DONE (@p.2): the HA-1106, a Spanish Fw 190 in post WWII service

KiwiZac · June 10, 2017, 04:37:02 PM

That is absolutely gorgeous!!!

ChernayaAkula · June 10, 2017, 11:20:36 PM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 10, 2017, 05:38:23 AM
<...> But the combo works surprisingly well <...>

Very much so!

NARSES2 · June 11, 2017, 04:58:36 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on June 10, 2017, 05:38:23 AM
Well, there was a reason why RAF Typhoons and Tempests carried ID markings (similar to invation stripes) on their undersides, because AA gun crews could hardly distinguish between the British types and the Fw 190 from below.

True and very much the official line however my father was a Royal Navy AAA gunner and reckoned they fired at anything in the air as odds on it wasn't friendly, especially in the early years, and this "habit" carried on, especially when they shipped out East

Indeed within the British Pacific Fleet there was a Zone of Fire where any aircraft entering was considered a legitimate target. FAA pilots were warned but would still follow their quarry into it. Army may well have been different especially post 1944 however.

That combo really does look like something you might have seen flying in Spain circa 1950 or so

Dizzyfugu · June 11, 2017, 06:16:48 AM

Thanks a lot for the positive feedback so far. Just wait for the finished item and the beauty pics - this one looks really good.

Dizzyfugu · June 11, 2017, 07:18:29 AM

Said and done... here she is, the HA-1106 'Alción', '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950:

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
During the first years after World War II the Spanish Air Force consisted largely of German and Italian planes and copies of them. Fighters were in short supply, despite the Spanish government's arrangement of a manufacturing license with Messerschmitt AG in 1942 to build the Bf 109G-2, with DB605A engines, propellers, instruments, and weapons to be supplied from Germany. This proved impossible, as Germany was incapable of meeting her own needs, let alone Spain's; in the event, only twenty-five airframes (minus their tails) and not even half the necessary drawings were delivered.

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In order to augment its weakened and overaged post-WWII air force equipment, Spain looked out for more aircraft of German origin that could easily be incorporated into its ranks. One option arose in 1949 through the recently retired and troublesome French NC 900 fighters. These were basically Fw 190 fighters, built by SNCA after WWII from leftover airframes and spare parts. Spain already had some experience with the Fw 190: The Spanish Air Force had operated Fw 190A-2,3,4 among Fw 190 A-8 and Gs with volunteers of Escuadrilla Azul on the Eastern Front and in Defense of the Reich over Germany in 1942 and 1943.

The French Air Force had ordered 64 aircraft, but the machines were quickly withdrawn due to problems with the BMW 801 engine. These were horribly unreliable, due to low quality parts and materials from former war supplies, and many engine parts had been sabotaged during their wartime production. As a consequence the NC 900 was only operational for a mere two years, and grounded for most of the time.

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

However, the airframes were relatively young and in good condition, and Spain showed much interest. In 1949 the deal was closed and the decision was made to re-equip the French Fw 190s with new engines. The choice fell on the Rolls-Royce Merlin XX liquid-cooled V12 engine, which was easily available, combined with a chin-mounted radiator bath. This 'power egg' arrangement was in so far a convenient option since only the Fw 190's engine attachments and the cowling had to be adapted. The German armament was retained, since the weapons were used by other types in Spanish service, too.

The transfer of the airframes by train took place in 1949 and conversions with Merlin "power eggs" imported from Great Britain lasted until 1951, and a total of 42 HA-1106 'Alción' (Kingfisher) fighter bombers left the Hispano Aviación production site at Tablada near Sevilla.
Two flights were equipped with the re-engined Fw 190 derivative, both belonging to the 71 Escuadron de Cazabombardeo. About one half of the machines were based at El Copero airbase near Seville, where they were mostly used as advanced weapon trainers, and the other half was operated at Gando airbase (Las Palmas) on the Canary Islands.
However, the 'Alcións' were soon complemented and in the course of three years replaced by and HA-1112 (newly built, Merlin-powered Bf 109 airframes, maiden flight in 1954) fighters.

The HA-1112s remained in flying condition until the mid-1960s, but the HA-1106 was retired from service from 1955 onwards and did not take part in the Ifni War in 1957. The last flight of a HA-1106 took place in 1958.

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Length: 9.90 m (32 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 10.51 m (34 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.95 m (12 ft 12 in)
Wing area: 18.30 m² (196.99 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,200 kg (7,060 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,417 kg (9,735 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,900 kg (10,800 lb)

Powerplant:
1× Rolls-Royce Merlin XX liquid-cooled V12 engine,
rated at 1,480 hp (1,105 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 6,000 ft (1,829 m)

Performance:
Maximum speed: 630 km/h (339 kn, 390 mph) at 6,600 m (21,660 ft)
Cruise speed: 417 km/h (225 kn, 259 mph)
Range: 800 km (500 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,900 m (35,760 ft)
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (2,953 ft/min)
Wing loading: 241 kg/m² (49.4 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.29–0.33 kW/kg (0.18–0.21 hp/lb)

Armament: 2× 13 mm (.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns with 475 rounds per gun
2× 20 mm MG 151/20 E cannon with 250 rpg, synchronized in the wing roots
A single underfuselage hardpoint for a 300 l drop tank or bombs of up to 250 kg (550 lb) caliber,
four underwing hardpoints for a single 50 kg (110 lb) bomb each or launch rails for unguided missiles.

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Hispano Aviación HA-1106 'Alción'; '71-48' of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force), 71 Escuadrón de Cazabombardeo; Gando AB (Las Palmas), Canary Islands; 1950 (Whif/Academy kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A relatively simple build, despite the major rhinoplasty, and with a weird result! This re-engined Fw 190 looks strange, almost like a Reno Racer? The fat spinner and the chin radiator change the look completely, and the low spine is a strong visual counterpart to the massive front end. I would not call it ugly, rather unusual, though.

The engine swap also emphasizes some real world "issues": During WWII the British AA forces frequently mistook their own Hawker Typhoon and Tempest for Fw 190s, so that the RAF fighters were decorated with black and white ID bands on their undersides. With the Lancaster engine and the chin radiator in place, the overall similarity is even more striking! The fictional HA-1106 rather looks like a Spanish Hawker Typhoon than a Fw 190... Weird, but cool.

Gondor · June 11, 2017, 07:29:07 AM

Simple yet effective

Gondor

PR19_Kit · June 11, 2017, 07:54:44 AM

An excellent job Thomas, that Merlin changes the entire character of the aircraft.

AXU · June 11, 2017, 08:33:33 AM

Yes,this is quite different and came out well,great job Thomas

Dizzyfugu · June 11, 2017, 08:44:31 AM

Thank you very much. I am positively surprised how this one turned out!

loupgarou · June 11, 2017, 09:30:05 AM

Another very nice build from Dizzy Industries.

Soon to be seen on some russian site...

Tophe · June 11, 2017, 11:35:29 AM

Good aesthetic surgery (without the annular radiator)!

DogfighterZen · June 11, 2017, 05:06:44 PM

Looks very good, great work as always!

zenrat · June 12, 2017, 02:34:02 AM

Very good. Looks less Typhoony with the canopy on it.

Librarian · June 12, 2017, 03:41:39 AM

Just love the colours on this one...they all blend so well together

I've always had a love/hate relationship with annular radiators so its very nice to see this bird with something different

Dizzyfugu · June 12, 2017, 04:59:03 AM

Thank you very much, glad you (all) like it. I am actually surprised how well the deep blue works as camouflage over maritime terrain, but also against the sky. I thought at first that it would be very bold and stylish, but actually everything goes together pretty well.