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David Womby

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About David Womby

  • Birthday 18/08/1955

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Mount Dora, Florida
  • Interests
    RAF, FAA and Army Air Corps in Cold War. RhAF. Gerry Anderson.

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  1. Another way to go was described in an old Scale Aircraft Modelling - merging the Frog Vampire with the Frog Sea Venom. I can send a copy if you PM me your email address. David
  2. It looks like your best bet for the markings is Modeldecal sheet 64. Still available here: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MD064?result-token=C7WE1 It has the markings you need for a grey 43 Squadron machine but it is XV582. You will have to find a way to create the small fuselage serial for XV567 and the "I' for the fin. David
  3. When they went to wraparound camo, did they have any roundels under the wings? Serials under both wings? One or two roundels above the wings? Thanks David
  4. Sorry, no idea but fabulous photo. David
  5. Supermarine designed the 553 to meet a UK requirement for an aircraft to research the kinetic heating effects of sustained flight in excess of twice the speed of sound but the UK government chose the Bristol 188 instead. The 553 never got beyond a paper design but would probably have made use of stainless steel, to avoid the heating limits of aluminium alloy. But what if it had been under construction when the UK government chose the Bristol 188......... Following selection of the Bristol 188, Supermarine halted work on the partially completed 553 and focussed totally on getting the Swift fully operational. Meanwhile, in Australia, the government had cancelled the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) CA-23 supersonic fighter - much to the frustration of the RAAF and CAC. The RAAF knew supersonic aircraft would be needed in their inventory within the next decade. They and CAC still wanted the ability to investigate Mach 1+ flight. The Australian Government quickly contracted Supermarine to complete the 553 but with a reheated Avon in place of the cancelled RB.106. In 1958, the RAAF took delivery of the sole Supermarine 553. Since it was no longer to be used to investigate airframe heating at higher mach numbers, Supermarine delivered it in all over High Speed Silver rather than leaving it bare metal as originally intended. It was allocated the A86-001 serial that had been intended for the cancelled P.1081 procurement. The RAAF's Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) flew the 553 until 1963 when the supersonic Mirage arrived. It was much disliked by all who flew it. It was underpowered and had poor yaw and pitch control due to the undersized fin and tailplanes. A86-001 was, sadly, sold for scrap in 1965. Here she is in her heyday at ARDU c.1961. This is an all resin model from Renaud Mangallon who was Sharkit but is now retired. David
  6. https://hobbyplastik.dk/shop/76-172-part-3-072134-072169/1808-rf-84f-thunderflash/
  7. This is a later Ertl re-issue. It was a cleverly engineered kit in its day but the moulds have aged - lots of flash on the metal parts and poor fit. It also no longer comes with whitewalls for the tyres or glazing. I glazed the windscreen and back window but that's all.
  8. Thanks for that. Not just for the Herk but what a treasure trove of 80s photos of various types. Thanks too to everyone for answering. David
  9. Does this help or just confuse things? https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/open-day-at-hmas-watson-a-wessex-hunter-killer-helicopter-news-photo/1079691904 David
  10. Sunny and 23C today, Mike. When are you and Margaret coming to sample it again? David
  11. Revell do a 1/32 Harrier, Mike. It's a P.1127 (RAF) so not quite a GR1 but can be modified to pass for one quite easily. I think there's Lightnings by Echelon and Trumpeter. David
  12. No. It's Revell's ancient TFX kit that was issued as an F-111C in 1967! David
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