Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Gaz on September 22, 2012, 01:47:58 AM

Title: de Havilland Dagenham revisited . . .
Post by: Gaz on September 22, 2012, 01:47:58 AM
Beautiful!

You made me think in a three Merlin Mosquito >:D


Variations on a theme by de Havilland No. 1

(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/bisquito003-4.jpg)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/bisquito004-4.jpg)

The de Havilland Dagenham (2 stops past Barking!) B.Mk.1
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: GTX_Admin on September 22, 2012, 03:59:37 AM
Wow!!!  What an entrance!
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Gaz on September 22, 2012, 05:42:54 AM
Thanks for your kind comments, Greg.

The de Havilland Dagenham B.Mk.1, so named because Dagenham is 2 stops past Barking(!), was built for a
"What-if" Group Build elsewhere. The working title for the build was "Bisquito" because I thought that was funnier than
Twin Mossie . . .

In November 1940, Luftwaffe bombers destroyed the Supermarine factory in Eastleigh, near Southampton, and caused the loss
of the almost-complete prototype of the Supermarine heavy bomber along with all the project drawings and data. The result was that
the project was abandoned.
What if that air raid had been of a campaign to destroy Britain's aircraft industry, concentrating on the bomber producers because
their products will enable offensive operations against Germany?
So, assume that Avro's at Chadderton and Yeadon, Handley-Page's at Radlett, and Vickers' at Weybridge had all been bombed to rubble.
The government sets in motion an emergency heavy bomber programme, soliciting designs from all the manufacturers who still have a factory.
De Havilland, in the final stages of development of their new unarmed wooden bomber, as yet un-named, set to work, and produce a
prototype of a three-engined "heavy" based on their new Mosquito airframe. The new bomber is "right" right from the start, entering
service in mid-1941, taking the fight to Germany as part of the strategic bombing offensive.
The left fuselage houses the pilot and navigator, while the right cockpit contains the Gunner and Bombardier. A gunner was needed
because the Dagenham can't rely on speed to defend itself.
Dagenhams of 617 Sqn execute Operation Chastise against the Ruhr Dams, each carrying 4 Highball weapons, released in pairs . . .
It was realised that a long-range heavy fighter version would be an asset in the Pacific campaign, especially the developed version
with 2 merlins replaced by Wellands  . . .
Britain's bomber industry recovered in time to produce new jet bombers to contribute to Germany's defeat in 1947, but the de Havilland
Dagenham played its part in the interim . . .

(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/bisquito002-6.jpg)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/bisquito005-3.jpg)
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: TerryCampion on September 22, 2012, 08:06:16 AM
Oh I do like that!!
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: kitnut617 on September 22, 2012, 08:38:32 AM
Oh I do like that!!
I concurr, something I had in mind for quite a while too ---
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Brian da Basher on September 23, 2012, 04:54:50 AM
You really hit it out of the park with this beauty, Gaz!

Unique configuration: check.

Plausible concept: check.

Accurate markings & paint scheme: check

Executed with a high degree of quality: double check!

Simply outstanding!!!

Brian da Basher

Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Weaver on September 24, 2012, 04:20:18 AM
Yeah, that's a very nice job, and the name is genius.... ;D
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: ChrisF on September 24, 2012, 05:01:49 AM
Thats our kind of crazy !! Welcome sir !! :D
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: finsrin on September 24, 2012, 05:10:37 AM
Way Way Cool.  Saw some in an old war movie.  ;)
One might be in the Tridelphia museum today.   :)
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Tophe on September 29, 2012, 01:40:32 AM
Wonderful! Thanks to enrich the Universe of Zwillings... :-* ;)
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Doom! on September 29, 2012, 01:44:14 AM
Nice, I really like the idea of placing a turret in the extra cockpit location.  :)
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Tophe on September 29, 2012, 02:21:30 AM
Unique configuration: check.
Well, check my site http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/twin_boom_whatif_1939_45.htm (http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/twin_boom_whatif_1939_45.htm) , De Havilland lines. The one of Gaz is new but close to others. Wonderful anyway, thanks, I confirm.
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham
Post by: Gaz on December 11, 2012, 12:05:35 AM
Earlier this year, for a What-if GB elsewhere, I built the De Havilland Dagenham B.1., essentially a
heavy bomber developed from the Mosquito and effectively a Twin Mossie.
Well the concept stood up so well that when a "What-if 2" GB came up somewhere else again(!), I developed the
twin-Mosquito theme to create a heavy long-range fighter/ground attack machine, specifically
developed for the Invasion of Japan . . .(After the American Manhattan Project failed to
produce a viable weapon, you understand).

The scenario in Europe has some former German States seceding from the Reich as Germany
collapses in 1947,and then surrendering to the Western Allies. The first of these was the former Grand Duchy of Baden which recalled all its service personnel from the German Armed Forces and
changed sides! After a short period of "De-Nazification", Baden's armed forces took their place in the
Allied order of battle, in time for the great Tank Battles of 1947 in Northern Germany.

Among them was Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob, formerly of EJG2 and a experienced jet pilot, who
took command of SchlachtGruppe 1 of the Badner Fliegertruppe, flying Bisquito F.3s
in combat against the massed formations of Nazi Maus tanks. In this role the Bisquito was so effective that the Badner crews nicknamed it the Katze (cat).

Here is Hans-Ekkehard Bob's aircraft . . .
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/Jet/Squito003.jpg)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/Jet/Squito007.jpg)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/Jet/Squito005.jpg)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/Jet/Squito004.jpg)
(http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/MadNurseGaz/Bisquito/Jet/Squito008.jpg)

The Bisquito's tech specs-
Heavy long-range fighter/ground attack aircraft
crew of three (pilot, navigator, weapons systems op.)
Powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Merlins tandem-mounted to drive conta-rotating propellors and
2 Rolls-Royce Rhein (JuMo 004) axial-flow turbojets.
In this role, armed with 8x20mm cannon, 2x57mm Molins guns, 10x60lb RPs, 2x250lb bombs
and a 30mm cannon in an underwing pod!

Hans-Ekkehard Bob went on after the war to found BOMAG, the drilling equipment and heavy
lifting firm. Today, at the age of 95, he is belived to be the world's oldest licensed pilot.

Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham revisited . . .
Post by: GTX_Admin on December 11, 2012, 12:14:54 AM
 :)
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham revisited . . .
Post by: ChrisF on December 11, 2012, 12:33:54 AM
Love it !!  Cool back story and a cool model ! 
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham revisited . . .
Post by: apophenia on December 11, 2012, 05:40:34 AM
Excellent idea -- I love the mixed-power concept  :)
Title: Re: de Havilland Dagenham revisited . . .
Post by: Cliffy B on December 13, 2012, 05:29:21 AM
Well d@mn!!!!!!!  What's not to love about this?  Fantastic job all around man  8)