Airdrawndagger - 1941 style

[The Wooksta!]

Some years ago, I was given a load of side views of Hurricanes, most of them being almost standard, several getting new engines.  One of the ones I did want to do was powered by the Napier Dagger.

Conceived as a panic fighter in the dark days of 1940, with Hitler's evil hordes about to kick in the front door, the Dagger engined Hurricane was a backstop in case of a shortage of Merlins.  I had a mould for a dagger and a spare Airfix Hurricane I going spare, what else could I do?  I hacked the nose off and tried to marry the two.  Oh dear, looks too big, back in the box.

Where it would have rotted had I not been looking for my cast Dagger engines for another project.  Another look.  Hmmn, might work.  It gets resurrected.

Now, it's not quite the Dagger project I've seen the drawing of.  For one thing, it's an MB2 cowling, whereas the one for the Hurricane was more rounded and elegant.  This just looks plain clunky.  Lots of filler and sanding later, it fits and it doesn't look that bad. Other tiny mods were removing the radiator housing - the Dagger was air cooled -  and filling the resultant gap

The engine changes the whole look of the aircraft radically.  It looks far more clunky, more primitive and brutish.  had the project gone ahead, I doubt it would have been anything other than a failure.  The Dagger engined Hampden, the Hereford, was quickly relegated to training duties.  The high pitched whine produced by the engine was deleterious to the crews and it had cooling difficulties.

Markings?  Eventually, standard 1940/41 camo and markings for a training unit.

[The Wooksta!]

Firm decision - RAF training.  I think the Daggers may have had maintenance issue too, last thing you'd want with a one shot CAMship fighter and a load of Condors bearing down on you.

[chrisonord]

Now that is going to look one heck of a strange beast Lee, looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Whatever you do with it, don't go flying it into that ugly tree again now will you 
Chris.

[NARSES2]

I've seen a side view in a Hurricane book Lee, be good to see it in plastic

[The Wooksta!]

Probably the same one I saw.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Intriguing.

Will be watching this one closely. Just a thought, Lee, could be a candidate for the yellow nose treatment, like those 'aggressor' MkI Spits that were based at Hawarden in late 40/41.

Ian

[The Wooksta!]

No, I know what it's going as and I'll be doing some dis-similar combat aircraft anyway.

Mind, I'll pass a nose along if you fancy giving it a spin?

[pyro-manic]

Interesting-looking thing, and certainly brutal. Two-blade prop?

[The Wooksta!]

3 - the Herefords had 3 bladers.  I might have a spare two blade prop though.

[TsrJoe]

a neat looking build, just wondering, how does it look on a Mosquito? iv seen mention of it somewhere and was thinking itd make for a nice variation to the prototype?

cheers, Joe

[The Wooksta!]

That's in hand - I just haven't posted the photos yet!

[sequoiaranger]

An interesting idea. I like the double-row exhausts---makes it look almost like a Tornado. Good idea to make them trainers, freeing up Merlin engines for the Empire defenders.

[GTX]

Looking forward to the final result.

Regards,

Greg

[kitbasher]

Firm decision - RAF training.  I think the Daggers may have had maintenance issue too, last thing you'd want with a one shot CAMship fighter and a load of Condors bearing down on you.

A similar finish to your Blenheim, then?  would be a nice touch.

[PR19_Kit]

There's something about that Dagger engine's shape.......

I've got a Hereford conversion set somwhere, but I think it'll be used on other types now. Thanks for the inspiration Lee.