The Return of the DH.111

[K5054NZ]

Hey guys.

You may remember a few months ago I pleaded for someone to find me a DH.110 or Sea Vixen kit. Luckily, Gary the Great sent me a new-tool (??) FROG Vix, and I set about Kiwifying it.

I thought because it's been so long since I even looked at the beast I would post ALL the pics I've taken of her.

From the beginning, then:

Bang seat, courtesy Italeri's MiG-29. This was my experimenting with filling up a cockpit to make it a tad more realistic. The bizarre original curvy chair was binned at the start.


The new cockpit, complete with HOTAS and a control panel. Note the ribs I added from styrene sticks. Cheers Baz!


The fuselage goes together. At this point I saw my efforts to create ribs in the navigator's bay were totally pointless due to the extreme thickness of the transparency there. Sigh....


The right wing goes on, and underneath you can see the "jig" supporting it which led to a brilliant idea...........

FAST FORWARD THREE MONTHS

The following pics were taken by the Lovely Ms Lana yesterday.


The painting begins at long last.


Azzy decides to kill a little time and learn from the master. He soon discovered a fly running riot around the flat and sprinted off.


Using NZ8001 as a guide, I proceeded to apply NZ's distinctive (and increasingly attractive) three-tone green-green-grey camo.


Today I was able to finish the first coat. Oh. My. God. The paint is rather streaky and nasty, hence the lack of pics as it is now, but after another couple she should be fine.

I have prepared a couple of newspaper/magazine articles for y'all to read after the completion of this kit. I'll post plenty o'pics when she's done.

Til then I welcome your comments.

[Captain Canada]

First he posts pics of cleavage, now pussy....when will it stop !

Oh, I can't say that here ? Nice cat, Zac ! Cats are wicked animals. My wife thinks that after ours go, that's it. But I said "I'll never be without cat ! "

Nice Vixen. She gonna keep the folding wings ? Operate off Aussie carriers ? Love the look of the camo and tip tanks....

Great stuff !

[Brian da Basher]

Lookin' good Zac-o-matic! I'm itching to see more!

Brian da Basher

[Shasper]

Now now, since there may be females that read this thread, it would be wise to refrain from using slang about certaint "Attributes" of the opposit gender (no matter how... er Good, it may be )


Good stuff young hobbit! You'll soon be the model lord of all middle earth!


Shas B)

[K5054NZ]

The precious will be ours!


Okay, here she is: the completed NZ6421:



Article from the Marlborough Express newspaper, Thursday June 4 2004

AIR FORCE FAREWELLS A FAVOURITE AIRCRAFT
By Zac Yates

It was a sad day for crews from 96 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force as their mount, the Viper jet fighter, was retired from active service yesterday.



The jet, which entered service with the RNZAF in 1970, has been New Zealand's main strike aircraft. Augmented by the Dassault Mirage fighter in 1972, the Viper bore the brunt of fighting during the 1987 "Rugby War" with Australia, carrying out numerous attack missions against Australian troop positions and ships. Today, however, the survivors of the fleet sit in the main hangar at RNZAF Woodbourne, silent until a customer can be found for the 40 year-old but capable aircraft.



Squadron Leader Tom Reynolds said that the Viper would be sorely missed in the air force, and that she had been a popular aircraft with crews.

"The Viper was an amazing aircraft to fly, so much power, quite heavy, but I loved her to bits," he said. "It's sad to see her go. Almost like losing a member of the family - I think that's how everyone in the squadron feels."



96 (Ground Attack) Squadron was formed specifically for the Viper in 1969, when young RNZAF pilots and navigators travelled to the United Kingdom to be trained on the then-new aircraft. One of those young pilots was Pilot Officer Thomas Reynolds - now the commanding officer of 96 Sqn.



The Viper's impressive service record appears to have had no effect on the Government, who have decided to retire the venerable aircraft in favour of the newer Sukhoi Flanker, a multi-role aircraft which would also replace the Mirage. The announcement of the new aircraft surprised many, who expected the American F-15 Eagle to be selected, rather than its newer Russian counterpart. The first RNZAF Flanker is expected in Auckland next week. The Russian demonstrator flew by in salute at the Viper's retirement ceremony yesterday, a touching tribute by the next generation of fighting aircraft in the RNZAF.



However, there is hope that the Viper has not permanently left New Zealand's skies. A group of enthusiasts are hoping to operate one of the Vipers as a private "warbird" on the airshow circuit. For the time being though, the skies above New Zealand are without the roar of the Viper's two mighty Avon jet engines.

[K5054NZ]

Article courtesy Pacific Wings magazine, July 2006 issue



THE VIPER FLIES AGAIN
By Zac Yates

After months of hard work and immense paperwork, a group of old aeroplane enthusiasts have succeeded in achieving a goal thought previously to be impossible - operating a hi-tech jet fighter as a private aircraft.

The Viper Syndicate's chief pilot, Grant Walker, flew the de Havilland Viper for the first time since its retirement in June 2004 from RNZAF Woodbourne on Saturday. The flight was witnessed by a crowd of almost 2000, who lined the fences around the airport.

"No pressure of course!" joked Mr Walker after the flight. Calm but all smiles, he said she flew like a dream. Which is exactly what the group's detractors said their aim was.

