Jet Avenger

[loupgarou]

After the disgraceous failure of the atomic bomb, the Pacific war was becoming eternal, the japanese managed to develop jet fighter planes using the data and drawings obtained form Germany and successfully made the B-29 raids too costly.
They even started to counterattack, regaining ground in the Philippines Islands, harassing the allied forces with night attacks.
The allied were in diffculties, no adequate night fighters were available and the first jets didn't have space, power or autonomy to carry a radar and operator.
As a stopgap, Grumman proposed to the Navy their Avenger, a strong and proven airframe, with a capacious belly, to develop an interim jet night fighter.
It offered enough space for 2 engines, and for radar and operator. In fact it used 2 radars, one for long range search, the other for short range target acquisition.
Owing to doubts about damages to carrier decks from he exhausts, it was used shore based. Obviously the tailwheel was all-metal.




Kit is one of the various russian Frog-spawn.The jet exhaust come from some russian aircraft, they did fit very well in the space. Using the radial engine ring for a jet intake was a natural and logical idea. The longer and more obnoxious work was filling and filing the turret space.

[NARSES2]

  Would certainly suit a sharks mouth
.

Interesting scenario. I read a  sci-fi novel many, many years ago where the nuclear bomb worked whilst being tested, but if used in anger it failed. Sounds an odd concept but it was an interesting read.

[Tophe]

Wow! Great idea!
I will probably draw similar Mustangs for my CGY P-51 topic, thanks!

[chrisonord]

It looks like it could  be the predecessor to the  Douglas skyknight .

[PR19_Kit]

Ingenious, and well thought out, not to mention nicely built too. 

[loupgarou]

Thanks for the appreciations, even if the build, as the original kit, is quite crude. And I wanted to finish it at last, so the last steps quite careless.

[Tophe]

I will probably draw similar Mustangs for my CGY P-51 topic, thanks!

Now done at https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=4461.2265
Thanks!

[sandiego89]

Fantastic idea and execution. I am a sucker for early jet conversions.

[Hobbes]

That looks very plausible 

[TomZ]

Very Good!!!!!!

TomZ

[63cpe]

Terrific job Loupgarou! Well done!

David aka 63cpe

[kitbasher]

 

Mmmm, got me thinking.  Could a Fairey Gannet be given the same treatment, or is the fuselage a tad too narrow?  unless twin Vipers were fitted maybe?  Would they provide enough puff (I suppose if they can push an HS/BAe 125 along they should)?  Anyone familiar with the Jet Provost will probably be familiar with the saying 'constant  thrust variable noise'.

[63cpe]

Mmmm, got me thinking.  Could a Fairey Gannet be given the same treatment, or is the fuselage a tad too narrow?  unless twin Vipers were fitted maybe?  Would they provide enough puff (I suppose if they can push an HS/BAe 125 along they should)?  Anyone familiar with the Jet Provost will probably be familiar with the saying 'constant  thrust variable noise'.

It got me thinking about a half build Helldiver i still got lying aound....maybe kitbash with a bell airacomet?

David aka 63cpe

[Captain Canada]

Javenger ! Very cool. I like the look of the canopy razorback as well.

Cheers !

[The Rat]

Modeling at its finest!