Sea Vixen FAW.1 XN708

[TheBaron]

Hello everyone.

 

This is the last of a pair of Sea Vixen FAW.1s that I started building as a project in 1/72 scale back in 2019 in order to go beyond what was available in kit form in terms of quality and detail. The first of these aircraft - XJ481 - was completed last October in her Martel trials livery and can be seen here.

 

The aircraft represented here - XN708 from 890 NAS - crashed into Lyme bay killing both crew on the night of 25th Nov, 1964. A fuller history of both aircraft, as well as the build log for designing and printing them, can be found here:

Source materials used in developing the CAD designs comprised of the Sea Vixen maintenance manuals cross-referenced with photographic imagery, a combination I've come to rely on in terms indexing what you see against its actual function.

 

Aside from printed resin, the build also required the use of vacforming for the pilot's canopy and the production of homebrew PE for a range of internal and external features. All markings are painted using custom mask sets.

 

Walkaround:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wingfold:

 

 

 

 

Radar and nose area. (Yes, the scanner dish moves...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engines:

 

 

 

 

I've a list of people already who want a copy of this to make a FAW.1 for themselves so I'm going to be producing it as a multimedia kit in resin, brass and vacform over the coming months, to include all the details shown here. If you like what you see and want to register an interest in having a a copy as well, please feel free to drop a PM.

As ever I'd like to finish simply by thanking all those forum members who gave so generously of their time, humour and expertise in following along with this project: it's always chastening to realize that no matter how certifiable my ramblings, there are other equally disturbed individuals out there prepared to read them.

 

All power to you, and of course, peace.

Tony

 

Ps. The pair of them together...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Heather Kay]

A stunning rendition, Tony. Pushing the envelope, too, in all kinds of ways. I hope you are justifiably proud of both of these miniature wonders.

[AdrianMF]

Superb. Truly remarkable in terms of the technology used to produce such a stunning model!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[John Laidlaw]

Epic in every way. The end results justify the work put in, in every way, not to mention the sheer entertainment. Beautiful work, Tony!

[Cookenbacher]

What an achievement Tony, just incredible. Thanks for showing us what's possible in 1/72.

[keefr22]

Quite simply one of the most astonishing modelling endeavours I've had the pleasure of witnessing - and what a beautiful gem of a miniature aeroplane (sorry, that should be gems of miniature aeroplanes  ) resulted from it!

 

I said it in the build thread Tony, I hope you don't mind repetition - outstanding, just outstanding! 

 

Top, top work all round!

 

Keith

[heloman1]

Tony, one word. Magnificent...

 

Colin

[OWL1975]

Highly impressive,  very well done.

 

Jerry

[Pantherhawk27263]

Amazing work!! I followed your WIP "novel" with great interest. 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Very impressive duo sir, Ive enjoyed the entire build as well. 

[Jagdtiger1]

Not often you get to see an FAW.1 in model form. Some absolutely incredible detail in that build Tony. You really, truly should be proud of that work!

 

James.

 

P.S. I'm in LOVE with the paint scheme of the one on the stand!

[Dave Slowbuild]

Brilliant work Tony.  You clearly love your subject and you’ve really done it justice.  Resets the bar for 1/72!  Epic 

[Navy Bird]

Epic.   👍

 

And to think I was going to build the High planes kit. Aye, aye, aye.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[Lord Riot]

That’s amazing.

[robgizlu]

Superb and Fab to see them both together

Rob

[KingTiger435]

Beautiful work! I'm glad I got to follow the WIP for at least some of it.

[Autle]

Wow

[CedB]

Stunning and well worth the wait.

 

An immensely captivating and educational WiP too Tony. Thanks for sharing  

[Neil Lambess]

More accurate than the de Haviland "official"  3 views ! (Which have led many astray

[Fritag]

Beyond impressive Tony.

One of the most pleasing things for me has been how the quality of the painting and finishing has done full justice to the brilliance of (and the care in) the design and construction.  Not so much a build as a creation.

It does us all good from time to time to feel humbled in the face of the skill of others - and I don’t ‘alf feel ‘umbled by this pair   God knows what the Wasp’ll do to me….

 

Edited July 28, 2022 by Fritag
Typo

[sprue]

A master class

[tomprobert]

Wow. That is seriously impressive. Way beyond me, but that hasn’t stopped me enjoying watching these beauties grow from nothing to the masterpieces we see before us!

 

Tom

[kev67]

This is very impressive, you must be very happy with the overall build and finish, I like the fact that it has been created using 3D artwork, and this is no easy task without experience of the software involved, plus you have used all the other mediums such as vac forming and your own PE.

[John R]

I may have said this about your earlier build but it is worth repeating - Clearly the work of a complete nutter but I am glad that such people exist if only to put our own efforts into perspective.

I have but one adverse comment. Your pictures come out very dark so I cannot see all the gorgeous details. I do not have this problem with other peoples efforts and I wonder if other people have the same problem.

I ran one of your pictures through Photoshop using the shadows/highlights and levels tools and came up with this

[CJP]

Fabulous - now looking forward to the Wasp story

CJP