Curtiss Model 101 (XFC-1 Oceanhawk) jet flying boat fighter +++ Pics on page 3!

[Tophe]

I love it!

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice build- like this very much.  How did you tint the canopy? 

It's not tinted at all? If you mean the green cockpit - it's just the interior, only the front windshield has been mounted in the pics yet?

Now for your pilot on the other project- contrary to standard safety standards she does not appear to be wearing a nomex flightsuit.... although bouyancy does not apear to be a problem if she ejects over water   

Nah, that's just a SF figure, and actually a kind of inner suit to wear inside an armored combat suit.
Inspiration came from a kind of pin-up with a Japanese model from a Ma.K. source book:


1:20 Ma.K. - Brick Works' Mercenary Woman Space Pilot A Inner Suit Ver. (figure conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

More about the background and making/conversion here  :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzyfugu/4215369087/in/set-72157623045230524

Concerning the XFC-1: beauty pics make progress. Made some shots "on land", as well was "in the water" with a simple sea simulation from a shirt and two layers of wrapping film. Does not look THAT bad at all... Flight scenes are still pending.

Soon to come, though 

[sandiego89]

It's not tinted at all? If you mean the green cockpit - it's just the interior, only the front windshield has been mounted in the pics yet?

 
[/quote]

Ahh, soory, was looking at a small photo on my phone.  I can see it now.

[Dizzyfugu]

It's not tinted at all? If you mean the green cockpit - it's just the interior, only the front windshield has been mounted in the pics yet?

 

Ahh, soory, was looking at a small photo on my phone.  I can see it now.
[/quote]

Ah, no problem - anyway, if I was to tint the clear part, I found window-painting colors from the hobby store (either water-based or enamel type, which is IMHO more effective and even) to be pretty handy. It's just hard to determine the degree of shade/opacity, as dry paint tends to become lighter and the water-based colors I use are totally opaque.

[Dizzyfugu]

Here we go...  


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
Towards the end of WWII, large, piston-engined flying boats had been used extensively in the patrol and bomber role, but with the advent of the new jet engine technology, engineers in several countries started to explore the new propulsion type's potential in different areas - including seaborne usage.

Towards the end of WWII and the far-stretched conflict theatre in the Pacific, the flying boat as well as float planes still had a large appeal due to their independence from airfields. This offered a lot of tactical flexibility. On the other side, the jet engine promised (much) higher speeds, but with the relative higher weight of early jet-driven aircraft (more fuel was needed, and more engines, as thrust was relatively low) a seaborne type would also avoid the need for a prepared and long airstrip to operate.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The United Kingdom was one nation that looked seriously into this kind of aircraft, and Saunders Roe presented in 1943 the proposals for a plane that should actually make it to the hardware stage: the SR.1/A, which made its maiden flight in 1947. The Soviet union also undertook some studies, but fighters remained just proposals. Eventually OKB Beriev would produce several sea-borne, jet-powered patrol bombers (e .g. the R-1 experimental plane, and later the Be-10 flying boat), which actually entered service.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In the USA, studies for a jet-powered fighter fyling boat gained momentum during the final stages of WWII. Convair developed the 'Skate' for the US Navy, a heavy night fighter, and Boeing designed a competitive concept. In parallel, and towards the end of the forties, heavier flying boats for maritime patrol were requested by the Navy - and with them a lighter, single-seat fighter that could escort them, or be used as an interceptor to defend improvised forward maritime bases. Using this type as a fast, ship-borne reconnaicssance aircraft was also envisioned.
This fighter was to be capable of a similar performance to land-based fighters in this class, like the F-80 or the F-86. The dsuccessful evelopment of the SR.A/1 in the UK had been keenly observed, and the concept of a jet-powered flying boat fighter appeared feasible and appealing.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


One company to respond to the USN request was Curtiss, who already had experience with float planes like the Model 82 (SOC) and the Model 97 (SC 'Seahawk') - both rather pathfinder aircraft than true combat types, though. Curtiss designed its Model 101 around two J47-GE-11 jet engines, each rated at 2.359 kN (5.200 lbf) of thrust.

The Model 101's layout was rather concentional, with a deep, single step boat hull that would house a huge amount of fuel for the requested long range escort capability. The J47-GE-11-engines (the same which powered the B-47 bomber) were placed in nacelles, at the highest point of the gull wings.
As an innovative step, the Model 101 featured swept wings - the first time ever that this was tried on a flying boat. On the tips of the wings with a 35° sweep, slats and large flaps, fixed stabilizer floats were mounted. The large fin was swepts as well, and the horizontal stabilizers were placed as a T-tail high on the fin, clear of any jet turbulence or spray water.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The pilot sat in a pressurized cockpit under a bubble canopy, which offered good view, even though the massive engine nacelles blocked much of the side and rearward field of view.
The Model 101 was armed with four 20 mm (0.79 in) M3 autocannons in the nose section, with 200 RPG. An A-1CM gunsight which used an AN/APG-30 radar to automatically compute the range of a target was housed in a small radome in the nose tip. Under its inner wings, just outside of the engines, hardpoints allowed an external ordnance of up to 4.000 lb (1.816 kg), including bombs of up to 1.000 lb calibre, eight HVAR missiles, drop tanks or even two torpedos.

Curtiss received a go-ahead and two prototypes were built during 1948. First taxi runsd tok place in late 1947, the maiden flight of prototype #01 was on February 6th 1948, the second aircraft followed only three weeks later on 1st of March 1948 - and the tests were soon halted. Both aircraft suffered from severe purpoising at 80% of the take-off speed, and this problem almost resulted in the loss of prototype #01. This was a new problem, as such high take-off speeds had never before been encountered on water, and the phenomenon was called the 'hydro-dynamic instability barrier': essentially it was unstable aquaplaning.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


First attempts to solve the problem were elevator compensation and tailplane incidence angle adjustments. This helped, but the aircraft remained unstable during take-off and landing - it was not before November 1948 that modifications were made to the planing bottom of prototype #02.
This brought the purpoising to a manageable level, but did not fully cure it. Disaster struck on February 12th 1949, when the still unmodified first prototype was lost in a starting accident: the aircraft started purpoising during take-off, hit a wave with the left side stabilizer swimmer, suddenly veered off towards the left, pitching down with the nose and toppling over at more than 120mph, ripping off the left wing and the whole tail section. Miracuously, test pilot Simon Pritchard escaped alive from the sinking wreck (even though heavily injured), but the XFC-1 #01 had to be written off and any high speed ground tests were suspended..

Flight tests were resumed in June 1949 after a bottom step venting system had been introduced, and this measure finally cured the instability problem. In the meantime, two more airframes had been built: one with more powerful J47-GE-23 engines (with 2.631 kN/5.800 lbf each, these were introduced to the other two prototypes during 1950, too) and another one for static tests.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Further trials followed during 1950 and in early 1951 the re-engined machine #02 even became supersonic in a dive. While the Model 101 (which received the USN designation XFC-1 and was christened 'Oceanhawk') was up to the original specifications it was clear that it could not compete with land-based aircraft - essentially, it offered a similar performance to the land-based F-86, but the XFC-1 needed two engines for that, was much less agile and still needed a complex infratsructure to operate properly. Its independence from land bases was still its biggest selling point, though, so the development was kept up.

At that time, the USN issued a specification for a supersonic flying boat, and NACA understook a study that a Mach 2 aircraft would be feasible until 1955. This rendered the Oceanhawk more or less obsolete, as it could not keep up with this requirement, and the XFC-1 program was finally closed in 1953. Eventually, the Convair XF2Y Sea Dart would be the next (and final) step on the way to a seaborne jet fighter.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Anyway, the remaining two XFC-1 prototypes were not scrapped but allocated to the USN's test squadrons. Prototype #02 and #03 were handed over as UFC-1 to Air Development Squadron VX-4 "Evaluaters" at Point Mugu, California, together with the static airframe #04 which was used for spares. Both aircraft were used as chase planes, observation platforms and target tugs. Machine #02, for instance, took part in the evaluation program of the Martin P6M SeaMaster flying boat in 1955, and was then modified for several tests with hydroski installations under the fuselage. On the other side, machine #03 was used in the development of remote drone and target tug control equipment, being re-designated DFC-1.

After serving in these second line roles, both aircraft were finally scrapped in 1965 and replaced by land-based types.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr




General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 14.11 m (46 ft 6 1/3 in)
Wingspan: 12.46 m (40 ft 9 1/2 in)
Height: 4.10 m (13 ft 5 1/4 in)
Empty weight: 9.265 kg (20.408 lb)
Loaded weight: 16.080 kg (35.418 lb)

Powerplant:
2× J47-GE-23 engines, rated at 2.631 kN/5.800 lbf each

Performance:
Maximum speed: 932km/h (577mph/503nm) at sea level
Range: 2.092 km (1296 ml)
Service ceiling: 13.450 m (44.040 ft)

Armament:
4× 20 mm (0.79 in) M3 autocannons with 200 RPG.
Eight underwing hardpoints for a total external ordnance of up to 4.000 lb (1.816 kg), including bombs of up to 1.000 lb calibre, eight HVAR missiles, drop tanks or two torpedos.




The kit and its assembly:
A lot has already been posted during the WiP phase, but here's a rough and mayve some missing details. This model is a complete fantasy aircraft, inspired by a TV documentation about sea plane projects in the USA and USSR after WWII. Among others, the Martin P6M SeaMaster and the Saro SR.1/A made an appearance, and I wondered how an escort fighter for the P6M would have looked like in USN service? Well, let's build one...

Making a flying boat is pretty tricky, and the whole thing was built from scratch and with lots of putty.

Basically, the following went into it, all 1:72 unless stated otherwise:
● Fuselage and cockpit from a Hobby Boss F-86E
● Floating bottom is the lower half of a Matchbox Heinkel He 115 swimmer
● Wings come from another Hobby Boss F-86E, but this time a Batch 30 aircraft with extended wing tips
● Vertical stabilizer comes from an Academy MiG-21F
● Horizontal stabilizers come from a 1:100 Tamiya Il-28 bomber
● Stabilzer swimmers come from a vintage box scale Revell Convair Tradewind kit
● Engine intakes and exhausts are resin parts from Pavla, replacements for a Hasegawa B-47 kit
● A massive beaching trolley, which actually belongs to the A-Model Kh-20M missile kit

Assembly went from fuselage over the wing roots, the improvised engine nacelles, outer wings and stabilizer swimmers, step by step. I had a vague idea of what the aircraft should look like, but the design more or less evolved, depending from what I had at hand.
For instance, the Il-28 stabilizers were late additions, as the original F-86 parts turned out to be much too small for the massive aircraft.

The cockpit was taken OOB, just a pilot figure was added and the canopy cut into two pieces, so that it could be displayed in an open position.
Around the hull, small mooring hooks made from wire were added, gun nozzles made from hollow needles, as well as some antennae, since the whole kit was rather bleak and simple.

The trolley was puzzled together from the parts supllied with A-Model's Kh-20M (AS-3 'Kangaroo') kit, but was modified (e. g. with different wheels) and adapted to the flying boat's hull. It fits perfectly in shape and design, though!


Painting and markings:
Nothing fancy, as a jet-powered flying boat fighter is unique enough. Design benchmark was again the P6M, and AFAIK these aircraft were painted in just two tones: FS16081, a very dark grey, with white undersides and a wavy waterline. They were definitively not blue of any sort, as one might think in the first place.

I started with the lower side - white is always difficult to apply, and in order to avoid any trouble I used stpray paint from a rattle can and used a very light grey instead of pure white. The latter has two benefits: it covers the surface much better than white, and the contrast is not so harsh - the grey still leaves 'room' for some dry-brushing with white.

Next step was the dark grey - I used Humbrol's 32, which is FS36081 and looks very good. Dry-brushing with Humbrol 79 (Dark Blue Grey) was used for some counter-shading, and after a black ink wash I also painted some panel lines with a mix of black and matt varnish onto the hull. That turned out to be a little much, but finally, when the decals were applied (wild mix from various aftermarket sheets and the scrap box), the overall impression became much better.

The trolley was simply painted in yellow and makes a nice contrast to the dark aircraft on top of it.

Both aircraft and trolley were additionally weathered with some dry-brushed rust and grinded graphite, and finally received a coat of matt varnish.


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Curtiss Model 101 (UFC-1 'Oceanhawk '); former second XFC-1 prototype, VX-4; Point Mugu, summer 1956 (What-if/Kit-bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[PR19_Kit]

Brilliant stuff Thomas! 

The piccies are truly magnificent and the beaching trolley works on your model a treat, really looks the part.

Did any versions of the Oceanhawk have flight refuelling capability? I ask because the second piccie of one in formation with a Seamaster looks just as if it's in the 'hold' position before moving aft to refuel. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you, Kit. No, no refuelling planned - too early for that. I admit that the FC-1 is pretty close in echelon formation to the P6M - it was hard to find an arrangement that I could actually get both aircraft onto one pic...  It's no composing picture, just the model in front of a P6M photograph.

[bearmatt]

Awesome job dizzy! 

[TallEng]

Another amazing Kitbash
it really does look like it belongs in the air with the Seamaster
I wish I could produce them so quick
It takes me ages, and as for thinking up such splendid backstories as you do......
Well I'd never produce anything!
Regards
Keith

[NARSES2]

That's marvellous 

[Ed S]

Great model.  I kept looking for the refueling hose in the picture with the P6M. It looks like a natural combination.

Ed

[Cobra]

Superb Build i could almost Picture your Oceanhawk being Seen in an Episode of Stingray,Thunderbirds,Captain Scarlet,or Joe 90! Superb Job on the Diorama Keep up the Superb Work PS:This Should be in the Running for a Whiffie! Dan

[philp]

PS:This Should be in the Running for a Whiffie! Dan

It has already been nominated.

[Dizzyfugu]

Thanks a lot - as well as (and especially) for the Whiffies nomination! 

[Librarian]

I was away when this posted and missed it. Absolutely love it, with a little Grumman about it. Looks great, and right, in formation with the Seamaster. : :wub:thumbsup: