1/72 3d Printed Fairey ER.103C or Fairey Delta 3 "Small"

[scautomoton]

Hello all,

so like all good boys, rather than crack on with finishing what's currently on the bench, I got side-tracked by the fact that my 3d printer has sat idle for a week or two. Thus, I decided to continue my quest to have all the F.155T designs in 1/72. I previously 3d printed the AW.169 and the EE P.8 (and I built the Vickers 559 from Fantastic Plastic).

As most of you know, LostCosmonauts also used to print and sell some of these submissions, and amongst them was the Fairey Delta 3 "Large". However, I've not yet seen the smaller initial submission by Fairey, the ER.103C. This was proposed as a highly feasible, quick development option by Fairey, based on available materials and technology at the time, with the idea that it could be in flight by 1960.

Based on the record setting Delta 2 it was slightly larger with a crew of two, powered by a single de Havilland Gyron & a pair of de Havilland Spectre Junior rocket motors, and armed with a pair of Blue Jays on the wing tips.

I've been plugging away at it for a couple of weeks on and off now, and have the bulk of it where I want it.






The rocket location as shown on the drawings clashes with the side profile design, which suggests that the end of the fairing is tapered. But this doesn't lend itself to housing a rocket nozzle. So I've just done what I can. Once printed I'll review how it looks and make any changes.

For the landing gear I've essentially copied the FD2 front undercarriage, and have used the FD3 "Large" drawings to guide the design of the rear. Similarly, the front bay is a pure copy of the FD2, whilst the rear is as feasible as I could get, albeit with some fairly chunky pipes (which I need to resize).









Today I managed to get the wheels and the exhaust done. The front wheel was a fresh design based entirely on the FD2 wheel. The main wheel was a resized copy of the one I did for the AW.169, since I think Fairey would have gone for more than 2 brake pistons per wheel for production! The exhaust borrowed the compressor (for now) from the AW.169 (rescaled again) and a nozzle based on a Phantom for now.



Finally, here she sits as parked up.



Still to do is the cockpit, compressor face, canopy mould for vacuforming, the opening mechanism & nose droop. I already have some designs for 3d printing Red Tops. Then I need to figure out the best way to split it all for printing. Then finally it will be panel line time. Fun. Not.

[Gondor]

    

[Thorvic]

Looking good so far, and should look good between an FD2 and the FD3

[Gondor]

Looking good so far, and should look good between an FD2 and the FD3

So then the question is, how much needs to be changed to make an FD3?

[scautomoton]

So then the question is, how much needs to be changed to make an FD3?

Almost everything essentially. I think the only things that would carry over are the exhaust and nozzle, and perhaps the wheels. The undercarriage could be scaled, but everything else is bigger.

[buzzbomb]

Great insight into the design work needed to create this stuff.

[Gondor]

So then the question is, how much needs to be changed to make an FD3?

Almost everything essentially. I think the only things that would carry over are the exhaust and nozzle, and perhaps the wheels. The undercarriage could be scaled, but everything else is bigger.

Thanks, I didn't know how different in size the two were to each other.

[scautomoton]

This image from http://www.rp-one.net/ shows it quite well. Single vs twin seat, single vs twin engine. Large variant could carry Red Hebe, although apparently there was a later submission of the ER.103C with Red Hebes before Fairey submitted the Large variant.

[PR19_Kit]

Anything needing to carry a Red Hebe had to be GINORMOUS! The thing was just SO huge! 

[NARSES2]

Great insight into the design work needed to create this stuff.

Absolutely 

[Mossie]

The rocket location as shown on the drawings clashes with the side profile design, which suggests that the end of the fairing is tapered. But this doesn't lend itself to housing a rocket nozzle. So I've just done what I can. Once printed I'll review how it looks and make any changes.

Could the end be a frangible fairing, blown off or frazzled when the rocket ignites?

This looks great, I might well be tempted if you offer it.

[scautomoton]

One of the more difficult bits, the nose droop, is done! Sort of. Well, its probably as good as its going to get. It can sit in either position with the aid of an extra part to droop the nose by 10.5 deg.



I've also dressed the exhaust nozzle a tad, and am quite happy with it now. The proof will be in the printed pudding.



And I've done what I can with the cockpit. My comment above was incorrect, I'd forgotten its a two-seater! Damn it would be snug in there... Only one seat shown at the mo, and half the coaming (I tend to draw half of the object, then cut it along the middle and mirror it)



So next will be the mould for the canopy (I'm not looking forward to this), and then playing with split locations and all the tolerances before the inaugural print. Thinking about it, I'm also going to need to put some effort into the ejection seat, my generic MB Mk.4 design is too wide at the top, so will clash with the canopy when closed. The plans call for a "lightweight" seat, and the drawings look like a narrower Mk.4, so I'll have to have a play.

[scautomoton]

Actually, next is the first test print of some bits (those that will fit on the bed!).



Hopefully, in 3.5 hrs I'll have a successful print and see how well some of the more fiddly bits go together.

[Gondor]

Looks nice 

[Mossie]

Tasty.