Project SOLRAM 1/72

[Foghorn Leghorn]

I've justed posted this model over on the Airfix Group Build on Hyperscale. I don't normally cross post on other sites but I know there's a few whiffers that hang around on BM. So ...

Project SOLRAM

(new Airfix Gnat kit and an old Matchbox Canberra PR9 from the shelf of doom. Decals come from the kits)

The project was devised in the early 1960s as an emergency weapon for the cold war, SOLRAM stood for Stand Off Long Range Attack Munition. The RAF wanted to deploy a weapon if the V force had been destroyed and it looked like the Warsaw pact was going to win.

It was assumed that by this time in the war, recce and training aircraft would be pointless so they decided to create a modern 'Mistel' by combining the Canberra PR9 and Gnat. The Canberra BI(8) could also be used in this role (although it had a poorer performance than the PR9) but it was assumed the BI(8) would be used as a standard strike bomber in its own right.

SOLRAM would be flown towards its target and the Gnat would separate and return to base at a pre-determined point, the belly conformal fuel tank (CFT) and 2nd seat fuel tank gave the Gnat a longer range (1500+ miles)and the CFT would be jettisoned before landing, allowing the u/c to be deployed. Once separated from the Gnat, SOLRAM was guided (at high altitude) to its target by a radar installed in the nose of the PR9.

SOLRAM had 3 weapon modes, airburst, deep penetration (ala bunker buster) or tactical nuclear strike. Targets were to be bridges, ships, runways, bunkers etc. The impact speed of the PR9 diving from 70,000+ft would have been "significant" which made it suitable for bunker busting.

The actual weapon capacity was small as the munitions could only be loaded into the nose or camera bays but it was considered to be enough. In airburst mode, the PR9 was equipped with cluster munitions on wing racks which allowed them to be deployed before impact, giving you a really bad hair day if you were in the vicinity.

The camouflage scheme wasn't important for the PR9 so it was left in high speed silver. The Gnat was given the early 1960s tactical camo scheme (green/grey/silver) as it would evade detection on its return by flying low level and its small size and agile performance meant no defensive weaponry was carried.

[fatfingers]

WOW

Fantastic model and a great idea. The Gnat looks so right in that cam scheme!

Regards,

Steve

[Mottlemaster]

Pleased i didn't mistel this WOW

[rotorheadtx]

Gnat looks so right in that cam scheme!

Amen to that!!!