Alternative RAF Fighters

[TomZ]

1940:   No Spitfire Mk I and Hurricane Mk I but Martin Baker Viper Mk I



After Rolls Royce could not get the Merlin Engine to work reliable, the RAF turned to Martin Baker for its new fighter. The Napier Dagger engined Martin Baker MB-2 was named Viper and entered service in early 1939. In the Battle of Britain it proved inferior to the Me-109 both in speed and climb but managed to hold back the Luftwaffe, although just barely.




1943:   No Spitfire Mk IX but Martin Baker Python Mk IV



In the Battle of Britain the Viper proved inferior to the Me-109. This caused the RAF to accelerate the search for a successor to the MB-2. This turned out to be the Martin Baker MB-3 with a Napier Sabre engine of 2000hp. This proved more than a match to the Me-109 and was on equal footing with the new Focke Wulf FW-190.




1944:   No Hawker Typhoon Mk Ia but Hawker Tornado Mk II



After the disaster with the Merlin engine Rolls Royce put all its energy in the Vulture. And with success. The Vulture engined Tornado proved superior to the Napier Sabre engined Typhoon in almost every aspect.  Also this freed the Sabre production for the Python fighter, so the RAF chose the Tornado over the Typhoon. The Tornado was used as a fighter and an attack aircraft over France.






http://www.airwar1946.nl/whif/L46-AltRAF.htm


TomZ
http://www.airwar1946.nl/index.htm

[PR19_Kit]

Absolutely wonderful Tom, great modelling and great backstory too. 

With the Merlin being such a bag of bolts, what did they do to help the Mustang out with its asthmatic Allison engine then? 

[TomZ]

With the Merlin being such a bag of bolts, what did they do to help the Mustang out with its asthmatic Allison engine then? 

Ahhh, but you are wrong there. The Allison V-1710 was a very successful engine. It made the Allison company so wealthy that they bought Rolls Royce in 1951.

At least, it was in this universe......

TomZ

[DogfighterZen]

Very nice work on all of them and backstory too, interesting scenario.

[zenrat]

Cool.

[Knightflyer]

Very nice - I thought at first glance the MB3 had some "Dewoitine d.520" as part of it's make-up, but I presume it's purely co-incidental (parallel design philosophies?)

[PR19_Kit]

Very nice - I thought at first glance the MB3 had some "Dewoitine d.520" as part of it's make-up, but I presume it's purely co-incidental (parallel design philosophies?)

I thought that too, it's that long slim nose that does it, and the cockpit position perhaps?

[Knightflyer]

Very nice - I thought at first glance the MB3 had some "Dewoitine d.520" as part of it's make-up, but I presume it's purely co-incidental (parallel design philosophies?)

I thought that too, it's that long slim nose that does it, and the cockpit position perhaps?

Remembering the odd bits of aerodynamic design I've picked up along the way (something had to stick!) - isn't the 'aft' positioned cockpit the best position - aerodynamically only of course?

[rickshaw]

Very nice - I thought at first glance the MB3 had some "Dewoitine d.520" as part of it's make-up, but I presume it's purely co-incidental (parallel design philosophies?)

I thought that too, it's that long slim nose that does it, and the cockpit position perhaps?

Remembering the odd bits of aerodynamic design I've picked up along the way (something had to stick!) - isn't the 'aft' positioned cockpit the best position - aerodynamically only of course?

Normally the fuel tank occupies the most central position so that when the fuel is consumed, it causes the least trim change.   As the central position is also where you want to put your pilot, there has to be a choice, with invariably the result being the cockpit goes behind the fuel tank...

[NARSES2]

Very nice - I thought at first glance the MB3 had some "Dewoitine d.520" as part of it's make-up, but I presume it's purely co-incidental (parallel design philosophies?)

I thought that too, it's that long slim nose that does it, and the cockpit position perhaps?

Well that's 3 of us 

Great builds Tom  Personal favourite is the  MB2 although I have a soft spot for the Tornado having built one myself in the past.

[Tophe]

Great!
I thought RAF fighter warbirds was a boring subject, because too much famous, but with these additions it comes new again, thanks!

[PR19_Kit]

Wasn't there a D.520 unit that was manned mainly by Polish pilots too? The Polish 'squaral' on the nose would be another link for that.

[ysi_maniac]

Very nice set of fighters !