(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4290/34835447913_0f8f930ae4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V5hM1V)Magpie Wyvern 9 (https://flic.kr/p/V5hM1V) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
It has never been officially revealed how the PDRV obtained it's Wyverns. All that is known for certain is that the UK Labour government of the time turned a blind eye and the shady Dutch conglomerate Smallbeer Internationaal was involved.
They did arrive without engines though. A last minute court injunction preventing export of the Armstrong Siddeley Pythons.
Not ones to be stopped by a small thing like a lack of motive power the PDRV fitted locally produced James G81 Turboprops. These engines, while physically almost identical in size to the Pythons were faster turning necessitating the fitment of an additional reduction gearbox between the front of the engine and the contraprop (a prototype was flown without this but severe problems were encountered due to blade tip speed).
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4142/34835448323_56d2ba33e5_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V5hM8Z)Magpie Wyvern 5 (https://flic.kr/p/V5hM8Z) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
Initially the Wyverns were painted in Archipelago Camouflage and used for revenue protection duties in the Bass Strait. Armed with torpedoes or rockets they were particularly feared by smugglers, many of whose vessels they sent to the bottom. Replaced, eventually in the mid sixties, by Skyraider floatplanes the Wyverns took up a new lease of life defending the capital, Batmania.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4024/35514101171_e07ba47ca2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W7g3Za)Magpie Wyvern 4 (https://flic.kr/p/W7g3Za) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
By this time the role of the City Defence squadrons was mostly ceremonial, providing fly pasts for sporting events and visiting dignitaries, beating up the local PDRV Navy airfields and of course carrying out the traditional weekly scramble when every airworthy aircraft on the base would take off en-masse and intercept a commercial passenger flight coming into Essendon. The flight to be intercepted was supposed to be chosen at random but it has been pointed out that the selection quite often just happened to be that of a flight carrying an international sports team or popular music performer.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4117/34835447933_200fe24be0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V5hM2g)Magpie Wyvern 8 (https://flic.kr/p/V5hM2g) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
It is not known who first suggested that the Wyverns be painted in a Magpie livery but it was done because their hunchbacked profile is reminiscent of an Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) in flight. Although never officially renamed they became popularly known as the Magpie Squadron or Magpie Flight and were seen as a good luck symbol for the city of Batmania.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4263/35604848916_24f86b8131_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Wfha8s)Magpie Wyvern 11 (https://flic.kr/p/Wfha8s) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
The Model.
Trumpeter 1/72 Westland Wyvern S4 built OOB apart from the pilot, extended nose and missiles.
The nose is because I managed to lose the back of the prop and had to scratch build a replacement. At which point I thought "why not make it longer?"
The missiles are from an Italeri 1/72 MiG 29 and are there because it needed something under the wings and drop tanks (my original plan) didn't cut it.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4288/35604848506_63353c5e64_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Wfha1o)Magpie Wyvern 13 (https://flic.kr/p/Wfha1o) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4116/34835447363_8955a4f4da_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/V5hLRr)Magpie Wyvern 12 (https://flic.kr/p/V5hLRr) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
That's awesome Fred, love the scheme, really innovative. :thumbsup:
I don't think I've EVER seen a Wyvern model with the air brakes extended before, nice work.
Sexy! :wub: Not certain about the Alamos, but the paint scheme looks excellent on the Wyvern. Almost looks as if there were some Stormtroopers at the controls...?
Not a Collingwood supporter by any chance there? ;)
Sweet! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That paint scheme is stunning!!!
Absolutely cracking model :bow:
Thanks folks.
Quote from: rickshaw on April 20, 2017, 07:58:40 AM
Not a Collingwood supporter by any chance there? ;)
No, Footscray. But when I grokked the similarity I had to paint it.
That is excellent work! :bow: :cheers:
Quote from: zenrat on April 21, 2017, 04:44:00 AM
Thanks folks.
