The Defiant IV, the scourge of the Panzers.

[PR19_Kit]

The Defiant IV is done and dusted! 

So here we have AA680, a Defiant IV of D Flight, 6 Squadron based in the Western Desert in late 1942. The Defiant IVs were developed specially for the anti-armour role after lessons learnt with the formidable Hurricane IIds. The IIds were very effective in their role, toting twin Vickers 40mm cannon, but proved a little too vulnerable to AA fire at the low levels where they usually operated, their most vulnerable area being the large under belly radiator for the liquid cooled Merlin engine.

The Defiant IVs were fitted with the Napier Epee engine, an enlarged Dagger giving some 1100 bhp at 4000 rpm having an H24 configuration with 4 valves per cylinder, but which was air cooled. This, and the turret mounted behind the cockpit gave the Defiant IVs a considerable advantage over the Hurricane IIds in that they were less vulnerable and the turret gunner could engage any escaping tank crew members. After initial trials with the four standard 0.303" Brownings, later Defiant IVs were fitted with twin 0.5 machine guns which enabled them to take on any soft skinned vehicles as well.



A general 3/4 view, but the 0.5 gunned turret can clearly be seen, as well as the twin 40 mm cannon.




The Epee engine installation. The desert intake filter is mounted in between the two exhaust banks, and is mirrored on the starboard side.




A target's eye view from any Me-109 that would be so unwise as to get this close to the twin 0.5s.




The underside showing the quite bright  Sky Blue camouflage used by C and D flights of 6 Sqdn. Also note the red painted aerial masts of the Defiant. The aft mast retracted in conjunction with the main gear extending to avoid ground contact, and the Defiant IVs had a similar arrangement for the forward mast as the original fixed items suffered from contact on the rough desert strips. (What actually happened is the blasted thing broke off and vanished, leaving only a stub.....)




Unlike the Hurricanes, the Defiant IVs carried two 0.303 sighting guns, one in each wing, giving the armourers a really tough time as they had to load three different sizes of ammunition, 0.303, 0.5 and 40 mm.

[philp]

Looks good Kit.

I say you solved all of the issues the build threw at you just fine.

[zenrat]

Good job Kit.  Ugly looking critter, I like it.

[NARSES2]

I do like what you've done with this Kit 

It does seem to have been a jinxed kit as far as your'e concerned though, odd that you had problems with the undercarriage whilst I sailed through on both of mine, whereas I've really struggled with the undercarriage on all the Airfix Hurricanes I've built  And what concerns me is that Arma seem to use the same method of construction.

Unlike the Hurricanes, the Defiant IVs carried two 0.303 sighting guns, one in each wing,

My references say that the Hurricanes had sighting guns as well Kit.

[PR19_Kit]

My references say that the Hurricanes had sighting guns as well Kit.

Yes, but only one in the port wing IIRC. Or were there two of them?

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Good looking brute - well done!

[PR19_Kit]

Brute is right Glenn, thanks. 

[stevehed]

Excellent build. I like the engine change. Once wondered what the Finns would have made of the Defiant.

Regards, Steve

[chrisonord]

Moody looking creature you have created there Kit, it looks like it  could  cause a lot  of pain.  Marvellous 
Chris

[Old Wombat]

I've been looking at this for days, trying to decide if I like it or not & have come to the conclusion it's too ugly to be "likable" but not ugly enough to be "ugly-beautiful".

Sorry, Kit.

Still, it's a good build, especially for one that fought you much of the way.

[NARSES2]

My references say that the Hurricanes had sighting guns as well Kit.

Yes, but only one in the port wing IIRC. Or were there two of them?

I've checked both my Putnam's "Hawker Aircraft" and my Crecy "Hawker Hurricane" and they both say two Kit.

[PR19_Kit]

OK thanks Chris.

[Caveman]

Lovely!

[drmrhonda580]

Love the conversion ! However, as an anti armor a/c wouldn't it be more beneficial to use an air cooled radial (p&w r2800 ?)for better survivability ? as per p-47 / au-1 corsair. I do like the 40mm cannons.

[PR19_Kit]

Any air cooled engine would have done, yes, but when you have a resin Napier Dagger moulding handy and it fits the front end of a Defiant EXACTLY...........