Skydivers Are Go!

[pwagner]

In preparation for the new UFO movie (hooray! I hope...) I figured I should build my stash of UFO models. I decided to start with the IMAI Skydiver kit.

It's a pretty dodgy kit, but the model came out well. I'm very pleased with the home-mixed Oyster Gold, which came out right first time (and Thanks! to all who answered that question...):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610156018/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610157266/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609550385/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609574415/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609545673/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609555291/sizes/l/

Main mods to the kit were a substantial rebuild of the "secondary intake" thing underneath....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609577497/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610186836/sizes/l/

...and the addition of a pilot and cockpit (which you can hardly see through the tiny canopy!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609549145/sizes/l/

Half way through the build, however, I got inspired. Certain things about the design bugged me - underwing rocket engines, fine, it has to fly underwater to launch.... but why the nose intake? Is there a secondary jet engine somewhere? Where's the nozzle then? And WTF is the "secondary intake" for anyway? And how much would R&D have cost to make - what - half a dozen of them total?

So I figured to make the project more affordable, they must have also developed a conventional version of the same plane. After all, Skydiver is obviously a very capable multi-role fighter, and certain design anomalies can be explained as cost-saving by sharing features and components with other versions.

So, I present the Skysoarer - a conventional land-based jet-powered development of the Skydiver, offered to Allied forces as an alternative to things like the F4 Phantom. In this case, I wanted to give it a classic RAF-Cold War look. Not needing to launch underwater, it has a proper bubble canopy, and sleeker lines by forsaking the "secondary intake" (which I decided had something to do with landing on the water and re-docking with the sub).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610199280/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610188306/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609583855/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610193122/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609589821/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609581565/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4609586391/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610190396/sizes/l/

And here they are together:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610196340/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34860818@N06/4610202838/sizes/l/

Paul

[John Howling Mouse]

They're both great but I do like the changes on the Skysoarer best!   

[The Rat]

They're both great but I do like the changes on the Skysoarer best!   

Agreed, crackerjack job on that! 

[MiB]

In preparation for the new UFO movie.....

WHAT???

[pwagner]

http://www.ufo-themovie.com/shado/

[The Rat]

They're both great but I do like the changes on the Skysoarer best!   

(Another comment, just call me a post-whore.) That's a whole sub-genre of whiffery I really love. Most of us take a real-world subject and whiff it, but reversing that philosophy by taking a 100% fantasy and 'real-worlding' it is something that gives me the horn. Wish we would see a lot more of those. If I can ever get a decent and inexpensive Thunderbird 2 I WILL put RCAF Transport markings on it, and strong men will shiver with AWE! 

[MiB]

http://www.ufo-themovie.com/shado/

Good!!! I hope...

[Cliffy B]

http://www.ufo-themovie.com/shado/

Good!!! I hope...

Ditto!  Hope is does well, sounds amazing! 

[proditor]

First off: Excellent mods!  I'm a huge U.F.O. fan, and the modified plane just looks amazing.  

Second: ZOMG UFO MOVIE!!!  I hope they don't screw it up.  Of course, it'll never have that awesome 70's soundtrack.

[pwagner]

Actually, the site did boast a neat re-recording of the original theme a little while ago, so they just might! Along with "The Professionals", definitely best theme ever - in fact, it's been my ringtone for many years

Paul

[Cobra]

Awesome Job with the Skydivers you captured the spirit of the Show with your Work! Hope to see More of your great Work Soon :cheers:Dan

[dragon]

I like it.

Now if you have any more in your collection....I look at the Skydiver and can't help but to be reminded of an F-86F Sabre....Now the Americans came up with a bigger radar for the F-86D Sabredog....With the guns it could be similar to an F-86K..........What do you suppose a Sabredog variant of the Skydiver would look like?

[rickshaw]

I like it.

Now if you have any more in your collection....I look at the Skydiver and can't help but to be reminded of an F-86F Sabre....Now the Americans came up with a bigger radar for the F-86D Sabredog....With the guns it could be similar to an F-86K..........What do you suppose a Sabredog variant of the Skydiver would look like?

Skydiver was based on the F-86's nose.  Speaking of which, I've never worked out what the inlet in the nose of Skydiver was for.  Looks like really poor aerodynamics if it isn't an air inlet (it appears solid).  An F-86D version would look very nice.

[chrisonord]

I was wondering how long it would be before my builds started influencing the "right" people 
Seriously though, I am looking forward to this new film coming out and also hope they don't make a pigs ear of it. Oh, and the girlies had better wear skin tight clothing again 
I really like the look of those sky divers pwagner, the RAF version would not look out of place on an episode of Thunderbirds or UFO.
Cheers,
Chris.

[The Rat]

Apparently Ali Larter has been cast in the role of Col. Virginia Lake. NOTE: I do not post this picture out of any prurient interest whatsoever, simply as information. I mean, we do have to stay informed, right?