Time for another brief flypast, the Revell F19 Stealth concept fighter, 10 inches long and supported by the tiny F117 Nighthawk that came with the Italerai B2 Bomber kit. F19 was one of the first concepts for the mysterious new stealth fighter design to appear and was put forward as the probable shape of the next gen fighter. In reality, the smooth organic curves went out the window in favour of the angular shape of the F117. The concept of flat planar hull shapes had actually been conceived by german designers in the forties, but the idea was dismissed by the US as unfeasible.
Next we have the Italerai Ferret, a russian stealth concept aircraft, similar in form to the angular Nighthawk. Another kit from the original release in the 80's which suffered at my lack of model building skills. In the process of a slight restoration, one air brake missing and canopy removed to repaint the interior. A nice little six inch model.
Then back to diecast and the SR71 Blackbird with a small plastic supersonic drone that sits piggyback. This is accompanied by a neat little 3" plastic kit from the sixties, kindly donated recently by Andy B, of the X-15.
The Revell F-19A was called the Specter. It was available in 1/72 scale and 1/48 scale.
ReplyDeleteThe Ferret isn't that far removed from the Berkut (bearcat/'Firkin') which was actually built by Sukhoi, early concept pictures of it in late 80's editions of Jane's look even more like the toy!
ReplyDelete