Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Old Wombat on February 18, 2014, 02:36:01 PM
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OK, this build was inspired by TallEng's build over on What If...
Mine is called the Surefire.
Construction involves parts from 2 x Airfix Spitfire PR.XIX's & an Airfix F-51D Mustang (actually, make that 2, I pinched a third landing gear from another).
This has been a "laptop" build, with no magnification, other than my reading glasses, & pretty poor lighting. Unfortunately no early WIP pic's but these are what I have up to now.
Images posted in TallEng's topic;
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2128_zpsf45fb21d.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2131_zps60e56ee1.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2129_zps6d7a50d5.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2130_zps533ace64.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2140_zps99181f4b.jpg)
Today's images are of the finished build with the final primer coats done. Either later today or tomorrow I'll start on the paint job (I've already started on the drop-tanks, which I've removed for the purpose).
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2150_zps9198d878.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2151_zps455e05e8.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2152_zpsd4e185d2.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2153_zps35679bc4.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2156_zpsff40073a.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2157_zpsc3f14933.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2158_zpse9929973.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2159_zps09cb7b7b.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2160_zpseb027739.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2161_zps62d2f58c.jpg)
It's a far from perfect build but not too bad considering the lack of magnification & decent lighting during construction.
:icon_music:
Guy
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Looks great!
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Good integration fitting parts together in a manner not meant to be with results like this.
Looked over pictures multi times to see what was fiitted where.
To me is so RAF 46. Love that look :-*
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nose looks too long/ wings are too far rear but great job blending everything in :)
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Wonderful also, while different from TallEng's one, congratulations! :-*
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interesting looking beastie. Very nice work
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Outstandingly wonderful !!! I can't wait to see more !!! :-* :-* :-*
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That's some astonishing kit-bashing and it all looks like it belongs together!
It's just screaming for French Armée de l'Air markings!
Great stuff!
Brian da Basher
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Very nice. I have to wonder if the designer was a fan of Hugh Lofting's Dr. Doolittle stories (the written ones, not the atrocious movies) as this definitely reminds me of a "pushmepullyou".
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I wonder how this would look using Mustangs?.....(wanders off to the stash)
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I've made a drawing of that:
http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/r_P82-51B_aj.JPG (http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/r_P82-51B_aj.JPG)
(http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/r_P82-51B_aj.JPG)
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Thanks! I'm sure its buildable....
I have a couple of half built Mustangs laying around.
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That sure is an interesting look.
It really does work once under some primer
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OK, she's as finished as she's going to get.
A bit of a rough build & the paint job ain't any better but I like the scheme.
There are RW engineering issues with the design which I did think about before commencing the build, then promptly ignored & went with the Rule of Cool (& ease of conversion).
Back Story:
In late-1944 intelligence sources reported that Germany was preparing to launch a new Blitz against Britain with its new jet-powered schnell-bombers. In response the War Department demanded a fast-climbing, high-speed interceptor to combat this threat. By early-1945 the Supermarine proposal was accepted & it entered service in mid-1945.
This was the Supermarine Surefire Mk.II (only 2 Mk.I's were ever built, as prototypes, & both were eventually lost to crashes). Developed directly from the successful Spitfire, the Surefire retained some commonalities with its forebear for ease of manufacture, such as the cockpit section & the wings. Powered by 2 Rolls Royce Griffon engines the Surefire was indeed fast but, more importantly, could climb faster than any non-rocket powered aircraft in existance. Unfortunately it needed drop-tanks to have any sort of combat range & lacked the excellent dogfighting performance of the Spitfire due to the very high wing-loading. However, with the launch of the schnell-bomber offensive in September 1945, Surefire pilots quickly developed a suitable, effective attack system.
Due to the high speed of the jet bombers radar was unable to warn Fighter Command with sufficient time to get enough interceptor aircraft to altitude for an attack. The Surefire pilots found a way around this... They attacked on the climb!... The Surefire squadrons were sited across the only possible approach paths to the major target areas. They would receive the order to scramble & fly directly at the approaching bombers at a lower altitude, they would then climb to intecept them & carry out a single climbing pass, the Surefires would then roll over onto their backs & pull around for a diving pass at speeds which often threatened to rip their wings apart & faster than the escorting German jet fighters, then they would repeat the process. By this time British & American jet fighters were usually arriving to take on the German fighters, & the Surefires would continue their looping attacks, climbing & diving, climbing & diving until the German bomber formations broke up & ran for home. By mid-1946 the Surefire squadrons had broken the back of the schnell-bomber Blitz & the Germans had run out of resources to build more.
