Bristol Rockbeau March 1945

[b29r]

This is the old tool Airfix Beaufighter that I purposed as a paint mule . . . . right after I had picked myself off the floor after opening the box  .  So it has languished, suffered, lost parts, decals, etc. etc. as time went by. 


So here is a bit of in-progress, with the goal of getting her finished  :






And a bit less glossy 






I think I have the back story mostly worked out.


Best regards,
Kem

[zenrat]

Shiny!

Looks like you got it together OK.  Fit can be "challenging" on these.

[PR19_Kit]

Looks like you got it together OK.  Fit can be "challenging" on these.

Is that an alternative way of spelling 'non-existent'?

[Knightflyer]

Looks like you got it together OK.  Fit can be "challenging" on these.

Is that an alternative way of spelling 'non-existent'?

Did Zenrat used to be an Estate Agent ? 

[Caveman]

Were Bristol trying to compensate for something here?!

[b29r]

Project scrapped and sent to reclamation

[NARSES2]

That's a shame after all the effort needed to get that finish

[b29r]

As night raids into Germany increased during 1944, German defenses improved, notably it's night fighter groups. A counter-measure to these night fighters was by the use of bomber escorts, primarily radar equipped De Haviland Mosquito's. While the Mosquitos were quite efficient, giving rise to "Moskitopanik" among German night crews, there simply weren't enough to adequately cover the bomber formations.



Beaufighters, however, were effective (if somewhat less capable) and were available in quantity. With the capture of former Luftwaffe bases in France, Bristol's now had sufficient range for night escort missions.

Three additional items made the Beaufighter Mk VI conversion even more potent; the inclusion of onboard radar designed for the North American P-82 (then under development), the proximity fuse for air-to-air use, and lastly, the installation of nitrous oxide systems for high performance.





Normal tactics for the now (somewhat) affectionately named "Pinocchio" crew was to gain contact on a trailing German night fighter, but not to close too rapidly on it, as if for gun action. Instead, the crew would "paint" the target with its radar at approximately 1,000 yards range, and then loose two of its RP-3 SAP proximity fused rockets which would either hit the night fighter, or else detonate just in front of it, sufficiently destroying or damaging it, or else causing it to take evasive action. Typically a two rocket salvo would do the trick.

In the even that all rockets were expended, then the Pinocchio's gun armament could be used, which was limited to the underwing mounted .303's. This was useful in encouraging the German crew to disengage from the bomber, thinking a cannon-armed Mosquito was trailing them.

The addition of the nitrous system, reverse engineered from a captured Ju-88G, would allow short bursts of high speed to enable timely positioning for the attack. The nitrous tanks were stored in the radar nacelle, and the nacelle itself was reinforced to permit safe belly landings (especially on snowy landing fields) in the event of landing gear failure. Initially, there was a lot of concern regarding ground clearance for the radar nacelle, but on examination it was found to be equivalent with other equipment in use, e.g. P-47 belly tanks. A 3-point landing was the preferred technique.

Despite early criticisms of the design and use of the Pinocchio in the night escort role, it proved to be a true pioneer of air-to-air missile tactics and was highly successful. Pinocchio crews enjoyed a favorable kill rate of just under 18:1, in approximately 7,500 sorties.





In addition to operating the radar unit, the observer was also equipped with a rudimentary set of flight controls, and could relieve the pilot for short periods of the flight. The rear firing defensive gun was soon removed after a few missions, as proving unnecessary.

Pinocchio's were rapidly withdrawn and scrapped after the war, as the airframes and engines were high time and not worth maintaining in the postwar period. No "Pinocchio" aircraft remain today.

***********

This project was pulled from reclamation and finished, and appears also on another website.  My apologies to you all for the abruptness and the manner in which it was handled.  I need to learn to relax and remember that it is a hobby, after all.   

Best regards,
Kem

[Scotaidh]

Very nice! 

[Snowtrooper]

The addition of the nitrous system, reverse engineered from a captured Ju-88G, would allow short bursts of high speed to enable timely positioning for the attack.

Certain Mossie NF. XIII's (52 were thus modified) and a few PR Spits had a British NOS system already, no need to reverse engineer one...

[b29r]

Thanks guys!

ST:  I didn't realize that those a/c were so equipped . . . . I learned something today, thank you!

Best regards,
Kem

[The Rat]

Suhweeet! 

[zenrat]

I think he's excited about something...

Good job getting the old kit to look so good.

Looks like you got it together OK.  Fit can be "challenging" on these.

Is that an alternative way of spelling 'non-existent'?

Did Zenrat used to be an Estate Agent ? 

No, i'm practicing to be a politician.

[PR19_Kit]

An excellent resurrection there Kem. 

Love the backstory and the big radar pod really looks the part too. I just KNOW where that came from..... 

[TheChronicOne]

Very good!!!  You fought the law and you won. Or... something. 


Anyway.... you did a fine job of resurrecting this and finishing the project and I think it looks great.