Jaybee's Whiffs.

[Martin H]

Ive posted these up for Jaybee. Hes had problems posted images for some reason. So hes asked me to do the honors. Ill leave him to explain any back stories........

[Taiidantomcat]

That Sea-51 is Sick!

[sotoolslinger]

Very cool stuff

[Captain Canada]

Is it just me ? Or is that the coolest looking Bearcat ever ? I first thought it was a pudgy Sea Fury ! And that Mustang ? Wicked ! What's up with the Dewotoine ? New engine ? Looks real to me !

More please !

[The Rat]

I'm getting those 'tingly' feelings.

All I can say is - more and bigger pictures! Soon!

[B777LR]

What's up with the Dewotoine ? New engine ? Looks real to me !

At first glance, id say 4 bladed props and RAF markings 

[Weaver]

I think the Dewoitine's got a Merlin. IIRC, the Hispano original had a long, half-tube air intake low on the LHS.

[NARSES2]

Love the Bearcat - and yes the Dw520 would appear to have a Merlin front end - Mustang ?

[cthulhu77]

I need to hear more about these awesome whiffs !!!!   

[Mossie]

All three are great.  The Bearcat is definatley one of those 'shoulda beens'.

[JayBee]

JayBee here.
Thanks for the praise guys, and a very special thanks to Martin for posting the photos for me.
One of these days I will work out how to post them myself.
If any administrator is reading this can you please check that I have the right permissions, please.

The models:

Dewotine D522 (NOT 520).
The D520 went into production with the Hispano engine.
The D521 was a one off with a Merlin III and was to go into production when the situation in France changed.
The D522 was to have been produced in the USA fitted with an Allison V-1710. This never happened in real life.

O.K.
The D522 was produced in America, and in fact 58 were produced and were about to be shipped to France when that country fell. The order was diverted to Britain where the aircraft were used to form three squadrons of Free French pilots within the RAF. The limitations of the V-1710 were soon recognised and the aircraft were re-engined with Merlins, as well as being re-armed with 20mm cannon.
This produced a small agile fighter that had superb acceleration, and so it was the ideal answer to the Luftwaffe FW190 'tip and run' raiders that were harrasing the south coast of England.
The Free French pilots were so angered at the Boche using bases cin THEIR country to attack THEIR allies that they took this role as a cause celebre!
The rest as they say is history.

The model.
1/72, a gentleman's scale.
Hobbyboss clip tpgether kit.
Revel Spitfire V engine , cannon, and wing bulges.
KP Spitfire IX prop. and spinner.
Transfers (yes I still call them that) Hobbyboss kit, spares, and Academy Tempest V (Pierre Closterman's aircraft).

The Bearcat FB-4.
The Fleet Air Arm, continuing it's love affair with Grumman Cats ordered a small number of F8F-1 Bearcats for suitability trials.
Some records say it was ten, some say twelve.
They liked the aircraft and a large order for the improved F8F-2 was placed. When these arrived the F8F-1's, which were known as Bearcat I's, were returned appart from two that were used for engine trials.
The F8F-2 was known as the Bearcat II.
The two trials aircraft, known by now as Bearcat III's, were finally both fitted with the Bristol Centaurus engine, which gave almost twenty five percent more power, and was so successful that the decision was made to re-engine all the Bearcat II's.
While this work was being done they were also re-armed with four Hispano Mk5, short barreled, 20mm cannon.
This became known as the Bearcat FB-4 under the revised designation system.
This proved a winning combination, so much so that in the Korean war the Russian "advisors" had a saying which when translated reads:-

"Watch out for the little fat stripey winged bastards, they can realy spoil your day!"

Model.
Monogram 1/72.
Engine from Trumpeter Sea Fury.
Prop - Academy Tempest V, tidied up a bit.


North American Kelpie FR-7.
In 1944 carrier acceptance trials were carried out with a 'hooked' P-51D Mustang aboard the USS Shangri La.
These test were totaly succesful.
However the US Navy was more interested in air-cooled engines and so it went no further.

OK
The Fleet Air Arm recognised a winner when they saw one and ordered an initial batch of six hooked P-51D's for training, these were given the name Sea Mustang I.
This was followed by a large order for fully navalised machines approximately 50/50 fighter, and fighter reconaisance.
These were to be called Sea Mustangs II & III.
However their Lordships at the Admiralty did not like the name. I mean, a SEA HORSE, does not give the right impression.
Then Rear Vice Admiral Tarquin Mandelbrot McPhail, The Lord Auchenshugle, suggested a name from Celtic folklore that was accepted by all  -  KELPIE.
(This is where you now go into Wikipedia and find out what a Kelpie is. JayBee)
The next version had a RR Griffon engine driving a five bladed prop, and to assist in counteracting the extra torque the rudder was increased in height.
These were the Kelpie IV and V respectively.
( Note: North American later used the same shape to increase the rear vertical area, but they extended the fin, not the rudder as in the Kelpie).
The final versions were the Kelpie F-6 and FR-7.
These had contra rotating props and trycyle undercarriage.

At the time of the Suez crisis (Operation Musketeer) there were three Kelpie FR-7's still in the operational inventory, and they were embarked on HMS Eagle.
One was used as a spares source, so only two flew in the campaign.
One of these was so badly damaged that the pilot was unable to land on and had to 'take to the silk' being recovered safely.
The final survivor carried out several more operational sorties, but was retired soon afterwards.
She is now undergoing restoration for static display at the FAA Museum at RNAS Yeovilton.

One point of interest, the individual aircraft number was overpainted by the campaign stripes as it was felt that with only two of the type flying, it was not necessary to have the numbers visible.

Model.
Italeri 1/72 P-51D.
Engine - Academy Spifire XIV.
Prop - Aeroclub.
Nose U/C - spares box (P-39 I think)
Drop tanks -spares box.
Camera window - Clear plastic drinks swizzle stick, courtesy British Airways!

[Ed S]

Nicely done.  We're looking forward to more in the future.



Ed

[Brian da Basher]

Those are some mighty fine models, JayBee! I especially like your Royal Navy Bearcat! Welcome to Whiff-World!

I checked your account settings and saw nothing on the surface that should prevent you from posting pics. There's two ways to go about posting pics. One way is to click the little picture frame button on the upper left olf the reply window and insert your html tag for the pic if it's hosted elsewhere on the internet. The other way to post your pics is to click the Additional Options button on the lower left of the reply window and upload pics from your computer to the board. Remember, the allowed file types are: gif, jpg, mpg, pdf, png, and txt and the largest attachment size allowed is 256 KB with a maximum of four pics per post.

Good luck!

Brian da Basher

[gunfighter]

Cool! I have a project for a CO-IN Ta-152 with tricicle undercarriage, but still don´t know how to face it. Can you show pics of the underside of the Kelpie?

[PR19_Kit]

JayBee,

My kind of models, yes indeed! 

The logical thought processes you went through are just the sort of thing that intrigues me about Whiffs, and the models are superbly carried out to.

I'd love to hear the 'advisors' saying  in the original Russian....