The Avenger / Skyrocket

[sotoolslinger]

I knew it! I know it looks really cool black. I have always had a secret desire for that half white half black  scheme on the Spitfires. I also love the red marking idea. I always thought the red out lined US markings were cool and I could never figure out how you could mistake it for a meatball.
Back to the subject.
The backstory now is this will be a RNZAF Day attack craft. But the kiwis get it from the Aussies marked as a US nightfighter destined for the Pacific fleet.
I will first do it as a new fully marked night fighter and do an extensive photo spread. Then I will overspray with  the original paint scheme I had planned and remark. I will have  the night fighter scheme slightly showing through.

[John Howling Mouse]

Don't even start! There is no way this  aircraft is staying black. No matter how cool it looks.
It was the only sandable primer I could find .

Who are we to question the styrene Fates?      When you're hot, you're hot, man!

[sotoolslinger]

Thanks J howling M I have another quandry though , I have been seriously considering  making this into a gun/rocket ship. I'm thinking split the bomb bay doors vertically about halfway down so you actually have 4 doors , mount multiple rocket pods to the forward set of doors so when they are opened fully the pods would be deployed port and starboard under the wing roots and make a retractable 40 to 60 mm cannon (reloadable by the belly gunner)  deploy from the rear set.
The wings outboard of the engine pods will also have hardpoints for rockets.(fatheaded British style, so much cooler looking than sleek)
Does anyone know of a 1/48 scale  40 to 60 mm cannon model?
Preferrably with the big cool ammo clips you drop in from the top.

[Captain Canada]

Way cool ! Love the new turret, really makes her look menacing. I have to agree with you about the rockets...love that style !

[sotoolslinger]

Sorry I have been gone so long. I had a major personal disaster on my way from Baton Rouge to North Carolina involving the police , truck searches, incarceration , and they trashed the Avenger. I'll post pictures later.

[BlackOps]

Hey, your only supposed to see that kind of drama on soap operas!  I hope it's salvagable, the Avenger not the drama!

[sotoolslinger]

Well heck I still can't work but I did get up off my butt and rebuild the Skyrocket

Please note the cool new mods. I figured since it would be so much faster it would need airbrakes to slow down rapidly.

I also had to come up with some practical way for the new rear turret to function properly so I reversed and raised the rio's seating

Now he can see over the turret


Tomorrow I'll post more closeups. I will fill up the space between the turret and the gunner with detailing:radios ,radar, gunsights etc.
I will also install a new lower turret from a B-25.

[Eddie M.]

You have renewed my faith in kitbashing! Outstanding vision and execution.
   Eddie

[B777LR]

Cool!
By the way, are you a truck driver, since you seem to be on the move all the time?

[sotoolslinger]

No sir , B777LR , I am a superintendant for a nationwide construction company. That's why I'm always in motel rooms. It makes it a real pain it the butt to create.

[B777LR]

No sir , B777LR , I am a superintendant for a nationwide construction company. That's why I'm always in motel rooms. It makes it a real pain it the butt to create.

Ah, makes sense then

[BlackOps]

Well I'd say you've got the whole "construction" thing down in more than one area then  

Lookin' good slinger! 

[Brian da Basher]

I really like your mods to this project sotoolslinger! The new RIO position is just the perfect solution and I've never seen finer dive brakes! Awesome work!

Brian da Basher

[sotoolslinger]

Thank's for all the good feedback ya'll. Here's todays progress.
I added detailing to the rio's position and psr'd the turret install. I also added a lower turret to replace the wimpy single .30 cal.

Here are a couple of lower turret images.


Here's the detailing on the rio's position


From the stern

With the new modified canopy. The canopy addition is the greenhouse from a B-25 tailgunners position and the lower turret is the top turret from that same model

I'm thinking I should make the lower turret solid  and remote as there is not room for a gunner internally.
What does everyone think? Leave it glazed or paint it armored?

[Eddie M.]

Seeing your work is especially entertaining now that I know you're on the road. Any chance of seeing your traveling model construction set up?
    Eddie