P-61 Black Widow

[Radish]

The F-61K gathers pace.
Ready to start painting now.....well, the interior at least. The aim for that is tomorrow.
Then it's major assembly time and rub down.....Tuesday/Wednesday.
Then final assembly on Thursday/Friday.
A break at the weekend (stockings and suspenders time at Rocky......oooooh, yes!!).
Next week, start painting. I'll then have completion done in plenty of time for a club meeting, 3rd October, and its debut at Newark Show, 5th October.
Cut some pylons from a Panther kit to go under the wings, so the Panther will have HVARs and be RAF.
Earth, Green over SKY, possibly with sky tail band too. Decals and markings not yet decided, but probably RAF early WW2 vintage although I might go for a post-war option.
He-he-he-he.
Watch the JMNs boil.
       

[GTX]

More topic revival:

What if the Mustang didn't eventuate (or something like that) - what about BMF P-61Es (see pic below) acting in the daytime escort role for B-17s/24s/29s over Germany/Japan - kind of like an American equivalent to the role the Bf-110 was originally interned for (i.e. long range strategic fighter).  The whole idea being to see some P-61Es in colourful markings such as those worn by Mustangs.



Regards,

Greg

[kitnut617]

FE Resin make a nice conversion set to make a Reporter from a P-61.  I got two of them, one to do a Reporter and the other because there are enough parts in one set to make a P-61C and a P-61E by mix&matching the parts.

But maybe with these engines, Jeffry.  The two aircraft are about the same size plus you wouldn't have to change the booms too much.

[Archangel]

More topic revival:

What if the Mustang didn't eventuate (or something like that) - what about BMF P-61Es (see pic below) acting in the daytime escort role for B-17s/24s/29s over Germany/Japan - kind of like an American equivalent to the role the Bf-110 was originally interned for (i.e. long range strategic fighter).  The whole idea being to see some P-61Es in colourful markings such as those worn by Mustangs.



Regards,

Greg

Or if they had enough of those P-61s that you have pictured that survived WWII and Korea then why not use them in Vietnam instead of or with the A-26's. With those guns and rebuilt wings they could do their fair share of damage.

[PR19_Kit]

FE Resin make a nice conversion set to make a Reporter from a P-61.  I got two of them, one to do a Reporter and the other because there are enough parts in one set to make a P-61C and a P-61E by mix&matching the parts.

Robert,

Resurrecting this even further, Maintrack did the same thing with a combination vacform/resin conversion. And there was an Airmodel all-vacform one too, both of these had enough options to make the Reporter or the P-61C/E versions.

Needless to say I have both in The Loft, and equally needless to say I haven't built either of them. 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Then there's simple folks like me, who would be content to paint the A/B/C in SEAC nightfighter colours (Dk Grn or Foliage Grn with Dk Earth topside and glossy black undersides - the black extending three quarters of the way up the fuselage pod and booms.

Or

Go with Terrys' idea of a land-based USMC unit in either overall glossy Sea Blue or even the earlier three tone scheme

Or

Flown by the AAF in the 'Canal Zone' and Aleutians in that handsome anti-shipping scheme of Olive Drab and white..... Mmmmm

Yes I know, coat, open door, leaving, right ?

Ian

[jcf]

Gun nose, overall Aussie Foliage Green with appropriate markings.

Hi Ian, OD and white would be doubtful for the Aleutians. Gray, another gray and gray would be the most appropriate.

[GTX]

Something quickly thrown together:

A Super P-61E with Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4s replacing the standard R-2800s:



Regards,

Greg

[Tophe]

Thanks GTX, nice profile

[kitnut617]

A Super P-61E with Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4s replacing the standard R-2800s:
Regards,
Greg

The Reporter was based on the 'E' but it had the upgraded engines of the 'C'.  These had a turbo-charger mounted in a fairing under the nacelle, just in front of the u/c gear and the wheel bay doors were reshaped to fair into this fairing, I was thinking the R-4360 would look just as good the same way with the air intake under the nacelle instead of over it.

http://aerofiles.com/north-p61c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/494100976_aca8b423b9.jpg

[GTX]

A Super P-61E with Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4s replacing the standard R-2800s:
Regards,
Greg

The Reporter was based on the 'E' but it had the upgraded engines of the 'C'.  These had a turbo-charger mounted in a fairing under the nacelle, just in front of the u/c gear and the wheel bay doors were reshaped to fair into this fairing, I was thinking the R-4360 would look just as good the same way with the air intake under the nacelle instead of over it.

http://aerofiles.com/north-p61c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/494100976_aca8b423b9.jpg

I actually started out that way, but wanted something that looked more different - though in the real world I think that would probably be the way it would go.

Regards,

Greg

[ytown2010]

What would a CATOBAR capable P-61 look like? What would the nose gear assembly look like? Would it be like from an E-2 or would it be smaller (I'm talking about launching from and trapping aboard a supercarrier)? Where would the arresting hook be located? I've got ideas for a "Final Countdown" style plane, where the future folks have design inputs on CATOBAR-capable fighters.

[pyro-manic]

Use  the UC from the Grumman Tigercat? Arrestor hook could be interesting, given the P-61 is a twin-boom design. Maybe a long V-shaped hook in a fairing, like the DH Sea Venom?

[ytown2010]

Use  the UC from the Grumman Tigercat? Arrestor hook could be interesting, given the P-61 is a twin-boom design. Maybe a long V-shaped hook in a fairing, like the DH Sea Venom?

I'm looking for something that would allow it to launch from a modern supercarrier (launch bar and shuttle). Maybe beef up that UC? (the P-61 is heavier than the F7F according to wiki.) As for the arrester hook, it would have to be like that. Could somebody whip up a profile for a visualization?

[GTX]

What would a CATOBAR capable P-61 look like? What would the nose gear assembly look like? Would it be like from an E-2 or would it be smaller (I'm talking about launching from and trapping aboard a supercarrier)? Where would the arresting hook be located? I've got ideas for a "Final Countdown" style plane, where the future folks have design inputs on CATOBAR-capable fighters.

How's this - a P-61 with some bits from a E-2:



Regards,

Greg