Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Fabulous '50s GB => Topic started by: MAT on July 31, 2025, 05:52:06 PM
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The 1950's was the highlight of inventive french aircraft designs. As many other airforces Armée de l'air was aware of the vulnerability of fixed air bases. So the french aircraft designers turned out a myriad of more or less bizarre designs, including planes like the Snecma Coléoptère and the SNCASE SE.5000 ”Baroudeur”.
Breguet came up with the ”Aptérion” designs. The name was made up from the greek word Ptérion, which means wing and the french A-, which in the begining of a word means ”not”. For instance anormal meaning not normal. So ”Aptérion” means without wing. Which was not quite thrue.
The Breguet Br 1110 ”Aptérion” project was under development during 1955-56, but newer went further than the early drawings. But what if Armeé de l'air had decided to go the Harrier-way.
The ”Aptérion” design was based on the Bristol Siddeley Pegasus engine used in the Harrier. So my build will be based on the Harrier too in the form of old polish vacuformed kit, Marfix Harrier GR 3, and some remains of a Kestrel conversion.
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(https://media.tenor.com/1bA9MJuqLLUAAAAe/proceed-cat-meme.png)
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Very interesting! I’m looking forward to this.
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Ooooh vac form that's brave :smiley: :smiley:
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Ooooh vac form that's brave :smiley: :smiley:
Mog
>^-.-^<
VERY Brave, I'd say. I have 20 vacforms to sell and no-one has a barge-pole long enough to even come near them.
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This could be quite a twist on the Harrier!
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The first step.
Fuselage parts cut out and ready for a lot of sanding.
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After a while out in the real-world, I have returned to the work table. The fuselage parts are now sanded down. But its rather flimsy, so it need to be reinforced with pieces of sprues, card and putty on the inside. Now I clearly remember, why I haven't build any vacuformed kits in the last 20+ years.
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... Now I clearly remember, why I haven't build any vacuformed kits in the last 20+ years.
Yup! "Score, snap, score, snap, score, sna... crap!" :P
But that Aptérion was too pretty a project to abandon. So, yeah ... "Reinforcements are on their way!" ;D
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The work goes on. Reinforcements being put inside, new slanted intakes being build up and the outline of the rear fuselage put on.
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As a new rear fuselage I use the nose of a 1/48 Mirage IIIc found on my scrapyard. The wings have been used to build a 1/72 Dassault MZI-46Q "Belphégor".
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As a new rear fuselage I use the nose of a 1/48 Mirage IIIc found on my scrapyard...
I didn't see that one coming! A clever bit of recycling/repurposing :smiley: :smiley:
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Oh yes, this will be worth a watch
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The build is moving forward - very slowly. Real-world interference over and over again.
The fuselage is coming into shape. Still needs more PSR. Wings are ready. They a modified from the wings of an old FROG Hawker Hunter F.1. And my brain is about to figure out how to make the front fuselage,
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I know the feeling. Between doctors and home improvements there isn’t much time for building stuff.
Progress may be slow but this is fun to watch! Carry on!
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The build is moving forward - very slowly...
And well worth the wait! :smiley:
... Real-world interference over and over again...
That is always the way! Real-world ... necessary but over-rated? ??? ;D
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The wings has been mated to the fuselage and the first of many PSRs done.
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Wow! A lot of work going into this one - great stuff! :smiley: