Miles Dart F.1

[Devilfish]

After the defeat of Japan, the Allies went in, as they did in Germany, to see what technology they could find. Two prototypes of an advanced new fighter , the Kyushu J7W Shinden (Magnificent Lightning) were found. One was shipped to the USA, where it was promptly ignored and sits in pieces in a museum to this day.

The other was supposedly destroyed, yet in reality it was shipped to the UK, where it was tested. Once testing was complete, the report claimed it to be an excellent and agile fighter, but because it was still piston engine powered, it was of no interest.

The Miles aircraft company, asked if they could have the soon to be scrapped airframe for "testing".   They developed it to accept the RR Derwent engine. As it no longer had the huge rear prop, the long spindly undercarriage was seen as irrelevant.  It was modified and shortened.  This meant the lower tail fins would also need to be removed, and stability was restored with a third fin mounted on the fuselage.

The Air Ministry were impressed with the new aircraft's speed and agility, even if it's range wasn't ideal. Two squadrons were equipped with the aircraft, now called the Dart, and based on the new frontline in Germany.



Kit is the Hasegawa 1/48 Shinden

20191120_212605 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

20191120_212612 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20191120_212619 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20191120_212626 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20191120_212636 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, what a cracking idea! Nice job indeed. 

[TomZ]

Wow!
Great idea 

TomZ

[comrade harps]

For some reason I see the 3rd fin as very "Heath Robinson" British! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Oh, that's nice! I've seen a Shinden in Swiss colors, and it looked good - but in RAF markings it looks strangely convincing! 

Love it! 

[zenrat]

You beat me to it.  I was going to build a lowered jet Shinden.
D'oh!

Great work.

[Devilfish]

You beat me to it.  I was going to build a lowered jet Shinden.
D'oh!

Great work.

It just looks too gangly on it's original U/C. I shortened the main legs, and they still looked too long, so I used Hurricane legs.....

[Tophe]

good!

[zenrat]

You beat me to it.  I was going to build a lowered jet Shinden.
D'oh!

Great work.

It just looks too gangly on it's original U/C. I shortened the main legs, and they still looked too long, so I used Hurricane legs.....

My thoughts exactly.  It needed long legs with a prop but a jet version didn't need to be so high.  I'll still build one as I feel I need to address the size of the inlets.

[Rheged]

That is a most impressive piece of work.

[Devilfish]

You beat me to it.  I was going to build a lowered jet Shinden.
D'oh!

Great work.

It just looks too gangly on it's original U/C. I shortened the main legs, and they still looked too long, so I used Hurricane legs.....

My thoughts exactly.  It needed long legs with a prop but a jet version didn't need to be so high.  I'll still build one as I feel I need to address the size of the inlets.

Yes, looking at it now, I do wish I'd made them bigger. 

[NARSES2]

That has really come out well, terrific finish 

I have the resin conversion set to turn the Hasegawa 1/72 kit into the proposed "Jet Shinden". Never thought of the length of the legs, interesting.

[chrisonord]

Very nice 

[Cobra]

this is an Awesome Build it Just Seems Right in RAF Colors. it Also looks like Something You'd see in Either Crison Skies or a Gerry Anderson Series! Keep up the superb Work Dan

[Captain Canada]

Camo makes it look better but it's still ugly lol