Czech Model 1/48th Ryan XF2R-1 Dark Shark Reviewed by Gerry Nilles

History

Several months ago IM did a “First Look” at the Czech Model 1/48th scale Ryan FR-1 Fireball kit including a development and operational history review the of the aircraft. At that time it was noted that only 66 FR-1s were built because of the rapid advances occurring in post war aviation technology. The XF2R-1 Dark Shark was the product of an early attempt by both the US Navy and Ryan Aviation to keep pace with these rapid technological advances.

Although the end of WWII meant the termination of production and development of many types of conventional piston powered combat aircraft, the US Navy still felt the FR-1 concept, of combined power plants, had potential. Early pure jet aircraft still left a lot to be desired as far as carrier operation went. However the advent of the next generation of propeller aircraft power plants, the gas turbine, was just being introduced. As a result the Navy directed Ryan to make a major modification to a FR-1 so that it could be fitted with the new General Electric XT31-GE-2 turboprop engine. This new engine not only provided power to a huge (11foot diameter) four bladed square tipped Hamilton Standard Super-Hydromatic propeller but also added 550 pounds more pure jet thrust to the aircraft. When combined with the aircraft’s GE J-31 turbo jet engine a total of 2150 pounds of thrust was available. This redesigned aircraft, now 4 feet longer and sporting a larger Dorsal fin, was re-designated the XF2R-1, and renamed the Dark Shark.

Performance of the Dark Shark was for all practical purposes disappointing. Although it set a world altitude record for a turboprop powered aircraft, overall its performance was not much better than the FR-1. The power gained, by the new engine, was mostly offset by its additional weight. The speed increase over the FR-1 was only 75 mph. As a result The XF2R-1 never got beyond the testing stage.

The Kit

Czech Model’s Ryan XF2R-1 “Dark Shark” as it is with their other kits is limited run, and mixed media. It is comprised of injected molded main assemblies, resin detail parts by “True Details” and a vac-u-form canopy. Not surprisingly many of its parts are common to the FR-1 “Fireball” kit. The new fuselage, wings, horizontal stabilizers, landing gear assemblies (including doors and the nose wheel), fuel tanks, spinner and, individual propeller blades are injection molded in medium gray plastic. Resin parts include the cockpit assembly, wheel wells and main gear wheels, as well as other miscellaneous parts such as the new large prop hub, drop tank shackles and flap actuators.

As with previous Czech Model kits the Dark Shark kit has a good level of detail which, including nicely done engraved panel lines, is adequate but not overdone. As far as accuracy goes once again key dimensions, and panel line placement look to be correct based on data from the FR-1 Fireball MINI in action publication. As is the case with the FR-1 this kits assembly is straightforward. It starts with the cockpit followed by the fuselage, the wings, and finally the landing gear and external details. Being a tricycle landing gear aircraft of course the nose is going to have to be weighted, (9 grams according to the kit instructions). A quick check of the kit’s landing gear struts showed that they looked substantial enough to handle the weight. The only challenge that I could see will be the attachment of the very small and fragile looking resin cast flap actuators. The drop tank shackles will need some care also.

Decals

The XF2R-1 kit contains two sets of markings. The first is for the test aircraft which was a very stock looking all glossy sea blue aircraft with no unique markings at all not even a tail code or the post war red bars on the national insignias. The second scheme is for a “speculative” F2R-1 as it might have appeared if it had reached operational status and been assigned to VF-41. Overall the decals look to be of good quality and registration.

Conclusion

An XF2R-1 Dark Shark follow-on to the previously released 1/48th scale FR-1 Fireball kit is a natural, and I feel it is to Czech Models credit that they didn’t hesitate to do it. As with their other kits the quality is definitely in the acceptable range. The decals for the XF2R-1 prototype although not very spectacular are well done. The speculative VF-41 markings are definitely more interesting but this reviewer is more interested in historical accuracy and as such I find speculative markings, at best, amusing..

Many thanks to MMD-Squadron for supplying this sample kit.