Black Hawks over Korea

NARSES2 · December 21, 2013, 06:20:39 AM

F-87 Black Hawk of 548 Night Fighter Squadron , Korea 1951. The F-87 was the final Curtis product to enter service with the fledgling USAF and served with 3 night fighter squadrons before being replaced by F-89 Scorpions in 1953/54.

548 Squadron had been based in Japan as part of the Far East AF at the time of the North Korean invasion of the South and were thus part of the conflict from the beginning. However it was only once the Allies had retaken most of the peninsular and secured bases that the squadron could be based in Korea and saw some action and fired its guns in anger.

This particular aircraft was flown by Cap James Bradford and the radar operator was Lt Larry Lunt who had flown together before in P-61's at the end of WWII. They were credited with 2 kills. 1 a North Korean Yak 9 which fell to their guns and the other a North Korean Po 2 night harassment aircraft which they destroyed with their jet wash after over shooting the target. There was some reluctance on the part of the USAF to award this kill as it was, to say the least, fortunate. However Lt Lunt's father was a prominent local politician and after the story made the US press the UASF capitulated and awarded the kill. Historical note Bradford and Lunt did fly P-61's in the Pacific during WWII.

The kit is the Anigrand one and is undoubtedly the best fitting Anigrand kit I have ever had the pleasure to build. It was a really good one. The only addition was a gun pack made from a Meteor belly fuel tank. I figured they wouldn't have got the proposed nose mounted gun turret to work. The main colour scheme is straight from a Humbrol spray can with details from Xtracrylic, Lifecolor and Humbrol. Markings are from the spares box, the Anigrand ones were a bit "iffy", with the squadron badge coming from an Aero-master 1/48 scale P-61 sheet. Altogether an enjoyable project.

PR19_Kit · December 21, 2013, 08:03:47 AM

That looks BRILL Chris, and a believable backstory too.

How about an underside shot so we can see the gun pack please?

NARSES2 · December 22, 2013, 07:22:01 AM

Glued to the base I'm afraid Kit. She's obviously got Canberra genes as there is a load of lead in her and she still wants to sit on her tail

The Meteor belly tank is a perfect fit and I just drilled 4 holes for 4 barrels (thin tube). You can just glimpse it in the 2nd last pic. I'll bring her to MK or Hendon

lancer · December 23, 2013, 12:55:46 PM

Thats a smart looking machine

comrade harps · December 23, 2013, 05:47:28 PM

Very nice

jcf · December 23, 2013, 07:43:08 PM

Oh, I thought you meant these Blackhawks.

http://www.ourworlds.net/blackhawk/index.html

Very nice Chris, although I do think it could use this emblem.

MAD · January 19, 2021, 11:32:14 PM

QuoteI figured they wouldn't have got the proposed nose mounted gun turret to work.

I never knew the F-87 was to have had a "nose-mounted gun turret"😯
Is this nose-mounted gun turret real-world or whatif NARSES2?

MAD

NARSES2 · January 20, 2021, 06:50:13 AM

Quote from: MAD on January 19, 2021, 11:32:14 PM
QuoteI figured they wouldn't have got the proposed nose mounted gun turret to work.

I never knew the F-87 was to have had a "nose-mounted gun turret"😯
Is this nose-mounted gun turret real-world or whatif NARSES2?

MAD

A blast from the past

The prototype flew with 4 fixed forwards firing 20mm cannon. However if it had gone into production then it would have had them mounted in a powered nose turret, but it was cancelled before that could happen.

McColm · January 20, 2021, 10:49:56 AM

Great build, reminds me of the Boeing B-45 Tornado

frank2056 · January 20, 2021, 03:40:34 PM

Beautiful build and great back story, Chris! Did you bring out the panel lines with gray paint?

NARSES2 · January 21, 2021, 06:31:30 AM

Quote from: frank2056 on January 20, 2021, 03:40:34 PM
Beautiful build and great back story, Chris! Did you bring out the panel lines with gray paint?

Nope, it's a case of them being so deep that it works for once and they don't reflect the gloss coat that much.

The Rat · January 21, 2021, 08:38:23 AM

Gorgeous! Always loved the look of that aircraft, and you've done it justice!

Pellson · January 22, 2021, 01:14:10 AM

That is a very clean design indeed. And first class modelling. I happen to own an Anigrand or two, but haven't yet mustered the courage to start any of them.

NARSES2 · January 22, 2021, 06:12:56 AM

Quote from: The Rat on January 21, 2021, 08:38:23 AM
Gorgeous! Always loved the look of that aircraft, and you've done it justice!

Credit to Anigrand more than me as it's certainly one of their better ones.

Quote from: Pellson on January 22, 2021, 01:14:10 AM
That is a very clean design indeed. And first class modelling. I happen to own an Anigrand or two, but haven't yet mustered the courage to start any of them.

They tend to be quite basic and simple when it comes to construction, but go together o.k. Just make sure you've got some good quality filler and take your time.

Glenn Gilbertson · January 23, 2021, 02:32:26 PM

That looks terrific - and a good backstory!