1/72 Vickers 559 FAW.2 in 56 Sqn colours

[scautomoton]

So this is my attempt at a "What If the Vickers 559 had been selected from the 155T submissions and actually entered service".

 

I biffed off the 600kg missiles located dorsally because I can't imagine it would actually have come to fruition and instead went with a Lightning-esque strategy. I also dismissed the Red Dean's altogether assuming the RAF may have purchased AIR-2 Genies at 1/2 the weight and none of the development delay. The hypothetical FAW.2 spec adds a single cannon to the ventral pack for warning shots, and a twin-launch rail to allow Red Top and AIR-2 Genie to be carried simultaneously. I've chosen 56 Sqn colours because a) I like them and, b) they seem one of the most likely squadrons to get the latest, fastest fighter in the RAF's arsenal. 

 

WIP build thread is here:

 

 

Kit - 1/72 Fantastic Plastic Vickers 559

Extras - Master metal Jaguar GR.1 pitot, Eduard Sea Venom Cockpit Etch, Eduard B.2 Undercarriage Etch, Reskit MIG-31 Early Type Exhaust Nozzles, Quickboost Lightning Air Intakes, Quickboost Lightning Weapon Pylons, Quickboost BAe Hawk Air Intakes, various Lightning decals to create 56 Sqn markings and stencils, CMK Martin Baker Mk.4 resin Ejector Seats, AIR-2 Genies donated from BM user

3D Print - Red Top missiles (since I was never satisfied with any kit or aftermarket items)

Vac Forming - Canopy made from mold of original (which was too thick)

Paint - Alclad II Gloss Black Primer, Aluminium, Polished Aluminium, Chrome for Plastic, White Aluminium, Dark Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Jet Exhaust, Pale Burnt Metal; Tamiya X-1 Black, XF-1 Flat Black, X-9 Brown, X-10 Gunmetal, X-11 Chrome Silver, XF-66 Light Grey; Mr Gunze Aqeous 3 Red, 8 Silver, 18 Steel, 21 Of White, 52 Olive Drab, 77 Tyre Black, 79 Sand Yellow 

Weathering - limited use of Sludge wash from Mr Gunze 77 Tyre Black; Tamiya Weathering Master Burnt Blue, Burnt Red, Oil Stain, Soot, Snow.

Varnish/Finish - Alclad Aqua Gloss Clear; W&N Galeria Gloss & Satin

 

So in terms of work to do to the kit to improve realism:

- Lightning cannon port added to ventral fuel tank

- relocated missiles from dorsal location to on chin as per Lightning

- 3d printed some Red Tops because Airfix kit items lack detail, and the resin jobbies I bought were badly cast. I used the clear seeker heads from the resin kit

- Cut out blanked intakes and scratchbuilt inlet pipe (not that you can see much tbh)

- sharpened edges of inlet shock cone

- scratchbuild cockpit and bulkhead and detailed with Sea Venom etch

- replace nose gear bay with modified TSR-2 bay and scratchbuilt doors

- split main landing gear doors for better look

- scratched some brake lines from 5A fuse wire

- all wings and fins sharpened on the trailing edges

- replaced kit exhausts with MIG-31 resin items (since kit parts had no depth)

- Lightning and Hawk air inlets added to add a bit of busy-ness to the exterior

- 10g of lead on back of cockpit

- Eduard B2 bomber undercarriage etch to detail main gear bays and inside of door surfaces

- aerials done with stainless wire

- added Jaguar GR.1 pitot

- various etch finlets, probes etc to decorate the exterior for a more realistic look

..... I think that's it..

 

This kit started off well, and the overall fit and finish is good, with minimum fettling really required if you want to build it OOB. My difficulties started with the paintwork, which has fought me persistently. I've just gotten to the point where it needed to be finished, so please excuse some of the imperfections around the canopy (bloody nightmare) and the various nicks I missed in primer, as well as the flecks of dirt and dust I am stuck with. I had to repaint various bits (including the fuselage) on average 3 times. So I am mighty glad she's done. If it was a child it would have been sent to sit in the corner for constantly answering back! I've only lightly weathered it on the basis that 56 Sqn machines tend to look pretty clean and shiny in most pics I've seen.

 

Overall, I'm really quite pleased. It's turned out pretty much how I envisioned it. I need to learn not to forge ahead when I should let paint dry for 24hrs etc, but otherwise I'm not ashamed of it. I think I'm most happy with the exhaust, I struggled with it for ages until I got it right.

