1/72 Hawker Nighthawk

[Brian da Basher]

In the spring of 1931, the Air Ministry issued a specification for their next generation night fighter. The Hawker Aero Co. was quick to answer the challenge. Unfortunately their chief designer, Sidney Camm was on holiday, so the challenge was answered by his assistant, Kidney Hamm.

The new aircraft took advantage of recent developments in cantilever wing structure and was of mixed wood/metal/fabric construction. It was powered by the newest, most powerful engine available, the Bristol Cerberus radial and was  heavily armed, with two 37 m.m. cannon and two .50 machine guns in the wings and two .303 machine guns on the engine decking synchronized to fire through the propellor arc. This revolutionary aircraft also sported the latest in landing gear design, having the sexiest, most streamlined spats ever seen until that time. As it was to be a night fighter, it had two 50,000 candle-power searchlights mounted under the wings. The exhausts were directed under the fuselage so the pilot would not be distracted by any exhaust flashes.

The new aircraft was christened the Hawker Nighthawk and exceeded all expectations in flight trials and was soon ordered into production. This was to prove a very wise decision.

Continued...

1st of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[cthulhu77]

Another Spat-tastic  build !  We need a shot of your shelves!

[Brian da Basher]

It was a beautiful summer evening in 1938 when the phone rang on the Ops desk of No. 696 Squadron. The C.O., Sqdrn. Ldr. Iam Eaton-Lunch was quick to answer it.

"Eaton-Lunch here."

"Sorry to interrupt your meal, but our sound detectors have spotted a large formation of unidentified aircraft headed for your sector!" said the voice on the other end of the phone.

Sqdrn. Ldr. Eaton-Lunch yelled out an open window "A Flight, Scramble!!!"

A nearby klaxon wailed to life as Eaton-Lunch and his comrades ran to their aircraft and rushed to get airborne.

Once aloft, their controllers directed them towards the coast where a large formation of Ju-89 bombers was visible against the glowing surf and cliffs of Dover. Sqdrn. Ldr. Eaton-Lunch and his flight screamed down on them from above, their Bristol Cerberus engines red-lining as they provided every ounce of power in them.

The pilots and crews of the enemy bombers looked up in amazement at the attacking Nighthawks whose guns were blazing away in the near-darkness. Many of the Ju-89s turned tail and ran back home rather than face the devestation of those spatted defenders of Ol' Blightey.

The surprise raid was scattered and few survivors made it back to base. When asked by Luftwaffe Reichsmarschall Goering what more they need to take on the British, the German bomber commander answered, "Herr Reichsmarschall, give us SPATS!!!

The Nazi Fuhrer was soon deposed after the international condemnation for his sneak night attack. In a quirky twist of fate, Herr Hitler spent his last years in exile in Leichtenstein, working as a waiter and busboy when one of his customers was none other than Sqdrn. Ldr. Iam Eaton-Lunch, who was however, at this time, eating dinner.

The Nighthawk which helped save Britain from peril can be seen today on display at the Imperial War Museum, near the snackbar.

2nd of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The base kit for this project was an Airfix Hawker Hurrican that Leigh sent me for placing in the Airfix group build last year. I'd decided that some modifications were in order, namely replacing that sleek Merlin engine with something a little more clunky and adding some spats!

Did I mention that I love spats?

3rd of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

While re-engining and adding spats to a classic aircraft would seem to be enough, I wanted a project I could really "dine out" on. Way back when the idea was floated of a Pets group build where you build something to resemble one of your pets. Well the closest thing I have to a pet is my neighbor when he drinks too much, so I took my inspiration from my girlfriend's one cat, Chris, who's a charcoal color and loves to chase a flashlight beam around. It was obvious this bird was going to be an early night-fighter.

4th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

Aside from amputating the now useless Merlin engine and grafting on an engine and cowling from the spares box, the other modifications were simple. I used two spare drop-tanks for spats, employing my patented "add a half wheel" method. Spare horizontal stabilizers were used for the landing gear fairings. I used some bits left-over from a P-38 for the under-wing spot-lights (with clear sprue-ends added as lenses) and some spare landing gear legs for the guns.

5th of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[Brian da Basher]

The entire model was brush painted by hand with acrylics. I used a custom mix of Tamiya RAF Sky and Gray for the invisible cockpit interior and I used Polly Scale Gunship Gray for the main overall color. The prop was painted with Tamiya Almuminum and the guns with Tamiya Gunmetal. I used Model Masters Steel and a dry-brush with Model Masters Rust for the exhausts. The tires were painted with Liquitex Ivory Black artists' colors. I put little blobs of Testor's White behind the light lenses.

The decals were from my ever-dwindling decal stash.

I hope you enjoy seeing how I hurt a Hurricane.

Last of 6 pics.

Brian da Basher

[The Rat]

BLOODYHELLHE'SDONEITAGAIN!!!

     

[Daryl J.]

Daryl J.

[Maverick]

Brill build Brian.  Looks quite 30s and very plausible which is the best compliment I think.

Regards,

Mav

[Thorvic]

Oh nicely done that man  

That does look just right the shape for the mid thirties period    

[AeroplaneDriver]

The model is  very nice...but the backstory...well that's just beyond words!        

[McGreig]

Oh nicely done that man 

That does look just right the shape for the mid thirties period 

I'd agree with every word - a very nice conversion    But the backstory ??! - - - the word "completely" and "mad" spring to mind      

[B777LR]

     

[nev]

"Herr Reichsmarschall, give us SPATS!!!"

   

As others have said, it looks like a real aircraft