tc2324 Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 This year has been about real world subjects and dioramas which have been for the most part fun and enjoyable to create. Lately however it all seems a little mundane, so to quote a line from a Take That song, I need to Relight My Fire. Step forward Mr Airfix and his 1/48 BP Defiant. So `what if` Boulton Paul answered a call from the US Navy in 1940 to submit a dive bomber carrier based version of their Defiant? Progress so far has amounted to gathering various bits starting with the back end bit of a Sea Hurricane including the hook. The overall shape of that area is very similar to both types so should be reasonably easy bash together. Next are a couple of flappy bits that will become the dive brakes similar to the Dauntless. I foresee lots of small drill bits breaking.....! Not sure if this is going to work out or not, but lets see if a bubble canopy can be fitted? ..... and last but not least, some bombs and ground crew to finish off the look. Who knows if this is going to work or even look good, but as with all whiffery, it`s the journey that counts. More soon. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 Are you going to fit larger flaps (Fowlers or Fairey-Youngmann?) to get the approach speed down to something more acceptable? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 What colour scheme are you going to dress it up in? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 On 9/21/2016 at 9:05 AM, Graham Boak said: Are you going to fit larger flaps (Fowlers or Fairey-Youngmann?) to get the approach speed down to something more acceptable? I am going to be cutting out some flaps yes. Not sure right now how much larger though as I want to maintain a realistic `bolt on` design. Most types put forward for a role they were not designed for usually adopt a standard airframe with a few modifications to make the idea viable, (if that makes sense?), especially during the very early years of the the war. 11 hours ago, celt said: What colour scheme are you going to dress it up in? Going for a light blue scheme similar to the the early Wildcats. Hopefull I`ll get more done over the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 I thought that I'd deleted that post. As I clearly didn't (unless there's something odd about the new system) I suppose that I should follow through with my thinking. The Defiant was a heavy aircraft with a small wing, so had too high an approach speed for carrier use. To reduce the approach speed would need a bigger wing or much larger flaps, such as on the Firefly or Barracuda.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 And that is a very fair point Graham and I don`t doubt your thinking. I`ll have a think about and see if I can extend the area of the flaps on the existing kit. I don`t really want to start bashing away with other kits and I`m a bit of a time limit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Stick a few fairings on the trailing edge - have a look at the Firefly and copy their's. That'll hint that the flaps will slide out to increase the effective wing area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 The light blue scheme would look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share Posted September 25, 2016 The surgery has began. I have cut the inner trailing wing edges so that the dive brakes can be added. The cut off`s will become the enlarges flaps to handle carrier landing slower speeds. (ok, I may have got that slightly wrong, but hey-ho, it`s a whif after all...) The rear bottom end of the Sea Hurricane has been trimmed to fit as has the bottom rear of the Defiant. It`s a mess, but hopefully you can all see where I`m going with it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Looking good, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 Bashing has now been completed and it`s gained a lick of paint as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share Posted September 30, 2016 Latest update and gives you the flavour of where I am heading. (other than the funny farm....!) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Another fantastic project TC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 Nearly at the finish line with this. Just got to matt coat the Defiant, give it some weathering, paint the figures and then make a small dio base. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I love the dive flaps especially, TC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 It looks very much a navy aircraft,well tidy mun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 All done, pics in the Ready for Inspection section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 nicely done, she certainly look the part! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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