Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Rickshaw on April 11, 2016, 11:23:22 AM

Title: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Rickshaw on April 11, 2016, 11:23:22 AM

In 1961, the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm was very interested in acquiring the US Navy's latest carrier borne fighter, the McDonnel-Douglas F-4 Phantom.   It seemed the answer to all their problems of a successor to the Sea Vixen, twin-boomed fighter, which would fly from the planned CV-01 carrier.

However, a monetary crisis intervened and the British Government firmly put it's foot down and declared that the successor to the Sea Vixen would, it seems be well, another Sea Vixen!

De Havillands had worked out how to fix some of the worse problems of the Sea Vixen.  It improved the size and the shape of the Sea Vixen's radar scanner and brought the radar operator out of his "Coal Hole" and placed him in a tandem cockpit, behind the pilot, where his eyes would be useful in a dog fight.   They improved the missiles carried by the aircraft, adding some Blue Jay radar homing missiles, based on the Red Top IR guided missile.  They retained the Red Tops the previous versions had been armed with as well and kept the 30mm Rarden cannons, much to the delight of the pilots.

(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/VM98NB.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/921/16o41R.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/ep5Ez2.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/DYjuta.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/DSxyzW.jpg)

The model is based on an illustration of an F-14 nose which was added to a Sea Vixen fuselage, which I have unfortunately lost track of.  It fitted surprisingly well, actually, coming from a Hobby Craft kit.  The Missiles were converted from standard Red Tops.  The fuselage is from a Frog kit.

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Cliffy B on April 11, 2016, 12:09:56 PM

Very nice all around!!!!  8)

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: finsrin on April 11, 2016, 12:39:27 PM

Totally wreaks of navy jet.  Looks like you got everything right. :)

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: FAAMAN on April 11, 2016, 02:03:03 PM

Simply superb!! :) Looks like reality :) 8)

I've a Whiff plan written up for a Vixen FAW3 8)

I always thought that in typical RN thought you'd have to produce a side by side cockpit for a FAW3, but this works too !!!!  :) 8) 8)

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Volkodav on April 11, 2016, 07:25:43 PM

Excellent, one wonders just how hard a tandem seat, Spey powered, thin wing, DH twin boomer would have been to develop in real life.

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: LemonJello on April 11, 2016, 07:49:08 PM

This is a real beauty! Nicely done.

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: The Big Gimper on April 11, 2016, 08:00:05 PM

+1 +1 +1 +1     :-*

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: CiTrus90 on April 12, 2016, 05:49:09 PM

11/10 :-*

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Tophe on April 13, 2016, 01:54:18 AM

 :-* :-*

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: TurboCoupeTurbo on April 13, 2016, 02:23:14 AM

Yeah, this ticks all the boxes for me.  Excellent job.

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: KiwiZac on April 13, 2016, 05:46:03 AM

I hate you. I have a stalled Vixen with Speys and a Javelin nose and I don't know if I can achieve such a smooth nose-body transition. Beautiful work!

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Rickshaw on April 13, 2016, 12:08:06 PM

Quote from: KiwiZac on April 13, 2016, 05:46:03 AM

I hate you. I have a stalled Vixen with Speys and a Javelin nose and I don't know if I can achieve such a smooth nose-body transition. Beautiful work!

Please, build it.  The more twin-boomers, the better IMHO!   8)

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Tophe on April 13, 2016, 12:30:33 PM

Quote from: Rickshaw on April 13, 2016, 12:08:06 PM

The more twin-boomers, the better

Oh yes! :-* :-*

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: KiwiZac on April 14, 2016, 06:20:07 AM

Awwww, ok, if you insist  ;D Unfortunately I lost the very elaborate backstory I created, I don't know if I have the heart to try writing it again.

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: kitnut617 on April 14, 2016, 09:12:57 AM

Very nice kitbash Brian   :) :) :)

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: uncle les on April 14, 2016, 12:05:10 PM

I rather like that...

Title: Re: Sea Vixen FAW.3
Post by: Camthalion on April 14, 2016, 06:17:32 PM

Looks really good.  Nice one