Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: finsrin on March 19, 2012, 04:34:27 PM
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Slowy --- world’s slowest attack and light bomber jet.
Was at model store and spotted Airfix 1/144 Handley Page H.P.42 Heracles. With no forethought/plan to build a H.P.42 kit bash, I bought it to bash into a 1/72 something. Decided that H.P. 42 fuselage and wings had to be used to be a H.P.42 kit bash. Since 1/48 Venom and 1/100 A-10 kits were already out from Spider Venom and Zip Jet builds, I looked at them first. A-10 tail stood out as a good fit. Then it was dive into stash to consider what might be useful. After looking at piston and turboprop options (could have ended up single or twin prop), the A-10 engines which were out in the first place ended up my choice. Since it was not already known to have a bomb bay, like you would know a B-17 has, I decided to install one. Turns out 1/72 F-19 bay is ideal size. As if not already making enough bomb bay work for myself, it became a magnetic bay which lets you magnetically mount a Maverick missile or mount closed bomb bay doors (work on doors not yet finished). Has 1/72 Lindberg AR-234 nose with 1/72 F-15 cockpit. Top wing fuel tanks are 1/48 Venom. Main landing gear (spats) are 1/48 Gee Bee racer. Gun turret is from Airfix Do-217. Turret gunner must be of small stature to enter thru side hatch and work in confined space. See attached one page briefing sheet and pictures.
Doing two postings to include all attachments.
Bill
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Love it! :)
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Slowy jet - second set of pictures
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My what lovely spats you have there!
:-* :-* :-*
Absolutely delightful and wonderfully imaginative, Bill!
An absolute crackerjack model!
Oh and those spats are very nice too!
:-* :-* :-*
Brian da Basher
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Excelente! Fantástico!! Maravilloso!!!
:-* :-* :-*
Very inspiring. Would easily fit in "Wings of Horneamisse", "Porco Rosso" or other aerial action animé.
Love the integration of jet engines and "conformal" wing tanks. The transparent prow is icing on the cake. And the trapeze equipped weapons bay....... :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
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Wow, someone's been drinking a lot of Brian's Kool-Aid! Well done!
Cheers,
Logan
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Retro futurism at its best :-*
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Very interesting.
Would go great with some of my early jets.
Congrats
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That is some wonderful imagineering right there. :-*
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Totally unexpected and yet pretty cool. :)
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What to do with left over bits.... Make ANOTHER plane !!
LOVE IT !!
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Weird! :-*
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Bill, you are a sick, sick man - and I mean that as a compliment!
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Or to quote Chef Emeril LeGasse ........ BAM !!!!
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Well, I like it ! ( mind you, it still needs a Death Ray... )
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Thanks for all the nice comments and appreciation guys. :)
Interesting how it came out with no plan of what to build. Selected the core model then looked at other finished models and opened stash kits until finding some part(s) that seem promising and the build ideas come with seeing the parts. Hence - Finds part glues it on....
Think the weirdness effect it has on us with our aircraft smart eyes/mind is that you see a 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1970s to today airplane in one image.
Next two core kits are not 1/72 and will be built to be 1/72 when done using same look around until parts & ideas pop out. So at this time don't know what types of aircraft builds will become. For one the core is a P-38 that was a bit short on plastic when molded. Have to make changes there anyway.
Regards
Bill
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Was thinking about overseas deployment of Slowy Jet squadrons. Ocean crossings at 200mph cruise makes for darn long flights.
Bomb bay mounted fuel tanks would be a big range extension. However, Slowy Jet still needs IFR capability. Meaning a fixed IFR probe should be on the model.
Partial dissasembly for transport by C-5, C-17, or by ship is another option.
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OMG! An airplane that is slower and uglier than a Warthog. That's great! What's not to like.
Ed
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I got to see this beast in person today when Bill brought it by for show-n-tell at Discount Models in Tacoma/University Place. Very impressive and several of the other customers were astounded by Bills craftsmanship.
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Thank you all again for those falttering comments. Ed makes a point I had not thought of. Even grace and poise of the spats (fixed landing gear saves defense dollars for non-defense spending) is not enough to change overall ugly-wierd appearance. Slowy Jet does beat A-10 in catagories Ed mentioned.
Any suggestions on where IFR probe should mount?
If Slowy Jets accelerate to 250+mph for refueling, can KC-135 do refueling at such speeds? Or does KC-97 have to be used?
BTW - grey paint on wings was a "deal" at swap meet. Tured out to be old and had an attitude. Since I'm new at this, I didn't have eye to catch how dated the paint was. Russ at Discount Models asked where I found it. Is one more model building lesson learned. Since painting skill is so-so to start with, that paint is outa here.
