Blackburn (BAE) Buccaneer

[Hobbes]

I'm considering possible uses for my Airfix Bucc, and my eye fell on the Freightdog Canberra Interceptor set. So I started reading up on Buccaneer interceptor proposals. These are the RW projects:

B.109 (1959, Mach 1.65 unsolicited bid for a Canadian Interceptor)
B.111/112/117/113/116 (c.1960, reheated Spey, Mach 1.5, RAF/RN/RN/RAAF/German Naval AF)
B.129 (1962, Mach 2.0 RN fighter)
P.140 (1964, RN fighter)
P.145 (1964 RN strike)
P.150 (mach 1.8 1968, and the last "supersonic Buccaneer" project).

(found here)

As far as I can find in the BSP volumes, no combination of Red Dean and Bucc was ever proposed (some of the above projects specified Red Top).

My current thoughts are Bucc with 2x Red Dean, 2x radar Red Top and 2x IR Red Top, and a bigger nose to house the AI radar.

What do you think?

[PR19_Kit]

Are you going to fit bigger wings?

The Bucc had a very high wing loading specifically to give it a low gust response at the very low altitudes it was designed to fly at. As an interceptor it would have had a large minimum turn radius, so it'd be limited to a BVR role. rather like a Tornado F3. A dog-fighter it certainly wouldn't be with the standard wings.

[McColm]

Didn't they try a supersonic Bucc after the TSR.2 was cancelled? Longer wings.
In the early days of the Tonka doing its maritime role, the crew complained of a bumpy ride and bits fell off. The 'Batty Toss' was used (named after a certain Squadron Leader) to get the pay load as close to the target as possible.
And another thing the Bucc crew only carried a chinagraph pencil and a slide rule, so you'd need to retrain these guys for the modern world.

[Hobbes]

Hm, bigger wings I'd have to think about. I've got a Tornado in the stash, but those wings are even smaller; lengthening the existing wing may be a better option.

[McColm]

Use another Bucc, to lengthen the wings?

[GTX]

This 48th scale Airfix Buccaneer S.Mk.50 built by Malcolm Reid has been uploaded to the gallery at the Aircraft Resource Center. 

(image source: Malcolm Reid/Aircraft Resource Center)

I like his opening paragraph which describes the Airfix Buccaneer kit very well.

Upon looking at this one again, I suddenly see an Argentine Buccaneer...

[Weaver]

I suspect that the mission for the interceptor Buccs would have been much the same as that originally envisaged for the Sea Harrier: chasing off Bear-Ds before they could get a mass missile attack organised or failing that, downing the incoming Badgers/Blinders. Neither mission would require great agility and a smaller wing would actually help the afterburning engines get the speed up but producing less drag.

Anyway:

Phantom wing loading at 50,000lb = 94lb/sq.ft
Buccaneer wing loading at 50,000lb = 97lb/sq.ft.
Starfighter wing loading at 25,000lb = 127lb/sq.ft

So if you can call a Starfighter a fighter........

[PR19_Kit]

So if you can call a Starfighter a fighter........

Best ask the Luftwaffe about that......... 

[McColm]

If you get caught out in the rain, don't shelter under the wing of an F-104. You're just going to get wet as staying out in the rain.

[PR19_Kit]

If you get caught out in the rain, don't shelter under the wing of an F-104. You're just going to get wet as staying out in the rain.

I'm not that short............. 

I sheltered out of the rain under the wing of a Vulcan at St. Athan once, along with about 100 other aviation nutters. We STILL got wet as the rain came straight through all the umpteen opened up hatches and inspection panels, goodness knows how they dried out the inside of the wing after that downpour.

[McColm]

Stand behind a C-130 to dry off the heat from those engines does the job in next to no time!!

[rallymodeller]

Best bet is under an F-15 (experience from a London (ON) air show). Then when the sun is out again you can play volleyball on top of the wing. 

[Hobbes]

I suspect that the mission for the interceptor Buccs would have been much the same as that originally envisaged for the Sea Harrier: chasing off Bear-Ds before they could get a mass missile attack organised or failing that, downing the incoming Badgers/Blinders. Neither mission would require great agility and a smaller wing would actually help the afterburning engines get the speed up but producing less drag.

Anyway:

Phantom wing loading at 50,000lb = 94lb/sq.ft
Buccaneer wing loading at 50,000lb = 97lb/sq.ft.
Starfighter wing loading at 25,000lb = 127lb/sq.ft

So if you can call a Starfighter a fighter........

Interesting, that would mean I can get away with limited mods.

[Green Dragon]

Been planning a forward swept wing, twin fin Bucc with ex Phantom Spey exhausts for many years. Saw a pic of something similar in a mag around 20-30 years ago but keep talking myself out of hacking up a Buccaneer!

Paul Harrison

[pyro-manic]

Perhaps add some big LERXs to get the wing area up, and maybe increase the chord as well?