 

Anyway, pictures! Believe it or not I actually used a blue background, but the sunlight today is just awful, so this is the best my humble phone would do, perhaps I should invest in a modest DLR of some sort...

 

[Head in the clouds.]

That is really impressive and so good in 56SQ colours. The Vickers 559 was certainly out there in design philosophy, look more Thunderbirds than Firebirds.

I am also glad to read that it goes together well as I have it in the stash.

[Autle]

Bravo. I'm amazed by this, the scale the subject and the skills are top notch. I think you made the right choices regarding the missile configuration as well. mint.

[Mark]

Now that's a new one for me! I never knew that this existed and that Gerry Anderson worked for Vickers! Great subject, great modelling, great scheme and photography!

[HPoirot]

Excellent idea, build and details! You really would have wanted to see that one flying ! 👍

Edited August 5, 2024 by HPoirot

[PatG]

Lovely build and finish.

 

Reminds me a little of Fireball XL-5!

 

Pat.

[JWFP]

Very interesting model and well done for persevering to get it completed. Thanks for sharing it.

[Toryu]

Very well built. Thanks for letting us see the details - they're excellent! Interesting plane. It looks like a pregnant shark to me.

[Billy54]

I know nothing about the Vickers 559 or the 155T submission however that model looks stunning, a real head turner, I love the 56 Sqn scheme that you finished it in.

[John_W]

Very nice build. Those 50's designs look like the inspiration for some of Gerry Andersons machines.

[Ian]

Absolutely love this - Brilliantly executed & presented.

 

 

Ian.

[scautomoton]

Thanks for all the kind comments. Somewhat annoyingly it was only after I was previewing the post that I noticed I put the Warning triangles on upside down..... muppet! But from across the room on the shelf they look fine  

[HPoirot]

3 hours ago, scautomoton said:

Thanks for all the kind comments. Somewhat annoyingly it was only after I was previewing the post that I noticed I put the Warning triangles on upside down..... muppet! But from across the room on the shelf they look fine  

That was before initial tests revealed that downwards-ejecting seats were not such a good idea considering the ventral air intake design... 😋

Edited August 7, 2024 by HPoirot

[Head in the clouds.]

On 8/6/2024 at 1:56 PM, Billy54 said:

I know nothing about the Vickers 559 or the 155T submission however that model looks stunning, a real head turner, I love the 56 Sqn scheme that you finished it in.

There was a book printed that had all the 155T submissions and it goes into a lot of detail. If you think the 559 looks good check out the Saro  P187, now that would have been a beast. If you want I will search out the book and let you have the ISBN.

[JamesP]

An absolutely stonking build

[scautomoton]

1 hour ago, Head in the clouds. said:

There was a book printed that had all the 155T submissions and it goes into a lot of detail. If you think the 559 looks good check out the Saro  P187, now that would have been a beast. If you want I will search out the book and let you have the ISBN.

Cold War Interceptor by Dan Sharp - well worth spending the readies on

 

[Lightningboy2000]

Ditto all of the above! 

I am impressed how this has been executed and it's so well presented. Inspiring to something similar! 

[Donald]

Just wonderful. Very unique, too. Fantastic Plastic/Anigrand have some interesting kits listed. You've produced a fascinating kit: well worth getting the metallic finish just right.

[Duncan B]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one thinking "Thunderbirds" or "Fireball XL5" lol. What a well made and finished model of a strange beastie, really nicely done.

I can only wonder what it would have been like to operate in real life. I'm thinking it would have been a nightmare to keep in the air from a technical viewpoint and would have kept the runways clear of FOD and snow for sure.

 

Duncan B

[scautomoton]

6 hours ago, Duncan B said:

I can only wonder what it would have been like to operate in real life. I'm thinking it would have been a nightmare to keep in the air from a technical viewpoint and would have kept the runways clear of FOD and snow for sure.

 

Duncan B

I can't imagine FOD would be any worse a consideration for this as for an F16 or Rafael etc. or any modern airliner for that matter when you think how low slung their engines are and the intake area.

[Back in the Saddle]

Brilliant! 

[scautomoton]

Whats really annoying is that it was only last week when I was doing the missiles for the AW.169 that I looked at this and realised the stripes on the missiles were the wrong way around, doh!