Something a bit different. Armstrong whitworth A.W 172

[chrisonord]

I don't usually, well not any more I should say post up pictures of  in progress builds  but this one , once the paint  behaves itself  and the decals are put on will be  finished.
During  the mid 50's the Air Ministry  put out a tender for a "multi role " combat aircraft.  The aircraft  needed to be able to fly at at least mach 2.5 at very high altitude  and be interchangeable  between  3 missions without  too much work. Said missions  were interception of  high speed high flying Soviet bombers, photo reconnaissance of  high value/risk areas and to launch a  standoff nuclear missile.  The missile would be carried on a central pylon  on the lower fuselage. This missile  is a land attack  variant of the  Beige Flounder nuclear  anti ship missile, developed to be launched  against  Soviet  naval  fleets.  The missile  was named suede Badger and despite its large size and cumbersome looks  was capable  of speeds in excess of mach 3.2. With a range of 100 nautical miles. 
Armstrong Whitworth  drew up the A.W. 172 using  technology that was to be used in their A.W. 169 interceptor, and the design  and capabilities ticked all the boxes  the RAF  needed. The aircraft  was powered by  four De haviland Gyron  engines with reheat  and a De Haviland  spectre rocket  motor.  A prototype aircraft was built  and tested  carrying  mock versions of the missiles it would  carry and was capable of  a sustained  speed of mach 2.57 with the rocket at half  thrust. The aircraft was  ordered  with an initial  batch of 35 aircraft, but was put on hold until a flaw in the aircraft's skin strength could be  remedied  as it tended to ripple  at higher speeds.
Here is a picture of it so far  and its missiles, the air to air missiles  are brown  clerics, a new design  based remotely on the  Red Hebe.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/y5ncyac8WKgGuztY7
https://photoiis.app.goo.gl/qbxFoyXPVHzoMTcL7
I will  put some more pictures on when I have finished it
Chris

[sandiego89]

ohhh, stacked engines?  nice

Good use of the Concorde! 

[PR19_Kit]

It's VERY blue!

And I like the idea a lot. 

[chrisonord]

Cheers,  it certainly is  an in your face  blue.  Its life colour Azure blue.  I will probably get a different  colour  nose and engine  shock cones and possibly some  brightly coloured markings. There is a picture of an aircraft in one of my  books  that is a similar colour, so I thought I would give it a go. Its taken  4 coats so far and the white is still  showing  through in places.
Chris

[NARSES2]

That does look neat 

[kitbasher]

I think we should expect more Concorde-based whiffery as the 'Vintage' rerelease becomes more widley available.

[sideshowbob9]

Now that is a really cool idea!

[NARSES2]

I think we should expect more Concorde-based whiffery as the 'Vintage' rerelease becomes more widley available.

There was a nice RAF Transport Command one in one of the Mags recently.

[PR19_Kit]

But that original Airfix kit of the prototype is SO awful!

I'd almost prefer to back-convert a Revell one, it's a lot nicer.

[TallEng]

Well nobody else has said it yet so I will
It looks very Gerry Anderson doesn't it? Reminds me of the Fireflash Atomic airliner from Thunderbirds.
Is that Airfix Lightning fuselages as the engine pods?
Looking rather tasty

Regards
Keith

[63cpe]

Let me join the admirers. Yes I do like it very much! 
I'm trying to figure out how you did the engines as that's for me the best part.

Anyway, I'd like to see this one finished!

David aka 63cpe

[chrisonord]

There is quite a bit of  scalerama going on  here.
The Concorde bit is 1/144 scale  revell  the engines are  1/100th scale  tamiya  lightning 's the nose is 1/72nd f-4 the canopy is  1/72nd scale  Boulton Paul P120, landing gear is 1/72 scale  from not a clue. The aircraft is now 1/72nd scale. It's got a few more things to  sort out on it yet though.
Chris

[chrisonord]

Due to the paint  not playing  ball, I have decided to paint it  a slightly darker shade of blue.  It was lifecolour Azure blue, it is now vallejo royal blue.  It looks a bit more sinister in this shade of blue and  suits it. I  have built the nuclear missile, its in paint  and I have a  trolley for it to sit on too.
Chris

[The Rat]

Lovin' it! 

[chrisonord]

Here it is finished.  It took a lot longer  than it  should  to complete  as the paint  kept spitting its dummy out  and leaving a rippled effect  despite  sanding smooth twice  it kept  doing it so I  left it. The decals  from the type 559 I  built were used up on it and they are horrible, not happy with them.  The rest of the decals are  from the  spares box.  Air to air missiles are  scratch built as is the nuclear standoff missile on the trolley.  The idea and the parts for.it have been around  for a couple of years  I would say , and I have finally  if not perfectly, built it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nRUVxJC4ywgNd9d3A
https://photos.app.goo.gl/j5fL5vuet1SGe1iJ6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2WFN71hmHqHy8G7w8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cRnQoWi4ZunWPnHQ8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1yuJHJRPQALd2Djd8
Chris.