P-74C Spitfire

[Mike Wren]

they couldn't fit a Merlin in the Mustang...

Equivalent to the Mk XIV, modifications included 6 .50 cal MGs, additional internal fuel in the wing roots & rear fuselage (note the red dots) and provision for 3 drop tanks or 2000 lb of bombs

have also planned a few others including:

P-74A - Mk VIII equivalent with 4x .50 MGs
P-74B - as above but with extra internal fuel & wing hardpoints
P-74D - Mk XIV as modelled here but with bubble canopy, redesignated F-74C & F-74D, used in korea (with big sharkmouth, obviously)

RAF Lend-Lease a/c designated Mk XX (P-74B) & Mk XXX (P-74C)

[Mike Wren]

more...

[Mike Wren]

more...

[Mike Wren]

forgot to say that it's the Academy 1/72 kit which had the wing panel lines rescribed for the different armament, drop tanks from a Revell P-51B, decals are MPD (I think?), the uppersurface is dark green but looks quite pale on these pics

[Tophe]

VERY beautiful...   and original with those markings
I know the P-74 code is a mystery needing to be filled. Several what-ifers have tried. Justo Miranda nicely sent me a P-74 Forked Lightning picture from Mr Halsted, and I will try to find this source picture for you. It was a mix of P-38 with 2 P-51 tails...
(below the drawing of it in my 2002-book "Supplement n°1 to Forked Ghosts")

[Ollie]

Very nice Mike!!!

     

[Radish]

Stunning, Mike!!
Cool scheme!!
I've a Spit IX done USAAF....think it's on one of Martin's pages from the Nats a couple/three years ago??
Don Gentile's VF-T.
I've at least one Airfix/Otaki Spit to do in perhaps the Blue Nose scheme.
But one with an Old Gold/Black spinner would look good, eh Mikey??
       

[nev]

You know, you could have just posted a pic of that 5 bladed prop & I'd have been happy  


Lovely Mike, great job    

[Aircav]

Spitfire.................drool........Cool        

[Martin H]

Terrys Yank spit

That the one terry?

[Allan]

Mike,


Great, great work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Allan in Canberra

[Keith Diamond]

Very nice Mike.  I especially enjoy the interesting paint scheme  

[Swamphen]

Cool!  B)  

[Captain Canada]

Looking good, Mikey ! Great model with a great story, very believable !

And nice looking bird, Tophe.......is that a contra-prop in the nose ?

Cheers !

 

[elmayerle]

VERY beautiful...   and original with those markings
I know the P-74 code is a mystery needing to be filled. Several what-ifers have tried. Justo Miranda nicely sent me a P-74 Forked Lightning picture from Mr Halsted, and I will try to find this source picture for you. It was a mix of P-38 with 2 P-51 tails...
(below the drawing of it in my 2002-book "Supplement n°1 to Forked Ghosts")

Hmm, that one cries out for a mix of Griffons for power - the ones on either side having "handed" rotation on the 5-blade props and then the contraprops on the one in the center.