickers Supermarine looked at way`s in which the RAF could launch a defensive response without the need for a long runway to launch and recover. Finally, very much like the Luftwaffe had adopted at the end of the Second World War, a ZELL, (Zero Launch Length), system was incorporated into the design with a cockpit capsule `ejecting` the pilot from the rest of the aircraft once the mission was completed and it had returned to friendly airspace. (Again, the thinking was that no airfields would be available upon return).
The launching system and cradle were set upon an upgraded and modified Churchill tank chassis and during times of tension the aircraft would be deployed into the field's and wooded areas of Western Germany and the United Kingdom.
The system was operational for a short period and was withdrawn from use in 1963 when the English Electric Lightning was available in larger numbers to replace it.
While the Sceptre was just a minor foot note in British Aviation history, it is believed to be responsible and strongly influenced the creative thinking behind Sci Fi shows like Fireball XL 5 and Thunderbirds.
Only one example survives and is being restored behind closed doors at the RAF museum at Cosford.
Crew - One
Length - 58 ft 3 in
Wingspan - 39 ft
Powerplants - Two Reheated De Havilland Gyron Engines each with 20,000 pounds of thrust
Max Speed - 2.5 Mach
Service Ceiling - 61,000 ft
Endurance - 45 minutes
Armament - 4 Air to Air Missiles
