Tigercat & Tiger Force?

[Empty Handed]

Been playing with the idea of an inline AF Tigercat for a while and this group build might actually see it done!


Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat by mtpalmer1, 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.

[GTX_Admin]

Interesting...

[Dr. YoKai]

 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!)

[Cliffy B]

Just sort of added themselves huh?    Can't wait to see some war paint man  :)

What engines are those?  Merlins?

[Empty Handed]

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!

[ysi_maniac]

I love the engines.

Can you repeat it with the original nice nose and darker lines?

[Empty Handed]

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.


Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat Primer by mtpalmer1, 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!  :)

[GTX_Admin]

Wait a minute!  Is that a jet engine at the rear?

[GTX_Admin]

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.

[Empty Handed]

^ 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.

[GTX_Admin]

^ 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... :)

[Empty Handed]

Curses!!! Foiled again!!!

[Cliffy B]

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? 

[Empty Handed]

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....


Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat FSAAF WIP by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

Not quite complete yet but getting there.

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://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_South-West_Africa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_New_Guinea                  <--------------- this one not really relevant here but very interesting!

[Empty Handed]

OK pretty much done....


Grumman P-65F (BTO) Tigercat FSAAF by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

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


Vickers Windsor B.II by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

[father ennis]

Dude ... !!!   That HURTS my eyes ... !!!!!!

[Dr. YoKai]

Erk! I really dig the Windsor...textra turrets are one thing but...ow. ow. ow.

No offence, amigo - the Tigercat came out beautiful!

[apophenia]

Your P-65F is gorgeous!    Looking forward to the Windsor too  :)

[Empty Handed]

Awwww come on! It's not that bad!!!!!


Vickers Windsor B.II RAF Tiger Force 635 Sqn by mtpalmer1, on Flickr

 

[Cliffy B]

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???!!! 

She's weird looking, ungainly, and just plain odd, but I like it!!!!!!!!!!

[Empty Handed]

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://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.

[Cliffy B]

Those are some NEAT gun installations!!!  I'll have to make a note of those 

I figured as much about the flames.  I was just busting your chops about 'em man, no worries 

[Empty Handed]

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! 

[Cliffy B]

Depends on whose night you're talking about.  Being on the receiving end of 7 20mm will ruin just about anyone's night 

[apophenia]

And the exhaust glare will be really hard to spot once those seven 20s light up!

Nice work on the Windsor, EH  :)