Looking at a nice picture on the wall, nicely sent by a friend here , I decided to build a plastic Sea-Vixen FAW2, and to what-if her, I planned Forward Swept Wings (FSW2, Famous Sea Wixen Mk2...)  I considered also a low tailplane, in titanium right behind the jet exhaust, to provide vertical thrust for STOL (PolluxD7 way, thanks... ).
I opened the Revell 1/72 box of mine and... problem: one frame of parts is in double, and one is lacking.

A few years ago, I would have been very sad , writing complaint  or something, but now I am a happy what-iffer, and I can handle the situation with a smile:
- which part is missing? Tailplane! All right: no tailplane, just a flying wing, with booms for the rear fins  
- which parts are in double? Wings! All right: this will be a X-wing freak (or >--< wing...) wiXen, yes!  
Maybe in one week, it may be done...

Looking forward to seeing the result.

Regards,

Greg

One of my main problem with 1/72 planes (1/144 was not common when I bought all those kits in the 1980s-90s...) is the size which is too big , mainly the span. So everything that reduces span is positive for me . Here:
- the angle of external wings in anhedral/dihedral will reduce the horizontal span
- I have removed the little part of the main wing outside the booms on one side below:

this will reduce the span by 1 inch. The X-wings can be fixed directly on the booms, that will even be more easy to attach them, and will simplify the aspect, with forward sweep for all outside the booms  

(In the frame of parts which is missing was not only the tailplane: also the canopy support, so this model cannot be perfect at all, just trying to provide me with a smile...)
On the way to completion:

Still remain to glue: the low wings, then yellow paint all, then add a black canopy, and this is all. Without putty and sanding, as this is just a very quick build, not intended to be perfect, just a therapeutic way to remind me modelism is plain fun...

The freak is born... (thanking BlackOps' X-wing Gripen  http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...?showtopic=9567 once again...)

At last, I completed the "X-wing from front" by a "X-wing from above" layout, rather than all FSW. This is the Sea-^viXen 2, simply.

Tophe, that is fantastic!  Great idea to use the Sea Vixen as an X version

Jeff G.

Cool, Love the forward/backward swept wings.





Patrick

Nice to see that my postcard inspired something!

You know I think this would also look really good with a rounded nose rather than the pointed nose. Seems like it would fit in with the aircrafts natural curves.


Jeff G.

You are very right, while this is not further what-ifing, as the Vixen was like that at first:
(book from http://www.icarusbooks.com/hpm.htm )
But I will probably not do this change as my Sea-Xixen is a very-quick minimum-pain build, without putty nor sanding at all...

By no means did I think you should change it, just thinking out loud...And it's always good to have a minimal-pain build  For some reason everything I'm currently working on seems to need a ton of putty.


Jeff G.

Just the canopies remaining to paint and glue and this will be done!

Too Cool! I love the color choice



Jeff G.

The colour is pleasant while not completely what-if  see http://www.dehavilland.net/seavixen.html

I have painted the canopy. Finishing is scheduled for tomorrow evening...