Trainer

Northrop N-9M-2 (Czechmaster, Resin)

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TYPE:  Scaled-down experimental aircraft

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Menasco C6S-1 ‘Buccaneer’ air-cooled engines, rated at 275 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 258 mph

COMMENT: The Northrop N-9M was considered an approximately one-third scale, 60-ft span all-wing aircraft used for the development of the full size, 172-ft wide Northrop XB-35 and YB-35 flying wing long-range, heavy bomber. On October 1941, the preliminary order for development of the B-35 Flying Wing bomber was confirmed, including engineering, testing, and most importantly a 60 ft (18 m) wingspan, one-third scale aircraft, designated N-9M. It was to be used in gathering data on flight performance and for familiarizing pilots with the program’s radical, all-wing design. The first N-9M was ordered in the original contract, but this was later expanded to three test aircraft in early 1943. A fourth was ordered a few months later after a crash of the first N-9M destroyed that airframe; this fourth N-9M incorporated various flight test-derived improvements and upgrades, including different, more powerful engines. The four aircraft were designated N-9M-1, -2, -A, and -B, respectively. The N-9M framework was partially constructed of wood to reduce its overall weight. The wings’ outer surfaces were also skinned with strong, specially laminated plywood. The central section (roughly equivalent to the fuselage) was made of welded tubular steel. The first flight of the N-9M occurred on 27 December 1942. During the next five months, 45 flights were made. Nearly all were terminated by mechanical failures of one sort or another, the Menasco engines being the primary source of those problems. After roughly 22.5 hours of accumulated flight time, the first N-9M crashed on 19 May 1943. Northrop’s Flying Wing bomber program was canceled in mid 1944, and all remaining N-9M flight test aircraft, except for the final N-9MB, were scrapped (Ref. 24).

Fighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me P.1104/II (A+V-Models, Resin)

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TYPE: Short-range interceptor. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Walter HWK 509A-2 liquid-fueled rocket, rated at 1,700 kp

PERFORMANCE: 503 mph

COMMENT:  In mid 1944 the RLM called for proposals of a small, cheap, easy to build, reusable short-range, high speed interceptor in the context of the ‘Miniaturjägerprogramm’ (Miniature fighter program).  Aircraft companies such as Bachem,  Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Junkers and Messerschmitt submitted proposals: Bachem Ba 349 ‘Natter’ (‘Grass Snake’), Focke-Wulf Fw ‘Volksjäger’, (‘People Fighter’), Heinkel He P.1077 ‘Julia’, Junkers EF 126 ‘Lilli’, Junkers EF 127 ‘Walli’ and Messerschmitt the designs Me P.1103 and Me P.1104, each in several variants. The Messerschmitt Me P.1104/II design was a simple wooden construction with a cylindrical fuselage, the wings were shoulder-mounted and un-swept so as the tail-plane. Power was provided by a Walter HWK 509A-2 liquid-fuel rocket engine with a main combustion chamber of 1.700 kp thrust and a smaller cruising chamber of 300 kp thrust. The pilot was in a conventional seated position, the armament consisted of one single MK 108 30 mm cannon beneath the cockpit.  For take-off the fighter was positioned on a trolley so as the Messerschmitt Me 163 ‘Komet (‘Comet’) that was jettisoned when the aircraft was airborne. The tiny plane was towed by a Messerschmitt Me 109G or Messerschmitt Me 262A-1 towards the enemy, released when in attack position and ignited the rocket motor. After attack the aircraft glided back to its base and landed on retractable skids. As with projects of other companies all work was cancelled in favour of the Bachem Ba 349 ‘Natter’ (Ref.: 17, 20)

Fighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me 262C-3a ‘Heimatschützer IV’, (Home Protector IV’) (Revell, Parts scratch-built)

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TYPE: Interception fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004C turbojet engines, rated at 980 kp each and one Walter HWK 509S-2 liquid-fueled rocket engine, rated at 1,700 kp

PERFORMANCE: 510 mph at 32,800 ft

COMMENT: The major disadvantage displayed by the ‘Heimatschützer I’ had been the strict limitation imposed on J2 tankage (for the Jumo 004 turbojet engines) by the internally mounted rocket motor, and the need to use some of the available tankage for its propellants. The Messerschmitt Me 262C-3a ‘Heimatschützer IV’, therefore, had a Walter R II-211/§ rocket motor slung beneath the fuselage with ‘C-Stoff’  and ‘T-Stoff’ tanks  mounted on modified bomb carriers immediately ahead of the power plant. The rocket motor was jettisonable, and was to be dropped by parachute after the fuel had been consumed. Fuel was fed to the power plant by means of a flexible line, but difficulties were encountered with the fuel feed as a level of tanks was slightly below that of rocket combustion chamber, and these had not been resolved when further work on the Messerschmitt Me 262C-3a ‘Heimatschützer IV’ terminated.
Another ‘Heimatschützer’, the Messerschmitt Me 262C-3 ‘Heimatschützer III’ was a proposed version of the basic Me 262A-1a with Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines replaced with Walter HWK RII-211 liquid-fueled rocket engines (Ref.: 7).

Fighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me P. 1103/III (A+V Models, Resin)

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TYPE: Short-range interceptor. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Walter HKW 509A-1 liquid-fueled rocket, rated at 1,600 kp

PERFORMANCE: 435 mph

COMMENT: In 1944, according to the RLM’s ‘Miniaturjägerprogramm’ (Miniature fighter program) the Messerschmitt Me P.1103/III was designed as a small, cheap, easy to build, short-range, high speed interceptor fighter. Competitors were Focke-Wulf Fw ‘Volksjäger’, Junkers EF 126 ‘Lilli’, Junkers EF 127 ’Walli’ and Bachem Ba 349 ‘Natter’. Construction was to be simple, the airframe mainly built from wood. The wings were mid-mounted and un-swept so as the tail-plane. For take-off the fighter set on a simple pair of wheels and a front skid. Both were jettisoned when the aircraft was airborne. The tiny plane was towed by a Messerschmitt Me 109G or Messerschmitt Me 262A-1 towards the enemy, released when in right position and ignited the rocket motor. After attack the aircraft glided back to its base and landed on retractable skids. All design work was cancelled in favour of the Bachem Ba 349 ‘Natter’ (Ref.: 17).

Fighter, Fighterbomber

De Havilland D.H.103 ‘Hornet’ F.1 (Frog)

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TYPE: Long-range fighter and fighter-bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Rolls-Royce ‘Merlin’ 130/131 liquid-cooled engines, rated at 2,030 hp each

PERFORMANCE: 472 mph at 22,000 ft

COMMENT: The de Havilland D.H.103 ‘Hornet’ was perhaps the most graceful twin-engined monoplane to be produced by any combatants during WW II. The experience gained by the company with the de Havilland ‘Mosquito’, coupled with a need for a long-range, single-seat fighter for the use in what appeared likely to be a prolonged island-hopping in the South Pacific against the Japanese, led to the design of an unusual clean ’Merlin’-powered aircraft. The first prototype D.H.103, officially to be named ‘Hornet’, was flown on July 1944. Production of sixty ‘Hornet’ F.1s was commenced late in 1944, and the first aircraft off the line flew on February 1945. The prototypes of the ‘Hornet’ had achieved the phenomenal speed of 485 mph and with full operational equipment the production ‘Hornet’ F.1 was only a shade slower at 472 mph. The ‘Hornet’ was too late to see operational service during WW II, however, the first squadron, No 64, re-equipped early in 1946. A conversion of the ‘Hornet’ F.1 initiated before the end of war was the navalisation of two machines for use on carriers. Equipped with folding wings, these aircraft were named ‘Sea Hornet’ (Ref.: 12)

Fighter

Messerschmitt Me 262C-2b ‘Heimatschützer II’ (‘Home Protector II’), (Revell, Parts scratch-built)

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TYPE: Interceptor fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two BMW 003R units, each of which comprised a BMW 003A turbojet engine, rated 800 kp and a BMW 718 bi-fuel rocket motor rated at 1.230 kp

PERFORMANCE: 510 mph at 32,800 ft

COMMENT: The second rocket-boosted development, the Messerschmitt Me 262C-2b ‘Heimatschützer II’ (‘Home Protector II’), also converted from a Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a, made its sole test flight in March 1945. The Me 262C-2b was powered by two BMW 003R units each of which comprised a BMW 003A turbojet and a BMW 718 liquid-fuel rocket motor. The arrangement of the fuel tanks was similar to that of the Messerschmitt Me 262C-1a except that “S-Stoff’ occupied the forward main tank and ‘R-Stoff’ was housed by the aft auxiliary tank. The BMW 718 rocket motor was highly temperamental, and although some 50 bench runs were made with the complete BMW 003R unit, on several occasions the rocket component blew up and burned fiercely. Only one flight with the sole Messerschmitt Me 262C-2a ‘Heimatschützer II’ under full power was made. Further work concentrated on the Messerschmitt Me 262C-3b ‘Heimatschützer IV’. However, the aircraft shown here could be attached to the ISS 1 (Industrie Schutz Staffel 1 (Industry Protection Squadron) —- assumed of serial production (Ref.: 7).

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Nakajima Ki-43-II KAI ‘Hayabusa’, (‘Peregrine Falcon’, ‘Oscar’), 50th Sentai, 3rd Chutai, (Hasegawa)

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TYPE: Interceptor fighter, fighter bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Nakajima Ha.35/21 air-cooled radial engine, rated at 1.130 hp

PERFORMANCE: 320 mph at 19,680 ft

COMMENT:  Combat experiences with the Ki-43-I dictated a number of changes in the design of the aircraft that led to the development of the Nakajima Ki-43-II-KAI. It entered service in summer 1943 and served over every theatre to which the JAAF was committed. The Ki-43-II-KAI was capable to out-maneuvering every Allied fighter it encountered and its element was dog-fighting, but the Lockheed P-38 ‘Lightning’, the Republic P-47 ‘Thunderbolt’ and the north American P-51 ‘Mustang’ could all out-dive and out-zoom the Japanese fighter which could not withstand the greater firepower of the Allied types, frequently disintegrating in the air when hit. More than 5.000 Ki-43-II ‘Hayabusa’ were built by Nakajima and Tachikawa (Ref.: 13)

