× Flying models without a radio

Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF

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08 Jun 2017 09:48 #1 by Ex-Member
The Peterborough Flying Aces meeting in December and Charlie Newman's Oxford Scale Meeting in October both include events for DF powered FF models both 3D and profile (no-cal). I've wanted to build a flying model of this one ever since I flew the beast while working as a TP at Farnborough in the 1980s, so this appeared to be too good to miss.

I'm aiming to use a pair of small DFs located either side of the fuselage under the wings. The finish will be in the scheme of the D3 I flew in 1987 which should stand out nicely against most backgrounds.





Here's where we've got to so far:



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08 Jun 2017 10:06 - 08 Jun 2017 11:50 #2 by boz
Hats of to you Mr Sephton, what a life sir, when is the book coming out. Fantastic, is what I call it, boz :woohoo:
Last edit: 08 Jun 2017 11:50 by Ex-Member.
Thanks: Ex-Member

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08 Jun 2017 10:38 #3 by Mike Rolls
Replied by Mike Rolls on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF
Looks good, Andy
Mike

The older I get, the better I was!
Thanks: Ex-Member

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08 Jun 2017 12:28 #4 by Eric
Scale catapult launch and arrested landing? :evil:
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What's (no-cal) ? :huh:

if you are calm and collected when all about you are going berserk - you've missed something important!

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08 Jun 2017 12:45 #5 by Ex-Member
Replied by Ex-Member on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF

Eric wrote: Scale catapult launch and arrested landing? :evil:
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What's (no-cal) ? :huh:


I don't do boats Eric, runways only! ;)

No-cal is the word used in the USA for profile models. It came from the words no calories. The Flying Aces Club defines it as models with a main body of minimal width. They look pretty awful close up, but in the air, they can look remarkably realistic.

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08 Jun 2017 17:29 #6 by Eric
Obvious - when you know! :blush:
Did you never fancy having a go at a deck landing? :sick:

if you are calm and collected when all about you are going berserk - you've missed something important!
Thanks: boz

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08 Jun 2017 17:56 - 08 Jun 2017 17:56 #7 by Quorneng
Replied by Quorneng on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF
Andy
I have to agree that is a spectacular colour scheme but for my money I think it would look even better with 3 dimensions. :P
Last edit: 08 Jun 2017 17:56 by Quorneng.

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08 Jun 2017 20:35 #8 by Eric
Like Spencer Flack's G-FIRE, scarlet Spitfire! It certainly stood out from the crowd of spam-cans and cherry-trees! :evil:
I don't think a skinny Vixen would look right - part of the character of it was the broad flat fuz, with two jet-pipes, black smoke, and that lovely crackly roar at full welly, as the pilot crosses himself before the cat throws him off the end of the ship! :pinch: :woohoo:

if you are calm and collected when all about you are going berserk - you've missed something important!
Thanks: boz

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09 Jun 2017 06:17 #9 by Ex-Member
Replied by Ex-Member on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF

Eric wrote: ....Did you never fancy having a go at a deck landing? :sick:


It would have been an interesting exercise Eric, but unfortunately I never got the chance. The closest I got was in 1985 when, as Harrier project test pilot at Boscombe down, the Harrier GR5 arrived and the test programme included sea trials. I was short-toured and posted to MoD before I converted to the aircraft... I did do some dry ski-jumps at Yeovilton in the FRS1, though, and that was an interesting interlude.

Quorneng wrote: Andy
I have to agree that is a spectacular colour scheme but for my money I think it would look even better with 3 dimensions. :P


Agreed on both counts Q! Here's (an unfinished) one I made earlier ;) ;)



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09 Jun 2017 15:36 #10 by Quorneng
Replied by Quorneng on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF
Just out of interest in your picture the navigators hatch appears to be black and flush (as in the FAW1) whereas on the drawings I have of the FAW2 (with the over wing boom extensions tanks) the nav had a significantly bulged hatch with a substantial glazed area.

Just doodling at the moment but two 40 mm EDFs in a super light Depron air frame would make an interesting comparison with my 40 mm Venom. :P :P

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09 Jun 2017 17:59 #11 by Ex-Member
Replied by Ex-Member on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF

Quorneng wrote: Just out of interest in your picture the navigators hatch appears to be black and flush (as in the FAW1) whereas on the drawings I have of the FAW2 (with the over wing boom extensions tanks) the nav had a significantly bulged hatch with a substantial glazed area.

Just doodling at the moment but two 40 mm EDFs in a super light Depron air frame would make an interesting comparison with my 40 mm Venom. :P :P


Ooooooo....an RC DF Vixen, I'll look forward to seeing that one Q.

For info, the tank extensions on the booms were referred to as the pinion tanks.

The D3 above was a drone aircraft. The observers cockpit was full of electronic wizardry to allow the aircraft to be flown from the ground. The pilot always flew solo, so there was no need to glaze the observers area.

I acted as 'safety pilot' on one or two droned flights but as far as I'm aware the aircraft never flew pilotless.

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09 Jun 2017 19:49 #12 by Eric
If I recall correctly, on the sea-going Sea Vixens, there wasn't a navigator, as such - the 'other' seat was occupied by the WEO, the Weapons Electrical Officer, who was basically the radio and radar op. The perspex? 'lid' over his seat was darkened, to reduce ambient light, enabling him to see the radar screen in daylight!
There wasn't much navigating done at sea, due to lack of any recognizable land-marks! (No motorway signs to read, Andy!) :P
The ship's radar gave the aircraft the 'steers' to the enemy aircraft, until the WEO found it on his AI18 scope, and guided the pilot in to visual contact. Then, of course, guided the pilot back to the ship, which was not where it was when they left it, unlike a tarmac runway :evil:
There was no over-the-horizon capability in those days. just the cannon and the rocket pods. They could carry iron bombs, but that was usually left to the Buccaneers. If I recall, they had limited ability to act as a fuel tanker, for in-flight fuelling other aircraft, but it wasn't used much.
The WEO looked after the fuel levels, selected the weapon to be fired (by the pilot), etc, in his spare time!

if you are calm and collected when all about you are going berserk - you've missed something important!
Thanks: boz

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11 Jun 2017 19:00 #13 by Ex-Member
Replied by Ex-Member on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF
Parts have been sanded, wings joined and fins glued to the booms.





Assembly next, then testing to find the C of G.
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14 Jun 2017 15:49 - 14 Jun 2017 22:09 #14 by Ex-Member
Replied by Ex-Member on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF
I assembled this one yesterday and had some test glides in the garden this morning. She's stable with the C of G as shown, i.e. she climbs when speed is increased, dives when speed is reduced and returns to wings level when banked.

Flying weight was 25gm including 6.5 gm nose weight. The latter will be replaced by motors, profiler and LiPo.













Motor fitting next and then flight tests under power
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Last edit: 14 Jun 2017 22:09 by Ex-Member.

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21 Aug 2017 18:37 #15 by Ex-Member
Replied by Ex-Member on topic Sea Vixen - profile (no-cal) FF model for DF
Third up on the spray painting day list was the Vixen. The upper surfaces yellow went on without issue:

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