Only 3 squadrons eventually operated the Surefire & they lost more aircraft from failure of the complicated landing gear, required to give their propellors ground clearance, than they did from enemy action.
At the end of the war, in February 1947, the Surefires were de-commissioned, retired & all but one sold off to private buyers.
After the war Surefires became popular in air racing, with several holding various records & championships for many years until parts became difficult to source. The last racing Surefire ended its career in 2011. After her 2nd retirement GBR's No. 33 was returned to the RAF & joined her wartime comrade at the RAF Museum, Cosford, for restoration to display standard bfore being transported to the RAF Museum, London.
Pictured below is GBR No. 33 as she was on the day of her last race.
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2164_zpsba5cb872.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2163_zps98c34bb6.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2165_zpsc87cda8f.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2166_zps549ea1c3.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2167_zps56c67fb5.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2168_zps311e0504.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2169_zpsc899ddf8.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2170_zps29941f8d.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2171_zpsda64b3c7.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2177_zpsea496ef1.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2179_zps649c0534.jpg)
The size of the pilot provided in the kit made me think of one of our members, here, & Brian "buzzbomb" Thewlis is the name under the cockpit:
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2180_zps44828f6c.jpg)
Here is the Supermarine Surefire Mk.II with my other WW2 fighter, the Boulton-Paul/Westland Defender Mk.IV:
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2181_zpsae26ec40.jpg)
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2182_zps669b3588.jpg)
Now my entire 1/72nd collection (yup, that's all of it):
(http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/qq311/GPlachy/Supermarine%20Surefire/DSCN2186_zpsac982208.jpg)
Well, that's it! Hope you like her.
:icon_music:
Guy
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Now that is not what I expected, wow!
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Now that is not what I expected, wow!
Thatz zactly right.
Certainly a nice surprise :)
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Thank you, gents, for all your coments to date. :)
I'm a bit short on time due to domestic commitments over my leave period & haven't had time to comment much but I have poked my nose in to check every now & again whilst doing other things & I appreciate seeing you all paying attention, & caring enough to say something.
Thanks! :icon_alabanza:
:icon_music:
Guy
PS: Forgot to say that the Surefire was armed with only 2 x 20mm cannon, to keep weight down.
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Congratulations for this powerful racer! :-*
As a racer, didn't it feature zero gun (to save weight even more)?
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:)
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I already liked the "in the raw" picture, but the finished model is just outstanding!
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For a slap up paint scheme.. that really works.
Somehow to my eye it looks better in that than it may have in a military scheme
Really nice work.. under trying circumstances methinks.
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I'm not usually a fan of racing aircraft... but this I like, that scheme just looks right to me. Nice job and well done for what I consider a successful prosecution of a concept. :D
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Thanks, folks! :)
Tophe: The racing version does have zero guns, the military version had 2 x 20mm cannons.
buzzbomb: You have it right there! No magnification greater than my reading glasses & ceiling lights for illumination. It was fun but frustrating, too. :-\
By the way, as her last racing pilot, how did you think she handled? :P
For info: I went with only 2 x 20mm cannons because I figured that with 2 honking great Griffons in her the wing-loading would already be huge & the guns could only be fitted quite far out on the wing dur to the new landing gear & radiator lay-outs.
:icon_music:
Guy
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That looks really sharp in its racing colours. Nice work 'Wombat :)
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Awesome build! ;) Looks great in those colours.
In Luft '46 markings it would have looked right at home in "The Sky Crawlers"!
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very nice finish. Top work
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i should do another twin spit with clipped wings and we should race lol
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Mighty snappy lookin' bird! Building it as a racer was inspired.
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Thank you all for your kind comments, gentlemen! Much appreciated! :icon_alabanza:
:icon_music:
Guy
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That's an absolutely amazing finish, Guy!
Well done!
Brian da Basher
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Thanks, BdB! :D
:icon_music:
Guy
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Cool insanity Wombat 8), looks seriously quick :P, must be a bugger to maintain! ;D ;D
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Thanks, Neil! :)
Glad to see you finally found her. ;)
:icon_music:
Guy