Fighter

Messerschmitt Me 262C-1a ‘Heimatschützer I’ (’Home Protector I’), (Matchbox, parts scratch-built)

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TYPE: Interceptor fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004C-1 turbojet engines, rated at 980 kp and one Walter HWK 509A-1 liquid-fueled rocket engine, rated at 1,600 kp

PERFORMANCE: 535 mph at 26,250 ft

COMMENT: Early in 1945, considerable importance was attached to the rapid development of rocket-boosted ‘Heimatschützer’ (‘Home Protector’) versions of the Messerschmitt Me 262 capable of climbing to intercept altitude with extreme rapidity. The first of these, the Messerschmitt Me 262C-1a ‘Heimatschützer I’ converted from a Me 262A-1a, was flown for the first time on February 27, 1945. The Me 262C-1a had a Walter bi-fuel rocket motor mounted in the extreme rear of the fuselage. Tanks for the ‘T-Stoff’ and ‘C-Stoff’ for the rocket engine and the fuel tanks for the turbojet engines were located in the fuselage. Although the rocket motor did reduce the take-off run of the Me 262C-1a, its primary function was to boost climb rate. Once started the rocket motor provided full power for three minutes which was sufficient to push the Me 262C-1a to an altitude of 26,250 ft. From a standing start an altitude of 38,400 ft could be reached in 4.5 min. Four flight tests were completed before development of this ‘Heimatschützer’ was discarded in favor of the Messerschmitt Me 262C-3 ‘Heimatschützer IV’. One Messerschmitt Me 262C-1a only was built, but the aircraft shown here could be attached to the JV 44 (Jagd Verband, Pursuit Unit) —- assumed of serial production (Ref.:  7).

Fighter, Fighterbomber

Supermarine ‘Spitfire’ F Mk. XIV, 610 SQN (Fujimi)

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TYPE: Interceptor fighter, fighter bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Rolls-Royce ‘Griffon III’ liquid-cooled engine, rated at 1,735 hp

PERFORMANCE: 448 mph at 18,000 ft

COMMENT: In order to boost the performance of the Spitfire Mk. IV it was intended to replace the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine by a single stage Rolls-Royce Griffon IIb liquid-cooled engine, driving a four-blade airscrew. In order to avoid confusion the Griffon engine prototype was redesigned as Spitfire Mk. XX. So in consequence all Griffon-powered Spitfires would be designated in the Mk. XX series, but this plan was not adhered to when the interim Griffon-powered Mk. XII, XIV, XVII and XIX were produced. The Spitfire Mk. IV alias Mk. XX was made the subject of production contracts during the period that the prototype was under development, and 750 were ordered in autumn 1941. But in fact, none was produced in this form. In spring 1942 the need arose suddenly for a high-performance low-altitude fighter to combat the low-flying Focke-Wulf Fw 190. The availability of the improved version of the two-stage Griffon engine led to an interim variant of the Spitfire, designated Mk. XIV. As initially produced, this aircraft had what was, apart from some strengthening of the fuselage, a standard Mk. VIII airframe married to a Griffon 65 engine which drove a five-blade Rotol airscrew. The vertical surfaces were enlarged and the “C” wing was used. In total 975 Spitfire Mk. XIV were produced, 527 fighter and 430 fighter-reconnaissance aircraft. The Spitfire Mk. XIV gained the distinction of destroying the first Messerschmitt Me 262 in fighter-versus-fighter combat, this event taking place on October 5, 1944 (Ref.: 12).

Nightfighter, Projects

Messerschmitt Me 262 with Heinkel-Hirth HeS 021 Turboprop (Revell, Parts from Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Long-range night- and all-weather fighter. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two, pilot and radar observer

POWER PLANT: Two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 021 turboprop engines, rated at 3,300 hp each

PERFORMANCE: No data available

COMMENT: From the onset Messerschmitt engineers worked on several modification of the basic Me 262 ‘Schwalbe’ and ‘Sturmvogel’ designs, e. g. with different equipment, engines, electronics and weapon systems. Some of them were realized, others remained in project status. The availability of new and powerful turboprop engines was of great interest for long-range aircraft, especially for night- and all-weather fighters. The main advantage of this new power unit was the relative little fuel consumption, compared with the turbojet engines at that time, and by that an extended time of flight. Pioneers on that field were BMW (BMW 028, 5,440 hp), Daimler Benz (DB ZTL, 2,000 hp), Heinkel,( HeS 021, 3,300 hp), and Junkers (Jumo 022, 6,000 hp). None of these engines were completed and tested, but some in a very advanced stage.
This Messerschmitt Me 262 design  dates back to early 1945. Based on an airframe of a two-seater Me 262B, two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 021 turboprops, each driving six-bladed propellers, should be installed. As with many other projects this design remained on the drawing board until the end of the hostilities. After the war similar designs were developed and flown in the UK, the Gloster ‘Trent Meteor”, and the US the Convair XP-81, and the Ryan F2R-1 ‘Dark Shadow’, respectively.