Westland W.36 Wyvern - a jet-powered dragon

[kitbasher]

If you look at the side elevation that you show in your post you will notice the small line on the lower fuselage in front of the tail plains. That is the doors to the tail wheel, just the same as in the turbo prop version.

Yes I'd noticed that in the original BSP drawing and had initially assumed the W.36 was a tail dragger like the Supermarine Attacker, in which case as you say a simple conversion -  both in real life and well as in plastic!. 

But, BSP Jet Bombers Since 1949 states the W.36 had tricycle undercarriage and in http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,1442.0/highlight,w+36+wyvern.html Mr Creak posts a note that Roy Boot's book 'Spitfire to Eurofighter' states his first job in the drawing office was putting a tricycle undercarriage on the jet Wyvern'.

(PS, Gondor did you mean 'in very basic terms all a turboprop is basically a turbojet with a propeller and reduction gearing at the front'?)

[Gondor]

Yes I'd noticed that in the original BSP drawing and had initially assumed the W.36 was a tail dragger like the Supermarine Attacker, in which case as you say a simple conversion -  both in real life and well as in plastic!. 

But, BSP Jet Bombers Since 1949 states the W.36 had tricycle undercarriage and in http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,1442.0/highlight,w+36+wyvern.html Mr Creak posts a note that Roy Boot's book 'Spitfire to Eurofighter' states his first job in the drawing office was putting a tricycle undercarriage on the jet Wyvern'.

(PS, Gondor did you mean 'in very basic terms all a turboprop is basically a turbojet with a propeller and reduction gearing at the front'?)

Oppps missed the bit with the reference's  to the undercarriage and yes I did mean with

Gondor

[kitbasher]

Blame technology Gondor - I do all the time!

[TsrJoe]

display style model of Westland 'jet Wyvern' ... 

[Captain Canada]

That thing is ugly ! Where does the jet exhaust come out ? above the wing ?

[kitbasher]

That thing is ugly ! Where does the jet exhaust come out ? above the wing ?

A bifurcated efflux (a condition cured by ointment these days!) essentially the same as the efflux on thr real-world Wyvern S.4 if the drawing is to be believed.

[Captain Canada]

Sounds strange ! Be a neat look tho....

[kitbasher]

Same arrangement as the Hawker Seahawk, Captain, but with a more powerful engine in a bigger airframe.

[The Wooksta!]

The drawing I have *somewhere* says it's an Avon...

[kitbasher]

The drawing I have *somewhere* says it's an Avon...

That tallies with BSP (refers to it as an AJ.65 rather than an Avon, this being the Avon's initial designation), and Lenny100's knowledge of the subject.

[lenny100]

yes it was to be fitted with a Avon but its not the lightning engine, it what became that engine.

The Avon design team was headed by Cyril Lovesey, who had previously been in charge of Merlin development.

The engine was intended both as an experiment in axial-flow engines, as well as (if successful) a replacement for the 5,000 lbf (22 kN) Nene.

Originally known as the AJ.65 for Axial Jet, 6,500 lbf which was originally designed by Alan Arnold Griffith, the engine developed as a single-spool design with an eight, later 10 stage compressor, mass flow rate of 150 lb/s (68 kg/s) and a pressure ratio of 7.45.
Development started in 1945 and the first prototypes were built in 1947.
Introduction was somewhat slowed by a number of minor problems.
The first Avon's to fly were two Avon RA.2s in the converted Lancastrian military serial VM732, which flew from Hucknall on August 15, 1948.
Initially a private venture for the company, government backing was forthcoming around the time of the first prototypes.[3]
The modifications and improvements introduced to the Avon 200 series were considerable, resulting in a completely different engine with very little in common with the early Marks.
Despite this, the name Avon was retained.

J65
   The original designation, standing for Axial Jet 6,500lbs thrust
RA.3
   Civil designation for the first Avon production mark - 6,500 lbf (29 kN).
Mk.100 series
   Military designation for the RA.3 Avon - 6,500 lbf (29 kN).
RA.7
   Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon. - 7,350 lbf (32,700 N).
Mk.114
   Military designation for the RA.7 Avon - 7,350 lbf (32.7 kN).
RA.14
   Civil designation for the uprated version of the Avon with can-annular combustion chamber and Sapphire style compressor - 9,500 lbf (42 kN).


Mk.200 series
   Military designation for the uprated version of the Avon with can-annular combustion chamber and Sapphire style compressor - 9,500 lbf (42 kN).
RA.26
   Further improvements to the Avon 200 series
RA.29
   Civil designation for the Mk.300 series (used by the Sud Aviation Caravelle)
Mk.301 / Mk.302
   The ultimate Military Avon for the English Electric Lightning - 12,690 lbf (56,450 N) (16,360 lbf (72,770 N) in reheat

[Captain Canada]

Same arrangement as the Hawker Seahawk, Captain, but with a more powerful engine in a bigger airframe.

Ok...makes sense when you put it like that ! I have a pair of half started Wyverns in the stash...one of these days !