Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Clear Your Bench GB => Topic started by: Logan Hartke on December 30, 2012, 03:58:05 PM

Title: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 30, 2012, 03:58:05 PM
Well, there's no good reason why I shouldn't finish this one for the GB, so I may as well make a build thread for it.  My earliest profiles are from no later than February 2010, so this one's been in progress for about 3 years.  The images in this post will show the history of the profiles progress BEFORE the GB started.  They're overall.  Since they are images collected from a variety of forums over a period of time, there's no standardization in them and for that I apologize in advance.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-pre.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-2-22-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-2-23-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-5-21-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-5-23-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-5-24-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-5-27-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-7-3-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-7-7-10.jpg)

Just look at the image names if you want to know what date they're from.

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 30, 2012, 04:00:17 PM
Couple of pre-GB detail shots of the nose...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-5-27-10a.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-7-2-10b.jpg)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 30, 2012, 04:05:44 PM
And some pre-GB detail shots of the engine area.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-2-23-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-5-27-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-6-1-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-6-3-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-6-10-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-6-12-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-6-15-10b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-7-7-10b.jpg)

And that's the last of the pre-GB shots.  This is where I had left it, knowing I had a swamp of detail left.  Ugh...

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 30, 2012, 04:07:55 PM
And here is the progression of the aircraft after the GB was announced.  I'll be saving the overall for after the final one is finished:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-4.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-6-boom.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-7-boom.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-8b-boom.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-8-boom.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/TailWIP1.png)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-9b-tail.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-10-tail.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-11-tail.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-12-NMF1red.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/Preview/P-61-profile-WIP-12-wing.jpg)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 31, 2012, 09:41:37 AM
Alright, here's the full WIPs after the GB started.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-1.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-3.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-4.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-5.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-6.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-7.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-8.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-8b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-9.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-9b.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-10.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-11.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-12.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-13.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-13-full.jpg)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 31, 2012, 10:04:58 AM
Alright, I think I'm ready to call it done!  As per usual, click on it to view it at 100%!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/1080px/USAAFWidow1.jpg) (http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/365/1/1/northrop_xp_61f_escort_fighter_prototype_by_comradeloganov-d5pugpv.png)

Ordered in parallel with the P-82 Twin Mustang, the P-61F long range escort fighter was intended as a lower risk option should the radical Twin Mustang encounter development issues.  This would prove to be a wise decision when the war ended and Rolls Royce began requiring a royalty to be paid for each Packard V-1650 Merlin produced.  The uprated Allison V-1710 that was offered as an alternative powerplant for the P-82 Twin Mustang had so many reliability issues that it was referred to as the “Allison Time Bomb”!  In contrast, the turbo supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-2800s that powered the P-61F were reliable and affordable.  A P-61C (43-8338) was pulled from the Hawthorne production line and completed as the XP-61F prototype.  The XP-61F was accepted by the Army Air Force and first flew in September of 1945.  Having no need for additional P-61Cs, the USAAF converted the last 450 aircraft of the original order for 500 P-61Cs into day escort fighters.  This order for 450 production fighters would continue to be revised into a final order for 150 escort fighters, 200 night fighters, and 100 photo-reconnaissance aircraft (designated F-15A Reporters).

I hope you all like it!

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 31, 2012, 10:23:58 AM
One last comparison:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/XP-61F-WIP-2-22-10.jpg)

First preview: February 22, 2010



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/In%20Progress/P-61-profile-WIP-13_25.jpg)

Finished profile: December 30, 2012


Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Volkodav on December 31, 2012, 11:18:21 AM
Alright, I think I'm ready to call it done!  As per usual, click on it to view it at 100%!

 ([url]http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/365/1/1/northrop_xp_61f_escort_fighter_prototype_by_comradeloganov-d5pugpv.png[/url])([url]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/1080px/USAAFWidow1.jpg[/url])

Ordered in parallel with the P-82 Twin Mustang, the P-61F long range escort fighter was intended as a lower risk option should the radical Twin Mustang encounter development issues.  This would prove to be a wise decision when the war ended and Rolls Royce began requiring a royalty to be paid for each Packard V-1650 Merlin produced.  The uprated Allison V-1710 that was offered as an alternative powerplant for the P-82 Twin Mustang had so many reliability issues that it was referred to as the “Allison Time Bomb”!  In contrast, the turbo supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-2800s that powered the P-61F were reliable and affordable.  A P-61C (43-8338) was pulled from the Hawthorne production line and completed as the XP-61F prototype.  The XP-61F was accepted by the Army Air Force and first flew in September of 1945.  Having no need for additional P-61Cs, the USAAF converted the last 450 aircraft of the original order for 500 P-61Cs into day escort fighters.  This order for 450 production fighters would continue to be revised into a final order for 150 escort fighters, 200 night fighters, and 100 photo-reconnaissance aircraft (designated F-15A Reporters).

I hope you all like it!

Cheers,

Logan


When scrolling down quickly I had to do a double take as the fuselage detail below the main image looked for a second like a float, now that would be something a P-61 Floatplane fighter.  On a serious note I am in awe of your work, the skill, the level of detail, well just wow!
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on December 31, 2012, 11:27:49 AM
When scrolling down quickly I had to do a double take as the fuselage detail below the main image looked for a second like a float, now that would be something a P-61 Floatplane fighter.  On a serious note I am in awe of your work, the skill, the level of detail, well just wow!


Thanks, Volkodav!  I just noticed my 100% link was broken, so I just fixed it and will re-paste it below:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Northrop%20P-61/1080px/USAAFWidow1.jpg) (http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/365/1/1/northrop_xp_61f_escort_fighter_prototype_by_comradeloganov-d5pugpv.png)

Cheers,

Logan
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: arkon on December 31, 2012, 03:09:24 PM
WOW!!! HOLY CRAP!
i have to say logan that your entry here has given me a whole new respect for profilers. i have recolored a few paper models with a lot of dirty words being said during the process,but to see a more or less step by step of how you created such a work of art,again i say wow!
 thank you sir for your work in thiis medium.
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: kitnut617 on December 31, 2012, 10:57:58 PM
Very nice Logan, some time ago I picked up a couple of Reporter conversions, I found with a mix up of the parts I could make all the various versions of the P-61
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 09, 2013, 04:25:16 AM
Great build.
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: sotoolslinger on January 09, 2013, 08:01:51 AM
Very nice Logan :-* I may have to put that in plastic.  :)
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Brian da Basher on January 09, 2013, 08:27:10 AM
Your attention to detail is a wonder to behold!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Doom! on January 09, 2013, 11:03:14 AM
Your attention to detail is a wonder to behold!

Brian da Basher
You said it Brian!
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: taiidantomcat on January 11, 2013, 03:18:43 AM
Sometimes I don't know how you profilers ever uncross your eyes!  :-\
Title: Re: Northrop XP-61F Escort Fighter Prototype - Build Thread
Post by: Logan Hartke on January 18, 2013, 07:08:31 AM
Thanks for the kind words, everyone!  I'm just glad to have finally finished this one!  I can't wait to start doing some "production" versions of it.

Cheers,

Logan