BMW Strahlbomberprojekt I (Unicraft, Resin)

TYPE: Heavy Jet Bomber. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot and Bombardier/Gunner

POWER PLANT: Six BMW 003 turbojet-engines, rated at 850 kp each

PERFORMANCE: 510 m.p.h.

COMMENT: Besides four “Strahljägerprojekte I – IV” (Jet fighter projects I – IV) the BMW company worked on designs of two “Strahlbomberprojekte I and II” (Jet bomber projects I and II). Strahlbomberprojekt I was a tailless design, but in order to achieve sufficient stability  a tail boom with fin was installed. Six turbojet-engines were planned, four in the wing roots and two aside the cockpit. Project not realized.

BMW Strahljaeger P. IV (Unicraft, Resin)

TYPE: Interceptor Fighter. Project

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: BMW 018 Turbojet, rated at 3,500 kp

PERFORMANCE: Not available

COMMENT: BMW (Bayrische Motoren-Werke, Bavarian Engines Factory) was well known as an engine-building company. In the last stages of WW II BMW took part in aircraft designing via a construction company EZS, a subsidiary of BMW. Four designs of simple and easy to built interceptor projects were submitted to the RLM. The largest and most powerful design was the Strahljägerprojekt P.IV, powered by BMW 018 turbojet. No project was realised.

Martin PBM-3S “Mariner” ( Rare Planes Vacforms, Vacu Formed)

TYPE: Patrol and Long-range Anti-submarine Flying-boat

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of nine

POWER PLANT: Two Wright R-2600-12 “Cyclone 14” engines, rated at 1,200 h.p. each

PERFORMANCE: 198 m.p.h. at 13,000 ft

COMMENT: This long-range anti-submarine variant of the basic Martin PBM “Mariner”  carried a AN/APS-15 radar in a large housing above and behind the cockpit. Up to 2,000 lb bombs or depth-charges could be carried. A total of 156 of this version were built.

Republic XP-72 (Revell, Parts scratch built)

TYPE: Long-range Escort Fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Pratt & Whitney R-4360-13 Wasp Major, rated at 3,450 h.p.

PERFORMANCE: 490 m.p.h. at 25,000 ft

COMMENT:  The second prototype of the Republic XP-72, first flown on 26 June 1944, had Aero Products contra props in place of the four bladed propeller of the first prototype of the Republic XP-72.

Junkers Ju 88G-7c, 5./NJG4 (Italeri, Parts from Hasegawa)

TYPE: Night and Bad-weather Fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of four

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 213E rated at 1,750 h.p. each

PERFORMANCE: 410 m.p.h. at 29,800 ft

COMMENT: This final version of the Ju 88G subtypes was equipped with a FuG 240 “Berlin N-1a” radar with centimetric wavelength and a concave reflector antenna, enclosed in a wooden nose cone. Furthermore this type was equipped with a FuG 217 rear warning radar as well as FuG 350Z “Naxos” radar for detecting AI Mk.IV radar equipped British night intruders

Junkers Ju 88G-7b, 2./NJG5 (Italeri, Parts from Hasegawa)

TYPE: Night and Bad-weather Fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of four

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 213E, rated at 1,725 h.p. each

PERFORMANCE: 402 m.p.h. at 29,800 ft

COMMENT: The Ju 88G-7 was the final version of the Ju 88 night fighter to attain production status. The Ju 88G-7b was equipped with a FuG 218 “Neptun VR” radar and a single-pole “Morgenstern” (Morning Star) aerial array and a FUG 220 “Lichtenstein SN-2” Tail warning radar

Junkers Ju 88C-6b, 2./NJG2 (Revell, Parts from Italeri)

TYPE: Night and Bad Weather Fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of three

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 211J-2, rated at 1,350 h.p. each

PERFORMANCE: 303 m.p.h. at 19,700 ft

COMMENT: The Junkers Ju 88C-6b was the first radar equipped Junkers night fighter with either FuG 202 “Lichtenstein BC” or FuG 212 “Lichtenstein C-1”. Later variants were equipped with the  FuG “Lichtenstein SN-2” radar with “Hirschgeweih Antennen” (Stag’s Antlers)

Junkers Ju 88G-6c, 7./NJG5 (Italeri, Parts from Hasegawa)

TYPE: Night and bad weather fighter

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of four

POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 213A, rated at 1,750 h.p. each

PERFORMANCE: 331 m.p.h. at 19,400 ft

COMMENT: The Junkers Ju 88G variants possessed various radar functions e. g. a forward searching radar for target acquisition (FuG 218 “Neptun GR”) , a rearward defensive warning radar, and a passive radar FuG 350Z “Naxos” for detecting the signals from the H2S ground-mapping radar, used by night-flying British Bombers

 

Grumman AF-2S Guardian (Airmodel, Vacu, Parts scratch built)

TYPE: Anti-submarine strike aircraft

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of two

POWER PLANT: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-48W Double Wasp, rated at 2,400 h.p.

PERFORMANCE: 350 m.p.h. at 15,000ft

COMMENT: In contrast to the radar equipped AF-2W, the Grumman AF-2S was armed with one torpedo or two bombs or two depth-charges in weapons bay. The AF-2S carried a smaller wing mounted APS-30 radar and a search light. Both, the AF-2W and the AF-2S operated in a “hunter” and “killer” role. A total of 193 AF-2S were produced

 

Grumman AF-2W Guardian (Airmodel, Vacu, Parts scratch built)

TYPE: Anti-submarine search aircraft

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of four

POWER PLANT: Pratt & Whitney R.2800-48W Double Wasp, rated at 2,400 h.p.

PERFORMANCE:  317 m.p.h. at 16,000 ft

COMMENT: Originally designed as a replacement of the highly successful Grumman TBF Avenger anti-submarine search aircraft. In place of defensive armament the new torpedo-bomber had a Westinghouse 19XB turbojet in the tail to give it a high escape speed. Later the the design was revised and a large ventral radar set was built in. In that configuration the aircraft was used as a hunter in cooperation with the Grumman AF-2S as a killer. A total of 153 AF-2W were built.