Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Beyond '46 GB => Topic started by: Empty Handed on May 11, 2013, 02:01:31 AM

Title: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Empty Handed on May 11, 2013, 02:01:31 AM
Been playing with the idea of an inline AF Tigercat for a while and this group build might actually see it done!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8729003498_4838ed0024_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8729003498/)
Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8729003498/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr

The Bomb-Through-Overcast nose and auxiliary jet just sort of added themselves as I went along!

Edit: Sorry about the ghost effect! Hopefully this is a little better? The more-or-less finished line art.



Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: GTX_Admin on May 11, 2013, 03:21:23 AM
Interesting...
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Dr. YoKai on May 11, 2013, 05:17:47 AM
 And its a stealth ship, too! ( The lines are really, really faint, EH - I can make out the shape, but its
 a bit hard on the eyes,mate!)
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Cliffy B on May 11, 2013, 08:22:33 AM
Just sort of added themselves huh?  ;D  Can't wait to see some war paint man  :)

What engines are those?  Merlins?
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Empty Handed on May 11, 2013, 10:43:22 PM
Sorry Dr. YoKai, hopefully that's been fixed!

Cliffy B, yep Packard Merlins. The cowling is something of a cross between a F-82 and a Lancaster!
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: ysi_maniac on May 12, 2013, 12:51:10 AM
I love the engines. :-*

Can you repeat it with the original nice nose and darker lines?
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Empty Handed on May 12, 2013, 05:18:55 AM
Progress! Shadows, canopy, etc. more or less done (no doubt tweeks will be necessary). Weathering is way up to show it off btw. Trying something new with a "primer" layer. War paint coming up next.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/8729979152_d4a137134f_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8729979152/)
Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat Primer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8729979152/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr

FYI the pic that shows in the forums is just a preview not the real thing. Click on the pic to go to Flickr, once there right-click the image to get different size options. Go for the "Large 1600" or "Large 2048" options to see her properly!  :)
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: GTX_Admin on May 12, 2013, 05:21:41 AM
Wait a minute!  Is that a jet engine at the rear? ???
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: GTX_Admin on May 12, 2013, 05:23:52 AM
BTW, my recommendation (freely ignore if you wish):  Do it as a recon bird in the blue scheme some of the USAAF Spits, Mosquitos etc wore.
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Empty Handed on May 12, 2013, 05:25:35 AM
^ Westinghouse J30 for a Kinder Egg moment when they get bounced by enemy fighters.  ;)

I'll defo do a PR Blue one but the first one's scheme is already decided upon.
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: GTX_Admin on May 12, 2013, 05:28:57 AM
^ Westinghouse J30 for a Kinder Egg moment when they get bounced by enemy fighters.  ;)

You cheeky bugger!  I bet you thought you were going to be able to simply sneak that by us... :) ;D
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Empty Handed on May 12, 2013, 05:44:30 AM
Curses!!! Foiled again!!!
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Cliffy B on May 12, 2013, 06:55:25 AM
Wait a minute!  Is that a jet engine at the rear? ???

Greg did you read the first post?  ;)

Looks like a target tug or other utility aircraft.  Postwar schemes in the future maybe *hint, hint* ?

From the line drawing I thought more of the nose would be glass?  What exactly does the guy do up there?  ???
Title: Re: Grumman Tigercat USAAF
Post by: Empty Handed on May 12, 2013, 06:16:51 PM
Oh that's just the template I'll be using. I put it into a yellow-chromate primer type scheme so that the weathering and shadows had something to play off of. My first paint scheme looks a little more like this....

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/8730370023_db63e5b1bf_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8730370023/)
Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat FSAAF WIP (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8730370023/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr

Not quite complete yet but getting there.

Quote
From the line drawing I thought more of the nose would be glass?  What exactly does the guy do up there?


It's a H2X Bomb-Through-Overcast radar (off of a P-38). She's an all-weather-ish pathfinder for her gun-nose sisters. The window is a bone thrown to the rather unlucky operator. More here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2X_radar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2X_radar)
http://www.486th.org/Photos/AC2/MkySet.htm (http://www.486th.org/Photos/AC2/MkySet.htm)

Now you may recall that I have a penchant for orange so to get it into this profile I figured I'd make it a Free South African Air Force unit attached to the USAAF. How did South Africa fall? Well if Versailles were a little kinder, perhaps Germany could have held onto these......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_East_Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_East_Africa)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_South-West_Africa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_South-West_Africa)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_New_Guinea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_New_Guinea)                  <--------------- this one not really relevant here but very interesting!
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Empty Handed on May 13, 2013, 01:50:35 AM
OK pretty much done....

