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Picture Post => Current and Finished Projects => Aircraft => Topic started by: TomZ on October 19, 2017, 09:47:52 AM

Title: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: TomZ on October 19, 2017, 09:47:52 AM
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airwar1946.nl%2Fwhif%2Fimages%2FSword-1.JPG&hash=9d2942a9e08459392eaa5e3b8dbccba5d99d08f2)

When in early 1940 the first Fairey Albacores showed no great increase of performance over the Swordfish, the Royal Navy began to look for ways to extend the life of the Swordfish.
A production Swordfish Mk I was taken from the assembly line and fitted with a Napier Sabre IIA engine. This provided almost three times the power of the Pegasus engine fitted to the Swordfish I. Maximum speed was raised from 230km/h to over 400km/h with a payload increased from one to two torpedo's.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airwar1946.nl%2Fwhif%2Fimages%2FSword-2.JPG&hash=b9ca1eba98fa44f30f1f7c880a8bea7b4b626ce0)

The Sabre engined version was officially designated Swordfish Mk V, but the crews quickly named them Sabrefish. This was taken up by the Royal Navy and the Swordfish Mk V became the Sabrefish Mk I.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airwar1946.nl%2Fwhif%2Fimages%2FSword-3.JPG&hash=71ff675f5d3b43fed1eb48a75bf40aa52825b929)

In 1942 the Sabrefish Mk II arrived with bigger fuel tanks and the ability to fit underwing rockets.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.airwar1946.nl%2Fwhif%2Fimages%2FSword-4.JPG&hash=ecc64039584f6477a552afaefda2fca8159331ac)

http://www.airwar1946.nl/whif/L46-Sabrefish.htm (http://www.airwar1946.nl/whif/L46-Sabrefish.htm)

TomZ
http://www.airwar1946.nl/index.htm (http://www.airwar1946.nl/index.htm)
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: andrewj on October 19, 2017, 11:06:02 AM
You know , that looks very good , looks just right somehow, great idea very nicely done.

Andrew
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: PR19_Kit on October 19, 2017, 11:15:45 AM
Superb, wonderful bit of cross-kitting there.  :thumbsup:

I hope they fitted stainless steel rigging wires as all that extra horsepower would likely wrench the wings clean off!  :o
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: chrisonord on October 19, 2017, 02:07:43 PM
That look really good, and suits the colour scheme  :thumbsup:
Chris
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: Old Wombat on October 19, 2017, 04:49:16 PM
Rev up the engine on a still day & the thing'd take off vertically! ;D

Love the look of it, not so sure the wings'd stay on at 400km/h. ;D :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: 63cpe on October 19, 2017, 11:02:44 PM
Love your souped-up swordfish!

Very inspirational stuff as you worked out how to transform a plane jane Swordfish into a hotrod: up a bigger engine in it! why not take it all the way? Clip the wings (not V-it), Shave it (all protrusions off), maybe lower its fuselage (sectioning), put chrome exhaust stacks on, lower it's undercarriage and chromed it, moondiscs on the much wider wheels, a really long throttle lever with skull on it and of course put a flamejob or scallops on it!
Still haven't figured out where to put the chrome beer keg....

:thumbsup:
David!
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: PR19_Kit on October 19, 2017, 11:21:11 PM
Needs a 6-71 blower on top of that Sabre for a REAL hot-rod look.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: ericr on October 19, 2017, 11:32:50 PM

so simple, and so effective !
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: Dizzyfugu on October 19, 2017, 11:56:48 PM
Nice. An alternative name could also be "Overkill"...?

I am amazed how well the massive engine blends into the fuselage, well done.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: zenrat on October 20, 2017, 12:53:41 AM
That's fabulous Tom.  Wish i'd thought of it.
:thumbsup:

You need to build a floatplane version for the next GB.
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: Dizzyfugu on October 20, 2017, 01:10:15 AM
I wonder if this thing would - in real life - not simply topple forward on the ground...  :o
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: zenrat on October 20, 2017, 01:12:21 AM
Quote from: Dizzyfugu on October 20, 2017, 01:10:15 AM
I wonder if this thing would - in real life - not simply topple forward on the ground...  :o

Prolly would if you revved it up without removing the chocks.
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: ericr on October 20, 2017, 03:34:31 AM
Quote from: zenrat on October 20, 2017, 12:53:41 AM


You need to build a floatplane version for the next GB.

quite naturally indeed

long live seaplanes
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: NARSES2 on October 20, 2017, 07:52:22 AM
I do like the look of that :bow:

Now got me thinking of putting a 4 bladed prop on a CR 32, looks slightly similar forward of the wings ?
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: DogfighterZen on October 20, 2017, 10:37:05 AM
Looks very good indeed, nice work! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: Gondor on October 20, 2017, 10:56:39 AM
Very nice indeed  :thumbsup:

Gondor
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: loupgarou on October 20, 2017, 12:10:05 PM
A very purposeful and dangerous look, enhanced by the black paint job.  :thumbsup:
IF the wings manage to follow the fuselage.  ;D
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: Glenn Gilbertson on October 20, 2017, 02:29:46 PM
Magnificently pugnacious! The colours really suit it. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Fairey Sabrefish Mk-II
Post by: comrade harps on October 23, 2017, 02:15:41 AM
That turned my head!  :wub: