Doccur Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 (edited) This is my entry into the What-if section of this Group Build, you could say I was somewhat inspired by @Kallisti ‘s various builds of American aircraft in FAA colours. Apologies if this is treading on your toes! I also happened to make a little Monogram 1/72 version of this aircraft when I was younger and not brave enough to adorn it with the yellow and black stripes. (That might give a hint of what I am going for). In the mid 1940s Westland started development of a carrier strike aircraft, with an engine layout similar to that of the Bell P-39. This resulted in interest from the Air Ministry and official specification N.11/44. The prototype W.34 was powered by a Rolls Royce Eagle H-24 engine, which was later cancelled. The aircraft was then planned to be powered by either a Rolls-Royce Clyde or Armstrong Siddeley Python. The Clyde was later cancelled but the airframe was planned to be fitted with a Napier Nomad, which was also then cancelled. Hopes rested on the Python to power the aircraft. (This where we differ from reality) After protracted development of the costly Python turboprop, the Wyvern was coming in over budget. The first prototype of which flew in 1949 and needed many modifications. The then Labour government had major economic issues to contend with and was looking in to all ways and means of cost cutting. This resulted in a defence white paper of 1950, in which Minister of Defence Emanuel Shinwell advocated the cancellation of Westland W.34 in favour of a cheaper, more versatile aircraft. The logic being that a Strike fighter was unnecessary with superior jet aircraft coming into play, Sea Hawk etc. It was decided, to the chagrin of the FAA, that the more conventional multi seat Douglas Skyraider AD-5 aircraft would be purchased to fill the gap of the cancelled Wyvern. This would be able to fulfil the role of a Strike aircraft, as well as that of COD. It’s wide fuselage meant that the aircraft had potential for further role changes in the future. Therefore, an order was placed and all squadrons that the Wyvern was intended for were equipped with the Skyraider AD-5. In keeping with the naming of other strike aircraft being named after mythical beasts, the Skyraider was dubbed the 'Cockatrice' in FAA service. The only differences being that this aircraft had the capacity to carry a torpedo and unguided rockets. This aircraft served well into the 1960s and served with a degree of success during Operation Musketeer in Suez. Along these lines the Whif model I shall be exhibiting will be a FAA ‘Cockatrice’ of 827 Naval Air Squadron based aboard the HMS Eagle during the Suez crisis. This shall be modelled using the Revell/Matchbox 1/48 Skyraider and using decals for the 1/48 Wyvern from Berna Decals. This shall of course be in that classic EDSG over Sky, with Yellow and Black Invasion stripes. I shall start on this as soon as I finish my P-40 STGB commitment… I am very much looking forward to it Cheers, Ash Edited October 15, 2019 by Doccur 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 Very good convincing backstory and nice choice of kit. Ive been wanting to build one of these for some time now so i will be following this build. Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kallisti Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 Great idea, glad I provided some inspiration 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share Posted November 8, 2019 Made a start on this one. Just completed the cockpit. Detail is very sparse so I’m going to put the crew inside just to make it look a little busier. Just painted it all black and picked a few details out in various colours. Decals were supplied for the instrument panels but were just black and white so they looked a bit pointless to be honest. Cheers, Ash 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin W Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 Interesting idea. Since the Skyraider flew with the FAA in Suez why not paint it in the same dark navy blue scheme? Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share Posted November 17, 2019 On 11/11/2019 at 00:02, Colin W said: Interesting idea. Since the Skyraider flew with the FAA in Suez why not paint it in the same dark navy blue scheme? Colin That is a great idea ... unfortunately the decals I have bought only have black serials, which won’t show up at all against a gloss sea blue. More progress: I have got the main bits together. Panel lines have also been rescribed on the wings. Having done a test fit of wings to fuselage, a fair bit of filler is going to be needed 🤦🏻♂️ This kit really is classic matchbox... soft detail and soft fit. I’m going to try and enjoy this build, but it’s proving a challenge 😂 Cheers Ash 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted November 24, 2019 Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 Hi all, most of my efforts have been focussed on rescribing the fuselage, something which I have never done before, and overall I am happy with the result. Clearly you won’t be able to see the results until the paint goes on! The fit of wings to fuselage wasn’t great as you can see here: The engine went together well and is a fairly nice representation. I dry brushed this with metallic colours and applied a wash onto the lighter front of the engine: The canopy has just been masked and out onto the airframe: The large frames made this the easiest canopy I’ve ever masked! Can’t wait to get some paint down on this.. Cheers Ash 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Nice work on the engine, coming together nicely. All the beat Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 Moving ahead rapidly: The Sky and EDSG have been brushed on with Xtraclylix thinned with W and N retarder. It’s a bit rough and ready but still plenty of touching up to do before I begin with the black and yellow stripes. Cheers Ash 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 Quick update: painted on the yellow, next up the black stripes. A LOT of touching up to do... I didn’t realise how delicate Xtracylix were 🤦🏻♂️ Cheers Ash 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 Is it a bumblebee, is it a wasp, is it a plane? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 Hi Ash, Beautiful job on the stripes - you are clearly better at masking than I am. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 6, 2019 Author Share Posted December 6, 2019 Cheers @PeterB, I used the old trick of sealing the masking with a coat of varnish. This can exacerbate the step between the two colours but fully worth it in my opinion to stop the paint running. Ash 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Hi all. Gloss coat applied and ready for decals! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 Hi everyone. Decals are on and I must say, the cockatrice is looking resplendent. All I have to do now is attach the ordnance, cannon barrels and little pitots. Maybe some light weathering is in order. Cheers Ash 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 And here we have it, one completed Cockatrice, bombs and all. I shall be waiting for some sunlight tomorrow to take some better photos: Cheers, Ash 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doccur Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) Oh, and merry Christmas and happy new year to all my fellow Britmodellers! Hopefully Santa has brought you lots of plastic filled boxes to play with. Ash Edited December 30, 2019 by Doccur 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 She Looks great ... Cant wait to see what she looks like in Daylight. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Nice, clean build but desperately needs some gentle washing. It is not too late to do this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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