Failsworth Falcon UCAV

kitbasher · March 23, 2008, 04:16:48 AM

My original Failsworth Falcon idea was for a 40s jet fighter making much use of a Novo Attacker, an Airfix Meteor and a Merlin Vampire. A rethink has led me to use a redundant PM F-16 (which had already been used for a canard 'F-32' ages ago - dreadful kit!). To this will be mated the Merlin Vampire wings and Phantom stabilisers (in a v-tail configuration) to make an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, circa 2017. Still in the planning stage but when I get all th ebits together I'll post a pic!

GTX · March 23, 2008, 11:26:54 AM

As one of the few who seem to like UCAVs, I can't wait to see those pics.

Regards,

Greg

The Rat · March 23, 2008, 06:04:41 PM

Failsworth?! Not a very optimistic name for a company!

I like UCAVs too, but mainly because I would like to whiff them into a manned version.

kitbasher · March 24, 2008, 10:04:08 AM

Quote from: The Rat on March 23, 2008, 06:04:41 PM
Failsworth?! Not a very optimistic name for a company!

Why 'Failsworth'? It seemed appropriate for a 'Styrene Scrapyard GB' as, when I was growing up in east Manchester, I lived a couple of miles away from a scrapyard in a nearby suburb called Failsworth that was known to local lads as 'the plane works'. In was a honey pot to those mad on aircraft (or simply being chased by a rabid guard dog for a laugh) and actually contained a wealth of treasures such as Swift F4 WK198 (once the world air speed record holder), numerous Sea Balliols, Fireflies, Shackleton MR2 or MR3 (not sure which) nose sections, a Neptune MR1 nose gun section, a Brigand and loads more. I remember having hours of fun playing in the Brigand and Fireflies, but the Swift was always out of reach (and too close to the guard dog!).
The Swift and the Brigand were rescued from the dump, which contained much, much more than I realised at the time and holds almost legendary status amongst certain aviation enthusiasts in the local area and nationally, it seems.
More details at http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20216.
The components of the 'Firecracker' (as it will now be known) are almost finalised - no Vampire wings - Airfix Bf110 items instead, a couple of Esci F-16 LGBs and pylons, odd bits and pieces from the spares box for the landing gear (yet to be determined) and sundry other stuff, but mostly PM F-16 wreckage!
Here's the bits and pieces - all from the 'scrapyard'. I don't see all of them being used, for example I'm not quite sure which undercarriage legs to use, but fairly certain.

Brian da Basher · March 24, 2008, 01:06:53 PM

I'll be watching this one with a keen eye kiitbasher! I don't think I've ever seen anyone mate a 109 with an F-16 before.

Brian da Basher

The Rat · March 24, 2008, 05:28:13 PM

Quote from: kitbasher on March 24, 2008, 10:04:08 AMThe Swift and the Brigand were rescued from the dump,...

If the Swift is the one that wound up at Sheppard's surplus, well, unfortunately I would hardly say that it was 'rescued'... F.4 WK275 Criminal that is, simply criminal.

kitbasher · March 30, 2008, 08:50:04 AM

Here's progress with the Firecracker, with the glue curing under the tailplanes (hence the propriety jigs). Drudgery of filling and sanding beckons!

Brian da Basher · March 30, 2008, 09:47:24 AM

Nice progress, kitbasher! You've done a great job of capturing that UCAV look!

Brian da Basher

lenny100 · March 30, 2008, 10:41:12 AM

looks good kitbasher

Eddie M. · March 31, 2008, 03:32:20 PM

I like the looks of this one.

Eddie

John Howling Mouse · March 31, 2008, 07:02:02 PM

Very coooool. For a moment, I thought the knives (?) propping up the wingtips were going to be some kind of radical wingtip missile/pod/fueltanks.

ysi_maniac · April 01, 2008, 05:21:26 AM

Quote from: John Howling Mouse on March 31, 2008, 07:02:02 PM
For a moment, I thought the knives (?) propping up the wingtips were going to be some kind of radical wingtip missile/pod/fueltanks.

Me too.

Very promising, really.

Rafael · April 01, 2008, 02:45:58 PM

OOOooooH!!!

This is a superb way to use an F-16 fuselage!!!

What's supposed to go on the leading edges?

Rafa

kitbasher · April 02, 2008, 12:51:34 PM

Thanks for all the plaudits guys (and gals, just in case), I hope it will live up to expectations.
What's supposed to go on the leading edges? If you're thinking about the plastic card-filled gaps, they are where the engine nacelles for my 'Supermarine Spartan' (http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,17859.0.html) were stolen from.
For a moment, I thought the knives (?) propping up the wingtips were going to be some kind of radical wingtip missile/pod/fueltanks.
Ay caramba!! What a Bond Villain (or Dr Evil) idea, Mr Howling Mouse??!! Mind you, they'd be cheaper than Sidewinders on the real thing, I guess (and just in case anyone asks, AIM-9s aren't part of the plan).
Milliput is now hardened, sanding down next.

kitbasher · April 08, 2008, 07:42:03 AM

So, progress with the Firecracker so far.
Filling and rubbing down done, undercarriage legs, weapons pylons, random lumps and bumps (laser and IR sensors, etc) and numerous bits of plastic card for miscellaneous aerials (GPS, TCAS, comms, etc) fitted.
An initial coat of Humbrol 64 has highlighted a number of blemishes, holes, etc that need a bit more filling and/or rubbing down - and told me I needed to buy a new tin of H64!
Looking at the beastie I think I'll drop my original plan to carry 4 LGBs and have just 2 instead (on the inner pylons) with something else from my Airfix NATO weappons set (or even my Airfix Tornado GR4) for the outer pylons (such as ECM, chaff stuff or te like).
Here's the latest pics:

Once I get this done it's back to the Viagra (I know that sounds so wrong but you know what I mean!)