The P- 55 F Ascender Also ran that won the race.

[sotoolslinger]

Boeing was building the Navies fighter, Bell and North American were building advanced fighter craft for the USAAF and  Grumman was supplying the top attack craft.  The P-40 series was cancelled . Curtiss was without a govt. contract and had no Allied  coop contracts having been the main U.S. fighter supplier for years.
They complained bitterly to the govt. and were given the contract for the Fast fighter project. This title was misleading as this was considered a back burner throwaway  project to come up with a cheap easily built lend lease  fighter that would assuage the Allies cries for better fighters to counter the new advanced axis projects.
Cheap was the operative word here.  The power plant had to be original and supplied by someone who was not already engaged in building essential equipment.
Curtiss descided to redevelop an already existing prototype to be simple and more effective. They contacted Chrysler to possibly supply an engine as they were also without current govt. entanglement.
The designers got together and compared notes on current airframe and engine designs as well as developing tactics gathered from all fronts.
Chrysler pulled a design off the design tables for a fuel injected , turbosupercharged ,  16 cylinder powerplant that would employ a pressurized ignition system and develop 2100 horsepower.
Curtiss designers goal was 450 mph top speed and the ability to intercept the highest flying bombers.
Both companies succeeded remarkably well.
The P-55 F achieves 1900 horsepower and a top speed of 421 mph with a range of 960 miles on internal fuel.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0157.jpg

When Army captain Reese Hicks "resigned" his commisision and joined the RAAF he was resigned to flying obsolete fighters against ridiculous odds and probably being shot out of the sky, but America needed eyes on the fronts and intelligence on the latest developments in combat tactics and technology.
Hicks was immediatly assigned to training Chinese and other expatriate fighter pilots to utilize the strengths of their aircraft while attempting to minimize the weaknesses of the designs.
His first introduction to the new P-55 F lend lease fighter was a pilots dream come true.
It was like graduating from busdriver to Indy cars.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0167.jpg

This is Major Hicks second P-55. It was isssued to him upon the U.S. entry into the war in '43.
He was Commissioned into the USAAF and sent to Africa to train American pilots to use the plane as a tankbuster and ground support craft.

Curtiss designed the airframe around three main components the Kiwi Power and Electric A 30 HV high velocity 30mm cannon
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0158.jpg
and the Chrysler V 2000 Lw 16 cylinder powerplant
http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/?action=view&current=IMG_0162.jpg
the superchargers from the recently discontinued P-38's were adapted to the Chrysler motor.
as a high altitude craft  the cockpit was designed to be fully pressurized , this also prevented the cockpit from filling with smoke from the forward mounted cannon and twin Enfield 33-40 machine guns.

You can see how I added the forward strakes from a 1/72 F-18 to the P-55 fuselage to add lift and stability. (and my crappy weathering, I should have spent more time preshading )
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0171.jpg
Here you can see the detailing on the .50 cal. Brownings I installed in the wings.
Since I can't really scribe new panel lines I preshaded and outlined what would be the gun access panels.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0161.jpg
The original factory serial # were oversprayed and replaced with unit markings
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0162.jpg
Here is a shot of my sweet blending of the P-51 radiator, my handcarved intakes and the turbosupercharger(note 8 exhaust pipes)
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0163.jpg
Here is the prop work, original spinner adapted to 4 blade from Mustang.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0164.jpg
Here is another detail shot from starboard ,I think the intakes turned out really well.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0165.jpg
Here is a shot of the personalized markings for Reese Hicks  second P-55 F overpainted on the factory markings
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0166.jpg
This is pre and post shading I did to accent the machine gun install
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0168.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0169.jpg
Lower view of the blending done to the Mustang radiator and Acender fuselage.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0170.jpg
Rear above of supercharger install
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0172.jpg

When US Marine and Naval aviators first arrived on the Lower Aisian front they were amazed to learn that "lesser trained" and "ill equipped" foriegn nationals trained by mercenaries were routinely fighting Kawasakis' and He 100's to standstills. Intelligence officers speaking to the British and American "trainers" discovered that the Curtiss P-55 F, universally refered to as that backassward pos, a throwaway design, was  flying and winning against the most advanced Axis fighters.

VMF-214 suddenly discover an abandoned shipment of 10 P-55 F meant for the Alaskan front and soon all the American air arms are clamoring for the Ascender (assender) for specialty  roles. All expatriate American military personell are recalled to service and reassigned to US units.
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh50/sotoolslinger/p55/IMG_0159.jpg

[GTX]

If I may - images now shown:

Boeing was building the Navies fighter, Bell and North American were building advanced fighter craft for the USAAF and  Grumman was supplying the top attack craft.  The P-40 series was cancelled . Curtiss was without a govt. contract and had no Allied  coop contracts having been the main U.S. fighter supplier for years.
They complained bitterly to the govt. and were given the contract for the Fast fighter project. This title was misleading as this was considered a back burner throwaway  project to come up with a cheap easily built lend lease  fighter that would assuage the Allies cries for better fighters to counter the new advanced axis projects.
Cheap was the operative word here.  The power plant had to be original and supplied by someone who was not already engaged in building essential equipment.
Curtiss descided to redevelop an already existing prototype to be simple and more effective. They contacted Chrysler to possibly supply an engine as they were also without current govt. entanglement.
The designers got together and compared notes on current airframe and engine designs as well as developing tactics gathered from all fronts.
Chrysler pulled a design off the design tables for a fuel injected , turbosupercharged ,  16 cylinder powerplant that would employ a pressurized ignition system and develop 2100 horsepower.
Curtiss designers goal was 450 mph top speed and the ability to intercept the highest flying bombers.
Both companies succeeded remarkably well.
The P-55 F achieves 1900 horsepower and a top speed of 421 mph with a range of 960 miles on internal fuel.


When Army captain Reese Hicks "resigned" his commisision and joined the RAAF he was resigned to flying obsolete fighters against ridiculous odds and probably being shot out of the sky, but America needed eyes on the fronts and intelligence on the latest developments in combat tactics and technology.
Hicks was immediatly assigned to training Chinese and other expatriate fighter pilots to utilize the strengths of their aircraft while attempting to minimize the weaknesses of the designs.
His first introduction to the new P-55 F lend lease fighter was a pilots dream come true.
It was like graduating from busdriver to Indy cars.


This is Major Hicks second P-55. It was isssued to him upon the U.S. entry into the war in '43.
He was Commissioned into the USAAF and sent to Africa to train American pilots to use the plane as a tankbuster and ground support craft.

Curtiss designed the airframe around three main components the Kiwi Power and Electric A 30 HV high velocity 30mm cannon

and the Chrysler V 2000 Lw 16 cylinder powerplant

the superchargers from the recently discontinued P-38's were adapted to the Chrysler motor.
as a high altitude craft  the cockpit was designed to be fully pressurized , this also prevented the cockpit from filling with smoke from the forward mounted cannon and twin Enfield 33-40 machine guns.

You can see how I added the forward strakes from a 1/72 F-18 to the P-55 fuselage to add lift and stability. (and my crappy weathering, I should have spent more time preshading )

Here you can see the detailing on the .50 cal. Brownings I installed in the wings.
Since I can't really scribe new panel lines I preshaded and outlined what would be the gun access panels.

The original factory serial # were oversprayed and replaced with unit markings

Here is a shot of my sweet blending of the P-51 radiator, my handcarved intakes and the turbosupercharger(note 8 exhaust pipes)

Here is the prop work, original spinner adapted to 4 blade from Mustang.

Here is another detail shot from starboard ,I think the intakes turned out really well.

Here is a shot of the personalized markings for Reese Hicks  second P-55 F overpainted on the factory markings

This is pre and post shading I did to accent the machine gun install


Lower view of the blending done to the Mustang radiator and Acender fuselage.

Rear above of supercharger install


When US Marine and Naval aviators first arrived on the Lower Aisian front they were amazed to learn that "lesser trained" and "ill equipped" foriegn nationals trained by mercenaries were routinely fighting Kawasakis' and He 100's to standstills. Intelligence officers speaking to the British and American "trainers" discovered that the Curtiss P-55 F, universally refered to as that backassward pos, a throwaway design, was  flying and winning against the most advanced Axis fighters.

VMF-214 suddenly discover an abandoned shipment of 10 P-55 F meant for the Alaskan front and soon all the American air arms are clamoring for the Ascender (assender) for specialty  roles. All expatriate American military personell are recalled to service and reassigned to US units.

[GTX]

Lovely work.

Regards,

Greg

[sotoolslinger]

Thank god for my editor

[Brian da Basher]

Simply outstanding, sotoolslinger! The Ascender is a perfect little gem for whiffing as yuou proved so eloquently! I particarly enjoy how you masterfully blended in all those P-51 elements, including the exhausts!

Fandamtastic!

Brian da Basher

[sotoolslinger]

Thanks ya'll I really admire all your work. That you like my stuff I consider a great compliment. I drool over the designs on this site on a daily basis.

[puddingwrestler]

Very nice sir, very nice indeed!

[Rafael]

My hat's off to you, sotoolslinger. Very impressive work of scratchbuilding, kitbashing, blending, painting and decaling. Not to mention your incredible imagination.

Rafa

[Ed S]

Nice. Clever variation on the real P-55. 

Ed

[Captain Canada]

Beauty ! Sure would have been nice to have ssen one fly....bet it would have sounded just awesome !

Thanks for the edit as well, greg...really enhances the enjoyment factor !

[John Howling Mouse]

That might be the coolest, most dynamic aft end I've ever seen on an aircraft model.  Wow.  You have an inimitable sense of style, STS!

And, yes, thanks for the edit.

[B777LR]

Wow, thats top notch modeling!

[sotoolslinger]

Hey I'll just highjack my own thread, I just got my computer , my photobucket account, and my first digital camera. I'm still learning how to use all this equipment. How do I post with my photos showing? Ya'll know I run all over the country for work so I don't have a lot of time to study.When I post I copy the direct link on my photobucket and paste it to my post. I see that there are other kinds of links under the pictures but I don't know what they do.
I still have to post the F-5 V (still not sure what to name that one) the F-7 T Warthog , the Avenger/Skyrocket, the single tail (1 man cockpit) bf 110 , and the P-51 Falcon.
I'd like to improve my posting skills so all advice is welcome.

[kitnut617]

That's brilliant STS,  love the bubble top look to it, changes it altogether.   

[cthulhu77]

I agree, that is absolutely beautiful !  Great take, great build.