Lockheed F-96 Brightstar

[TomZ]

At the end of the 1940s the USAF was looking for a replacement for the Lockheed P-80 and early F-86 jet fighters. Lockheed offered what was in effect a scaled up P-80. In 1950 a contract was awarded for 4 prototypes of what was designated the Lockheed F-96 Brightstar.



On 3 November 1952, the first F-96A prototype conducted its first flight. The design of the prototypes had initially featured both Fowler flaps and a leading edge slot; this slot was discarded as unnecessary after trials with the prototypes and never appeared on subsequent production aircraft. Triangular fences were added near the wing roots during flight testing in order to improve airflow when the aircraft was being flown at a high angle of attack. A small batch of F-96A prototypes completed design and evaluation trials with series production of the F-96B beginning in 1953.



In total 1268 F-96s were delivered to the USAF. On top of that more than 800 were exported to the UK, Germany, Holland, Taiwan and Italy. The last F-96 was withdrawn from active service with the USAF in 1964.



http://airwar1946.nl/whif/L46-F96.htm

TomZ
http://airwar1946.nl/index.htm

[DogfighterZen]

Very good!

[PR19_Kit]

Cor, I like that, very plausible, but what are the model's components?

I recognise the Sabre tailplane mounting, and maybe some F-94 and F-80 bits around the nose, but I'd love to know how you 'mixed the pudding', it came out VERY well indeed. 

[Gondor]

Cor, I like that, very plausible, but what are the model's components?

I recognise the Sabre tailplane mounting, and maybe some F-94 and F-80 bits around the nose, but I'd love to know how you 'mixed the pudding', it came out VERY well indeed. 

Looks like a lot of Lansen in there

Gondor

[Dizzyfugu]

It is a Lansen... 

Never expected that a simple, new paint scheme would work SO well. 

[TomZ]

It is a Lansen... 

It is indeed 100% Lansen. In 1/48 with decals of a F-86 Sabre.

Now of course I have a F-86 kit left and Lansen decals. Hmmmm..........

TomZ

[PR19_Kit]

It is a Lansen... 

It is indeed 100% Lansen. In 1/48 with decals of a F-86 Sabre.

Now of course I have a F-86 kit left and Lansen decals. Hmmmm..........

TomZ

Strewth, amazing how much a different paint job totally changes the character of an aircraft! 

And the Lansen always hides itself under a cloud of Swedish anonymity too, a greatly underrated aeroplane. 

[zenrat]

Looks great.  The Lansen is a very handsome aircraft.

[Dizzyfugu]

And a big one, too. I wonder how well the decals match the more voluminous airframe?!

[NARSES2]

Strewth, amazing how much a different paint job totally changes the character of an aircraft! 

Very true

Looks great.  The Lansen is a very handsome aircraft.

It is in that scheme. Lovely build 

[PR19_Kit]

After marvelling yet again at the Brightstar, I was wandering around in The Loft, as I'm prone to, and damn me, I found a Heller Lansen! 

It really is a BIG aeroplane too, almost Phantom size, and nicely moulded as well. Maybe the Brightstar has given me some ideas about that........... 

[ChernayaAkula]

My, that is gorgeous! 

[63cpe]

Nice build Tom, Congrats!

[Glenn Gilbertson]

What a great idea - it looks stunning!

[tamatea]

The sleek outline really lends itself to the silver scheme... fits right in with those iconic early 1950s American designs. Very effective.