Revell 1:48 F-89C Scorpion
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:34 pm
Revell 1:48 Northrop F-89C Scorpion. (4825)
F-89C-30, 51-5777, 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron,
Presque Isle, Maine, USA.
Just finished this gun armed version on the troubled F-89 Scorpion.
The initial contract to Northrop was signed in May 1946 for two prototypes and a full scale mock-up of the XP-89 which was at that time to be powered by two TG-180-D1 engines and was at that time a swept wing design. With a gun turret as per Black Widow.
As development progressed it became evident that both aerodynamically and to meet payload efficiencies a straight wing would be more suitable. Despite some in official circles wanting the entire project cancelled due to misgivings the project progressed and the first prototype XF-89 flew for the first time on 16th august 1948 with guns in the nose replacing the impractical turret arrangment,
The F-89B which had improved avionics from the initial F-89A entered USAF service in June 1951 with the 84th FIS and 40 were built. The protracted development had resulted in the F-86D and F-94 being introduced as an interim measure. The B models experienced considerable problems with engines and other systems and soon gave way to the C version which is modelled here of which 164 were built and had engines of improved thrust.
The most produced version was the D model of which 682 were built; these models had the cannon removed and the Hughes E-6 fire control system with AN/APG-40 radar and AN/APA-84 computer linked to an armament comprising of two pods of 52x2.75in (70mm) Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR’s) in large wingtip pods.
Problems persisted, not least some fatal crashes caused by wing structural problems that grounded the entire fleet of all marques for improvements to strengthen their wings which had a tendency to separate from the fuselage during manoeuvring. The proposed E, F and G models did not come to fruition so the next version to enter production was the H that introduced wingtip pods each containing three Falcon AAM and 21 FFAR’s
The final version was the J which were in fact re-engineered D’s with normal 600 gal wingtip tanks and under wing pylons for a single MB-1 Genie nuclear rocket sometimes supplemented with Falcon AAM.s. The Scorpion became the only aircraft to fire a live Genie on 19th July 1957.
The aircraft was retired from Air National Guard squadrons in 1969.
Although not my best by a long way, I enjoyed making it and was surprised by the size of the beast. Some of the fit is iffy underneath and the decals were possibly past their use by date. Whilst not what you would call and aesthetically pretty aircraft, I like it’s more purposeful looks and expands my American F jets collection
F-89C-30, 51-5777, 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron,
Presque Isle, Maine, USA.
Just finished this gun armed version on the troubled F-89 Scorpion.
The initial contract to Northrop was signed in May 1946 for two prototypes and a full scale mock-up of the XP-89 which was at that time to be powered by two TG-180-D1 engines and was at that time a swept wing design. With a gun turret as per Black Widow.
As development progressed it became evident that both aerodynamically and to meet payload efficiencies a straight wing would be more suitable. Despite some in official circles wanting the entire project cancelled due to misgivings the project progressed and the first prototype XF-89 flew for the first time on 16th august 1948 with guns in the nose replacing the impractical turret arrangment,
The F-89B which had improved avionics from the initial F-89A entered USAF service in June 1951 with the 84th FIS and 40 were built. The protracted development had resulted in the F-86D and F-94 being introduced as an interim measure. The B models experienced considerable problems with engines and other systems and soon gave way to the C version which is modelled here of which 164 were built and had engines of improved thrust.
The most produced version was the D model of which 682 were built; these models had the cannon removed and the Hughes E-6 fire control system with AN/APG-40 radar and AN/APA-84 computer linked to an armament comprising of two pods of 52x2.75in (70mm) Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR’s) in large wingtip pods.
Problems persisted, not least some fatal crashes caused by wing structural problems that grounded the entire fleet of all marques for improvements to strengthen their wings which had a tendency to separate from the fuselage during manoeuvring. The proposed E, F and G models did not come to fruition so the next version to enter production was the H that introduced wingtip pods each containing three Falcon AAM and 21 FFAR’s
The final version was the J which were in fact re-engineered D’s with normal 600 gal wingtip tanks and under wing pylons for a single MB-1 Genie nuclear rocket sometimes supplemented with Falcon AAM.s. The Scorpion became the only aircraft to fire a live Genie on 19th July 1957.
The aircraft was retired from Air National Guard squadrons in 1969.
Although not my best by a long way, I enjoyed making it and was surprised by the size of the beast. Some of the fit is iffy underneath and the decals were possibly past their use by date. Whilst not what you would call and aesthetically pretty aircraft, I like it’s more purposeful looks and expands my American F jets collection
