I don’t know why I’ve not thought of it before but it occurred to me last night that the brain boxes on this forum might be able to help resolve a small difficulty I have had for some years now.
A great fan of the Sea Vixen, I have become increasingly interested in the aircraft in it’s drone configuration, ever since I was invited to see the then two surviving drones at Llanbedr. With the announcement of a 1/48 scale kit of the Vixen my thoughts have naturally turned to converting one to a drone. However one particular point about the aircraft eludes me. Whilst I know that the drone equipment was installed on the ejector seat rails of the observer’s “coal hole” and indeed have a photo of the empty racking, all attempts to find out what the actual equipment looked like have drawn a blank. I should be extremely grateful for any help in this direction as I should like to make the model as detailed as possible when the kit finally arrives.
Martin
By: kodak - 13th March 2009 at 09:34
I sat in ‘924’s “coal hole” at Llanbedr in 90/91 and the above description is fairly accurate. Unfortunately couldn’t take pics in the hangars but grabbed “the other” D3, XS577 that had been put out to grass..
Note she has a red nose (topical today eh – I don’t just throw this stuff together!)compared to ‘924’s yellow one.
Surely this is THE scheme though…
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th March 2009 at 01:31
Pongo: Hadn’t seen that one, thanks.
Mark:Thanks for the post. Even if you can’t find the gear at least it gives something to go on.
Martin
By: MarkG - 12th March 2009 at 23:28
Martin,
I have seen the equipment once removed but don’t have any photos unfortunately.
The best way I can describe it is like a stack of shelves (from memory I think 4 or 5) mounted at such an angle to the ‘seat rail’ that they are horizontal in the Observer’s cockpit – a bit like a sloping-backed filing cabinet with the drawers removed! On those shelves are a mounted a number of large ‘black boxes’ with cables connected to them, the cables being bundled together and running down the ‘seat rail’.
I know that’s very vague but it’s about all I remember of it I’m afraid!
If this equipment is still where it was when I saw it, I may be able to get some photos in the near future, but there are no promises as it’s probably moved by now.
By: pogno - 12th March 2009 at 22:42
Martin
Have you seen these pictures on YouTube of the drones at Tarrant Rushdon. Doesnt help with your cockpit view.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddDB7jIyCIY
Richard
By: pagen01 - 12th March 2009 at 12:32
Good call Martin, awaiting same info and can’t wait for a decent kit at last!
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March 12, 2009 at 12:27 pm