Hawker P.1121...

[Archibald]

Here's a rebuilding (not a new model), a Hawker P.1121 I have done some weeks (years ?) ago. Main problem with this forum is it improve your scale in modelling everyday...and as a consequence, you find that you can improve your older models . That was really the case for this model!
Thanks to Mossie (AkA simon) I have plenties of low-viz RAF roundels. And there's also this Red Beard left by the Airfix TSR-2...

Some of the 260 Hawker P.1121 Kestrel strike fighters taken into account by the RAF in the 60's were upgraded to the mk.3 standard in the late 70's. This allowed these fighters to stay in service well into the 80's, receiving low-viz roundels...

[Mossie]

Glad to be of help Archie!

I always liked the P.1121, the 'Hawker Siddley Fighting Falcon', just a decade earlier!

Simon

[Brian da Basher]

Wow Archie that's GREAT!!!! This is a real sweet looking bird! All she needs is some RAF markings and squadron insignia.

Your stuff always delights me. I think this is one of your best. B)

Brian da Basher

[Archibald]

Thanks Brian!

I know both "British secret projects (fighters and bombers)"  from memory ^_^

I just love the line of development opened by the Hawker P.1103 (P.1116, P.1121, P.1122, and the GOR.339 P.1125 / P.1129).

Sorry Mossie but I couldn't find those low-viz roundels you send me. As a result I used the decals of a Revell Jaguar GR.1A (which also gave some drop tanks...)
The plane ended as an hybrid of the whole P.1121 family, with the red beard left by the TSR-2. Pics to follow

[Archibald]

In 1962, the RAF agree that the TSR-2 requirement was "too much" considering the state of the British economy and defnese expenses. As a consequence, an urgent replacement was still needed for the (damned!) Canberra force. The Buccaneer was ruled out (once again!) as subsonic, the F-111 was too far. The Mirage IV and Vigilante had too much weaknesses, particularly the fact they were not british .
At this moment Hawker proposed once again its P.1121, arguing that the prototype could be finished in 8 months. The RAF finnally agree to fund the aircraft, but warned that the prototype itself had to be modified (main problem was range).
In fact what happened was the RAF reviewed all Hawker conventional strike fighters projects from the P.1116 to the P.1129.
In the end, the problem of the Canberra replacement was so urgent that they elected the projects most similar to the P.1121.  
The aircraft ended as a mix between the P.1116 (wing tip fuel tanks) and the single seat P.1121 (tail low on fin, fuel tanks everywhere). The plane was named P.1124... It was powered by the DH-4 Gyron rated at 15 000 kgp of thrust.
As mentioned, fuel tanks were added everywhere to boost range
- wing tip
- 4 hardpoints underwings (one was for the Red Beard "special, target marker bomb    :dum: )
- a big ventral pack ala Lightning F6
- a dorsal spine was also added, diminishing rear visibility (but the power of the Gyron prevented any attack from the rear)

165 Hawker P.1124 Kestrel mk.1 entered service in April 1965. Improved variants quickly followed. The plane was in service with RAF Germany until 1992 and the end of the Cold war.
Sq2 based in Laarbruch, in Germany transitioned to the Kestrel in 1966.









With the English Electric P.8

[ysi_maniac]

"British secret projects (fighters and bombers)"

These books are a temptation. I have the recurrent idea to build a variable geometry EE Lightning  

[Mossie]

That's on my list too ysi!  Hoping to do the solid nose naval version, shouldn't be too bad if I don't try to add the Spey's that would probably have been fitted, otherwise I'll have to revise the whole fuselage.  Still, in for a penny, in for a pound!

Simon.

[Julhelm]

Looks like Leduc meets Griffon.

[Archibald]

You said it!   ^_^

[ysi_maniac]

I love that Nord plane      

[TsrJoe]

... heres the 2 seat version of the P.1121 as proposed to fulfil the GOR.339 (interim) proposal, the initial design had as Archie's model correctly shows, a tactical nuclear bomb (Hunting 'Red Beard'/TMB.) beneath the port wing ...

http://groups.msn.com/TSR-2ResearchGroup/g...oto&PhotoID=283

cheers, joe

heres hoping you might find some other design projects of inspiration on the site    

[Archibald]

TSR-Joe, I added some pictures of my P.1124 (and modified Intruder name Vendetta) at the "TSR.2 based hypothetical designs" page. Also added a picture of my desert pig AkA F-111K in operation Granby... before seeing you already done it!  ^_^


Ysi he aqui otras fotografias de mi Nord Griffon. Espero que disfrutaras de esas

[ysi_maniac]

COOL B) Can you imagine it as an interceptor?    

[Archibald]

a TERRIFIC interceptor... sadly it was only an experimental aircraft. This aircraft (and the Leduc 022) shared the same engine : a ramjet with a turbojet on it! Sadly, the fuel consuption of the ramjet was enormous, limiting CAP time too much. Other rpoblem was the light alloy structure limiting the plane to Mach 2.19.
Nevertheless it had a terrific rate of climb and accelerations! Andre Turcat (later test pilot of Concorde) pushed it to mach 2.05 on 27th october 1958... three days after the Mirage III broke this barrier. Both were the first two european aircrafts to reach mach2, one month before the Lightning (17th november 1958 if I remember well).
In fact Nord planned a Griffon III (the Griffon-I had no ramjet and its top speed was only  mach 1.17 in 1955) for mach 3 performances
Here's some pics from a fabulous (but no longer updated ) website, prototypes.com