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8732687766_5851f43be5_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8732687766/)
Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat FSAAF (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8732687766/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr

Also a little something else I've been working on....

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8737105920_ffce815c25_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8737105920/)
Vickers Windsor B.II (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8737105920/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: father ennis on May 13, 2013, 02:25:28 AM
Dude ... !!!   That HURTS my eyes ... !!!!!!
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Dr. YoKai on May 13, 2013, 06:44:16 AM
Erk! I really dig the Windsor...textra turrets are one thing but...ow. ow. ow.

No offence, amigo - the Tigercat came out beautiful!
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: apophenia on May 13, 2013, 09:31:53 AM
Your P-65F is gorgeous!  :-*  Looking forward to the Windsor too  :)
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Empty Handed on May 14, 2013, 08:14:12 AM
Awwww come on! It's not that bad!!!!!

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8736083073_c4378278d8_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8736083073/)
Vickers Windsor B.II RAF Tiger Force 635 Sqn (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/8736083073/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr

 ;)
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Cliffy B on May 14, 2013, 08:21:26 AM
Two words sir, Exhaust Suppression!!!!  If she's a dedicated night time bird then those snazzy little exhaust flames might as well be searchlights.  Not trying to rain on your parade, just saying  ;)

What kinda gunnery is she carrying?  Is that an over-under tail gun arrangement?  If so then is that another sticking out of the back of the engine housing???!!!  :o

She's weird looking, ungainly, and just plain odd, but I like it!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Empty Handed on May 14, 2013, 08:35:36 AM
Quote
Is that an over-under tail gun arrangement?  If so then is that another sticking out of the back of the engine housing???!!!


4 20mm guns in remote-controlled barbettes in rear of outer engine nacelles, see:

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Visschedijk/Additions/11549L-1.jpg (http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Visschedijk/Additions/11549L-1.jpg)
http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/MY/MY76-10/21-1.jpg (http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/MY/MY76-10/21-1.jpg)

FYI the throttles have just been pushed up as she hits the IP. Or something. The flames were just something I wanted to have a go at. She's too high for effective flak and there probably aren't too many nightfighters in the CBI theatre c1946.
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Cliffy B on May 14, 2013, 08:45:44 AM
Those are some NEAT gun installations!!!  I'll have to make a note of those  8)

I figured as much about the flames.  I was just busting your chops about 'em man, no worries  ;D
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Empty Handed on May 14, 2013, 08:56:00 AM
Oh I know, I was just sort of self rationalising. Wanted to sound more intelligent than "me like pretty lights"! To be honest, with 7 20mm cannon to play with, being intercepted by a Ki-102 or the like isn't really going to ruin the night!  >:D
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Cliffy B on May 14, 2013, 09:51:55 AM
Depends on whose night you're talking about.  Being on the receiving end of 7 20mm will ruin just about anyone's night  ;D
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: apophenia on May 14, 2013, 10:38:59 AM
And the exhaust glare will be really hard to spot once those seven 20s light up!

Nice work on the Windsor, EH  :)
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: kitnut617 on May 14, 2013, 08:36:06 PM
Quote
Is that an over-under tail gun arrangement?  If so then is that another sticking out of the back of the engine housing???!!!

4 20mm guns in remote-controlled barbettes in rear of outer engine nacelles, see:

Initially they were trialed at the rear of the inner nacelles on a Lancaster, but that's the first time I've seen a pic of the Warwick with them.

Maybe your Windsor needs a couple of these too --- also with 20mm's

Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Dr. YoKai on May 14, 2013, 10:05:42 PM
 Hmm. That almost makes building the ancient Pavla Ki-102 I have in the stash a moral imperative.

  It is a beautiful profile...I just so love the smooth contours of the original Windsor that its
 a bit of a shock seeing it like this.
Title: .....and a whale too?!!!
Post by: Empty Handed on July 10, 2013, 04:42:01 AM
Gloster's N.21/45 submission became the Grampus NF.1 in Royal Navy service. Powered by twin Rolls-Royce Crecys, it proved to be a valuable asset in the Soviet War.

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9251463112_04a6a89f93_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/9251463112/)
Gloster Grampus NF.1A RN (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80037838@N03/9251463112/#) by mtpalmer1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/80037838@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: Dr. YoKai on July 10, 2013, 09:25:51 PM
 Mighty pretty - dig the name, too.
Title: Re: Tigercat & Tiger Force?
Post by: kitnut617 on July 10, 2013, 11:19:00 PM
Yes! that does look really interesting ----