Recent Posts

1

Swords to Plowshares GB / Spitfire Cloudbuster

« Last post by Robomog on Today at 07:20:11 AM »

Hi all

Been away from group builds for a while and starting to get twitchy.

Hopefully I will finish this one on time.

Here's the starting kit ........





First impressions are not good. Some parts, particularly the propellor do not look right, but it will be OK for what I want to do with it.

The decals have  particularly yellowed quite badly.



I won't be using them on this build. But there are some useful civilian markings there, perhaps a week in a sunny window might bring them back.

More when it happens ............

Mog
>^-.-^<

2

Aero-space / Re: AVRO Lancaster, Manchester, Lincoln and Shackleton (and derivatives) Ideas and Inspiration

« Last post by The Big Gimper on Today at 07:16:20 AM »

Stolen from Secret Projects Forum

Helmover giant WWII torpedo

I recently read David Edgerton’s excellent “Britain's War Machine: Weapons, Resources and Experts in the Second World War” which made mention of the “Helmover” giant, R-R- Merlin powered aerial torpedo. This weapon was designed by Air Commodore William Helmore, PhD, MP, chief science adviser to the RAF in WWII and famous for the Turbinlite and his radio broadcasts of the Schneider Trophy races and D-Day. Most of his own scientific work was on ignition for internal combustion engines which he put to use in designing the huge Helmover torpedo.

Tony Williams described the Helmover as thus on another web forum:

"There's a ten-page chapter on it in 'Rolls-Royce Armaments' by David Birch, published by the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust. An excellent book, BTW, with much information about lots of obscure projects.

The idea of the Helmover was that it ran for much of the time on or just under the surface (with a snort to provide air to the engine), under radio control from the aircraft which had dropped it (which would fly figure-of-eights at a safe distance above and behind it). On approach to the target it would be directed to submerge, the Meteor engine continuing to run via compressed air bottles. One problem was that it could not be guided when submerged.

Speed was 40 knots (surfaced or submerged) range 50 miles on the surface, three miles submerged. It carried exactly one ton of explosives, which should have been enough to deal with any ship. For use against ships in harbours protected by booms, they were experimenting with a nose shaped to ride up over such obstacles.

It was indeed sized to be carried in a Lancaster bomb-bay. There was a proposed ship-launched version which was much longer to provide more volume for fuel and oxygen cylinders. This measured 49'9" long and weighed 20,900 lb. Ranges were 150 miles surfaced, 8 miles submerged. I've no idea how they would have controlled that (perhaps a spotter plane) but it makes the 24" Long Lance look like a little toy..."

Images attached.

3

Aero-space / Re: Douglas A-20 What-If WIP

« Last post by Buzzbomb on Today at 06:46:15 AM »

Looking very nicely executed so far

4

Profiles and Pixels / Re: Apophenia's Offerings

« Last post by apophenia on Today at 05:35:06 AM »

There is a meandering "Ideal USAF air superiority fighter for the Vietnam War" thread over on SPF. I've pretty much concluded that there was no such animal at the time.

So, with an unintended prompt from Robin, I've decided to make one. (Anyone else here watch My Mechanics on YouTube?)

_________________________________________

Lockheed F-112A Starfire IIs Over Vietnam

After intial US Navy combat successes over Vietnam with Vought F-8C carrier fighters, the USAF officially requested that Lockheed study a hybrid F-104 variant using the wings of the Crusader. NASA had already wind tunnel tested models of an F-104 fuselage fitted with a Vought variable-incidence wing. The results were not particularly inspiring but these tests still formed the basis for an new 'VNASF' (Vietnam Air Superiority Fighter) under the DOD designation XF-109.

However, Lockheed recommended two major changes - dropping the T-tail (which was 'blanked' by the high-mounted wing) and dispensing with variable-incidence - which the Air Force had already concluded was neither practical for the svelte Starfighter airframe nor especially desirable for a land-based fighter. Lockheed's proposal was given the go-ahead. Six pre-production development airframes were ordered for trials but, due to operational urgency, production fighters were also ordered straight off the drawing board.

