LanceB Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) 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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtH6Q0Cd-W0 from about 1:35:00 Edited July 4, 2014 by LanceB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Thanks for finding it LanceB Some great cloe-up shots of the intake/engine nacelle on the XF-89 - but limited views of the whole thing. It has the tip tanks fitted - but no red stars that I can see - pity There are better shots of the silver F-89A(?) - showing the mass balances on the elevator and a view of the cockpit. I think I'll stick to the red USAF markings that Tony very kindly posted - if I can print them on my inkjet without them being too translucent (I might try and print a few copies and overlay). Cheers all Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 Some more progress........ Circular section sprue to make the fin/tailplane bullet fairing..... Main parts assembled...... I still need to add some more 'instruments' behind the pilot's seat - only a couple of photos to work from, so its mostly just made up :rolleyes:/> Underside view.... I have altered the pilot's bang seat to make it look a bit like the one fitted to the XF-89..... Finally, the new canopy is carved - ready for crash/plug/plunge moulding.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastijan Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 wow, you build major conversions quicker than I can deal with normal kits... Hats off to you, Ken! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 5, 2014 Author Share Posted July 5, 2014 After a couple of false starts, I finally managed to form a decent canopy..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jynski Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Ken, you are a REAL modeler. Not just a kit builder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Thanks to the Aerofax book on the F-89, I discovered that the XF-89 (and early models) did not have nosewheel steering, so I removed the mechanism and added a landing light..... Early Scorpions also only had 3 brake discs - so one was removed from the kit moulding.... Another small detail - a lot of F-89's had a spoked nosewheel - and as I couldn't find a suitable replacement in my spares box, I had to modify the kit item.... The model now has its final coat of primer..... The instruments behind the pilots seat - all scratched from a couple of indistinct photos and lots of artistic licence.... The homemade canopy tempoarily in place - I'm quite chuffed with it.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LanceB Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 T The homemade canopy tempoarily in place - I'm quite chuffed with it.... Ken Looks quite good - just curious, did you try the Matchbox Meteor NF.14 canopy, and if so what did you think? I will guess it didn't work if you did try it, otherwise you wouldn't have scratched one! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 Looks quite good - just curious, did you try the Matchbox Meteor NF.14 canopy, and if so what did you think? I will guess it didn't work if you did try it, otherwise you wouldn't have scratched one! I didn't find an NF-14 canopy to compare - but I suspect that it would be too small overall for the Scorpion. Plus - my carving and moulding turned out so well, I didn't need it anyway. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pep Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Now this is modeling! Great job I live the scorpion! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IrishGreek Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Thanks to Ken, I discovered the Scorpion. It was one of those (didn't follow USAF that closely) that I just didn't know well. Now, I have bought 2 kits and 2 books on it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Thanks to Ken, I discovered the Scorpion. It was one of those (didn't follow USAF that closely) that I just didn't know well. Now, I have bought 2 kits and 2 books on it! Beware the Dark Side of the Force young Skywalker....... I used to be a Flanker man until I discovered Scorpions Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JFVicente Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Beware the Dark Side of the Force young Skywalker....... :woot.gif:/>/> I used to be a Flanker man until I discovered Scorpions Ken So, are you going to be a Scorpion man now, Ken? Nice and straight conversion, friend. Keep up those updates. RGDS Juan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
flip marchese Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Glad to see this project. reminds me alot of the pains I had backdatinf a Thunderjet into the XP-84. I did an XP-89 also. I used an old vacuform kit and a reshaped A-26 gun nose laminated and reshaped. keep going! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 Just when you thought you had the Scorpion covered........ another one arrives.... :woot.gif:/> This is the Textron AirLand Scorpion arriving at the RIAT Fairford show (where I have been for the past few days)..... .... and in the static park... In the meantime, back to the REAL Scorpion...... The canopy is attached - and masked..... ..... and it's looking very sinister in its first coat of gloss black..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 The wheels are on - I am just waiting for some red 'USAF' decals ......... Underside view..... Topside.... Decals are from the spares box..... .... but I've got some 'silvering' to sort out.... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fellow Hobbyist Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 The canopy frames look amazing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Ken, Just an absolutely amazing conversion. Well done. How are you going to deal with the silvering issue? Will a few wet coats of gloss solve that issue? Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 The yellow and red stencilling decals are from the spares box - and are quite thick - but there are lots of them, so plenty of spares. I just applied them over a gloss black finish - where they silvered. I have managed to remove them - and will have another go after a coat of Future/Kleer and the use of some Micro-Sol. I hope that will cure the problem - watch this space !! Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kotey Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 Fine job, Ken, as usual. BTW red decals is on the way, i hope Royal and Russian Posts aren't so keen on policy, and prefer "keep calm and carry on". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) Ken, For decal issues like you're having, you need a really glossy/smooth surface. I polish the Pledge with a 8,000 & 12,000 Micro Mesh pads. I apply the decals using the Micro system as per their recommended procedures I wouldn't seal the decals till there isn't any silvering issues.Decals that don't adhere well, can be soaked in Pledge prior to applying to the model. That almost always works. . Joel Edited August 5, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chappie Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Fan-damn-tastic conversion. Well done. Chappie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon50EX Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Beautiful work, Ken. Even with the decal silvering issues. david Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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