Galleries

Fighterbomber, Fighter-Torpedobomber

Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer (Planet, Resin)

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TYPE: Carrier-borne scout/dive bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Wright R-3350-14 Cyclone 18, rated at 2,300 hp

PERFORMANCE:  334 mph at 16,100 ft

COMMENT: The Douglas BTD Destroyer was an American dive/torpedo bomber developed for the United States Navy during World War II. A small number had been delivered before the end of the war, but none saw combat.
On June 1941, the United States Navy placed an order with the Dougla Aircraft Company for two prototypes of a new two-seat dive bomber to replace both the Douglas SBD Dauntless and the new Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, designated XSB2D-1. The resulting aircraft, designed by a team led by Ed Heinemann, was a large single-engined mid-winged monoplane. It had a laminar flow gull-wing, and unusually for a carrier-based aircraft of the time, a tricycle undercarriage. It was fitted with a bomb bay and underwing racks for up to 4,200 lb of bombs or one torpedo (typically the Marl 13), while defensive armament consisted of two wing-mounted 0.79 in cannon and two remote-controlled turrets, each with two .50 in machine guns.
The prototype first flew on April 1943, demonstrating good performance, being faster than the Dauntless and capable of carrying more bombload, but it was heavier and more complex. The U.S. Navy had made a request for a new torpedo bomber developed from the XSB2D-1. Douglas reworked the XSB2D-1 by removing the turrets and second crewman, while adding more fuel and armor, while wing racks could carry not just one but two torpedoes, producing the BTD-1 Destroyer. The orders for the SB2D-1 were converted to the BTD-1, with the first BTD-1 flying on March 1944. The BTD-1 was heavier than the XS2BD-1 and had poorer performance. Ed Heinemann asked for cancelling of the BTD-1.
The first production BTD-1s were completed in June 1944. By the time Japan surrendered in August 1945, only 28 aircraft had been delivered, and production was cancelled due to performance, along with other aircraft types that had been designed from the start as single-seaters, such as the Martin AM Mauler. None saw combat action. In any event, Heinemann and his team were already working on developing the single-seat BT2D that became the Douglas A-1 Skyraider (Ref.: 24).

Torpedobomber

Douglas XTB2D-1 “Skypirate” (Planet, Resin)

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TYPE: Carrier-borne torpedo bomber

ACCOMMODATION: Crew of three

POWER PLANT: One Pratt & Whitney R-4360-8 Wasp Major, rated at 3.000 hp

PERFORMANCE: 360 mph. at 24,500 ft

COMMENT: The Douglas XTB2D Skypirate (also known as the Devastator II) was a torpedo bomber intended for service with the US Navy’s Midway- and Essex-class aircraft carriers; it was too large for earlier decks. Two prototypes were completed, but the dedicated torpedo bomber was becoming an outdated concept, and with the end of WW II, the type was deemed unnecessary and cancelled.
In 1939, Douglas designers began work on a VTB Proposal to replace the Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomber. In 1942, the team began work on a new project named the “Devastator II”. On October 1943, just four days after the very large Midway-class aircraft carriers were ordered into production, Douglas received a contract for two prototypes, designated TB2D, receiving the official name: “Skypirate”.
The TB2D was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major driving contra-rotating propellers. Four torpedos or an equivalent bomb load could be carried on underwing pylons. Defensive armament consisted of two 20 mm cannon in the wings and 12.7 mm machine guns mounted in a power-operated dorsal turret.
Very large for a single-engined aircraft, the TB2D would have been the largest carrier-borne aircraft at the time; it could carry four times the weapon load of the Grumman TBF Avenger. With only limited support from the US Navy, and facing a recommendation for cancellation on May 1944 due to the aircraft being designed only for the CVB and CV9 carriers, the TB2D project was in peril even at the design and mockup stage
The two “Skypirate” prototypes were ready for flight trials in 1945 with the first prototype XTB2D-1 flying on 13 March 1945. The second example had a 58 cm increase in the length of the fuselage, and flew later in summer 1945. Both prototypes were test flown without any armament. Despite the flying trials proceeding on schedule, the collapse of the Japanese forces in the Pacific along with delays in the Midway-class carriers, eliminated the need for the type and the 23 pre-production aircraft on order were subsequently cancelled. The flight trials were suspended and the two prototypes were eventually reduced to scrap in 1948 (Ref.: 24).

Fighter

Douglas D-558-I “Skystreak” (Anigrand, Resin)

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TYPE: High-speed research aircraft

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Allison J35-A-11 turbojet engine, rated at 2.240 kp

PERFORMANCE: 650 mph at sea level

COMMENT: The Douglas D-558-I “Skystreak” was a single-engine jet research aircraft. It was designed in 1944/45 by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautic (NACA). Three examples were built.
The D-558 program was conceived as a research program for transonic and supersonic flights. The “Skystreak” was powered by one Allison J35-A-11 engine, developed by General Electric as the TG-180 — one of the first axial-flow turbojet of American origin. It made its maiden flight on 14 April 1947, at Muroc Army Air Field . Less than 4 months later, on August 20, this aircraft   set a new world speed record of 640.744 miles per hour (1,031.178 km/h) flying D-558-1, the very first air speed record that exceeded the unofficial mark of 1,004 km/h (623.8 mph) set by a WW II-era German Messerschmitt Me 163A V4 “Komet” rocket fighter prototype (Ref.: 24).

Fighterbomber, Projects

Boulton Paul P.100 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Ground attack aircraft. Project.

 

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Rolls Royce “Griffon II”, rated at 1,760 h.p., driving contra-rotating three-bladed propellers

PERFORMANCE: 335 m.p.h. at 17,000 ft

COMMENT: In 1942 the Air Ministry’s Specification F. 6/42   called for a highly maneuverable, single seat, low attack aircraft and the P.100 was one of several designs submitted by Boulton Paul. The P.100 was one of the most advanced and unorthodox projects the aircraft industry responded with at that time. It had a canard – pusher layout to give the pilot the best possible view. The project was never realized. Instead, for ground fighting roles the  Hawker “Hurricane” and  Hawker “Typhoon” as well as the Supermarine “Spitfire” were used.

Fighter, Projects

Boulton Paul P.99 (Unicraft, Resin)

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TYPE: Interceptor, low/medium altitude fighter. Project.

ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only

POWER PLANT: One Rolls-Royce “Griffon II” engine, rated at 2,220 hp

PERFORMANCE: 315 m.p.h. at 17,000 ft

COMMENT: The Boulton Paul P.99 was one of several high-performance fighter projects of the Royal Air Force during WW II. The P. 99 was a twin-boom design, the Griffon engine was mounted in the rear driving two contra-rotating pusher propellers. This arrangement allowed the pilot an excellent visibility.

Heavy Bomber, Projects

BMW Strahlbomberprojekt I (Unicraft, Resin)

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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.

Fighter, Projects

BMW Strahljaeger P. IV (Unicraft, Resin)

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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.

Heavy Bomber, Reconnaissance

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

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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.

Fighter

Republic XP-72 (Revell, Parts scratch built)

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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.

Nightfighter

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

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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