Okay, while I was waiting for the Migina's latest coat of paint to dry I should have been painting little bits and pieces for it, and if I was going to start anything else, it should be a Turbo-Spit for the Spitfire GB or a grey Flitzer for the Grey Pride Parade GB. So what I actually did was start this instead :rolleyes: :
Avro Atom - A Patchwork World model.
The Atom is Avro's entry in the highly lucrative light fighter market. Evolved from the earlier 727 studies, the Atom has a smaller wing and more power, courtesy of an F.W.Royce "Poise" jet engine. The model will depict an Atom in the "Chezzle" scheme used by the Earl of Chester's Country Militia (Air Wing), and with the optional targeting radar for control of Artemis AAMs.
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Model is an Airfix Gnat with Airfix MiG-21 wings and canopy. The nose cone is the exhaust cone from a Smer Me-262, and it will have a MiG-23 gunpod underneath. I hope to make 727-style forward-retracting u/c using a mix of MiG and Gnat component. This is the model I first wanted to do after finding this place, but my agenda's been dominated by the GBs. It still will be to an extent, so don't expect fast progress on this one.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks 1/144 scale. Interesting concept for a build, definitely. Looks almost like you could have named it Bolt, to go beside Arrow. Definitely looks cool. What have you got planned for the gap behind the canopy? Expanded view, extended enclosure? Looks very interesting.
Quote from: Sauragnmon on September 20, 2008, 02:28:33 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks 1/144 scale. Interesting concept for a build, definitely. Looks almost like you could have named it Bolt, to go beside Arrow. Definitely looks cool. What have you got planned for the gap behind the canopy? Expanded view, extended enclosure? Looks very interesting.
Hi Sauragnmon, welcome to the board, by the way.
It's 1/72nd scale, but it's VERY small - go look at the picture on the Gnat ideas thread to see just how damn small the Gnat really is! The smallness gave me the name: atoms are small but powerful, and I've sure I've heard the slogan "The Mighty Atom" somewhere, although I can't just put my finger on where... :huh:
I'm going to make the canopy gap solid, since the MiG canopy isn't that different a shape to the Gnat's, and doing this will make it look more different. Don't know if you know, but the real Avro 727 was
kinda like this, but with an even bigger wing :o. It was a competitor in the NBMR.1 Light Fighter competition inspired by the Gnat and won by the Fiat G.91.
A nice simple idea - why don't I ever think of these things... :banghead:
Looking foward to seeing this once it is finished.
Hmm... still looks pretty cool though. Atom does work, and it rolls off the tongue too.
Quote from: Weaver on September 20, 2008, 02:35:36 PM
I'm going to make the canopy gap solid, since the MiG canopy isn't that different a shape to the Gnat's, and doing this will make it look more different.
Why not try grafting the Mig windscreen onto the Gnat canopy, and leave the whloe thing clear? Would afford the pilot better rear vision (see the Gnat whif thread elsewhere)? ;D ;D
Quote from: kitbasher on September 21, 2008, 03:41:22 AM
Quote from: Weaver on September 20, 2008, 02:35:36 PM
I'm going to make the canopy gap solid, since the MiG canopy isn't that different a shape to the Gnat's, and doing this will make it look more different.
Why not try grafting the Mig windscreen onto the Gnat canopy, and leave the whloe thing clear? Would afford the pilot better rear vision (see the Gnat whif thread elsewhere)? ;D ;D
Well
strictly speaking, you can't do that because it's an early MiG-21 forward-hinged canopy with the quarterlights made in one piece with the hood. However, the canopy framing is so faint/non-existent that I dare say I could wing it. The other option would be to cut off the Gnat's spine and graft the MiG's on: that would actually make it more 727-like and less "Gnatty", which is what I'm trying to achieve.