Bill
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Well, my google-fu failed me for actual KC-135 stall speed, but the 707 had a stall speed around 175 mph, so I think your Slowly Jet coud be refueled safely.
Brian da Basher
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Brilliant ... I love it!
Was thinking about overseas deployment of Slowy Jet squadrons. Ocean crossings at 200mph cruise makes for darn long flights...
Greg is always trying to turn everything into a UAV. How about pilotless delivery? The crew can leave a day later and meet up at the airfield ;D
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Greg is always trying to turn everything into a UAV.
You say that like it is a bad thing...
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Ripe for in-flight diorama with KC-135 nose high and flaps half way down refueling Slowy Jet. Probe-and-drogue. Fixed probe can be mounted on the top wing between fuel tanks. Raised above at mid wing or straight out of leading edge. Hmmmm....
What a striking image that would be. Though IFR probes don't do anything good for aircraft asthetics. :))
Bill
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That's a smashing idea and I'll be applauding wildly when you build it!
As far as I know, most USAF KC-135s use the flying boom method, so all your Slowy Jet really need is the decal of the refueling door outline from a B-52, B-1, B-2, etc. It would be a natural in the middle of the top wing between the tanks.
I can't wait to see what you come up with next!
Brian da Basher
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I had to look at this again. The more I look the more I like it. Its just fantastic imagination. Sometimes I trap myself by saying things like "if its got jets it can't be a bi-plane" thanks for reminding me that the rule of cool is rule number 1. :)
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Thanks for the comments.
Brian > Am working on next build. Starting with a non-1/72 P-38 to end up with a 1/72 something. Same approach as Slowy Jet. Going thru kits and boxes of spare parts on exploration of discovery of what looks to fit. Two rules for myself are is 1/72 when done and looks airworthy or close to it. Nothing glued or painted yet. Doing cutting/filing to check if parts can be made to fit each other. General configuration now taking form, though can be changed as needed. Like Slowy Jet with H.P.42 basis recognizable, P-38 basis also recognizable though will be way different than a P-38.
Taiidantomcat > Point well made. For engines I did start with 1/72 prop types then it clicked that 1/100 A-10 jets fit well on 1/144 H.P.42. A-10 already cut up with part of it in Zip Jet and tail fitting well on Slowy jet. Under wing Maverick LW missiles are from the A-10.
Bill
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Good on ya! ;) :icon_surprised: ;D
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That's a smashing idea and I'll be applauding wildly when you build it!
As far as I know, most USAF KC-135s use the flying boom method, so all your Slowy Jet really need is the decal of the refueling door outline from a B-52, B-1, B-2, etc. It would be a natural in the middle of the top wing between the tanks.
I can't wait to see what you come up with next!
Brian da Basher
Well, actually, there's an attachment for the boom that allows it to hold a drogue for aircraft that are set up that way, but the tanker has to be so set up before takeoff.
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This is so great.
It really connects with my work on earlier jets and early aerial tankers.
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=15.120 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=15.120)
You could have one of the early Aerial refuellers (like the Avro York Tanker or the Handley Page Harrow) as a tanker for your slowy jet; they surelly would not have any trouble matching its speed ;)
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?action=stats (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?action=stats)
Keep up the good job :)
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Thanks for the Slowy Jet comments. Affraid it will have few buyers amoung the world's Air Forces. If engineers can figure out how to build wings so they fold back it should be an easy sell for operating off smaller carriers that don't have catapults. Bomb bay could hold torpedo or Harpoon.
JP Vieira made good point about tankers. If Brits start production again marketing either one as a tanker on world market, then Air Force demand for Slowy Jets could be substantial. Though C-130J could also jump into Slowy Jet tanker market.
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The Slowy Jet convinces me I'm in the right place - it's an off the wall, strange and gorgeous model born of imagination rather than a slavish attempt to recreate a replica of something that already exists. I love it.
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I saw this in person last night and I have to tell you that it's even better then the pictures give credit for. Truly a masterpiece Bill!
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Absolutely mad and beautiful! :-* :-* :-* :)
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absolutely indeed !
extremely impressive in its contrasts ! (and spats!)
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absolutely indeed !
extremely impressive in its contrasts ! (and spats!)
This one is just right for you! Except it’s painted in more than one color.
Very cool idea.
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This was before I came over to this site, so I didn't see it then.
Now that I have;
That is one fantastic piece of outside-the-box, Wacky Racers thinking & building there! ;D 8) :smiley: