NARDU F4D-1P Spyray 1/48 - Finished - pic's pg.4

Old Wombat · May 16, 2016, 07:48:27 PM

My second (optional) build is going to be a F4D-1 modified with a PR nose from another kit.

Idea is that the RAN purchased a four of these aircraft in the early 1960's for evaluation purposes to replace their F9F-8's but opted for the F-8 Crusader, instead.

The Naval Aircraft Research & Development Unit (NARDU), the RAN's version of its RAAF equivalent, retained these aircraft for weapons, stores pylon & targetting system testing.

In the mid-70's three of these aircraft were retired & used for parts to keep the 4th flying.

This aircraft was modified by fitting a PR nose to the airframe & was used as a chase-plane to record test flights of other aircraft & the effectiveness of weapons delivery systems.

It was scrapped in 1984 after a crash-landing at NAS Parafield, SA.

What I'm starting with:

Still waiting for the starters gun!

Army of One · May 17, 2016, 04:47:27 AM

Sounds great......excuse my ignorance but, is that a podded IFR probe.....? Fixed extended like that....? Or does it slide back in the tank....? I have seen a modern item on an F16 that folds out of a wing mounted tank......so it can be fuelled both ways.......

Old Wombat · May 17, 2016, 07:19:12 AM

Fixed IFR - it's surprising how old this design is, really (first flight Jan 1951, introduced into service 1956)

Quote from: airvectors.netAlthough the Skyray didn't have inflight refueling capabilities itself, it could carry external tanks with nose probes for hose-and-drogue refueling. Very few photographs show this fit, however, and though it was said to have been approved for service, it doesn't seem to have been widely used.

http://www.airvectors.net/avskyray.html

The airvectors write-up by Greg Goebel is quite an interesting read.

Army of One · May 17, 2016, 09:06:31 AM

Again.......cheers.....

PR19_Kit · May 17, 2016, 10:40:13 AM

Which PR nose are you planning to graft onto it?

Old Wombat · May 17, 2016, 10:41:39 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on May 17, 2016, 10:40:13 AM
Which PR nose are you planning to graft onto it?

The one in the photo?!

PR19_Kit · May 17, 2016, 10:46:21 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on May 17, 2016, 10:41:39 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on May 17, 2016, 10:40:13 AM
Which PR nose are you planning to graft onto it?

The one in the photo?!

Ok, but what's it from? I don't recognise it I'm afraid.

Old Wombat · May 17, 2016, 10:47:56 AM

Oh, alright, then!

It's the optional PR nose from my KittyHawk F9F-8/8P kit.

It'll need a bit of slicing & dicing & PSR to fit but not too much.

PR19_Kit · May 17, 2016, 10:57:01 AM

Ahah, so it's 1/48 scale then.

That's why I didn't recognise it, bit sounds like it should go well on a Skyray.

Old Wombat · May 17, 2016, 05:40:49 PM

Ooh!

Title fix to end confusion!

zenrat · May 18, 2016, 01:01:34 AM

The Skyray is a very attractive aircraft.

Here's one I "drew" earlier with an F9F-6P nose.

I now have an AMT (Airfix) Banshee which has the photo nose so if I can lay my hands on another 1/72 Tamiya Skyray...

Captain Canada · May 19, 2016, 07:28:27 AM

Looking forward to seeing this one ! Love that aeroplane.

Old Wombat · June 10, 2016, 05:37:39 AM

Right, so a start has been made.

Not huge progress but it is moving. I've painted & put together the photo-recce gear & put it in the main body of the PR nose. To finish this bit I have to glue the glazing into the other 3 panels & fit them to the body-work.

In a fit of misplaced enthusiasm I glued the nose to the cockpit section;

In this shot we have the original F4D-1 nose for comparison;

So, next job is to remove it & work on the cockpit.

JayBee · June 10, 2016, 05:49:10 AM

I am liking this a lot.
Bit of a different take on my idea, not to mention the scale.

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,32652.0/highlight,douglas+df-6b+skyray.html

Jim

Captain Canada · June 10, 2016, 06:10:38 AM

Very nice. Love the shape and the details look great !