What if

My second (optional) build is going to be a F4D-1 modified with a PR nose from another kit.

Idea is that the RAN purchased a four of these aircraft in the early 1960's for evaluation purposes to replace their F9F-8's but opted for the F-8 Crusader, instead.

The Naval Aircraft Research & Development Unit (NARDU), the RAN's version of its RAAF equivalent, retained these aircraft for weapons, stores pylon & targetting system testing.

In the mid-70's three of these aircraft were retired & used for parts to keep the 4th flying.

This aircraft was modified by fitting a PR nose to the airframe & was used as a chase-plane to record test flights of other aircraft & the effectiveness of weapons delivery systems.

It was scrapped in 1984 after a crash-landing at NAS Parafield, SA.

What I'm starting with:
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2Fecb7aaae-74bc-4cfc-9f6b-6e4b050ad146_zpsziyq5kfk.jpg&hash=31f7b8a49446d009872323155891dd95f3b2e493)




Still waiting for the starters gun! ;D

Sounds great......excuse my ignorance but, is that a podded IFR probe.....?  Fixed extended like that....?  Or does it slide back in the tank....?  I have seen a modern item on an F16 that folds out of a wing mounted tank......so it can be fuelled both ways.......

Fixed IFR - it's surprising how old this design is, really (first flight Jan 1951, introduced into service 1956)

Quote from: airvectors.netAlthough the Skyray didn't have inflight refueling capabilities itself, it could carry external tanks with nose probes for hose-and-drogue refueling. Very few photographs show this fit, however, and though it was said to have been approved for service, it doesn't seem to have been widely used.

http://www.airvectors.net/avskyray.html (http://www.airvectors.net/avskyray.html)

The airvectors write-up by Greg Goebel is quite an interesting read.

Again.......cheers..... :thumbsup:

Which PR nose are you planning to graft onto it?

Quote from: PR19_Kit on May 17, 2016, 10:40:13 AM
Which PR nose are you planning to graft onto it?

The one in the photo?! ;)

Quote from: Old Wombat on May 17, 2016, 10:41:39 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on May 17, 2016, 10:40:13 AM
Which PR nose are you planning to graft onto it?

The one in the photo?! ;)

Ok, but what's it from? I don't recognise it I'm afraid.

Oh, alright, then! :rolleyes:



It's the optional PR nose from my KittyHawk F9F-8/8P kit.

It'll need a bit of slicing & dicing & PSR to fit but not too much.

Ahah, so it's 1/48 scale then.

That's why I didn't recognise it, bit sounds like it should go well on a Skyray.

Ooh! :o

Title fix to end confusion! :thumbsup:

The Skyray is a very attractive aircraft.

Here's one I "drew" earlier with an F9F-6P nose.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi70.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi82%2Fgavinmaillardet%2FPDRV%2FPhoto%2520Nose%2520Skyray_zpsna0dfrq4.png&hash=e856084ad936ef0f5aa22ab0ff7b89f461cb2275)

I now have an AMT (Airfix) Banshee which has the photo nose so if I can lay my hands on another 1/72 Tamiya Skyray...

Looking forward to seeing this one ! Love that aeroplane.

:cheers:

Right, so a start has been made. :thumbsup:

Not huge progress but it is moving. I've painted & put together the photo-recce gear & put it in the main body of the PR nose. To finish this bit I have to glue the glazing into the other 3 panels & fit them to the body-work.

In a fit of misplaced enthusiasm I glued the nose to the cockpit section; :banghead:
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3698_zpsaagpvnwb.jpg&hash=d2ae43763be6edfedfbe3f7a9a16bbfbb99c7338)

In this shot we have the original F4D-1 nose for comparison;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3701_zpsvc70ewte.jpg&hash=59306b24c3fd5335c8adc202db00651ff198b9ac)

So, next job is to remove it & work on the cockpit. :rolleyes:

I am liking this a lot.
Bit of a different take on my idea, not to mention the scale.

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,32652.0/highlight,douglas+df-6b+skyray.html


Jim

Very nice. Love the shape and the details look great !

:cheers:

Very nice work  :thumbsup:

Thank you, Cap & Chris! :bow:

Very good work on the details! :thumbsup:

Thanks, DfZ! :bow:

The trick was to get all that black-on-black to pop a bit. Now they're inside the nose cone it has paid off, as everything is still visible behind the glazing.

Just to show that I've been doing some modelling:

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3709_zpswm4yi7zk.jpg&hash=a2328ccb6828eda524612057fe8a3865e8da0141)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3710_zps6yhftxqw.jpg&hash=814dfc10372707f608ee518b3be180bc4b7f5ec1)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3708_zpse5xzozjp.jpg&hash=fb4747e7c0f2550187c5d16f8c4f7eaf6cfc0a9f)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3719_zpswkqwe70b.jpg&hash=a9bb65f895df1758d327fecf4bd6005af40da13f)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3715_zpseffvw0pj.jpg&hash=cd62019f7b499a7b33fcad4dd2a2245b2ff4cece)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3716_zpsl9yntj4z.jpg&hash=79418c892b8b542a2db7dd5e1e1d034c9dde2c51)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3718_zpsiwqvxa6a.jpg&hash=fad19a950434a150e76ae7bcb4860460238562fe)

I finally got to glue the nose on for real! ;D

Reminds me of a scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian "Who are you calling Big Nose?"

Gondor

Yup! ;D

With a schnoz like that she won't be a beauty queen.

Maybe it should be called "Jimmy" after a certain singer/actor?

Gondor

After a certain amount of PSR & repairing of 2 glazing panels that accidentally got popped in (That's not fun, believe me!), I have some progress to show.

The Underbelly;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3784_zps4j5yifwm.jpg&hash=7bcd5079841fcada0dd20673883fb2e00d5f4dd8)

Nose-on;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3787_zpszmfjqdlu.jpg&hash=f05ebbfab9766dc8fce6d729b2e56de00a306e58)

Possibly flight-profiles, nose-on;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3788_zpsiqam6bkz.jpg&hash=5a48f6c3036f8b250dab676fdfe8920ef2c6a74a)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3786_zpsdolibfgb.jpg&hash=e5d6f1ade3f80dc7353545341749d7db66ab558b)

Top views;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3782_zps50f7yzmu.jpg&hash=f6a27dee2e002b8810a1624231034602fcf5a1ff)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3781_zpsbpg8k28l.jpg&hash=e0cbf36b58e525f4abd6787a2674e0c22fbf2f48)

Side views;
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3783_zpsmgemnkig.jpg&hash=db35f43a862758778fd9a3cfee21b12ca359a75f)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3785_zpsngyy7kce.jpg&hash=18547fcb0e426818fa4890b3bcdead6c737f8da5)

The nose gear doors have been lowered into the new profile by cutting part of the wheel bay area away with some of the fuselage sides, which have been spread out to the new width, adding some styrene sheet shaped to measure into the wheel bays & PSR'ing into the required profile to blend the different fuselage shapes.

I think it looks pretty good, though I'm sure there'll be flaws brought to light by a shot of primer which will need to be rectified. After which I'll figure out some panel lines.

Thanks for waiting & watching!

:bow:

If anything deserves the nickname Droop Snoot, it's that! Top work! I don't envy you with all that fairing/reprofiling work.

Hmmm? Aircraft names? Aircraft names? :-\

Thanks! :bow:

Actually, using Aves Apoxie Sculpt, it wasn't that difficult. :thumbsup:

Added edit:

PS: I'm struggling for a name for her but they all revolve around her nose;

1) Droopy Snoopy - for comic/cartoon fans
2) Droop Snoop - for the literal-minded
3) Bignose - for movie buffs
4) Camera Conk - another for the literal-minded
5) Cyrano de Bergerac - for the literati

Bearing in mind that any references (to movies, etc.) have to be pre-1984, when, in my time-line, she crashes & is scrapped.

