Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on April 16, 2013, 04:53:37 AM
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After the Germans started bombing by night, the need for a dedicated, radar-equipped night fighter became apparent to the RAF. A modified DeHavilland Mosquito seemed the perfect solution. The Mosquito was large enough to carry both the radar and radar operator and able to fly fast and high enough to intercept the enemy. DeHavilland's quickly submitted a design, but unfortunately, things would not go as planned. There was trouble at the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine factory.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/rolls-royceplantwbats.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/Rolls-RoyceMerlinplantwbats.jpg)
The workers tried to deal with the disruption, but with bats all over the place, it was impossible.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/Rolls_Royce_Merlin_Factory_workers.jpg)
Every notable expert answered the plea for help, to no avail.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/Frank_Whittle_sliderule_w_bat.jpg)
The mood at Rolls-Royce was dark to say the least.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/rolls_and_royce_portrait.jpg)
Fortunately, the engineers at DeHavilland's had an idea. They re-designed the new nightfighter to be powered by the Bristol Burpuree radial engine. The blueprints looked promising.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/blackbat_blueprint.jpg)
The prototype looked even more impressive when it was rolled out for flight tests.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat001.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat002.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat003.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat004.jpg)
The new nightfighter was heavily armed with 4 .303 machine guns in the nose and 4 20 m.m. cannons under the nose. The powerful Bristol Burpuree engines provided a top speed of 375 m.p.h. and the powerful radar gave the new aircraft the ability to find any foe regardless of weather. Camouflaged in an overall black scheme, the new machine looked menacing indeed, causing one member of the ground crew to exclaim "It's like a big, black bat!" Thus the DeHavilland Black Bat NF I was born.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat005.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat006.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat007.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat008.jpg)
267 1/2 Nightfighter Sqn. traded their Hurricanes for Black Bats and were on patrol when aircraft Y (for Yorkshire) spotted a large bogey approaching London. The pilot fire-walled the engines and put the plane on a fast intercept course.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat009.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat010.jpg)
The pilot targeted the bogies and prepared to fire.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat011.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat012.jpg)
At the last moment, the pilot's headphones crackled: "Abort! Abort! Targets are NOT hostile! Repeat, targets are NOT hostile!"
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/StPaulswithbats.jpg)
After ensuring that no enemy aircraft were over London, Y for Yorkshire was vectored back to base.
Problems with the radar were soon sorted out, but by then production of Rolls-Royce Merlin engines had resumed.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/armoredcarwbats.jpg)
The Black Bat was soon replaced by Merlin-powered Mosquitoes and is practically forgotten today except for an esoteric out-of-production short-run model kit by Bat-avia models.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBatunder.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBatupper.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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This all started with the iconic Airfix Mosquito kit. Just look at that box art! You can practically feel the shells just whizzing by your head, can't you?
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/AirfixDHMosquitoboxtop.jpg)
Of course, mine wasn't going to look anything like that by the time I was done. I picked up some Grumman F7F Tigercat engines and cowlings by Quickboost on the cheap. Originally, I was going to build this as an Argentine Calquin, but then I noticed a left-over F-15 canopy would fit with just a slight modification.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat0prog_quickboostparts.jpg)
I glued some of that wonderfully soft Airfix plastic sprue along the sides of the cockpit and added a scrap of sheet plastic in front.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat0prog_01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat0prog_03.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat0prog_02.jpg)
After filling a few gaps with CA and sanding things down, I was ready to add the canopy and paint this bird. An all-over black scheme seemed to set off my after-market blue and red RAF markings nicely. The only kit decals used were the codes. I also swapped out the kit props for Spitfire ones as that seemed to give this model a fast look.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat013.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat014.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat015.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/DHBlackBat016.jpg)
I had a blast building this D.H. Black Bat NF 1 over the last four days and I hope you enjoyed it too, even if the back story is a bit batty.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/keep-calm-and-prep-the-bat-signal.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/DH%20Black%20Bat%20NF%20I/keep-calm-and-prep-the-bat-signal.jpg.html)
Brian da Basher
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Splendid job, Brian and the usual hilarious back story. ;D It looks really sleek with that canopy.
One question though: if it's got air-cooled radial engines, why has it still got it's wing leading-edge radiator ducts? ;)
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Splendid job, Brian and the usual hilarious back story. ;D It looks really sleek with that canopy.
One question though: if it's got air-cooled radial engines, why has it still got it's wing leading-edge radiator ducts? ;)
Well, those high-powered radar sets don't cool themselves.
Actually, I was just too lazy to fill in the ducts.
I'm really glad you liked the model, Weaver! It was a fun, quick build.
Brian da Basher
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Splendid job, Brian and the usual hilarious back story. ;D It looks really sleek with that canopy.
Weaver said it well.
Once you see it,,, it is a logical kitbash. Like; of course thatz how to kitbash a Mosquito !
Let us not kid ourselves. Vintage radar equipment using vacuum tubes needs a lot of cooling.
Love that back story :-*
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Wonderful, just wonderful!!
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<snip>
Well, those high-powered radar sets don't cool themselves.
<snip>
Ah, of course, how silly of me........ ;)
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I don't care how "silly" the premise is, that thing looks gorgeous!
Cheers,
Logan
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Beautiful but I have to ask where the little decal denoting the pilot as P/O Wayne?
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Now I like this one Brian ---- :) :) :)
I've got a Calquin in my stash, it would be interesting to do a comparison -- ;)
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Outstanding...and not one mention of Batman. :)
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Outstanding...and not one mention of Batman. :)
Perhaps I should point out that my post was regarding P/O Bruce Wayne, of course.
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Great! (once more) Congratulations...
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Radial engined, bubble canopy Mosquito! How cool is that!
Ed