Subject: Re: F-5U "Flying Pancake" ARC submission (my first!)
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Keenan Akin" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:49:38 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Keenan Akin 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 1:41 PM
  Subject: F-5U "Flying Pancake" ARC submission (my first!)

    
  1/72 F-5U "Flying Pancake" 

  by Keenan Akin
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  The Vought XF5U-1 "Flying Pancake" was an experimental U.S. Navy fighter aircraft designed during World War II by Charles H. Zimmerman.  The unusual configuration was designed to maximize lift for easily controlled carrier landings, yet allow for high maximum speeds.  Zimmerman estimated that the aircraft would have a top speed of 425 mph and a landing speed as slow as 40 mph. Seeing more promise in jet aircraft, the U.S. Navy cancelled the XF5U-1 in 1947.  Tragically, the prototypes were all ordered destroyed.  After removing the engines, instruments and other salvageable equipment, the aircraft were demolished with a steel wrecking ball.  Interestingly, the first few hits of the ball bounced off the aircraft, hardly denting it.  After the weak structural points were located, the wrecking ball was employed once again, reducing the aircraft to a pile of scrap.

  In my early years as an engineer with Vought Aircraft, I had the pleasure of working with a few people who had been involved with the XF-5U program.  Although it never was used for its intended purpose, they had fond memories of the aircraft and were quite proud to have been associated with it.

  Click on images below to see larger images

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       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 
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       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Construction:

  I began with the Hasegawa 1/72 XF-5U kit.  Although the kit is of the XF-5U prototype aircraft, I decided to build my model as an operational F-5U version.  Dissatisfied with the thickness of the kit supplied canopy, I carved a wooden form and stretch formed a new one.  I wanted to position the canopy open but the shape of the fairing aft of the cockpit doesn't provide much of a mounting surface.  To solve this problem, I used a U-shaped piece of wire epoxied to the canopy as the lower canopy frame.  I left about 1/2" of wire protruding from the lower forward edges of the canopy to attach to the cockpit sill area.  This not only provided for a strong attachment but also ended up looking like canopy railings.  As I love to add details, I scratch built an arresting hook from brass wire and tubing with some sheet styrene doors attached. Adding the arresting hook in an extended position required cutting out the hook door panels on the upper surface.  I thinned the fuselage (or is it wing?) in this area and carefully cut out the panels along the scribed lines.  Since this opening would allow the interior to be seen, I boxed in the hook cavity with some sheet styrene and added a few lightening holes to represent the internal wing structure. 

  In the cockpit, I added grab handles to the ejection seat with thin wire as well as some seat belts made from masking tape. The oversized kit joystick was replaced with one from my spare parts box.  I drilled ports in each wing root to represent the six 50 caliber machine guns.  To add a more realistic look, I separated and repositioned the control surfaces slightly.  If you do this on an aircraft that used cables to move control surfaces, don't forget to position the joystick to match the control surface deflection.  The engine cooling vents looked a bit chunky, so I cut them out and replaced them with thin aluminum versions cut from a soft drink can.

  On the underside, I drilled out ports and used brass tubing for the exhausts.  The external stores pylons were scratch built from scrap styrene and soft wire for the sway braces.  My trusty spare parts box yielded a suitable drop tank to hang on one of the pylons.

  Finishing:

  The model was painted with a custom mix of Testors Model Master Blue Angel Blue and Flat Black.  The exterior was sprayed with Testors Gloss Cote prior to applying decals, then sprayed with Testors Dull Cote. Interior surfaces were painted with Model Master Zinc Chromate.  Muzzle blast staining was drybrushed with a mix of Rust and Flat Black. Exhaust staining was drybrushed using Flat Black, Rust and Light Ghost Grey.  I opted to paint the otherwise clear nose radome Flat Black.  Kit decals were used except for the "Bugs Bunny" nose art of the prototype aircraft.  Since this was to be an operational F-5U, I removed the X from the XF-5U tail marking decal.  Aircraft side numbers were added with dry transfer markings.  Since the location of the underside star and bar insignia coincides with the landing gear door, careful cutting and placing of the decal was required.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  Overall:

  The kit is quite good in terms of detail but poor fit of the engine intakes and the propeller spinners required a lot of filling and sanding.  I really enjoyed working on this unusual naval aircraft model and plan on adding a 1/72 scale carrier deck section on which to display it.

  Photos and text © by Keenan Akin