Seen this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas. Your 'Atom' could be its Grandad! ;D ;D
Nice idea - looking forward to seeing the finished item :wub:
-_- Stop reading my mind :angry:
btw, will you consider canard config? :huh:
:thumbsup: Go for it :thumbsup:
That is a cool looking little aircraft. :thumbsup:
Cheers All! :thumbsup:
Ysi - hard to say where you'd put canards really, isn't it? I won't be doing them on this one because one of the features of Patchwork World is the slower rate of technological progress due to it's fragmented nature. The tiny little countries that dominate it can't really afford any more R&D than neccessary, so once a design is in production, it tends to get produced for decades after decade. Thus a 1950s vintage Avro 727 would be developed (cheeply) to death, rather than replaced by something more modern.
Quote from: Weaver on September 23, 2008, 09:51:57 AM
Cheers All! :thumbsup:
Ysi - hard to say where you'd put canards really, isn't it? I won't be doing them on this one because one of the features of Patchwork World is the slower rate of technological progress due to it's fragmented nature. The tiny little countries that dominate it can't really afford any more R&D than neccessary, so once a design is in production, it tends to get produced for decades after decade. Thus a 1950s vintage Avro 727 would be developed (cheaply) to death, rather than replaced by something more modern.
Mind you, some Mirage 5 style nose strakes might work.........
Looks good so far! What about some LERXs like the Hornet has, coming forward over the intakes? You could put canards on those then, like the Flanker has. :D
Little bit more progress. Spines cut off the Gnat and the MiG-21 in order to swap a section of the latter's onto the former, thereby allowing the full bubble canopy to be used. This makes for a better pilot view, and also makes it look less like a Gnat.....
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The Spineless MiG-21 is thought-provoking, isn't it?
Quote from: Weaver on October 11, 2008, 08:36:11 PM
The Spineless MiG-21 is thought-provoking, isn't it?
I know, who would ever thing that MiG21's could be cowards??? It's shocking!!!! :banghead: :banghead:
Quote from: lancer on October 12, 2008, 03:27:22 PM
Quote from: Weaver on October 11, 2008, 08:36:11 PM
The Spineless MiG-21 is thought-provoking, isn't it?
I know, who would ever thing that MiG21's could be cowards??? It's shocking!!!! :banghead: :banghead:
Lancer, ya got me laughin' with that one ;D
Weaver, looking forward to watching this one progress, I think removing the spine was a stroke of genius.
Quote from: lancer on October 12, 2008, 03:27:22 PM
Quote from: Weaver on October 11, 2008, 08:36:11 PM
The Spineless MiG-21 is thought-provoking, isn't it?
I know, who would ever thing that MiG21's could be cowards??? It's shocking!!!! :banghead: :banghead:
Uh huh - I'm still trying to come up with some tortuous logic whereby I can make "Spineless" the NATO ASCC reporting name...... ;D
I decided to go with the "black hole" cockpit principle, since it worked so well on the Migina and I'm paying my cockpit dues with the Flitzer. I've cut the back end of the fuselage off at an angle, thinned it down hugely with the dremel, and it will now take a separate jetpipe made from alloy tube. This is another "authentic" 727ish feature. I've cut new wing lowers for the MiG wings, so that I can cut new u/c bays into them. Helpfully, the cutouts in the left and right upper wings are different depths :banghead:, so one new lower has had to be sanded down, while the other has had a thin shim panel added to it.
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Since I'll be producing home made decals for this, it occurs to me to do black-on-clear detail ones for the u/c bays, and then stick them on over a coat of aluminium. Good idea/bad idea?
The Airfix Gnat is a real piece of work, isn't it? (And I do NOT mean that as a complement...... :rolleyes:)
If God hadn't wanted us to kitbash he wouldn't have made bad model kits ;D :wub:
^^^^^ :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
BTW: Love the process of this model :cheers:
Small update. Undercarriage bays cut, minor filling work done, bulkhead to keep the jet pipe out of the cockpit and the seat's in paint with my first ever Tamiya Tape straps on it. In the picture is a rough prototype of an u/c bay detail decal. It's printed on paper not film, so it's a bit bright.
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I just noticed the Freightdog Avro 720 build thread hereabouts: nice to see my guesswork on the u/c position confirmed! :mellow: (I had to keep telling myself "it's NOT too far forward, it's NOT!")
