Boulton Paul Defiant

[Hobbes]

I wonder what it would look like with a Dalek turret instead of the guns. Or an astromech droid (R2D2) 

[GTX]

I wonder what it would look like with a Dalek turret instead of the guns. Or an astromech droid (R2D2) 

Out you!!!!

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Spot on Saura. Yes, the cockpit is now where the turret was. The former cockpit area is now one huge fuel tank (oil tanks moved to the inboard wing leading edges).

The scenario was: what if the R-R Peregrine was killed earlier and the Whirlwind along with it. Defiant production lines could be adapted for a long-range fighter using largely unmodified parts. (The same layout might be adaptable as a PR bird).

Of course, the pilot's view on landing and take-off would challenging to put it mildly. In the air, though, the view from the cockpit is improved by use of a Whirlwind canopy (Aeroclub set C078 also makes modelling easier  ).

I like it!

Regards,

Greg

[kitbasher]

Long-range escort fighter?

Very elegant.

[Stargazer]

Very, very nice. 

[Mossie]

I like those.

A pet whiff of mine is what if the Spitfire hadn't continued in production (it came close to being canned on a few occasions due to production concerns)?  What would have replaced it?  The Defiant is one of those that is a good possibility, a version with fixed armament flew & was a good performer.  So how would it have been developed?  Those profiles show how it might have been.

[sideshowbob9]

Damn! Who knew Defiants could polish up so nice? 

[sequoiaranger]

>If I'm looking at it right, I see a nicely sized belly radiator on that thing... it almost begs for a jet conversion similar to the Yaks... hmmmm... evil thoughts abound...<

>Jet Defiant! I bet no-one's come up with that one before <

I would envision not a single-jet like the Yak 15/17/19 (too large an airframe--the Yaks were diminutive aircraft), but either a through-the-wing jet arrangement like the Gloster Meteors, or doubled-under like the the Bell P-59 Airacomet. In fact, carrying the Defiant concept of a "broadside-firing" bomber destroyer into the nascent jet age, one could have fixed fuselage guns (where the turret would have been) pointed out at a 30-degree angle to the front and side "Schrage Musik"-style (or "Spooky-gunship-style") to rake enemy aircraft while flying through a formation at the same altitude.  A very slight, nose-up banking movement would keep the guns on target a little while longer.

It CAN'T be any more an idiotic idea than the Defiant itself!! 

[Caveman]

Damn! Who knew Defiants could polish up so nice? 

Well this project based loosely on a defiant (from secretprojects) looks pretty good to me. Very nice lines on it.

[sideshowbob9]

^ Oh, I agree, there are a lot of Boulton Paul aircraft and projects that were lookers. The original Mamba Balliol comes to mind.

[Maverick]

Brilliant stuff Apophenia.

Very good looking & plausible profiles & backstory.

Regards,

Mav

[NARSES2]

I like those composites 

Always fancied doing a single seat Defiant fighter myself

[sideshowbob9]

Those Blenheim missiles look great! 

[kitnut617]

Well this one should go of with a good bang then ----

[redstar72]

Good work!
But I think it's necessary to make new, beefed up and more strong undercarriage for the Hotspur - as it has to takeoff now carrying the Defiant on its back!