Special Hobby 1/48 Dougas Skystreak

[Colin W]

My 4th entry for this group build will be a faily much 'from the box' job of the Douglas Skystreak. I know @LorenSharp has already built one of thesein the GB but you dont see too many built. This will sit with my Meteor, Hunter, Swift and SR71 in a World Speed record Theme I have running.

Three of these were built with numbers 1 and 2 setting Word Air Speed records. The  first and third survived into preservation while the 2nd crashed due to compressor failure.

 

 

 

Looks like a simple build so it should get finished. I'll save the X-15 fr the 'Karmen Line' GB next year.

[Col.]

There's still plenty of space in the GB for another Skystreak  

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

You don't see too many D-558’s getting built,  I say welcome and enjoy the build.

[Colin W]

A very strange kit this one. The nose undercarriage assembly contains 16 parts plus 3 for the door. The exhaust is just the sides of the fuselage with no pipe or any internal. Very odd.

I had a busy day on this yesterday with most of the basic construction done. The wings went together very well and the design for the wing and undercarriage bays is very clever and quite unique.

 

 

Might get some paint on soon.

[Col.]

Wonder if they forgot to finish tooling up a jetpipe assembly

[Colin W]

3 hours ago, Col. said:

Wonder if they forgot to finish tooling up a jetpipe assembly

 I don't think they started. The white tube in the picture is from my supplies box.

[Colin W]

Cockpit finished and fuselage assembled. Some fettling required for the complex front undercarriage bay but otherwise making sure the front intake splitter is vertcal was the real challenge! 12g of nose weight added under the cockpit which is a long way forward so giving a hearty clunk when the nose drops despite me adding extra weight in the rear for the exhaust.

 

 

Wings should go on next.

[Colin W]

 

Wings now added with a surprisingly positive fit for a limited run kit. From this angle the small size of the wing is much more apparent than usual views of the Skystreak. 

Some heavy clamping on the fin to eliminate a gap in the leading edge.

 

[Mike N]

That's coming along nicely, Colin. I have the 1/72 version in the stash to do.

 

Mike 

[Colin W]

Under NACA control these planes were white as per the X3 and its tempting.....but lots of white jets in the  cabinet so red it will be once the primer dries.

I've left the heads on the pins used for the pitots to avoid stabbing myself

 

 

Next it will be RED

[Col.]

Coming along nicely Colin and good idea to leave the head on the pins.

[Colin W]

Looking like the 'Crimson Test Tube' now.

The name suggests crimson which is agreeable in most flying pictures but on the ground there is a touch of orange in the colour. Ive decided to go with Mr Colour 68 'Red Mader'.

I'll have this done by the deadline on the 15th but its looking unlikely for a 2022 completion!

 

 

[Col.]

The "crimson test tube"

[Colin W]

This is just about done now and will be my last build for 2022.

More pictures in the gallery

I left the canopy detachable as per the real thing which is perhaps why its fit is not as good as it should be. The interior is excellent a a real shame to loose it. The instructions state to paint the under carriage red but in the "skystreak, Skyrocket and Stiletto' book by Scott Libis you can clearly see the wheel hubs and min gar legs are aluminium. I have followed this scheme. Pitots are sewing pins for durability and to give the correct shine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Great work and Thank you for building this one. 

[Wings unlevel]

A great result, in that red it looks fast standing still!

[zebra]

Beautiful finish! This will really stand out in your collection.

[Col.]

Nicely done Colin

[Mike N]

That looks great, nice work.