Mike DeTorrice Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 This is an attempt at the Douglas D-601 - F3D-3, which was an improved swept-wing version of the Skynight radar-equiped night fighter. In this case, it was done in a bid to avoid having this Matchbox model end up as parts in the spares box. I bought this one a long time ago and, years later, when I opened up the well-sealed box, I discovered it was missing many pieces, including the lower wings, landing gear and doors, the entire cockpit and several other parts. But, I did get an extra set of upper wing parts ........ so, with not much to lose, I decided that I would make an effort at building the interesting (but never completed) swept-wing edition of the Skyknight night-fighter. Naturally, pure chaos and comedy ensued ! I fashioned wings from the parts I had and they were then cut to produce the swept-wing. I had measured the angle carefully but I still needed some balsa-wood wedges (and toothpicks as wingspars) to get the proper look. I added sheet styrene extensions that were profiled to shape and used CA glue to reinforce the joints. The tail was done in a similar manner with sheet styrene additions and the vertical tail cut and then reversed before cementing back in place and then sanding to shape. Putty was applied at a number of places. Finally, the canopy was a real pain in the aft to install ! The real D-601 would have looked very good, almost like a smaller-size A-3 Skywarrior combined with a bit of the later A-6 Intruder. The swept-wing Skyknight was supposed to have more powerful J-46 turbojets, but Westinghouse couldn't get out of the woods with that engine (or the bigger J-40), so I'll imagine here in the pictures that it's 1956 - 1958 or so and this one has J-65 Sapphires or perhaps General Electric J-52's. Here's some snapshots of the F3D-3 flying about : Photo Series 9-23-14 016mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 001mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 005mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 007mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 009mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 010mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 011mod1 by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 013mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Photo Series 9-23-14 015mod1XCZ by mikedetorrice, on Flickr Mike 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yet another impressive bit of modelling and photography! Great work Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snitok1983 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 that is impressiwe show!!!! Looks like a real shots! Very well done, Sir!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 nice job, looks great. yet again some amazing pictures, great job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Excellent project Mike and backed up with the usual superb photo,s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Very cool! The Skyknight looks really good with swept wings, very purposeful. Karl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike DeTorrice Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 Thanks for the kind words, gentlemen ! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Rather smart Mike. It shows Douglas A-3 Skywarrior lineage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Awesome Mike - I love it!! pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike DeTorrice Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Rather smart Mike. It shows Douglas A-3 Skywarrior lineage. It sure does show that, doesn't it ? It's too bad this was partly scuttled by another Westinghouse jet engine failure, in this case, the J-46. Awesome Mike - I love it!! pat Thanks, Pat. LOL, my alternative was a (Match) box of spares parts ! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Fantastic conversion and great photo`s, really nice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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