Hawker Henley Mk IV Divebomber

[sideshowbob9]

Nice one! Love the camo! 

[sequoiaranger]

ssb, blackeagle, and Pablo--thanks.

I am not dissatisfied with the camo, per se, but it did not come out as I had envisioned (Hey, who's fault is THAT?? ). That is, on my "painting dummy" the camo came out the way I wanted it, but when I applied it to my Henley it didn't look the same. Just now figured out that the shorter-winged Tempest painting dummy had...shorter wings and less area, and painting the Henley the same as the Tempest goofed me up. Ideally the main bands of color should have been slightly narrower and more numerous, that is, more bands per wing and fuselage, THEN add the middle squiggle as well. But... camo is made to blend and/or disrupt the outline, and I feel this camo accomplishes that. It still looks "British", yet is distinctive (not just real-world camo imposed on the whif subject). I like it, really.



Maybe some progress today (Dullcote) and add fiddly bits. If so, will post.

[sequoiaranger]

Mulling over my options for the problem of getting the turret into its well, I hit on an idea that worked.

The circular retaining ring I put in the fuselage to keep the turret vertical closely surrounds the tub of the turret. Luckily for me, the turret tub is very thick plastic. Knowing I had to start the turret in at an angle to avoid bumping into the pilot canopy overhang (partially deliberately designed to retain the turret and keep it from falling out!), I figured if I made the bottom third or so of the turret tube into an oval, it would match the opening at that angle, and would "round out" further up after the turret safely passed the overhang. **IT WORKED**!

Next photo will see the Hawker Henley complete and ready to rumble!!

[ChernayaAkula]

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When Tophe sees this pic, don't, no, really, DON'T listen to him. He'll no doubt want you to glue that half plane to the bottom of the other one, creating a tree-winged aircraft. 

[sequoiaranger]

All's Well that Ends Well. I like the way this turned out. Lots of Hawker elements, and the actual Henley look and feel as if an extrapolation (See Bottom Pic). Backstory in a few days. First is the quarter view that shows most of the main features:



Next is a top view, showing the unusual, but British-style camo:



Next, the underside, where you can see the bomb and apparatus:



In this front view, you can see the mini-prop in the air scoop (mimic-ing its big brother):



Then the close-up of the "pignose" carb intakes, and the in-wing oil coolers:



Lastly, a close-up of the dual exhausts, mismatched door, the engine air vents, the over-and-under turret, the dropped dive brakes, and kill markings:



And, as a post-script, the original aircraft from which I extrapolated:

[James]

  That is brilliant. I wish I could create something like that! 

[Pablo1965]

You got it, congratulations! It's a marvelous aircraft.

[James]

It certainly looks like it can pack a punch.

[Old Wombat]

This is a great build, sr!

Everything is so smoothly blended & integrated that I think most "real-worlders" would be hard pressed realising it was a "whif".

You mentioned being slightly dissatisfied with the final camo job &, when comparing it to the original test piece, I can see why.

The test piece, to me, does look a little better &, to my eye, it comes down to 2 things;
1.) the sharper edges between the colours; and
2.) the thin line of pale-blue through the thicker dark-blue line which counter-mirrors the thin dark-blue line through the thicker pale-blue line.

Which is (having re-read that post of yours) pretty-much what you wrote .

My 2 cents.

[John Howling Mouse]

Has all the attributes of a great What If:
- original
- believable
- executed with magical proficiency

Great job!   

[pyro-manic]

Superb, I must say! The replacement door is an inspired touch. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this project develop, and the end result is appropriately impressive.

[GTX]

 

[rickshaw]

Nice! 

[sideshowbob9]

That is an awesome-looking aircraft. It has particular presence from the frontal aspect and the camo is inspired!

[NARSES2]

Brilliant