Looking good....love the idea.
And a spineless Mig-21 known as the Mig-21 'Coward' ? Hilarious !
:thumbsup:
Quote from: Weaver on November 16, 2008, 05:56:48 PM
I just noticed the Freightdog Avro 720 build thread hereabouts: nice to see my guesswork on the u/c position confirmed! :mellow: (I had to keep telling myself "it's NOT too far forward, it's NOT!")
I've noticed on all the delta models I have that if you measure about one third of the way down the chord at the root starting at the leading edge that is usually the position where the u/c is located, so I think you've done very well with the position.
Okay, this got stalled because I couldn't do much more until I got the fuselage together, which meant I needed the seat, which I made and painted up quite nicely, which I then lost, which I then sulked about for a couple of weeks.... :rolleyes:
So here it is with seat Mk.2 installed, which means things can start to rock'n'roll again:
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Quote from: Weaver on January 04, 2009, 06:01:55 PM
Okay, this got stalled because I couldn't do much more until I got the fuselage together, which meant I needed the seat, which I made and painted up quite nicely, which I then lost, which I then sulked about for a couple of weeks.... :rolleyes:
So here it is with seat Mk.2 installed, which means...
... which means that now you'll find seat Mk.1! ;D
Lookin' great, keep the pics coming!
Watching this with much interest! :thumbsup:
Looking brill - gonna be even better next time we see it, i just know it!
Spineless Mig-21 would have to start with an 'F', no? Coward's out then - "Fearful" maybe? :banghead:
Quote from: retro_seventies on January 04, 2009, 08:06:38 PM
Looking brill - gonna be even better next time we see it, i just know it!
Spineless Mig-21 would have to start with an 'F', no? Coward's out then - "Fearful" maybe? :banghead:
Were there any code series that did start with "S" though? It could be a MiG-21 adapted to a different mission, the same way a MiG-15 is a
Fagot but a MiG-15UTI (trainer) is a
Mongol....
Edit: answered my own question - no there isn't, because surface-to-surface missiles have "S" names, i.e.
Scud, Scaleboard etc... However, that discovery also contains the solution: the MiG-21
Spineless could be a cruise-missile development.... :mellow: :thumbsup:
AT LAST - THE FUSELAGE IS TOGETHER! REJOICE!
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The bridge piece on top will have to be filled and smoothed before the spine goes on.
More Airfix Gnat lovliness: one side of the lower rear fuselage has a damn great bulge in it:
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An alloy tube tailpipe has been made and had a disc of thick plastic rammed into it's end to provide something to glue to. I'm considering leaving it unpainted and fitting it right at the end....
Looking good Weaver! The 'pit is very nicely done. Can't wait to see more!
:thumbsup:
Brian da Basher
Cheers Brian!
Do the straps look okay?
Instead of painting them with enamel, I washed the yellow Tamiya tape with two shades of brown ink so that it looked a bit more textured like real webbing. I then painted another strip with chrome silver enamel stuck it across the first one at 90 deg, and drew a black line next to it with a fineliner. Then I cut the belts across the join, so that they had raised silver buckles at the end.
I think they're a bit glossy, on reflection......
What struck me right off about that 'pit was the seatbelts, Weaver. In the pics, they stand out nicely and the various shades of brown add to the realism. Thanks for sharing your technique!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Brian da Basher
Update?
Quote from: John Howling Mouse on January 10, 2009, 08:57:10 PM
Update?
Patience Sir! Do I sling tools? Is my name Brian? Those folk, and others equally productive, have skill and confidence pushing in the same direction whilst I have only pig-headedness and fear struggling eternally against each other! (A psycholgist could get their PhD studying the amount of "displacement activity" I have to do before getting started on
anything... :rolleyes:)
Anyway, here's some sanding. I have no idea where the black bit came from - such are the mysteries of Putty-Fu....
