**** DONE: XF-85 Goblin. Parasite Fighter Prototype. Group Build

[T Bolt]

User name: T Bolt
Name: Glenn
Category 2, Intermediate
Kit: Special Hobby McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
Scale: 1/48th.
Accessories: Cart mostly scratch-built

This is my entry for the Cold War Group Build. Special Hobby’s kit is limited run injected molded plastic with resin parts and a vacuformed canopy. I will be making it out of the box using the supplied decals.



The XF-85 Goblin was designed to be used as a parasite fighter carried by the B-36 to provide the bomber with fighter escort protection on its bombing missions. The plan called for B-36 to carry as many as three XF-85’s along with its nuclear payload. In the event the bomber were attacked the fighters would be launched from the mother ship and then recovered afterwards by means of a trapeze device in the B-36’s bomb bay, much as the airship USS Macon had launched and recovered its escort of Sparrowhawk fighters in the early 1930’s.
Only two prototypes were built in 1948 and flight testing using a B-29 found the Goblin to be stable and easy to fly, but problems were found when trying to hook up to the bomber at the end of a flight due to the turbulence caused by the Superfortress, and the program was cancelled. The two prototypes are still in existence, one at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the other one at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.

I hope to start the project in the next week or so.

[Catch22]

Very cool!

[bemay]

nice one!

[fatboris]

Awesome! I love that plane. I had a book when I was a kid and it had a picture of that plane. Can't wait to see it.

[ozhawk40]

Very cool!

I'd agree with Cory - a surprising but very apt entry - very cool!


Cheers

Peter

[Lucky13]

Awesome!

[Vic Balshaw]

That is so neat Glenn and will be a real fun build.

[A4K]

Interesting choice mate, looking forward to this!

[T Bolt]

I’ve been fascinated with the Goblin since as a kid I first saw it in a copy of U.S. Fighters by Lloyd S Jones so I just had to buy the kit when I saw it was available few years back. I’ve been searching the net the last few days looking for reverences and have found many useful photos and even a few kit reviews. The reviews have not boosted my confidence as it sounds like there are many issues with fit and warping, not to mention many parts that are not included and need to be scratch built, so it looks like I will have my hand full with this one!

Here’s some pictures I found:

Photo 1&2 Release from B-29 Mother ship
Photo 3 Test pilot crashing into trapeze while attempting re-attachment. The canopy was shattered and the pilot’s helmet has pulled off his head. I read that Chuck Yeager did not have a high opinion of this man’s formation flying ability.
Photo 4 The resulting belly landing in the desert.
Photos 5-8 Views of the XF-85 during 1948
Photos 9&10 Contemporary photos of the two prototypes in museums

[rochie]

what an amazing choice of subject Glenn, looking forward to seeing it finished

[FLYBOYJ]

The test pilot on the F-85 program Ed Schoch, was a highly experienced pilot and combat veteran who flew F6Fs and had 4 kills in the Pacific. Schoch made numerous simulated dockings in a P-80 with no problem. Had the man not been aboue to fly formation, I doubt he would have been working for NACA. I guess Yeager had a hard time flying "chase" on this program.

Great little aircraft but the USAF made the right decision for cancelling it.

[Lucky13]

Most have been a wonderful era, the 50's and 60's, with all these weird flying contraptions....

[Wayne Little]

Interesting subject there Glenn!

[Wurger]

I echo the post above.

[Airframes]

Great choice Glenn, looking forward to this one! I had a feeling there might be some interesting and diverse subjects in this build.
I wonder what the comments were after the crash into the recovery trapeze? Something like.."So, what exactly didn't you like about the 'plane?" And I can just see a word 'balloon' next to the cockpit in that pic, simply stating "B*ll*cks!"