Build 4: Martin-Boulton Paul B-10D

[proditor]

This was the secret project I wasn't sure could ever be done in time.  With the luxury of an extra month, it's full steam ahead!

The front turret was donated to the Yak in Build 3, and I was originally going to replace it with a powered turret from a B-24.  One problem: It looked really stupid.  It was so high in the socket, that the pilot would have been hard pressed to see over the darn thing to fly.  This was a huge setback, and it almost derailed the project entirely until I started getting mildly obsessed with twin tails.  I'd put them on the Yak, and whatever else I was going to do, I was going to put them on the Martin as well.



I like the look.  It's clean and sleek in that odd 1930's sort of way.  Then I needed some defensive weaponry.  I pulled out the navigator's HUGE office in the back, and replaced it with the Boulton Paul turret.



Cleaned up the cockpit of course.



And then I remembered the B-25 and it's snoot full of guns...



4 x .303 MG's and 3 x 20mm cannons.  Sacrificed by a BF-110 and a DO-217.  Positively apocalyptic by the standards of the late 30's!

And now, this is the plan.  

[Cobra]

Sweet Looking set of Wings This looks like it came from 'Crimson Skies'! Can't wait to see more! :cheers:Dan

[GTX]

Looking good - can't wait to see the final result!


Regards,

Greg

[proditor]

Desperate for something to turn the tide of armored and infantry forces surging across the country, the Republicans turned to airpower, and specifically, to the Americans and British.  A bizarre collaboration resulted in the modification in a plane already requested by the Republicans, but not yet in service.

Working with Bouton-Paul, the Martin aircraft company took their B-10 bomber in hand for conversion into a destroyed of previously unheard of capability.  Removing the nose turret and bombardiers' station allowed the nose to become the home for four fifty caliber machines, and 3 twenty millimeters cannons.  This impressive new firepower was supplemented by internal armor, self-sealing tanks, new engines, and a twin tail for greater responsiveness at low altitude.  Boulton-Paul left their own obvious signature by relacing the former navigator's station with a powered turret armed with four .303 caliber machine guns.

The B-10G (For ground attack) was rolled out near the end of 1939, and as the first examples rolled into combat, they proved to be immediately successful, and highly devastating.  Tearing apart tanks and troop columns with ease, the heavily armed monster became known as "Enjmabre", or the swarm.  Tearing about men and vehicles like a mass of angry metal locusts, the plane was terrifying to see in action.

Down low, the specially adapted airframe and engines also meant that few fighter could easily play with the new B-10.  Several pilots managed to use the big wing to turn on their pursuers and have them face the terrifying maw of guns in the nose.  15 head on kills were reported by B-10 pilots during the conflict.

[proditor]