Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on June 21, 2014, 09:47:17 PM
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The early 1960s were a time of transition for the Mexican Air Force, or Fuerza Aérea Mexicana. Equipped with U.S.-surplus aircraft that were hardly cutting-edge, they sought out the great aircraft designer, Octavio O'Toolio to come up with their next generation jet fighter.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/OctavioOToolio.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/OctavioOToolio.jpg.html)
Octavio O'Toolio tried many different design concepts, but found all of them lacking. Feeling dejected and out of ideas, he went to his favorite cantina for lunch. While waiting on his food, Octavio nibbled on some of the complimentary nachos. The design for the next generation jet fighter suddenly came to him...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/tortilla-chips-a.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/tortilla-chips-a.jpg.html)
A delta wing! Of course!
The new fighter was ordered right off the drawing board and Octavio O'Toolio's firm, Norte Aviación Cuidad Hernando was contracted to undertake mass production. When the first new delta wing jets were rolled out, jaws dropped in amazement.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_upper.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_upper.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_under.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_under.jpg.html)
Officially known as the XFD-0 Mk. 1, the Norte Aviación Cuidad Hernando company abbreviation and delta wing configuration ensured the new fighter would be called the N.A.C.H.-0 or Nacho.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_003.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_004.jpg.html)
Powered by the hottest Mexican jet engine yet developed, the Habañero, and armed with four 20 m.m. and two 40 m.m. cannons, the Nacho was a fast, maneuverable and devastating gun platform. One burst from its guns could obliterate any target.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_005.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_006.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_007.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_008.jpg.html)
The delta wing Nacho was beloved by its pilots due to its speed and wonderful flight characteristics. Ground crews found the new fighter easy to maintain although they were at first confused by the especially thick red lubricating fluid they called "salsa". Woe to any mechanic who tried to substitute green "salsa" for red in the Nacho as the green was only intended for the large piston-engine transport known as the Chalupa.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_009.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_0010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_0010.jpg.html)
The Naco had an undistinguished service career, its only combat taking place during the Refrito Rebellion of 1964 where it was used to cut the rebels' supply lines. While completely forgotten today, the Nacho was single-handedly responsible for the re-birth of the Mexican aircraft industry.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_0011.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_0011.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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The basis for this kit is a 1/72 Emhar FJ-4B Fury I picked up for a song at the Renton Swap Meet last April. I'd never seen this aircraft kitted before, let alone in 1/72, so I was thrilled to have it.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/EmharFuryboxtop.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/EmharFuryboxtop.jpg.html)
Of course, mine wasn't going to end out looking anything like that wonderful box art. At first, I puzzled what to do with it, but then figured out some 1/48 F-15 tail planes would make nice wings, nice delta wings. Here's how it all looked before paint and final assembly.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_x_build_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_x_build_001.jpg.html)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_x_build_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_x_build_002.jpg.html)
While the F-15 tail was a good fit, it wasn't exact and left a slight trench where the kit parts should go. I could either use putty and go down the road of many sessions of PSR or find a simpler answer. That turned out to be cutting bits of sprue and adding them as wing-root cannons. While not perfect, I think they do the job and really add to the firepower. I also added some fins cut from card and used left-over sprue to cover the holes for the horiz. stabs. Lastly, I decided this baby needed tip-tanks and I stuck on ones from an Airfix F-80.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_x_build_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_x_build_003.jpg.html)
The model was brush-painted by hand in acrylics. Decals were from a Roundels of the World sheet Mr Fontaine sent me a while back (thanks, Jeff!) except for the codes and bang-seat warnings which were from a T-33.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_0012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_0012.jpg.html)
This project took me about a week because work kept getting in the way. Few things are better for job stress than spending a little time model building.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Nacho/Nacho_0013.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/Nacho/Nacho_0013.jpg.html)
I hope you like the model and enjoyed reading a little forgotten Mexican aviation history.
Brian da Basher
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:)
very nice
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:)
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Wonderful, and imaginative as always.
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More BdB goodness...
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Oh I love that! I was trying to place the wings but couldn't! Nice job with the F-15 fins! :-*
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BdB mentioned a delta Fury was likely. Unlike other BdB builds which I usually don't envision as working and am proven wrong, this one sounded good. Well,,, Nacho jet is a fine scale-o-rama :)
Congrats on another convincing (is it fact or fiction?) backstory and kitbash combo :) :)
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That is just too cool, Brian! I almost have to wonder if Senior O'Toolio worked at Dassault in the 1950s before returning to Mexico to design this plane.
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Well done again BdB :) it reminds me of another aircraft ---- a Bantam perhaps - :))
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This tail-less plane has a harmonious silhouette! Congratulations for the designer and manufacturer...
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Los chihuahuas es muy caliente!
Awesome, as always! ;D
Alvis 3.1
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I must admit that when I first saw the title of this thread I had pictured something like this:
(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7WIYjPS4lho4hqcpdG8jhrwjTbNLIMw_iR2dsKewZKZhpJRVg)
in a scheme closer to this:
(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/22231071d4f48986d63d2c0a8d5787c0cab66434/c=140-0-2277-1599&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/02/12//1392214985000-XXX-B01G8MAIN19-12P77-X-14P15.jpg)
;)