Magna Models 1/72 Martin-Baker M.B.5

[Acklington]

Latest effort, just finished. This is an old limited-run resin and white metal kit, but accurate and nicely detailed. The contra-rotating propellor came as a solid bit to be glued on the front, but after much work has been made to rotate as two separate props. The vacuform canopy also took a lot of work to carefully cut out and fit - the canopy on the real thing was fully faired and blended with the fuselage.

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (4) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (6) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (9) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (12) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (13) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (17) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (20) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (22) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

I did this model for no other reason than the M.B.5 was a great looker, and during it's brief life from 1944-48 it's qualities were greatly praised by test pilots and mechanics. However it had been too long in the making, and jet fighters were already in advanced development. The M.B.5 was never fitted with armour or guns, which would have somewhat degraded its competitive edge, and the wing aerofoil section dated from 1927, giving it a compressibility issue at high speeds. But with more (and earlier) development it could have become the best British piston fighter of WW2.

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (23) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

R2496, RAE Farnborough, 1945 (27) w by Philip Pain, on Flickr

These two photos compare it with a contemporary Supermarine Spiteful F.14, and a standard Spitfire F.14. Also with a P-51D Mustang (the original Airfix Mustang kit) because the M.B.5 was once described "as a Mustang on steroids".

[noelh]

Brilliant job on it. The M.B.5 is a handsome aircraft. I didn't realise the aerofoil section was so old fashioned. Imagine it with a laminair flow wing like the P51 or indeed the a Tempest type wing. 

You're right it could have been the best British fighter of WW2. 

[Allan31]

Nice.Stunning with the yellow bottom.

[bryanm]

Lovely  - a Mustang on steroids indeed.  One of the great 'might have beens'.

[Spitfire31]

Superbly recreated M.B.5, obviously well researched.

 

I do like the emphasis on the moving surfaces joints and the gear doors, and only there…

 

Excellent modelling and interesting backround facts.

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[Tbolt]

Very nice work, I still think she's ugly looking on the ground though 🤪