Flankerman Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I am having a go at making the XF-89 prototype of the Scorpion - using the Hobbycraft F-89B. The 'committee' have discussed this here. The first area of difference concerns the fuselage above and below the jetpipe - the XF-89 did not have the fairings to divert the hot exhaust gases - so the fuselage needs to be modified. The hatched area show what needs to be removed.... I have filled the insides with Milliput - in case I break through the plastic when rubbing down..... This is all being worked out as I go along - using a scaled-up drawing from the Aerofax book - so wish me luck :woot.gif:/> Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 Let the butchery commence........ The area of the 'wake fairing' is quite substantial - both above and below the wing root at the rear - and as I started to rub down, the Milliput came off. So I have added a plastic card 'keel' to establish the lower contours and a couple of bulkheads to give the shape... I now need to source a jetpipe fairing - it is quite curved on the XF-89. All this butchery is quite therapeutic - it's all a question of cut and fill by eye so far. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gene K Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 All this butchery is quite therapeutic .... Vicariously for me too. Thanks for the detailed posts. Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pandabear Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 This build is really,really,really interesting! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 I have started to add thin strips of plastic card to fill in the rear hole - rather like a clinker-built boat..... I have also filled in the front intake aperture - the intakes on the XF-89 are different.... Trying to get things filled in when the under tray is not fixed in place yet is difficult - but I'm getting there. I also need to cut off the rear of the engine nacelles to fit narrower, more conical, exhausts. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pandabear Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) --- Edited July 2, 2014 by pandabear Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChippyWho Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Yep, this is gonna be good! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Where will you put the Red stars? Looking good, you don't seem to mind throwing yourself into the deep end so you can swim out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Great start .. Looking forward to your nice build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 The rear of the engine nacelle is totally different to the kit - so I have had to remove the last inch or so and fit bulkheads... .... all a bit 'slash and burn' as I go along - and all done by eye - no subtlety here. I found a plastic knitting needle of approx the right diameter - so cut off the end and sanded it to a curved shape... .... a trial fit shows it to be reasonably correct.... The lower fuselage insert has to be cut down accordingly.... All I need to do now is glue everything in place - and fill in the holes with plastic card.. The exhausts have been reamed out and a suitable piece of brass tube fitted to improve the look... A bit more sanding required to get a smoother curve - but its coming along... Then I have to do the other side, then the intakes, then the nose, then the bullet fairing, then the cockpit, then the canopy..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pandabear Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 (edited) --- Edited July 2, 2014 by pandabear Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jynski Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Looking good. That's what REAL modeling is all about. Not whining about rivets,fractions of an inch or not being a box shaker. I like F-89s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 My computer got hacked - so I've been 'off air' for a week..... While it was being sanitised, I did some more bodging..... The jetpipe is fitted - note the difference in the lower fuselage shape... Making a start on the starboard fuselage - compared to the original at top... For the new, shorter nose, I cut side and plan profiles from thick plastic card - to establish the shape.... ... test fitted in place.... It's all rough and ready - but it works for me..... Meanwhile, back at the rear fuselage.... some more sanding and filling.... I think the shape is almost correct - and the gloss black finish will hide a lot of sins..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) After adding a couple more bulkheads and filling the nose with lead shot, I roughly filled it with Milliput..... A few sessions of filling and sanding - and the basic shape is established.... .... more filling and sanding needed yet - but its getting there... I have even had the foresight to fit an aluminium tube to take the nose probe later - not like me at all :woot.gif:/> More anon.... Ken Edited July 1, 2014 by Flankerman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IrishGreek Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Wow, all I can say is wow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 After casting around for a suitable diameter tube to make the intakes, I resorted to butchering a 1/700 scale submarine..... Suitable sanded to shape at the front end, they will do nicely.... .... once blended in with filler... The nose shape needs a bit more fettling - but its coming together.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IrishGreek Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Cool, a Scorpion with 21 inch torpedo tubes! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RotorheadTX Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Stark raving wonderful!! But, as TT said, where do the red stars go?? :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jynski Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Dang it Ken. Keeping track of your marvelous build, I'm neglecting mine. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Oh Ken.....this is a very cool project......I'm excites to see how it comes along. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sgt dutch Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Inspiring work... Can wait to see it finished! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Thanks for all the encouragement guys - it really helps :thumbsup:/> I want my XF-89 to look as different from a production model as possible - so I'm doing it from a photo that shows the rear cockpit faired over and fitted with some sort of instrumentation (it also had a bullet fairing at the fin/tailplane junction). With that in mind I have covered the rear cockpit with plastic card - I'll add the 'gubbins' later.... All I have to do now is to carve and crash-mould a new canopy !!! I'm also leaving off the tip tanks - so the wingtips have been faired over with plastic card.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Stark raving wonderful!! But, as TT said, where do the red stars go?? :lol:/>/> Hmmmmmmm..... According to a photo caption in Detail & Scale.... "The black XF-89 was the first Scorpion to fly, and ironically it played the part of a Soviet fighter in Howard Hughes' movie Jet Pilot starring John Wayne and Janet Leigh" So, if anyone has a photo........ :whistle:/> Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gene K Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 As Billy Crystal would say: "Absolutely mahvelous!" Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.