Author Topic: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter  (Read 17373 times)

Offline tc2324

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Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« on: January 09, 2012, 08:03:00 AM »
So the premise is...., what if the RAF wanted their own version of a heavily armed bomber escort? The idea being that they transmit a `signal`, not too obvious, to lure the Luftwaffe night fighters close to them to be engaged by either themselves or Mosquito night fighters working in tandum?

Ok, so the backstory will need a little more work but first I needed an aircraft that was heavily armed, up gunned and had the range.

Back to my old friend, the Privateer.



Been working on this for a few days and so far have done some work on the cockpit and sprayed the main fuselage parts black.





Some bad memories are starting to flood back to me with this kit, Massive trench line in the waist gun panel so that was dealt with first.





Wait for that to dry and then smooth off later.

Next was the need to answer how this aircraft would deal with upward firing weaponary a used by the Luftwaffe night fighters towards the second half of the war.



The kean eyed amoung you will notice that the ball turret mount is upside down. Yep, thats right, the turret is gonna be where the bomb aimer would sit. That way he can train his guns down and slightly forward which is where the ideal German night fighter attack would commence allowing for deflection.

Next I needed to cut a hole just behind where the bomb bays are so that I can fit a barbette with two .50 cals which is controlled by an gunner looking downwards through a glass dome towards the rear.



Much to do, so little time.
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2012, 10:01:41 AM »
Privateer is right for premiss you are building to.  Good job, like what I see, keep posting progress.  Going to discard use of bomb bay for bombing and use it for observation or guns?
Bill

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2012, 10:36:51 AM »
I really like your ideas, tc and my hat's off to you for those very well thought out modifications.  I'll be watching with great interest!

Brian da Basher

Offline John Howling Mouse

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2012, 11:01:03 AM »
Cool.   ;)
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2012, 12:00:32 PM »
Would have been nice if you were able to source a proper ball turret from a B-17 or B-24 for your project.  Still a great idea and looking forward to seeing the finished model. 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline tc2324

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2012, 07:31:57 AM »
Not too much done on this so far what with other builds going on, but did work on the underside turret, making sure that it was a nice tight fit with no gaps.

Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline Doom!

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2012, 12:12:49 PM »
Looks like this is gonna be good!  :)
Doom!
Jeff G.

Offline JP Vieira

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2012, 02:23:25 AM »
Looking forward to see this one: keep it up!

Offline tc2324

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2012, 08:26:33 AM »
Got back to work on this build tonight. Suddenly all the little irritations about this kit came flooding back........., :o

.......... nose and tail sections just don`t fit well.............,



........ and don`t get me started on the wings............,



...... plus there is the added joy of the 3 piece cockpit canopy.........,



But I suppose it comes down to the question, am I enjoying myself?

The answer is simple..., yes!  (And thank god for filler) ;)

Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline tc2324

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2012, 06:32:46 AM »
So tonight I got the paints and brushes out and cracked on with the camo. Got a few bits that need to be re touched, but I tend to find thats the case with most brush painted models.

The wings are not glued in, just set in place as part of the mock up. (Also note the gaps. I have never ever had a straight forward perfect fit of the wings to fuselage on this kit and I can only assume it is a design fault with the mould).

Hopefully, I can give this American aircraft an RAF Bomber Command look and feel.



Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline McGreig

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2012, 10:04:17 AM »
Irritations or not, this is coming along really well. And it's inspired me to acquire my own Privateer from the Modelzone sale ( not necessarily a good thing, given the current glacial pace of my building - - -)

Offline Dr. YoKai

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2012, 10:14:17 AM »
 Boy howdy, thats some gaps! The Privateer is a long time favorite, and this sounds like a very neat idea. Are you going with the
 standard .50 calibre mgs, or maybe throwing in some 20mm? ( Dare I suggest a pair of 40 mms in the waist blisters?) Looking
 forward to the progress and finish regardless.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2012, 04:53:28 PM »
Looking great...the scheme looks a winner!
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2012, 09:54:28 PM »
Great work as always TC!
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #14 on: January 19, 2012, 10:17:31 AM »
This is another cool original idea, being a 4-engine bomber turned into heavily armed night fighter.  Used in roll of surprise enemy night fighter killer.  Of course can be used in normal defensive roll too.  Looking forward to seeing it finished.  So many super ideas/concepts on this forum.
Bill

Offline tc2324

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #15 on: January 21, 2012, 07:05:22 AM »
Thanks for all the nice comments guys.

Spent the last couple of days fixing the wing fit issue, added the filler, smoothed off and then painted the area. Sorted!

Tonight I started work on the turrets and while I was waiting for them to dry I added a few RAF markings. I think it looks `at home` in them.



Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #16 on: January 21, 2012, 11:59:05 AM »
I'm sorry, this is a Whif forum.  You'll need to leave.  That looks far too real.   ;)

Cheers,

Logan

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #17 on: January 21, 2012, 12:05:48 PM »
I'm sorry, this is a Whif forum.  You'll need to leave.  That looks far too real.   ;)

Cheers,

Logan

Actually it isn't a pure whiff forum- we welcome all forms of modeller here.  He still has to hand over the model though... ;)
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline JP Vieira

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #18 on: January 21, 2012, 05:47:30 PM »
Looking very good. :)

Offline tc2324

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2012, 07:51:31 AM »
Thanks guys, My resignation from the forum will be fourth coming once I`m past my 90th birthday. (Only another 49 years to go lads....)  ;D

  Todays update,

......most of the turrets are now in place with only the nose and bottom turret to be put in. I also dealt with the issue of head on attacks, (or if this aircraft was lucky enough to find itself behind an enemy aircraft), by adding a couple of 20mm cannon fixed in the upper nose section.



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Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #20 on: January 22, 2012, 08:46:35 AM »
Thanks guys, My resignation from the forum will be fourth coming once I`m past my 90th birthday. (Only another 49 years to go lads....)  ;D

Oh don't think you getting released that early!
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #21 on: January 22, 2012, 09:20:37 AM »
I really like the modified nose with the added cannon. Deadly!

Brian da Basher

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #22 on: January 23, 2012, 08:06:34 AM »
Last update of this weekends work. Pretty much complete now with the front turret now in place. A bit ugly, but seen worse.

The `lumps and bumps` were added. The props are in place for the purpose of the photos and still need some work. The underside .50 cal barbette is in place, (in the down position), and the operators dome attached just behind to the rear.

Need to do a few touch ups and add some matt varnish after attaching a few more decals.



Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline tsrjoe

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #23 on: January 23, 2012, 09:33:04 AM »
Really sharp modelling, looks plausible too, brill  8)

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Consolidated NF.4 Y-2 Nightfighter
« Reply #24 on: January 23, 2012, 11:23:14 AM »
Damn, that looks nice!!  And highly plausible, too.