Vought XF5U-1 Flying FlapJack

[Scale-Master]

While the kit is labeled Flying Pancake, I'm going with the term my Dad used when I was a kid while he was working on vacuum-formed kits of it.

1/72 scale Hasegawa kit. 

Going for out-of-the-box, but I added Warbird Decals seatbelts.

I also added some supports to make installing the intakes out of sequence easier.

[Scale-Master]

The cockpit fits well enough between the fuselage halves.

[cobraman]

That was such a weird plane. I guess that is why I like it !

[Mike999]

16 hours ago, Scale-Master said:

While the kit is labeled Flying Pancake, I'm going with the term my Dad used when I was a kid while he was working on vacuum-formed kits of it.

Great work so far!  From what I've read, the smaller, earlier experimental Vought V-173 was usually called the "Flying Pancake." The later, pre-production XF5U-1 was called the "Flying Flapjack."  

When Vought was testing the Pancakes and Flapjacks, they caused some of the first "flying saucer" reports from people who lived near the factory.

If you ever want to move up in scale, Sword does a 1/48 V-173 and Kitty Hawk does a 1/48 XF5U-1.  With fictional but awesome "in action" box art!

 

[Scale-Master]

Thanks guys.  I too am drawn to odd and interesting planes, and scale is not an issue.   My Dad was really into 1/72nd so building from his stash means lots of that scale.

Tamiya AS-8 Navy Blue.  

[Scale-Master]

I finished the seams around the perimeter and then blended the blue to cover the raw plastic.  I also added the stabilizers. 

[Scale-Master]

I added the tails then blended in the blue around the mounting points after the fact too.

The intake fans are installed (glad I added the supports) and the "roll-bar" behind the seat with its reinforcements.  Check the fit of the canopy as some trimming is needed of the rear bulkhead for it to fit.

[Scale-Master]

I painted the prop blades Dark Tan and then used some clear red to tint the tone towards mahogany.

Warbird Decals Brown on Clear Woodgrain made up the bulk of the grain.

Then a little of their Black on Clear added some contrast.   Pretty easy to do in less than an hour…

[bisc63]

Cool kit, and looking nice!

[Scale-Master]

The landing gear is a bit fiddly but buildable.

 

[stavanzer]

Neat Plane, and great work on your part, Mark.

[Scale-Master]

Thanks Alan!

 

The insignias turned out to be a bit more work than I expected after the instrument decals went on so easily. 

I didn’t notice the one for the underside goes across the starboard main gear doors until after I cut the doors apart and installed them.  I cut one of the kit insignias into three pieces with a new blade, but it disintegrated while wet before I could apply it. 

I found a couple more same sized replacements in my stash and they fell apart the same way, even the one I didn't cut…  

So I found some newer Scale-Master ones (age-wise) from a Testors A-4 kit, but they had red bars.  The first one I cut to fit the plane worked fine so I freehand painted out the red bars after they were applied.

[Scale-Master]

I reworked the prop hubs and added bosses to the backs so they would plug into the nacelles and not require cement and still allow the props to turn.   I brush painted the yellow tips.