Quote from: rickshaw on April 20, 2017, 07:58:40 AM
Not a Collingwood supporter by any chance there? ;)
No, Footscray. But when I grokked the similarity I had to paint it.
Send a picture to Eddie, he'd appreciate it... ;)
Ooh that's neat ! Love the paint scheme really sharp.
:wub:
Thanks DFZ, Cap'n.
Brian - There are things I am often tempted to send to Eddie...
...most of which it is illegal to send through the mail. :o
I can see that doing an ANZAC Day flypast.
Beautiful :wub:
Three of them in v formation, flying straight down St Kilda Road from the City to the Shrine catching the first rays of the sun at the climax of the dawn service.
Amazing!!! Oh man, fantastic work, dude!! I love this..... if not already nominated I would be running to the whiffie thread.
:wub: :wub: :wub: :bow: :bow: :bow:
beautifully birdlike !
Now that is cool :mellow:
Chris
Thanks folks. I'm not 100 happy with the paint. Not the design but the fact that the rattle can spewed the white out far too heavily. Thank goodness for being able to select my own photographs eh! ;)
I think half of mine are like that. I always get too heavy handed with the things and then it's even worse with "2x" that should only be used on farm equipment with the way I paint.
Ah well. Still look good. :D
The next one will do the kit justice. I saved the resin exhausts I bought and will use them on that.
Since finishing this i've cut the nose back close to it's original length. I just couldn't get on with the stretched version.
I'll try to remember to take some pics.
Fair enough. I've always thought the Wyvern nose had a suitably pugnacious look about it anyway, just like magpies. ;)
A rare visitor to the Dadswell Bridge Aerodrome today. A Wyvern of Magpie Squadron dropped in for a cold one while returning from showing the flag in Adelaide.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4406/36529422653_21d3d6a695_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQFX)Magpie Wyvern 2.0 2 (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQFX) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4367/36529422033_36f4fd4590_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQvg)Magpie Wyvern 2.0 4 (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQvg) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/37151116536_f300872c4c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YAVbC1)Magpie Wyvern 2.0 1 (https://flic.kr/p/YAVbC1) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4372/36529421463_a5c5024105_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQkr)Magpie Wyvern 2.0 6 (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQkr) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
Hmmmm.... in retrospect I think it was a good decision. :thumbsup:
Yes.
The little beggers were at the back door after a feed today.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4393/37170441132_46148f4331_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YCCe9G)Magpies 01 (https://flic.kr/p/YCCe9G) by Fred Maillardet (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156376527@N06/), on Flickr
I didn't give them any so they crapped on the deck.
Loving the Wyvern Fred, I need to start looking at more stuff on here as I am missing some cracking builds. :thumbsup:
Chris.
Great pic!!!! Nice catch.... I get squirrels (tree-rats) that do that....they'll come right up to the glass on the storm door, then they start eating the wood the porch of made of. :rolleyes:
Quote from: zenrat on September 20, 2017, 02:29:03 AM
A rare visitor to the Dadswell Bridge Aerodrome today. A Wyvern of Magpie Squadron dropped in for a cold one while returning from showing the flag in Adelaide.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4406/36529422653_21d3d6a695_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XDYQFX)
(https://flic.kr/p/XDYQFX)
Splendid stuff, and I think it does look more balanced with the shorter nose. :thumbsup:
Definitely looks better, Fred. Be careful stepping outside, the "little beggars" may well try to perforate your scone! :thumbsup:
My wife and I feed the crows and they bring us gifts.
Quote from: Old Wombat on September 20, 2017, 05:51:38 AM
Definitely looks better, Fred. Be careful stepping outside, the "little beggars" may well try to perforate your scone! :thumbsup:
No, these are Mrs z's friends. They are so friendly one of them nearly took the toast from her hand as she walked out to her car this morning.
The neighbours feed them as well and the mother (on the left in the picture) is looking very plump breasted with glossy feathers.