Hello all,
Having recently snapped up a Roden 1/144 Jetstar at one of my local shops and another on order from elsewhere, I have an idea for going "WHIFF" with one of them.
I was thinking an RAF variant in the EW or ELINT roles. It occurred to me that if I wanted to go British with it that it would be inappropriate to use the four engine configuration when the aircraft was originally intended to run on a pair of Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engines.
I've found a few pics of the Jetstar with Orpheus jets installed, so I know the general look, but I can find no dimensional information about them or drawings from which to base a scratch build.
Does anyone know where I might find such info or, better yet, know of another type of biz jet that used the Orpheus that is in kit form and I could rob the engine pods from?
Alternately, does anyone have any suggestions for a possible later engine fit? The thought crossed my mind to track down an Airfix BAC 1-11 kit for the Speys, but I'm not sure they wouldn't be overkill.
Also, with a change of engines, would those big fuel tanks built onto the wings still remain in the design? If they had to feed two instead of four engines, would there be a need for them?
This is a longer term project, so I'm quite open to any ideas and inspirations you may have to offer my project.
Of course, feel free to ponder your own Jetstar possibilities too. It was, and still is, a beautiful jet.