Westland Wyvern in 1/48 scale from Trumpeter.
Trumpeter have really done us proud. Not only do they issue well engineered (mostly) kits, but they produce models you are unlikely to see from other manufacturers for anything like the price. My Wyvern was built out-of-the-box with only one exception. I installed a brass tube wing spar as I wanted to have wings spread but not have to worry about them breaking at the fold line when picked up. In fact, the wings just slide on - there is no glue at the wing fold!
I've kept it nice & clean with minimal weathering as befits a 'pre - Suez' machine.
Hope you like it.
Cheers,
Tony
Really nice, Tony. I built the model too, and completely concur in your evaluation (I hear Trumpeter picked it up from a Japanese designer whose plans to produce it fell through). I don't know what it is about this strange airplane, but I thought it was cool the first time I saw a picture of it in William Green's "All The World's Aircraft 1953" when I was 9. I remember about 20 years ago, doing a vacuform of it, and a Very Serious Modeler Indeed told me at a show that it was a "what if" fantasy airplane that never existed. And then had to eat his words when I opened the book (I love sticking pins in helium-filled egos like that).
Beautiful work and you get a 10.
This is an interesting point. It is hard not to appreciate the very notable contribution of the Chinese manufacturers to the hobby. Ever since the arrival of Trumpeter and the other new brands from China the market really got moving in terms of variety and rate of new kit releases. Who would have thought about a mainstream 1/48 kit of the Wyvern previously? Not to mention the Sea Venoms, Hawks, Vixens, Gannets, Sea Furies, Spitefuls and all the others that have been popping up since. True, not all of these efforts have been great. But they're here and their presence have been profoundly changing the competitive situation on the hobby market.
Having said that, I believe that despite being among Trumpeter's earlier kits, the 1/48 and 1/72 Wyverns were among their best efforts. Great work on the kit, Tony. Thanks for sharing.
FYI - The Wyvern kits are only distributed by Trumpeter. They were designed, tooled and produced by Monochrome from Japan.
This is one of those "Gotcha" builds. Well done. Gotta love those props.
Love the Wyvern and this build is great!
Cool plane! Great job on her.
Gary
Sweet and clean. Very nicely made.
Tony,
A very belated congrats on a beautiful job on this airplane. It is so typically Brotish in that this airplane is so ugly it is beautiful.
Thanks Frank. The Wyvern is still a favourite of mine & still sitting on my display shelf in pristine condition along with a few other FAA items..