Der Halberstadt Wampyre

[zenrat]

Der Halberstadt Wampyre

Wampyre 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Little is known about Der Halberstadt Wampyre.  It was found in a hanger on a small airfield close to Halberstadt following the reunification of East and West Germany.
Wampyre 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
What at first appears to be a De Havilland Vampire is on closer inspection a precise replica re-engineered to use standard Soviet specification materials and fasteners and powered by a Klimov RD-45.
Wampyre 8 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
It is thought to have been built as proof of concept for a proposal to build unlicensed "Sovietised" copies of the Vampire (in the same way the B29 begat the Tu 4).  It is not known whether an original was copied or if plans were used although it has been speculated that a full set of Vampire drawings were provided to the Soviet Union along with those for the Rolls Royce Nene.
Wampyre 11 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The model:
Heller Vampire FB5 with rockets from an old mould Airfix Beaufighter.  Painted (in an East German scheme adapted from a Mig 29) with Vallejo acrylics and with decals from my big decal folder (probably Dragon or Eduard MiG 15).  Getting enough weight into the nose was an issue – I should have also put some on the back of the cockpit bulkhead or into the leading edges of the wings.  In order to prevent tail sitting I had to fill the nose wheel bay with lead.

[Old Wombat]

That is one spectacular piece of modelling, comrade zenrat!

[Rheged]

Comrade Zenrat, following this grievous breach of security, the Rodina has even now despatched operatives from certain organs of state security to take action. Beware of persons carrying hammers and sickles!!

[DogfighterZen]

Although i'm not a big fan of the Vampire, that little thing looks great with that camo, very nice work!

[Tophe]

A what-if twin-boom model is always a pleasure, thanks!

[NARSES2]

Great colour scheme 

[Snowtrooper]

That camo breaks the Vamp's outline really well, as if it was made for her!

[Captain Canada]

Great job. Love the colours and camo pattern.

[comrade harps]

It reminds me of some kind of poisonous frog! 

[zenrat]

Thanks comrades.
Particularly Comrade Harps who had me ROTFL with this

It reminds me of some kind of poisonous frog! 

IMO the single seat Vampire is a classic piece of design.  The only thing I might change is the shape of the tail fins (and I have another Heller kit in the stash).  The two seater on the other hand looks out of proportion with that big fat nose.  Shame Airfix didn't make their new mould of a solo bird.
The camo was adapted from this.

http://www.ehattons.com/20497/Corgi_Collectables_AA37501_MiG_29_Fulcrum_A_East_German_Air_Force_JG3_Vladimir_Komarow_Preschen_Air_Base_1/StockDetail.aspx