Lockheed quickly developed its 'fixed wing' derivative - now re-designated as the YF-112. [1] This design simply mounted the Vought wing on top of the F-104's upper longerons. A revised aft fuselage was also required to mount an entirely new tailplane. As a result, only the forward fuselage of the YF-112 remained identical to that of the parent F-104 airframe. However, aside from tail surfaces, much of the existing tooling could still be used to construct the new fighter. Lockheed requested that the name Lightning be applied to the F-112. But the USAF preferred the name Starfire II - after the Lockheed F-94 which had finally retired from ANG service a decade earlier.

Having been ordered off the drawing board, production of the F-112A actually outstripped that of the YF-112s. The first 'prototype' YF-112 had been created by modifying existing Starfighter components to be fitted with F-8C wings modified by Ling-Temco-Vought (which acted as a subcontractor on the VNASF project). However, with production F-112A arriving early, the remaining five YF-112 development airframes were simply cancelled in favour of a similar number of additional F-112A fighters.

Into the Fray Over SE Asia

To gain experience, Lockheed F-104Cs of the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing had deployed to Ubon RTAFB in NE Thailand in 1965. The first fully-operational F-112A Starfire IIs arrived at Udorn in August 1968 where they re-equipped the 435 Tactical Fighter Squadron. The 435 TFS relocated to Da Nang in the north of South Vietnam later in that same year.

Top A F-112A-LO-1 Starfire II of the 435 TFS while based at Ubon RTAFB. This aircraft carries twin AIM-9C Sidewinder missiles beneath its fuselage.

Bottom MiG-Killer - A 435 TFS F-112A-LO-4 Starfire II based at Da Nang. Note the 'kill' mark under the canopy. This aircraft has an inflight refuelling probe fitted and carries AIM-9E Sidewinders on its twinned underwing pylon racks. A rear-warning-radar antenna has been added to the tail fin.

_________________________________

[1] Reportedly, the planned YF-109 designation was changed to YF-112 to avoid any potential confusion between 'F-104' and 'F-109' in hand-written records.

5

Aero-space / Re: Douglas A-20 What-If WIP

« Last post by apophenia on Today at 05:21:46 AM »

One step forward, one step back. Always the way ... but good that you caught it at this stage!

Looking forward to seeing this under a coat of zinc chromate 

6

Aero-space / Re: FW-189A-2 - (Heeres)/31 - ICM 1:72

« Last post by apophenia on Today at 05:19:12 AM »

Very nice! You have caught that agreeably scruffy temporary paint look 

7

Aero-space / It's a Mustang, but not as we know it

« Last post by The Rat on Today at 05:02:48 AM »

After having a couple of projects ruined by crappy Academy decals, the 'Red Tail' P-51C that they came from was left on the shelf. No more. First coat of primer is on, combat role identified, decals easily sourced from a totally different aircraft in the stash. Note that I used the Malcolm Hood that was an extra part in the kit.

Stay tuned...

8

Land / Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier (AWC) aka Waffenträger Wiesel

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 04:41:23 AM »

About time to add this vehicle family to the "Ideas and Inspriations" forum. 

First off, here is the link to the Wikipedia page on the Wiesel Armoured Weapons Carrier

What spurred this new entry?  Well, I was watching a video at YouTube about the Wiesel and was surprised to see a rather unusual Wiesel that was fitted with what looked like a Cadilllac-Gage machine gun turret that looked a bit out of place on this vehicle that in most cases is armed with either a 20mm cannon or the TOW ATGM system.  Attached image is a screen capture from that video. 

The video can be viewed at this link: YouTube > Weapon Detective Channel > Wiesel | They ask me why I'm bringing a baby into battle

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Swords to Plowshares GB / Re: Swords to Plowshares Inspiration Thread

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 04:21:56 AM »

Lest we forget, there was a topic created quite some time ago specifically titled "Swords Into Ploughshares" that might also provide some inspiration to this GB. 

10

Land / Re: Westernising a SCUD TEL

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 04:17:35 AM »

Replace the original SCUD missile with a large cannister of similar dimensions to the original missile and call it an upgrade to a new weapon system that was designed to replace the SCUD missile.  As for physical details, well, leave that to their collective imaginations.