Jump to content

1/48 De Havilland Vampire F.3 & FB.5/FB.9 by Airfix - released


Bjorn

Recommended Posts

48 minutes ago, SprueMan said:

This is nice.

Does anyone have any idea what the decal options will be?

The Airfix website is... rather thin on the details.

 

Most of the decal options shown for other kits are from the YouTube video that accompanied the launch, unfortunately the video doesn't preview any of the Vampire FB.5/9 schemes.

 

You can view the video her: 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, SprueMan said:

This is nice.

Does anyone have any idea what the decal options will be?

The Airfix website is... rather thin on the details.

 

I don't think they've decided yet but if you really can't wait, the parts for the FB.5/9 are in the F.3 kit, just find some aftermarket alternatives.

 

Remember some FB.5s had the extended fairing to the starboard intake normally associated with the Cold Air Unit fitted to the tropicalised FB.9s - check photos!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, 224 Peter said:

The FB 5 is easy enough for Airfix but I thought that the FB9 had a different forward fuselage shape and an ejector seat. 


You might be thinking about the Nene powered Aussie FB.31 Peter. That had a nose acorn ADF blister and Ejector seat. The engine intake were similar to the FB.5 mark too. As mentioned above, the first Vampire box does include all parts to model any of the British single seaters. 
Cheers.. Dave 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The FB.9 was based on the FB.5 but has the addition of the air conditioning inlet just outboard of the stb'd engine intake, all the parts are in the existing F.3 kit.  According to the Airfix site, parts count of the F.3 and FB.5/9 kits are exactly the same, I must admit I was hoping for some underwing ground attack loads in this release.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, 224 Peter said:

The FB 5 is easy enough for Airfix but I thought that the FB9 had a different forward fuselage shape and an ejector seat. 

 

No, the FB.9 was effectively a tropicalised FB.5, it featured a Cold Air Unit which was installed in an extended fairing to the starboard intake.  The air intake for this unit was just outboard of the starboard engine intake in the wing leading edge, it was of greater diameter than the one used on F.3s and standard FB.5s.  I say standard FB.5s because some FB.5s had at least the extended fairing, I don't know if they had the Cold Air Unit fitted too or whether they had the larger intake for this.  These details as well as the clipped wings are in the existing F.3 kit so you can build an F.3/FB.5/FB.9 from it.

 

2 hours ago, 71chally said:

 According to the Airfix site, parts count of the F.3 and FB.5/9 kits are exactly the same, I must admit I was hoping for some underwing ground attack loads in this release.

 

 

Yes, I was hoping for the rocket fit too.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Open question to DH Vampire specialists :

 

Is this new Airfix 1/48 De Havilland Vampire FB.5 will enable to build a french SNCASE SE.532

and SE.535 ''Mistral'' version of the Armée de l'Air ?

😎

SharkOwl

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, SharkOwl said:

Open question to DH Vampire specialists :

 

Is this new Airfix 1/48 De Havilland Vampire FB.5 will enable to build a french SNCASE SE.532

and SE.535 ''Mistral'' version of the Armée de l'Air ?

😎

SharkOwl

 

Not directly no.  The Mistral used the Nene engine vs the Goblin which is a chunkier engine, therefore the Mistral's fuselage pod is a bit fatter.  The Mistral had different, bigger engine intakes, a stronger undercarriage with the later style wheels and also an ejection seat for the cockpit none of which are in the box.  You could possibly convert the Vampire to a Mistral but the build-up of the kit doesn't really lend itself to it.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Wez said:

 

Not directly no.  The Mistral used the Nene engine vs the Goblin which is a chunkier engine, therefore the Mistral's fuselage pod is a bit fatter.  The Mistral had different, bigger engine intakes, a stronger undercarriage with the later style wheels and also an ejection seat for the cockpit none of which are in the box.  You could possibly convert the Vampire to a Mistral but the build-up of the kit doesn't really lend itself to it.

Thank you. In a roundabout way, you have also answered my question, which was whether one could build a Swiss plane.

Guess not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, SprueMan said:

Thank you. In a roundabout way, you have also answered my question, which was whether one could build a Swiss plane.

Guess not.

 

Yes you can as Swiss FB.6 aircraft were Vampires not Mistrals but you'll need some extra bits and bobs depending upon your time frame.  You could build one with the original nose profile, that's in the kit, but if you want to build one with the later pointy nose you'll have to source/make that.  Swiss FB.6 Vampires had ejection seats fitted from 1960 onwards, so id your subject has that fitted you'll need to source a MB Mk3 seat from somewhere.  The kit also has the original DH drop tanks, so you'll also have to source some of the Swiss specific drop tanks if you need those.  You'll also have to source the Swiss decals.

 

In summary, depending upon the timeframe, you could make a Swiss Vampire just by sourcing replacement decals.  For the other bits you'd need to look elsewhere.  IIRC @wellsprop was talking about 3D printing a replacement nose for Vampire FB.6s, I believe he also made a conversion for a Vampire F.1 which the Swiss used.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, modelling minion said:

The French did operate standard Vampires though and you can build one of those from the box. Nice to see a French aircraft as an option.

 

🇺🇦

You are right.

 

Here is what I found on Wikipedia :

 

France first received 30 used Vampire F.1s and 90 used Vampire FB.5s, delivered from December 1948 from UK, to which were added 67 FB.51s

assembled locally by SNCASE from parts supplied by the UK.

 

Another 120 built entirely locally with Goblin reactors made by Hispano-Suiza.

 

Then SNCASE developed a specific version called "Mistral", powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene reactor (manufactured licensed by Hispano-Suiza).

 

Two versions were produced between the end of 1951 and 1954:

 

94 copies of the SE.532 with a Nene 102B engine, and 150 copies of the SE.535 with a Nene 104 engine and an ejection seat (which is later installed

also on the SE.532).

😎

SharkOwl  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Wez said:

 

Yes you can as Swiss FB.6 aircraft were Vampires not Mistrals but you'll need some extra bits and bobs depending upon your time frame.  You could build one with the original nose profile, that's in the kit, but if you want to build one with the later pointy nose you'll have to source/make that.  Swiss FB.6 Vampires had ejection seats fitted from 1960 onwards, so id your subject has that fitted you'll need to source a MB Mk3 seat from somewhere.  The kit also has the original DH drop tanks, so you'll also have to source some of the Swiss specific drop tanks if you need those.  You'll also have to source the Swiss decals.

 

In summary, depending upon the timeframe, you could make a Swiss Vampire just by sourcing replacement decals.  For the other bits you'd need to look elsewhere.  IIRC @wellsprop was talking about 3D printing a replacement nose for Vampire FB.6s, I believe he also made a conversion for a Vampire F.1 which the Swiss used.

 

5 hours ago, modelling minion said:

Matterhorn Circle does a very nice set for Swiss Vampires in 1/48 (and 1/32) which includes Mk.1's as well as Mk.6's in various schemes and with both types of nose.

 

🇺🇦

 

 

I have produced conversion for both the F1 and FB6 (both used by the Swiss). The Matterhorn decal set references my conversion kit too :)

 

 

The Swiss tanks are still WiP and the Aussie FB30/31 conversion is going on the printer very soon! 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, iainpeden said:

I hope they put a mask in for that black nose and I like the idea of a photo on the box.

 

Normally the photos are just a place holder till the art work is ready.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...