RAF Centenary GB - Finished Builds

Westland Wrangler Mk I

Developed in the late 1930-ies by Westland as a tailless fighter. It's design derives from the Pterodactyl experimentals but is much more radical and modern. Having a potent weaponry of 4x 20mm guns in the nose below the cockpit it lay-out was soon copied in the Netherlands by De Schelde as the S.21. Being very radical in its design, it wasn't in favour by the RAF high command and other more traditional designs, like Hurricane and Spitfire, were ordered.

IMG_5255 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5256 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5258 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Actually a Hurricane leftover nose glued to the front glazing of a Potez 63-11. Wings are from an Horten 229, gearbays/tailstubs are from an xfy-1 pogo.

David aka 63cpe

63cpe · October 14, 2018, 11:57:13 AM

Westland Anax Imperator

Designed as a short take off and landing experimental it followed the design of an Orntithopter like The Riout 102T Alérion some years earlier. Experiments started in late 1940 but soon proved to be under developed. The motor drove an crankshaft over the engine which drove the wings via rotators to flapping motion. For means of changing direction and speed, the incident of each wing could be altered as was the motion of the wings by braking the rotarors. The contraption soon proved to be underdeveloped as the rotators were soon shaken to destruction by the braking at higher revs of the wings. Because other (helicopter) deveopments wer more fruitfull, development was halted.

IMG_5259 (2) by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5262 (2) by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5264 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Hope you like it...It's actually a converted steel kit by Fascinations (Metal Earth series)

David aka 63cpe

63cpe · October 14, 2018, 12:21:32 PM

RAE BE-25 Firebird

During the late 1920-ies and early 1930-ies the RAE ( former RAF, nowadays BAE) were experimenting to find the optimum wing shape. This was done by numerous experiments with wind tunnel models. The next step was an experimental plane which proved stable enough for service. It was decided to build a full scale model which was intended to be a bomber/ radio training aircraft. First flight was in july 1937.

The BE-25 had trapezoidal wings with slotted flaps (Junkers double wings) over the entire rear flap, of which the outer ones were used as ailerons and the inner ones as elevators. The two rudders were in end plates at the wing end. The fuselage was equipped with a bow and stern turret, each with a 7.62-mm machine gun and a bomb pit for 500 kilograms bombs. Although powered by two RR Merlin II engines, it was rather slow due to it's less than efficient body shape.

IMG_5246 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5244 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5247 (2) by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Actually a converted Kalinin K-12 with Halifax Engines

David aka 63cpe

63cpe · October 14, 2018, 02:14:16 PM

Fairey Zander

IMG_5277 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5280 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_5278 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

jalles · October 14, 2018, 02:42:27 PM

F-42B Tempest

Build thread is here: http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,45444.0.html

63cpe · October 14, 2018, 03:22:37 PM

Fairey Ultra light helicopter AH.1 and SH.1

IMG_20181015_001237791 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

David aka 63cpe

AeroplaneDriver · October 14, 2018, 03:25:03 PM

Britain's brief but bloody war in Vietnam saw a peak deployment in late 1969-1970. 1968 Saw increased political pressure from the US for the UK to increase the initial deployments to Vietnam. It also saw the WarPac taking advantage of the resulting UK drawdown in Europe to stage war games in Eastern Europe. With pressure from both the US and NATO the UK found itself needing additional combat aviation assets. Hawker Siddeley had already done extensive studies on developments of the successful Gnat trainer, capitalizing on its small size and agility.

In June 1968 the British Government awarded HS a contract to convert 26 Gnat T.1s to FG.3 standard. The conversion included a new Orpheus 803 engine providing additional thrust, cockpit armoring, two ADEN 30mm cannon in the engine intakes with 110 rounds per gun, a 55 gallon ventral fuel tank, combat avionics including a radar ranging gunsight, two additional wing pylons rated at 750lb, the provision for wingtip launch rails for Sidewinder AAMs, and improved landing gear to handle the addition weight. Additional modifications to the Gnat's underwing fuel tanks allowed for the fitting of either a M154 7.62mm minigun with 1250 rounds of ammunition or a photo reconnaissance package.

The first Gnat FG.3s entered service with the RAF in August 1969, with the first combat deployment to Vietnam following in December of that year when 73 Sqn deployed to Phan Rang. The initial deployment allowed 16 Sqn's Canberras to move back to Europe. 73 Sqn was tasked primarily with CAS, and in this role most often carried US BLU-27 napalm bombs or SNEB rockets in Matra 155 pods and a minigun in the left underwing fuel tank. If operating in an area with heavy North Vietnamese fighter coverage wingtip sidewinders were fitted, though this was rare.

Though the Gnat was originally viewed with some skepticism as a combat type, its small size and agility made it an effective platform. In the CAS role its twin ADEN cannons were effective against vehicles, the 7.62mm minigun was effective against soft targets and personnel, and with either SNAB rockets or napalm it made an effective close support weapon.

NARSES2 · October 15, 2018, 06:40:16 AM

Right gentlemen. That's it, we've gone past the deadline everywhere I think so I'm locking the thread now. I will get around to organising the Poll in the next day or two as I'm a little busy at the moment.

Thank you all for taking part

Chris