Blinder Interceptor

[fallenphoenix]

that ultra interceptor sounds like something out of a Dale brown novel, kinda like a Russian answer to self escorting B-1 "something or other"

[Eddie M.]

Very innovative. B) I really enjoy the look of the whole package.
  Eddie  

[McGreig]

Thanks for all the kind comments. The Esci (now Italeri/Revell) Blinder isn't the most accurate of kits and, if I built one now, I'd probably add a substantial stretch to the fuselage but I'm happy with this model and I appreciate the positive feedback  

Rat - I'm torn between the easy route of simply adding a seaplane hull to a relatively unchanged Blinder or of making a larger flying boat by combining parts from two Blinder kits and extending the fuselage, increasing the wing span/area, adding two more engines on pylons above the wing and adapting a hull from an old Shin Meiwa. The larger version would look similar to the Myasishchev M-70 and Beriev SD-MBR responses to a 1956 SovMin resolution (which Tupolev may also have worked on, although no details are known).

Goober/GTX - there actually were proposals to build interceptor versions of the Tu-22M Backfire and Tu-160  Blackjack, which were intended (I think) to operate over the mid Atlantic and shoot down NATO transports and AWACS.

I have an old Esci Backfire, pictured below, with missing undercarriage and yellowing varnish (painted before my discovery of acrylics   ) which I'm now thinking of rebuilding into an interceptor by filling in the recess for the under fuselage missile and adding weapons from a MiG-31. The colour scheme, which was a whiff in the first place, will probably stay the same although the entire aircraft will have to be sanded and repainted (it looks better in the photo than it does in real life).

[Captain Canada]

Wow ! That is one sweet looking Blinder ! Great job on that one.....and what a  sight that would have been to see coming after you !

Love the Backfire as well....great stuff !

 

[noxioux]

That's a beauty!  The Blinder is one of my all-time favorites.  I wish somebody made one in 1/48, but oh well.

Excellent!

[dy031101]

Now just think, how much of a potential do bombers like Mirage IV, Tu-22/22M, and B-58 (actually that about covers all of 'em doesn't it?), which are originally designed to undertake high-speed high-altitude bombing run, have as a high-speed high-altitude heavy AA missile truck?

Not exactly answers to the Old Dog or Lancer Excaliber...... more like countermeasures.

[noxioux]

I think the big problem for a Tu-22 or a B-58 as interceptors would be their fuel consumption/loiter time.  I don't know about the Blinder, but the Hustler was a fuel sucking pig.

Which brings about other interesting ideas about B-58's and nuclear-tipped Genie's. . .

[Brian da Basher]

I'm especially impressed by your work on the burner cans. Care to sharte your secret with us?

Brian da Basher

[McGreig]

I'm especially impressed by your work on the burner cans. Care to sharte your secret with us?

No real secret I'm afraid. I masked off the rear of the engine nacelles and sprayed these Humbrol matt aluminium. I then added some black (and possibly some dark brown) to the aluminium and lightly sprayed the rear of the nacelles and burner cans freehand a couple of times, to get a graduated effect, darkest on the cans.    

[SPINNERS]

Delightful! I love the Blinder and this just looks so damn rakish

[lancer]

I'm especially impressed by your work on the burner cans. Care to sharte your secret with us?

No real secret I'm afraid. I masked off the rear of the engine nacelles and sprayed these Humbrol matt aluminium. I then added some black (and possibly some dark brown) to the aluminium and lightly sprayed the rear of the nacelles and burner cans freehand a couple of times, to get a graduated effect, darkest on the cans.  

Might be simple to you , but to me it's a new technique which I will try out pretty soon. One question what dark brown was it you used?

[McGreig]

One question what dark brown was it you used?

I have an old tin of Humbrol HF6 Chocolat, although I imagine that any dark brown would work. If I've already added black to the aluminium when painting exhausts and burner cans, I often drop in a little red which mixes with the black to give the same effect.