Hawker Willy Willy - Aussie Hurricane

buzzbomb · August 19, 2010, 04:35:41 AM

what if... the RAAF got some Hurricanes, but to keep in line with CAC build jigs, the installation of a Pratt and Whitney Radial, as fitted to the Boomerang, Wirrayway and Beaufort aircraft, was a preferred engine.
I reckon you might have got the Hawker Willy Willy (in line with the wind naming but more Aussie)

It ultimately it conversion proved fruitless as the PW engines delivered less performance and was troublesome. But the ground erks were at least happy that the current tools all fitted !

The brass decided that the resultant aircraft looked too much like the Zero to continue with the modification.

tc2324 · August 19, 2010, 05:29:56 AM

Very well executed there Buzzbomb. I do prefer my whifs to have a touch of reality and this fits that bill.

Slerski · August 19, 2010, 06:05:16 AM

I find this plane very aggressive. Maybe the massive piece of US enginnering in the nose... However this plane looks very natural.

Mossie · August 19, 2010, 07:35:43 AM

Looks good! I've done an Aussie Hurricane myself, although it was oob. The radial gives a very different look to the purposeful looking Hurricane.

NARSES2 · August 19, 2010, 08:12:35 AM

I like that

and of course there was a version schemed of a radial engined Hurricane (Hercules ?) in case supplies of Merlins were hit

Flyboy69 · August 19, 2010, 09:55:17 AM

It's got the looks of a Bloch 155, but I like it!!! A lot!!!!!

tanktastic43 · August 19, 2010, 10:25:37 AM

Looks very Japanese me thinks. Give it the white paint job with black nose, some meatballs and Robert is your proverbial.

Nice one.

tt43.

cafe · August 19, 2010, 04:27:53 PM

This Hurricane looks very nice.

GTX · August 20, 2010, 02:48:55 PM

Brilliant - need more photos though!

Regards,

Greg

upnorth · August 20, 2010, 11:48:42 PM

Nice and different! Thanks for sharing.

Taiidantomcat · August 21, 2010, 08:38:22 AM

Nice indeed

Tophe · August 21, 2010, 10:59:56 AM

What a pleasant & unusual radial-Hurricane... thanks!

Ian the Kiwi Herder · August 21, 2010, 01:26:48 PM

Quote from: Flyboy69 on August 19, 2010, 09:55:17 AM
It's got the looks of a Bloch 155, but I like it!!! A lot!!!!!

That's it, that's what it reminds me of.... looks great, really like that

Ian

grayman · August 21, 2010, 11:44:44 PM

Quote from: GTX on August 20, 2010, 02:48:55 PM
Brilliant - need more photos though!

+1 to Greg's request. Any chance of a top view? I'd love to see your technique in adapting the radial to the slim fuselage.

BTW, marvelous job!

buzzbomb · August 22, 2010, 02:03:03 AM

G'day all,
Thanks for the great feedback.
To fair in the much larger radial, I put a chunk of card on the sides and faired in using filler.. stupidly, I did not take photos under construction, as I banged it out over a weekend. I am doing another What If Aussie Hurricane build for John Baxter.. who puts our books like http://www.luft46.com/johnbook.html more of that later.

Due to demand.. some more pix

Cheers

Brian T