Soon before the Viper fleet's retirement almost two years ago, plans were well underway to operate an example of the large, two-engined aircraft as a warbird, a flying tribute to the crews who worked on and in her in more than 30 years of RNZAF service. In that time, five crews were lost in accidents, including the final Viper accident in the Marlborough Sounds in 1997.


NZ6421 pictured in 1989 with de Havilland Venom ZK-VNM: two generations of RNZAF DH "V" aircraft

Sale of the fleet in August 2004 saw 10 of the 13-strong fleet sold to the Singaporean Air Force, three remained in New Zealand - one for the RNZAF Museum at Wigram, Christchurch, another was later shipped to the UK for a private collector, and the last remained at Woodbourne. This aircraft was NZ6421, purchased by a group of twelve people, mostly ex-air force, but also including a successful businessman, a vineyard owner and a radio presenter. The enthusiastic group set about preparing the aircraft, which had not flown since 2001, for flight. Before she could take to the skies, however, there were several obstacles to overcome.

NZ6421 would, if the Viper Syndicate succeeded, be the most complex aircraft to be privately operated in New Zealand. When the group set about restoring her to fly, a company in the Uk had done the same with an example of the Sea Vixen (the naval version of the aircraft). Members of the New Zealand group travelled to the UK to meet with the Sea Vixen's operators, who provided valuable insight into the complexity of registering and operating such an aircraft. Later, the Kiwi pilots trained on G-CVIX when the time for their aircraft's flight neared.


'21 with BAe Eagle NZ8001 "Poster Girl" at Ohakea in 1998. The pair flew a memorable duet display at that year's Warbirds Over Wanaka, something not repeated since

The team took countless weeks off from their day-jobs to work toward their ultimate goal. Engine overhauls, spray painting, even stencilling, took up many man-hours. By mid-way through last year, NZ6421 was ready and poised for flight, except for one thing - official clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority. She sat gathering dust in her Woodbourne hangar, her nose pointing out the hangar and to the sky. On fine days, she was taken outside and taxied around the tarmac.

Finally, on April 12 this year, the Viper Syndicate received a letter from the CAA - a thumbs-up for flight. She had been granted her certificate of airworthiness, and it was entirely up to the group as to when they would fly.

Due to work commitments, it wasn't until early May that every one of the group was able to make the journey to Blenheim and get ZK-VPR (as the aircraft was by now registered) into the air. The work needed was largely cosmetic - dust to be cleaned off, additional details painted on, and the engines run to ensure they still worked after their hibernation. The nation's press and warbird enthusiasts from all over converged on the Marlborough district.

Saturday May 20 dawned crisp and clear. Crowds gathered at Woodbourne from 6am, lining the perimeter fences. Specially for the occasion, a grandstand was erected and access given to a limited area of the airport tarmac so that everyone could witness the event. Lenses were cleaned, sunglasses perched on noses, and radios cranked up to fill in the time.

At 9:30, Hangar 12 opened up and to rapturous applause ZK-VPR was towed out into the bright Marlborough sunshine. Grant Walker, in his green flightsuit, waved to the crowd and sat in the tight cockpit. Bulbs flashed as her twin engines spooled up and she taxied to the end of Runway 30.

A low rumble echoed around the valley, and the green aircraft accelerated along the runway faster and faster. At 9:42 ZK-VPR/NZ6421 left the runway and climbed into the sky. Grant Walker flew several basic manoeuvres, testing the aircraft's flight envelope. To conclude the flight, and with no warning, the aircraft tore along the runway at low level and high speed, before performing a graceful climbing roll into the clear blue Marlborough skies. The landing was as smooth as could be hoped for, and the braking parachute ensured no unintended "incidents" after its return to earth. Walker taxied the aircraft to a stop in front of the grandstand, and got out of the aircraft to an amazing reception. Two years of toil had culminated in a successful first flight lasting 20 minutes.

It is planned for the aircraft to make her airshow debut at Classic Fighters Marlborough next Easter, where despite being the only jet present, she will surely be a crowd pleaser.

Back issues of the June 2004 edition of Pacific Wings, which featured an article on the RNZAF service history of the Viper, and the August 2004 issue which covered the type's retirement, are still available for purchase from our offices. Contact details are in the front cover of the magazine.

[Archibald]

Very nice! How good is the FROG kit ? I'm tempted to buy one, I'm fond of the Sea Vixen    

[K5054NZ]

Not too bad, but as Lana said, the gaps where wing meets fuse are HUGE! Good li'l kit though. Beefing up the interior was great fun!

[Archibald]

Merci!  ^_^  

[seavixen]

Sweet, verrrrry sweet!

Thanks for the heads up!    

[Brian da Basher]

Woah is that sweet Zac! I really like your paint work on the camo! You've got a great eye for color! Those Kiwi roundels are cool beyond words!

Another winner, Zac-o-matic!

Brian da Basher

[ysi_maniac]

Great job as modeller and as reporter.
       

[Tophe]

Nicely original...
One more tribute to the twin-boom Universe, thanks for it!  

[Gary]

Exceptionally cool mate. I went out a couple of weeks after sending you that beasty and snagged the reboxed revelle one. Now of course I was thinking heeeeeyyyy, new moulding! Nope. It was the same dealy as I sent ya. But now mate, you've tossed down the gauntlet and I must consider rising up to meet the ....


awww, never mind. I doubt I'd get it finished.

Lovely turning of a sow's ear into a silk purse!

[Chap]

Wonderful Zac! She looks great, and as always a great backstory.

~Steve