What? Another Swift?!

The Rat · May 14, 2020, 08:13:17 PM

Yes, another Hawk/Testors Swift. Pretty sure I still have at least one more somewhere in the stash. This will be a bit simpler than most, as it will be wheels up on a stand. But it will be modified.

comrade harps · May 15, 2020, 01:23:48 AM

We like "modified".

The Rat · May 15, 2020, 08:02:08 PM

Puttying has begun, I hate those recessed lines for the decal placement.. And you might be able to guess what the end game is here.

The Wooksta! · May 16, 2020, 02:16:44 AM

Unless you go with the FR5 wing leading edge extensions, you'll need to add the wing fences.

Looks like an earlier release - all my Testors Swifts are from the 90s repop with thick wing fences and the only recessed national markings are on the fin. It does have the worst and most unconvincing bombs I've ever seen in a kit. The decals are really nice though.

It'll need a belly tank for sure - that second cockpit is smack in the main fuel tank.

PR19_Kit · May 16, 2020, 02:58:28 AM

What's the canopy from please?

The Wooksta! · May 16, 2020, 05:01:15 AM

Looks French - Mirage?

I know if and when I do the two seat Attacker I'll be using a Czech Delphin canopy.

PR19_Kit · May 16, 2020, 05:59:34 AM

I was thinking it looks very like the Mirage F1 canopy I had on my F1P, bit it seems lower at the rear on the Swift.

Captain Canada · May 16, 2020, 06:12:12 AM

Looking sexy already Rat ! Canopy looks F-4 to me.

The Rat · May 16, 2020, 07:36:17 AM

Toad got it, canopy from an old F4K that I built way back in the 70s, don't remember who pressed it. Lee, the wing fences have already been carved off, and you're right about the bombs, they're just plain wrong. I have a belly tank from a Matchbox Meteor that I might use, it doesn't match the Swift's tank but I'm not all that concerned.

The concept is similar to the CF-100; an all-weather aircraft with more powerful radar, and a second crewman to handle it. But rather than being an interceptor it will be low-level attack, taking advantage of the Swift's abilities in that area.

The Wooksta! · May 16, 2020, 08:48:41 AM

What are you using for the afterburner? The kit has nothing for an exhaust, it's hollow. If you can hang on for a few weeks, I can provide a copy of the Airkit one (I'll have to cast it), plus a set of intakes for Swift 3 and quite probably a belly tank (copy of the Magna FR5 one) and leading edge extensions once I get them moulded.

The Rat · May 16, 2020, 10:36:37 AM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on May 16, 2020, 08:48:41 AM
What are you using for the afterburner? The kit has nothing for an exhaust, it's hollow. If you can hang on for a few weeks, I can provide a copy of the Airkit one (I'll have to cast it), plus a set of intakes for Swift 3 and quite probably a belly tank (copy of the Magna FR5 one) and leading edge extensions once I get them moulded.

That would be lovely! Thanks! How would I go about fitting the intakes? I've already blanked off the fuselage, so there's no see-through effect. And I'not building a pit for this one, just a blue painted canopy.

The Wooksta! · May 16, 2020, 11:00:44 AM

Too late for the intakes. They're a drop in fit from the inside, although you do need to do some trimming and thinning to the Swift intakes. I'll add a set of the Airkit instructions - IF I have any left.

Edit: I have a spare set for the intakes and a solitary one for the FR5. I'll sort out a few other Swift related resin bits too.

The Rat · May 16, 2020, 01:14:32 PM

Quote from: The Wooksta! on May 16, 2020, 11:00:44 AM
Too late for the intakes. They're a drop in fit from the inside, although you do need to do some trimming and thinning to the Swift intakes. I'll add a set of the Airkit instructions - IF I have any left.

Edit: I have a spare set for the intakes and a solitary one for the FR5. I'll sort out a few other Swift related resin bits too.

Yeah, it's already glued together, so no worries about the intakes. But the burner would be a nice addition, especially for the get-there-as-fast-as-you-can part of the mission. I could go with drop tanks on the wings, but that would occupy hard points that could be used for weaponry.

The Wooksta! · May 16, 2020, 01:30:43 PM

The Magna FR5 has arrived and the belly tank is a nice solid piece to mould - I looked at the CMR one and it's a solid as tissue paper. I need it for my own FBs and the PR6A

The Rat · September 19, 2020, 11:00:46 AM

Possible change of pace for this one to possibly make an easier build. What about this scenario: a trainer for TSR-2 crews? In my universe the Swift was in service as a low-level attack aircraft, and the TSR-2 was a higher performance follow-on. The 2 seat Swift would be used to familiarise new crews with low-level high-speed operations, and would be fitted with the same cockpit layout to further aid in transition.

Thoughts?