Westland Wyvern SF.4 (A.S.) and S.6c

[PR19_Kit]

  The piston engine was to be the RR H24 cylinder (Eagle) but which turbo-prop is unspecified (there were two engines in the running). 

They were the RR Clyde and the A-S Python, and they actually built and flew both of them. The Clyde Wyvern was the only aircraft to fly with that engine.

[kitnut617]

  The piston engine was to be the RR H24 cylinder (Eagle) but which turbo-prop is unspecified (there were two engines in the running). 

They were the RR Clyde and the A-S Python, and they actually built and flew both of them. The Clyde Wyvern was the only aircraft to fly with that engine.

Yup! reading the 4+ Publications book goes into all that Kit. One of the reason I bought three of these kits, the Clyde powered Wyvern has the same tail group arrangement, and I'll build one of the kits like it.

[PR19_Kit]

The Clyde powered version looks very smoooooth at the front, unlike the two step arrangement with the Python.

[kitnut617]

The original cowling layout the Python had looked way better, the intake was much closer to the spinner ----

[The Wooksta!]

The cowling was cut back to allow easier access to the starter cartridge system.

[The Rat]

The idea is it will look like this ---- eventually --- 

That will certainly give the pilot a very good view on landing.

[kitnut617]

The idea is it will look like this ---- eventually --- 

That will certainly give the pilot a very good view on landing.

I think that was behind it, at the time there was a requirement that there had to be a 7 degree downward view over the top of the cowling on all new designs, because the cowlings were getting longer and the cockpits placed further back.

[Doug K]

The idea is it will look like this ---- eventually --- 

That will certainly give the pilot a very good view on landing.

I think that was behind it, at the time there was a requirement that there had to be a 7 degree downward view over the top of the cowling on all new designs, because the cowlings were getting longer and the cockpits placed further back.

Same principle as the Blackburn Firecrest

[kitnut617]

Thanks guys ---

All is not rosy with this kit though, I had spot glued the fuselage halves together so I didn't have to fight it while cutting out the fuselage. I've noticed something wrong with the horizontal tail surface locations, especially at the rear end of the tailplane root fairing ------  they don't line up    One side seems to be rotated downwards at the rear, although it could be the other side rotated upwards ---    Anyway, the very rear end of the root fairing has a step of about 3/32" from one side to the other  ------ 

I'll un-glue the fuselage sides and rectify it later ---

Back to this build, I managed to unglue the fuselage halves and I've discovered what the problem is. The fuselage halves are a bit twisted, not just side to side but top to bottom too. When I spot-glued them I had align the halves to get the side to side twist out, not realizing they were twisted in the other direction. I will have to glue it back together carefully, gluing a bit at a time starting at the fin

[kitnut617]

I've now got all the fuselage modifications done --





I built up the kits cockpit, the only mods to it were to angle up the deck behind the seat to match the slope of the forward fuselage, and to add a couple of strips of thin styrene above the side consoles because there was a bit of a 'see-through' effect to it. The forward fuselage takes the cockpit without any modifications except to thin down the resin walls quite a bit (it is very thick in the nose) and to cut the cockpit opening in the top.



I'm making this Wyvern somewhat like the 3-View that is in the BSP book, it shows that the trailing edge of the outer wings (from the wing fold) being straight. Here you can see the difference.

[The Wooksta!]

Thanks guys ---

All is not rosy with this kit though, I had spot glued the fuselage halves together so I didn't have to fight it while cutting out the fuselage. I've noticed something wrong with the horizontal tail surface locations, especially at the rear end of the tailplane root fairing ------  they don't line up    One side seems to be rotated downwards at the rear, although it could be the other side rotated upwards ---    Anyway, the very rear end of the root fairing has a step of about 3/32" from one side to the other  ------ 

I'll un-glue the fuselage sides and rectify it later ---

Back to this build, I managed to unglue the fuselage halves and I've discovered what the problem is. The fuselage halves are a bit twisted, not just side to side but top to bottom too. When I spot-glued them I had align the halves to get the side to side twist out, not realizing they were twisted in the other direction. I will have to glue it back together carefully, gluing a bit at a time starting at the fin

Is this just limited to yours or is it a mould issue?  Because if the master was all to cock when they did the moulds, then the rest will be.

I did find one of my TF.1s in a drawer t'other day and being on a torpedo bomber kick at the moment, it's one I may have a bash at.

Looking forward to seeing the finished result as I'd like to have a go at it myself at some point.  I've some cloned copies of the old Maintrack conversion to play with.

[kitnut617]

Is this just limited to yours or is it a mould issue?  Because if the master was all to cock when they did the moulds, then the rest will be.

I did find one of my TF.1s in a drawer t'other day and being on a torpedo bomber kick at the moment, it's one I may have a bash at.

Looking forward to seeing the finished result as I'd like to have a go at it myself at some point.  I've some cloned copies of the old Maintrack conversion to play with.

Not sure Lee, I'll dig out my other two kits I have and have a look. One thing I did have to fix though, after I had re-glued everything, it looked like the fuselage was banana shaped too, the tail appeared to curl off to the port side. Giving it a careful scrutiny, I realized what is was, the port side of the fuselage between the trailing edge of the wing but before you get to the tail plane, had collapse inwards. I had to put it in hot water and push it out from the inside to get it more or less looking right. Seems OK now.

[The Wooksta!]

I'll have to dig mine out anyway - I know where it is, it's just getting to it.  I've a second in another location but thanks to the Chinese, I can't go there.

[The Wooksta!]

The one I have here was fine, so I suspect that you've got a dodgy one.  I've had similar issues with CMR Spitfires - I know there's an F22 and an FR47 that'll need the how water treatment.

[kitnut617]

Well, I'll check the other two in the stash later, I've had them a while though.