What about "Schnozzola" after Jimmy Durante (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Durante) ? The right time period too

Gondor

Not really a Jimmy D fan but it's an outside chance. :-\

Although it raises the possibility of Snooper Schnozz or Schnooper Schnozz.

Mr Percival also comes to mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Percival (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Percival)

That nose looks surreal...  :thumbsup:

Reminds me a bit of the wacky Kfir recce conversion?

Thanks, Dizzy! :thumbsup: :bow:

All I can offer is Spyray.

Good work on the merge.
:thumbsup:

Skyeye?
Photoray?

Thanks, Fred! :bow:


I'm thinking more along an individual name for the aircraft, rather than a type-name.

Although the working name for the type (of which there is only one) has been Skychase(r) to date, I'm liking Spyray. :thumbsup:

May I steal it? :blink:

Steal away mate.

As for an individual aircraft name, Nosey Parker?
With nose art of the character from Thunderbirds.

Ta, mate! :thumbsup:

I could be subtle & name it Aloysius - but then I'd probably have a war on my hands with those who believe the name isn't canon. ;)

Actually, I like Spyray enough that I'm just going to go with that. No aircraft name, just the type name which, as there's only the one, is individual enough!

Thanks, Fred! :thumbsup:

No wuckers Womby.

SkySnooper?

Wow, did you ever do a good job adding the nose ! Great idea and execution, she blends right in ! Love the look of this one  :wub:

Thanks, Cap! :bow:

That's a great nose job! :thumbsup:

Thanks, DfZ! :bow:

Well, in my absence modelling has been happening & this is the result:

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3798_zps3s8om1qx.jpg&hash=950a2ef52da0b267caa8d7ee795a85489583c0ed)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3799_zps0apej8k8.jpg&hash=7ddd7792faf90b391dc7c738da24de2e3fe46bf6)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3800_zpsn5acp0mr.jpg&hash=30ed3617cb6d5f28b0db126cd1cae013b00449e8)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3801_zps0agzarjl.jpg&hash=90a5159473ddaf192061595d9a546205a70c7da3)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3802_zpsawh5arak.jpg&hash=e2ae20afeb1b13410e55e118b6410cb6c2f5eb45)

No clean-up done, yet, just glued together (except the engine, which is only fitted for photo purposes).

From above the shape of the nose is similar to that of a Proboscis Monkey.

Given it's timescale I can see that being nicknamed "Jimmy"

Look at that thing ! Love it. Great job so far can't wait to see more.

:cheers:

Thank you, gents! :bow:

Quote from: NARSES2 on July 13, 2016, 07:40:41 AM
Given it's timescale I can see that being nicknamed "Jimmy"

Nope! I'm seeing more of the high-speed pelican in its looks & Mr Percival is gaining ground at the moment, especially as the mid-70's build era was when "Storm Boy" came to the Big Screen.

(Plus Jimmy Durante does nothing for me, the reference is far too obvious & he's not Australian.)

I can see that.  Mr Percival works well.

OK chaps, just to prove that I have been doing something, I finally reached a point worthy of photo's.

Here's where I'm up to now. Colours are on, touch-ups & fixes required (luckily only small ones). Still needs a pre-decal gloss coat, etc.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3807_zpsj0n2w1ym.jpg&hash=556238cd370461b8b11a7aef2ace436ff76a321c)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3805_zpsfphysy89.jpg&hash=6090258af8cbca65bfa0180787ab106b3008a007)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3804_zps3ejatnpj.jpg&hash=3cff1c59027fd3429a1ccd362acdf7f62ccc3f5e)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3803_zpsquil48xp.jpg&hash=e78fb5320875b720e82ea84bda7dcfb03961a4a6)


Obviously I chose the easy colours! ::) :-\

Beautiful colour scheme!

OK, paint job ain't perfect but it came together better than the F6F's.

Most of the decals are on (I'm taking a little coffee break from them at the moment :o ).

So, just have to finish the decals, gloss coat, pin-wash the panel lines & semi-gloss coat.



Oh, & do all the little bits I've overlooked whilst focussing on the F6F issues, like drop tanks, & landing gear, & hook, & .... :-\

Does that ever look good ! Sorry I missed it but cant wait to see more.

:thumbsup:

Not long now, I hope. :thumbsup:

I missed the pics of it painted for some reason.

Marvellous.   :thumbsup:

It's funny how that happens, I keep finding pics when I return to threads as well.

:unsure:

Thanks, guys! :bow:


Oh-Kay ... You know how you get to the last couple of bits of a build & then "Uh-oh!"? :o

You've gone through the entire thing & only now do you realise that way back at the beginning you made a real rookie mistake? :unsure:

Well, I've just realised that I forgot to drill out the holes in the wings for the drop tanks. :banghead:

They're the last thing I need to do before this baby is done. So, I shall now have to do my chores for the day, then I can come back to her & do what needs to be done. :rolleyes:

Righto, this baby's done! :party:

No photo's tonight - gotta go to bed, got a call this evening & I've got a double shift tomorrow (0800-2300).

So, may do photo's tomorrow night or Sunday morning.

There are little stuff-ups everywhere but I'm rather pleased with the result.


Until soon ... :cheers:

In 1962 the RAN purchased  four F4D-1's for evaluation purposes to replace their F9F-8's but opted for the F-8 Crusader, instead.

The Naval Aircraft Research & Development Unit (NARDU), the RAN's version of its RAAF equivalent, was gifted the aircraft & retained them for weapons, stores pylon & targetting system testing.

In the 1973 the F4D-1's were showing their age & heavy usage, so three were retired & used for parts to keep the 4th flying.

This 4th aircraft, which just happened to be the 4th airframe purchased, was virtually rebuilt during its refit & was modified by fitting a PR nose from a F9F-8P to the airframe, & designated as an F4D-1P, the only one of its kind. With the big, long PR nose it was only natural that everyone began calling it "the pelican". Then, in 1976, the SA Film Corporation movie production of Colin Thiele's novel "Storm Boy" was released & the plane had a name - Mr Percival.

Mr Percival was a busy aircraft, being used as a chase-plane to record test flights of other aircraft & the effectiveness of weapons delivery systems he clocked up almost as many flying hours as all other test aircraft combined.

On the 4th of June 1984 an undercarriage failure caused Mr Percival to crash on landing at NAS Parafield, South Australia, luckily with no loss of life or serious injury. However, after the inquest into the accident, Mr Percival was officially scrapped on the 30th of June that same year.

These images show Mr Percival in mid-January, 1984, just 5 months before the crash.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3828_zpshyr68m6c.jpg&hash=5d4bdc0e987eeaf4ea8a57b1b796dfbd18ade146)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3829_zpsms27fpk1.jpg&hash=5f705d638a16fdec868751e1f32a9390c94fc1dd)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3831_zpspmidvkty.jpg&hash=bd507e9efb316036d35f551bd845b609f099ecd6)

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3832_zpsxkqa2sfq.jpg&hash=0846674e260b357df23f611ccb48ebc8309e3478)

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(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi459.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq311%2FGPlachy%2FF4D-1%2520Chaser%2FDSCN3837_zpsqczsnrtm.jpg&hash=8035cb39c57ffe598d2a2d6ca89da45811dce186)

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Well, that's one down! ;D

One to go! :-\

Hope you like him! :thumbsup:

Wow, great job- love the nose and paint.  Well done.

-Dave

Thanks, Dave! :bow:

Fantastic.
Love the Skyray and IMO the new nose just improves it.  And the colours are wonderful.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Come out really well  :thumbsup:

Thank you, Fred & Chris! Much appreciated! :bow: :bow:

Looks good, very good!  :thumbsup:

Thanks, DfZ! :bow:

This just looks so right. Love the colours, that nose, the stains on the fuel tanks....that nose ! Great stuff !

:wub:

Thanks, Cap! :bow: