Xtrakit 1/72 Supermarine Scimitar F.1 Kit

Xtrakit 1/72 Supermarine Scimitar F.1 Kit - PLEASE NOTE THIS KIT IS MISSING ITS DECALS

The Supermarine Type 525 first flew on 27 April 1954 and proved sound enough to proceed with an outwardly fairly similar looking aircraft, the Type 544 Scimitar, to specification N.113. A total of 100 were ordered although the Royal Navy had changed the specification to a low level strike aircraft with nuclear capability rather than a dedicated fighter.  It had no radar

The first of the Type 544s serving as prototypes for the later production series flew on 19 January 1956. The aircraft evolved more with the third Type 544 incorporating different aerodynamic changes and a stronger airframe strengthened for the new low level role.  Various aerodynamic "fixes" to try and counter pitch-up effects at high speed and altitude included flared-out wingtips and wing fences. The tailplane was also changed from dihedral to anhedral.  The combined modifications led to the final Type 544 being considered the "production standard". The first production Scimitar flew on 11 January 1957.

At the time of introduction the Royal Navy had only a couple of large carriers. Most were still quite small and the Scimitar was a comparatively large and powerful aircraft. Landing accidents were common.  Overall the Scimitar suffered from a high loss rate; 39 were lost in a number of accidents, amounting to 51% of the Scimitar's total production run.

The aircraft was perceived by many as too innovative mechanically. It pioneered fuel flow proportioning and integral mainplane tanks along with "blown" flying surfaces to reduce landing speeds. At one time, it held the notorious record of 1,000 maintenance hours per flying hour!

Although the Scimitar could be configured as a fighter (with no radar!), the interceptor role was covered by the De Havilland Sea Vixen (with radar). In the attack role it was replaced by the Blackburn Buccaneer, which rendered the Scimitar rather surplus to requirements. The Scimitar was, however, retained as a buddy-buddy tanker to allow the underpowered Buccaneer S.1 to be launched from aircraft carriers with a useful weapons load.

The Scimitar was the last in the line of Supermarine fighters which began with the Spitfire.

Additional items are required to complete model as shown.