Boulton-Paul Spectre

[Radish]

Started to grind away at the Mirage V bits today, and was totally warming to adding lots of bits, developing "the breed" into the Boulton-Paul Spectre, built in Wolverhampton, with additional developments as and when I can work out what to do!
I've lots of Kfir references that'll give a hint, but imagination, of course, will play its part.
So, this Mirage V kit'll end up being a Spectre GR.2.
RAF of course.

Spectre F.1.....Mirage IIIE
Spectre GR.2.....Mirage V
Spectre F.3........Avon-powered F.3 (Mirage IIIE).....this is easy from the Italeri kit, as you get the extended housing of the IIIC engine as well as the standard fit, plus the extra fin extension seen on the IIIC and export IIIEs (like Argentina's IIIEA).
Spectre GR.4....Avon-powered GR2
Spectre F.5.....extensive mods to F.3
Spectre F.10......version of the Mirage F.1
Spectre F.11, GR.12, GR.14....versions of the F.1 Mirage
Spectre F.20....version of the Mirage 2000C
Spectre F.21, F.22, GR.23, etc....versions of the Mirage 2000 to be developed.

Obviously a lot of work to be done (if I can be arsed) but the framework's there for me to start with a GR.2, perhaps a "boring" F.1 (but probably not!) and onto the F3, F5 to begin with.

The first "target" for completion is the Spectre GR.2, by next weekend. The basic thing'll be together by Monday evening, with additional twiddly bits on Tuesday, painting on Wednesday onwards, and final completion next Saturday/Sunday.
Will this "impose" on the master plan? Not a jot. I'm "ahead" on that, and one Corsair will be finished on Thursday.

Rock on!!

               

[retro_seventies]

Rock indeed Radish - rock on a truly BOB HARRIS scale...

great idea mate - very very keen on the Boulton-Paul Spectre idea, and glad to see you pushing the utopian paradise of Wolverhampton back into the aviation spotlight!

I can see the first Spectre F1 rolling off the production lines now, with Billy Wright breaking a bottle of Banks's mild over its sleek flanks to christen it....

Awesome struff Rad...i'm really looking forward to hearing more!!        

[Jschmus]

Radish, I'm in awe.

I envision planes operated by folks who didn't/don't use them in the real world.  You go the step further and show us planes built by different people.  First the Armstrong-Whitworth Nemesis, now the Boulton-Paul Spectre.  What next?

[Radish]

Thinking about the scheme for the BP Spectre GR.2.
To get away from Grey/Green that some other Sprctres will naturally be finished in, I'm going for a GR.2 in Sand/Green and possibly Dark Green too, with black undersurfaces for twilight attacks on Communist bases in Central Africa (as part of a united Commonwealth Force against Communism in Africa).
All very heavily worn and battered, with the Sky undersurfaces showing through the black in places.
Squadron markings.....depends what I come across but I've lots to choose from.
Having fun with this.
I've just bought a frame for its base.
 

[Swamphen]

Somehow I don't see the Brits being daft enough to designate the F1 in the same series as the III and 2000...  

[Radish]

Hey
I'm British......English actually.
Complete nutter  too.
Barking  in fact
     

[Davey B]

We know, Rad, We know...  

Nice idea BTW! Now all we need to do is sell Lightnings to the Armee de l'Air...    

[Radish]

Wuff, wuff.  
:dum:
Wouldn't a Lightning F.6 look great in that blue/grey with silver undersurfaces and full colour markings?
Or one of the Special schemes adopted??
 

[lancer]

Brilliant idea Rad. Will these Boulton Paul's have 4 gun turrets??

[Radish]

Silly boy!! :dum:

But I DID consider puuting a rear gunner in the well created by the large air brake of the 2-seat Typhoon.
Dark Earth, Dark Green and Sky, with early WW2 markings??
Cool, eh???
       

[The Rat]

PICTURES! WE WANT PICTURES, DAMNIT!

[lancer]

Only trying to emulate the master.      
Actually, a 4 gun turret would be a bit difficult to do as a low drag supersonic jobbie

[Mike Wren]

I can see the first Spectre F1 rolling off the production lines now, with Billy Wright breaking a bottle of Banks's mild over its sleek flanks to christen it....

 brings a tear to the eye, old boy!    

[John Howling Mouse]

But I DID consider puuting a rear gunner in the well created by the large air brake of the 2-seat Typhoon.

This does lead me to wonder:

Has anyone ever created a type of rocket-propelled AAM which can actually be fired (in flight) directly aft against a pursuer?  Maybe too "Airwolf" an idea but would sure save a lot of tracking time vs shooting a missile forward which has to turn 180 degrees to strike your opponent.

Or maybe some kind of aerial depth charge you leave in your wake?  Like a chaff dispenser but with a hell of a lot more attitude.  I'm thinking some kind of clustered concussion grenade that goes off behind you when you've got someone close enough on your six with a lock on you.  Like a flak burst.

Wouldn't take much to bring down many of the latest generation fighters: anything that their intakes ingest can reduce them to all the efficiency of a flying brick.

[Radish]

Some Luftwaffe Fw-190s had their rocket pods apparantly fitted to fire rearwards.
Presumably at B-17s they've just passed.

And yes, I understand the need for pictures.
Barry keeps ON AND ON AND ON at me about it.
The matter is in hand......just be patient.
When I begin there'll be no end.
Just think what's to come?/

All those F-8s, Spitfires, F-20s, Typhoon, Dominican AF F-16, F-16 drone, the Roman stuff (including armour) the AWR armour too, the Apache stuff...and on and on and on.

Just wait....there'll be Spectres too.
And the A-10 Water Bomber of the US Forestry Commission....