DB 601a Whirlwind

[Scotaidh]

What if a Westland Whirlwind fighter had been re-engined with recovered & rebuilt German engines? Daimler-Benz DB 601s, to be exact.


Design Layout Drawing


Transition plates 1


Transition Plates 2 - turns out three were needed to provide the required spacing


Engines in place


You can see how much the nacelle profile needs to be adjusted to be smooth


Wing attached and major PSR done


Prototype Yellow  under-surfaces


I wanted to keep the yellow spinners and rudder to highlight the origin of the engines.

[zenrat]

This is looking very good.

[DogfighterZen]

Very nice work there and looking good! 

[NARSES2]

Looking good 

I've done a Merlin engined Whirlwind using some cut down Spitfire cowlings.

[Dizzyfugu]

Looking good 

I've done a Merlin engined Whirlwind using some cut down Spitfire cowlings.

Me too, twice. But both times I used engine donors from a Mosquito: the first time I transplanted the gondolas wholesale (and they turned out to be a bit oversized...), the second time I (just) implanted resin engines from a conversion kit. Looked much better.

The DB 601 idea is nice, the conversion looks good so far. 

[Captain Canada]

Neat idea. Defo going to change the look !

[Doug K]

Looking good 

I've done a Merlin engined Whirlwind using some cut down Spitfire cowlings.

Me too, twice. But both times I used engine donors from a Mosquito: the first time I transplanted the gondolas wholesale (and they turned out to be a bit oversized...), the second time I (just) implanted resin engines from a conversion kit. Looked much better.

The DB 601 idea is nice, the conversion looks good so far. 

My "Sea Whirlwind" with Merlins was from conversion kits, came out better than I feared half way through!

This is looking intriguing, I wonder how it would look in the captured Messerspit paint scheme?

[PR19_Kit]

This is looking intriguing, I wonder how it would look in the captured Messerspit paint scheme?

That would be a 'Messerwind' then. 

[Scotaidh]

This is looking intriguing, I wonder how it would look in the captured Messerspit paint scheme?

That would be a 'Messerwind' then. 

"Whirlischmitt"

[The Wooksta!]

The Luftwaffe had at least one captured Whirlwind, but AFAIK, it was never flown.

[Scotaidh]

The Luftwaffe had at least one captured Whirlwind, but AFAIK, it was never flown.

What's your source on that?  I've looked without success - I keep getting bogged down in Pinterest ...  :/

[NARSES2]

I've looked without success - I keep getting bogged down in Pinterest ...  :/

The number of times that's happened to me recently whilst trying to do some research is so frustrating  Going to go back to books and the library I think.

[jcf]

Interesting. 

In real-world terms the ballasting required would be interesting as you'd be adding over
350lbs forward of the CG, probably well over 400lbs once the necessary changes in mounts,
hardware, piping etc. were made.

[The Wooksta!]

The Luftwaffe had at least one captured Whirlwind, but AFAIK, it was never flown.

What's your source on that?  I've looked without success - I keep getting bogged down in Pinterest ...  :/

I think it was a Squadron/Signal book called "Strangers in a Strange Land" about Allied aircraft in Axis hands.  I don't have it to hand so can't check.

[Scotaidh]

Interesting. 

In real-world terms the ballasting required would be interesting as you'd be adding over
350lbs forward of the CG, probably well over 400lbs once the necessary changes in mounts,
hardware, piping etc. were made.

I think I'd handle that by relocating the cannon to put the breeches and ammo - a lot more ammo - aft of the cockpit ala Mosquito, and extending the blast-tubes.  But for now, I'm keeping it simple.  I might even leave off the cannon altogether to sort out that CG problem - after all, this is a prototype.