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the Gnat's little world, the Battle of the Bulge continues:
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Hey Weaver you should have no fear of ripping up a project your skills stand right up there with anyone on the board ;D :wub: :thumbsup:
She's loking just like all projects do when you first start slinging putty .....except your cockpit is good :lol: unlike mine which are basically there to fill the hole :banghead: :banghead:
Cheers Ron - the cockpit is actually non-existent: just a seat in a black hole....
More PSR and some detail in the u/c bays. I decided not to go with the decal detail route when I realised I'd have to glue "though" it when I fixed the u/c legs in, and that would probably screw it up.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi35.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fd165%2Fhws5mp%2FThe%2520Whiffery%2FAvro%2520Atom%2Fmixed009.jpg&hash=c2cdf41997e32e25b7146a690d583b3f7e28a9a4)
This probably isn't going to get much attention for a while because of all the group builds that have started....
Actually decided to start making progress on this one again after two years: I blame working on Nimrod, where that would be considered breakneck speed....
Anyway, wings on. :thumbsup: Patchwork wings for a Patchwork World plane! The uppers will get a thin skin of yet more Evergreen over this stuff, which is basically there to cut down on the volume of filler needed.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi35.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fd165%2Fhws5mp%2FThe%2520Whiffery%2FAvro%2520Atom%2FIMG_5876.jpg&hash=50c005586a9d826838a27753b6188a010ff011f0)
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I never did like the MiG-21 undercarriage I was planning to hack about, but time has increased the available pool of donors significantly, so it will now have 1/100th scale F-15 gear. Not sure whether to have the Gnat nosewheel or the MiG one yet....
Quote from: The Rat on January 04, 2009, 06:17:47 PM
Quote from: Weaver on January 04, 2009, 06:01:55 PM
Okay, this got stalled because I couldn't do much more until I got the fuselage together, which meant I needed the seat, which I made and painted up quite nicely, which I then lost, which I then sulked about for a couple of weeks.... :rolleyes:
So here it is with seat Mk.2 installed, which means...
... which means that now you'll find seat Mk.1! ;D
Lookin' great, keep the pics coming!
Uh-huh - picked up the box and out it fell..... I must have been through that box, piece by piece, twenty times..... :banghead:
Looking good. Definitely reminds one of a "mini-Arrow".
Ed
Cheers.
Wing top strips now on ;D, mucho PSR :rolleyes: and a split seam :angry:. Such is Whiffery.....
Very nice :wub:More :thumbsup:
Reverse reference to Avro 727: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,26876.0
BTW, I love your result, for the time being :wub: :wub: :thumbsup:
Fantastic! :wub: This is shaping up to be a real looker.
Cheers Folks!
PSR, PSR...... :rolleyes:
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Looks like a horizontal Ryan X-13 Vertijet, but lots prettier. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looks great - don't stop now! ;)
Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 29, 2011, 03:54:52 AM
Looks like a horizontal Ryan X-13 Vertijet, but lots prettier. :thumbsup:
Couldn't be uglier! :wacko:
Quote from: Scotaidh on July 09, 2018, 08:40:40 AM
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looks great - don't stop now! ;)
Er, I stopped seven years ago... Thanks though. :thumbsup:
It isn't abandoned, just on a very, very back burner.....
Quote from: Weaver on July 11, 2018, 03:09:29 AM
Quote from: Scotaidh on July 09, 2018, 08:40:40 AM
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looks great - don't stop now! ;)
Er, I stopped seven years ago... Thanks though. :thumbsup:
It isn't abandoned, just on a very, very back burner.....
Well, I like to encourage folks. :) There've been times in my life when a little encouragement made all the difference, you see, and I like to pass that on.
Also, I really like this build and find it inspiring. :) I'd like to see it completed. I know what it is to have projects languish - my P-76 Quad-Lightning took about 5 years, all told - much of it in a box under the workbench. :)
This is some mighty fine necro! ;D ;D ;D
I have a D-7 I started 10 years ago I need to finish. This and one other are the sole models I built in my 20 year hiatus from the hobby. Finished the other but not the D-7......