more info:
http://www.fnar.be/?Les_Avions_Renard:R38short history (real world part)Alfred Renard was a reknown Belgian aircraft designer, most recognised for his sleek and streamlined designs, including the R.31 reconnaisance aircraft the the pressurized R.35 stratospheric research aircraft, back then the most advanced aircraft in the world.
in the mid 1930's he developed a new advanced monoplane fighter aircraft to meet a requirement set by the Belgian Military, the result was the R.36, powered by a single Hispano-Suisa 12C engine. the performance of the aircraft was satisfacory, rivaling that of the British Supermarine Spitfire at about 50 percent of the latters cost.
there were also 2 other variants under development, the R.37 (powered by a Gnome-Rhone radial engine) and the R.38 (powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin II engine).
What if additional historyafter buying the Hawker Hurricane Mk.I in 1938, the Belgian Military also placed an order for 60 production version of the merlin powered Renard R.38 fighter. to reduce cost and complexity, the aircraft underwent a few modifications. first of, the plan to fit a 20mm cannon in the nose was scrapped, and replaced by a single synchronised 12.7 browning machine gun in the cowling on the port side. 4 more 12.7 machine guns were mounted in the wings, 2 on each side. although the armament was not as powerfull as that of the Bf109, its armoured cockpit and maneuvrability made up for it.
by May 10 1940, all 60 were delivered and operational. 3 units flying the the aircraft were stationd at Nivelles, Rillaar and Ursel.
on the first day, 6 aircraft were shot down shortly after take off, but the aircraft did managed to shoot down 6 Bf109's, 4 Bf110's, 2 Ju88's and 3 JU87's. making the aircraft the most effective in the Belgian Arsenal.
with the help from British, French and Dutch forces, the Germans were pushed back towards the Ardennes and back across german borders and into luxemburg.
in August 1940, the Belgian Gouverment saw the aircraft as a valuable asset to the military aviation, and placed an order for an addtional 120 aircraft of the improved R.38b version. this aircraft has an uprated Merlin III engine and 2 20mm cannons in the wings. the first operatioal variants were delivered in Januari 1941.
Variants built:
R.38: prototype OO-ATK, first flight August 4 1939.
R.38a: first production machines, first delivered December 1939
R.38b: Merlin III engine, 2 20mm cannons added, capable of carrying 8 50kg bombs.
R.38c: high speed reccon aircraft, never built
R.38d: improved design, one-piece teardrop canopy, Merlin VI engine, rocket armament, 70 ordered, first delivered May 1941
Model:resin kits are to expensive and hard to work with for my taste, so i decided to make a conversion.
basekit for this build was the old Airfix Yakovlev Yak-9D, with the inlets under the fuselage and nose removed.
tail is scratchbuild, rudder from a Hawker Hurricane, horizontal tailplanes and canopy from Revell Mig-3, prop from an airfix Spitfire Mk.1 and scratchbuild supercharger under the fuselage (from spare droptank)
exhausts from an unknown kit (sparesbox).
decals from an old Esci sheet
