Orion Field Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 Here is the first print of my new Boeing Skyfox! The Skyfox was an idea from the 1980's to give new life to the venerable T-33 shooting star by converting them to Skyfoxes. Boeing saw the potential and purchased marketing and production rights for the conversion. Although Portugal was interested in 20 units, no other country showed any interest, and Boeing cancelled the project with only the prototype produced. The prototype was given fake USAF markings and used in a Episode of Airwolf as well. The Prototype skyfox was converted from Former RCAF CT-133 Silver Star RCAF21160. It was converted and first flown in 1983. It now resides in the Palm Springs Air Museum. Below is the first test print of the kit. It also comes with 3D printed clear parts (not shown, waiting on clear resin delivery) as well as decals for 2 paint schemes of N221SF. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 Since you say this is a test print, when will the final prints be available (I'm paid and in line)? Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Field Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 Very soon! Just waiting on delivery of clear resin today or tomorrow so I can print the canopy parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 @Gene K, didn’t you fly the Skyfox or am I thinking of someone else? Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Ben Brown said: @Gene K, didn’t you fly the Skyfox or am I thinking of someone else? Yes, Ben -- just one sortie. The Boeing demo pilot let me fly front seat when the company was making its promotional round through Tinker AFB ... 1987, I think. Was a fun flight with an easy to fly, very stable, but highly maneuverable aircraft. However, overall capability wasn't that impressive (I had flown an airplane with a similar configuration - the Warthog, so no contest there). But it could have been a good trainer. I passed on the Sharkit model back in 2018 because of cost, but jumped on this one. Would make a nice display next to a T-33! Gene K Edited September 13, 2022 by GeneK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 That looks awesome! Always likes the look of the sky fox in the Lizard scheme. Any chance on scaling it up to 1/48? I just can’t do 1/72 anymore with my eyesight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Field Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 14 minutes ago, Charlie D. said: That looks awesome! Always likes the look of the sky fox in the Lizard scheme. Any chance on scaling it up to 1/48? I just can’t do 1/72 anymore with my eyesight. Not at the moment, but If I expand to offer 1/48th, I absolutely will. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 16 hours ago, GeneK said: Yes, Ben -- just one sortie. The Boeing demo pilot let me fly front seat when the company was making its promotional round through Tinker AFB ... 1987, I think. Was a fun flight with an easy to fly, very stable, but highly maneuverable aircraft. However, overall capability wasn't that impressive (I had flown an airplane with a similar configuration - the Warthog, so no contest there). But it could have been a good trainer. I passed on the Sharkit model back in 2018 because of cost, but jumped on this one. Would make a nice display next to a T-33! Gene K I thought so! Funny how I can remember something airplane-related that someone told me years ago, but I can’t remember where my car keys are or what I had for dinner last night. 🤣 Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, Ben Brown said: ... I can’t remember where my car keys are or what I had for dinner last night. 🤣 Must be a pilot thing. Has anyone seen more of, or know more on, the markings on the Boeing T-33 in the family portrait below? Nice picture here, but doesn't show the vert stab markings. Gene K Edited September 14, 2022 by GeneK Add photo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 Are those vortex strakes on the top of the stbd engine nacelle? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 5 minutes ago, habu2 said: Are those vortex strakes on the top of the stbd engine nacelle? Kind of looks like tufts for air flow studies to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 44 minutes ago, habu2 said: Are those vortex strakes on the top of the stbd engine nacelle? I couldn't find any other pictures (camo or marketing guise) that show those "thingees" ... but I lean toward Slartibartfast's suggestion of air flow studies. Maybe one of the T-33 pilots on this forum can comment on the front cockpit: Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 15 hours ago, GeneK said: Must be a pilot thing. Has anyone seen more of, or know more on, the markings on the Boeing T-33 in the family portrait below? Nice picture here, but doesn't show the vert stab markings. Gene K I posted the photo over on Hyperscale. There are a couple of guys there who seem to know a lot about Boeing chase planes. Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 (edited) Norm Filer says it says “SRAM X” Link The Googles only come up with bicycle gears for SRAM X. I see a couple of logos for SRAM II, though. Ben Edited September 15, 2022 by Ben Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 Courtesy of the folks over at Hyperscale: Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted September 16, 2022 Share Posted September 16, 2022 Nice find, is the nose wart a camera housing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mirage3 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 On 9/13/2022 at 6:50 PM, Orion Field said: Very soon! Just waiting on delivery of clear resin today or tomorrow so I can print the canopy parts. Printed clear parts ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Field Posted September 17, 2022 Author Share Posted September 17, 2022 1 hour ago, mirage3 said: Printed clear parts ? Yep! Printing clear resin parts is a bit if a different beast than printing in the gray resin...I am doing a bit of trial and error to get the part orientations right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mirage3 Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Any updates? I'm curious about that printed clear parts 🧐 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Field Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 Well, yes. I broke my printer that I use for clear printing, but I have a friend printing the clear parts on his, while I get mine fixed. Should be shipping the first 4 skyfox orders as soon as those come in. Waiting on decals to arrive for the most recent two Skyfox orders. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Plane Fan Posted October 11, 2022 Share Posted October 11, 2022 I just received my kit and the parts appear to be well-designed and nicely cast. My kit appears to be missing a few small parts and I have sent an email to the address received in the email order confirmation as I could not locate one on your web site. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Field Posted October 11, 2022 Author Share Posted October 11, 2022 I saw your email, and did some checking. I will be re-printing your missing parts and sending them over ASAP. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 18 hours ago, X-Plane Fan said: I just received my kit and the parts appear to be well-designed and nicely cast. My kit appears to be missing a few small parts ... . I also received my kit (yesterday) and was astounded (blown away) by the high quality of the 3D printing. Very well done! What resin and printer are you using, Orion? As for the small parts, I also had some loose parts and empty supports, but since there are no instructions, I am unsure where most of those tiny parts would/will go. Lastly, the shipping packaging was very good, but I suggest Orion wrap loose parts separately to keep them from rubbing against each other in transit. Again - a very well designed, and perfectly 3D printed model that I'm looking forward to building. Great job, Orion. Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orion Field Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 2 hours ago, GeneK said: I also received my kit (yesterday) and was astounded (blown away) by the high quality of the 3D printing. Very well done! What resin and printer are you using, Orion? As for the small parts, I also had some loose parts and empty supports, but since there are no instructions, I am unsure where most of those tiny parts would/will go. Lastly, the shipping packaging was very good, but I suggest Orion wrap loose parts separately to keep them from rubbing against each other in transit. Again - a very well designed, and perfectly 3D printed model that I'm looking forward to building. Great job, Orion. Gene K Thanks! I am working on a parts list and exploded view for the model, and will send it via email when its done. I actually have three printers, but the gray parts were printed on my new Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K printer. I also have a Formlabs Form2 and an Anycubic Mono 4K that I use for clear parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeneK Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 On 10/12/2022 at 11:59 AM, Orion Field said: I am working on a parts list and exploded view for the model, and will send it via email when its done. Here is the exploded view I was sent in pdf format - great. Posted here as png: Gene K Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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