Modelers, I’m looking for mech drawings of any kind of the XF-89 Scorpion. I’ve looked around on the net and haven’t found anything. Does anyone know of any drawings on the net or in any books? I have the “Detail and Scale” F-89 book and it doesen’t have much on the XF-89.
Thanks.
The best information I have on the XF-89 is from the Airpower Magazine , Vol 11/3 dated May 1991. This has numerous black&whitepictures of the XF-89 as well as text that describes the differences from the later production models. I had planned to produce a model of the XF-89 but have not yet collected all my resource data. I would suggest that you consult the local library and see if you could review copies of Janes All the World’s Aircraft for the years 1948/49 and 50 as they always include small 3-views of current A/C and one of these may be of the prototype. You may also want to try the USAF Museumarchieves and se what they may have on the XF-89.
Richard
Is the XF-89 the one that was usually seen in glossy black, or was that a later YF-89? I know one crashed and one (must have been another one) was used as the “Soviet secret weapon” in the unintentionally funny John Wayne movie “Jet Pilot,” produced by Howard Hughes in around 1954. The plane was much “cleaner” than the production models, but still as ugly as sack full of chimp butts.
Still, I’ve long have a love for the Scorpion, and used to love climbing around on the derilict one that was laying around in back at the Confederate AF museum, between a wingless RB-57A and an equally squalid F-94C. God, I wish I’d taken detail photos of all those planes (including the RB-47E) but I though they (and the CAF) would be there forever and there would be time. Learned a valuable lesson the hard way. When the opporunity first presents itself, shoot, shoot and shoot some more. I have a feeling all those planes (there was also an F-102, a C-124 and a KC-117L rotting away in the same patch of tarmac surrounded by the junk yard of the museum).
The only thing I saved from that F-89 (it had been painted in flat ADC gray, FS 36473) was an ejection seat pin.
TOM
The February 2005 issue of Flight Journal has a full article on the Scorpion, including a story of the only survivor of the XP/XF 89. They show side views of four different variants (XP/XF, YF, F-89C, and F-89D).
Wander into a Barnes and Noble and take a peek.
http://flightjournal.com/store/viewissue.asp?issueid=F0502
stinger
Thanks for all the info Gentlemen!
Richard, any chance that magazine can be purchased?
Tom, you got the right one! I’ve always somewhat liked the looks of it very early when it didn’t have the wingtip tanks attached.
Stinger, I just picked up that mag a few weeks ago. Seeing that article is what made me realize that there may be some drawing out there avaliable. Afterall, someone had to get them for that article!
Sorry, but I don’t sell my reference magazines as I used them for my model builds. If you are serious about the XF-89 build and want copies of some of the better pictures in the mag let me know and I will make some copies and ship them e-mail or direct mail.
Your choice.
Richard
I didn’t mean buy the mag from you. I actually was wondering if it were possible to buy a back issue of it. Although I highly doubt it.
Anything you can scan and send is ok with me. You don’t have your email provided so I was unable to send you a reply.
All of the Wings/Airpower are now available on DVD, but I think you have to buy a year at a time. I lost about twenty years worth, including the first four issues, in my fire (also lost the all-F-89 issue), and I wish could get all those DVD’s, so they’re on my wish list. They have a very active back issue service there, and that F-89 issue may well still be available. Check the current issue of the magazine and see if it’s on the list, and if not, email them and ask if that issue can be had.
TOM