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Finished Entries

Started by ysi_maniac, November 30, 2009, 12:25:25 PM

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ysi_maniac

Will die without understanding this world.

Spey_Phantom

on the bench:

-all kinds of things.

puddingwrestler

There are no good kits, bad kits or grail kits, just kitbash fodder.

sandiego89

Attacker FB.Mk 3, 890 Squadron, Suez October 1956. 
Dave "Sandiego89"
Chesapeake, Virginia, USA


buzzbomb


Ed S

Me410 Topedo bomber.  Made using an old Revell 1/72 kit. 






Build thread is

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,26432.0.html

Ed
We don't just embrace insanity here.  We feel it up, french kiss it and then buy it a drink.

kitbasher

#7
Commonwealth CA-18 Jacana
The Jacana is a tropical wading bird found within the tropical zone between peninsular India and southeast Asia.  They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.  These attributes made the name a natural choice for the floatplane development of the P-40E Kittyhawk, which began entering service with 75 Sqn Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in March 1942.
Just weeks later, in April 1942, eighteen Vought OS2U-1 Kingfisher seaplanes were delivered to Australia.  After a working-up period, these were allocated to No 107 Squadron, which was formed at Rathmines on 10 May 1943. At the time, enemy submarines were operating in Australian waters and the Kingfishers carried out numerous patrols and attacks and recorded a "probable damage" against a German U-boat.
The Kingfishers' early encounters with the Imperial Japanese Navy's Mitsubishi A6M-2N 'Rufe' (in which the Kingfishers came off second best!), and knowledge of Supermarine's concurrent floatplane development of the Spitfre Vb (of which, whilst subject to operational trials, only three were built), led the RAAF to draw up a requirement for a floatplane development of the Kittyhawk, known as Project 'Jacana' .  These would be used in island inlets and coves in support of Australian forces repelling the advancing Japanese forces in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and the threat these posed to Australia itself.  
For the sake of expediency the specification called for minimum change to the Kittyhawk.  In addition to the floats, a small ventral fairing was fitted.  Armament was reduced by two .50 machine guns as a weight-saving measure, although the ability to carry a drop tank or a single 250 lb bomb was retained.  Officially, the conversions remained Kittyhawks (retaining their original A29-range serials), but in service the so-called 'Jacana Kittyhawks' quickly became known as 'Jacanas'.
Development of the first prototype was rapid, first flight taking place in October 1942.  The weight and drag penalty associated with the floats could never be compensated for by the removal of two machine guns and, unsurprisingly, performance suffered.  But the need was pressing, performance was better than the Kingfisher's, and Jacanas packed a bigger punch.  This was sufficient to warrant an order for 24 conversions, the first of which was rushed into service in January 1943.  After a brief work-up period, 'C' Flight of 107 Sqn was formed as the first Jacana unit.  As deliveries continued, 'C' Flight was split off from 107 Sqn to form 108 Sqn in April 1943.
Rathmines remained 108's main operating base, but the type was often deployed in small numbers elsewhere along the northern coast.  Jacanas undertook patrols either in pairs, or in mixed formation with Kingfishers. This latter would see A Jacana pair up with a Kingfisher – the former escorting the latter – on anti-submarine or search and rescue sorties.  While these were important and often thankless tasks, the reality facing 108 Sqn was that, by late 1943, the Japanese had been held, and the threat to Australia contained.  As a result, no further conversions occurred after the last of the original 24 had been delivered.
Each of these served with 108 Sqn, which in time began to operate their aircraft in a more offensive role in Operation 'Cartwheel' - the Australian counter offensive against the Japanese in Papua New Guinea.  During late 1943 and throughout 1944, Jacanas were used to strafe and bomb Japanese positions.  The Australian military's role in the South-West Pacific decreased towards the end of 1944, however. In the latter half of 1943 the Australian Government decided, with MacArthur's agreement, that the size of the military would be decreased to release manpower for war-related industries which were important to supplying Britain and US forces in the Pacific. Australia's main role in the Allied war effort from this point forward was supplying the other Allied countries with food, materials and manufactured goods needed for the defeat of Japan. Therefore the Squadron reverted to its more traditional roles, remaining in New Guinea until disbandment in February 1945.
Like the later – and more famous – Boomerang, the Jacana was born out of desperation, and like the Boomerang did its job well.  It was never a glamorous type – certainly less glamorous than its land-based sibling – and swiftly disappeared from the Australian inventory following 108's disbandment.  No example survives, and 108 Sqn was never reformed.  

Donor kits: Airfix Kittyhawk I, Auster AOP6, Supermarine S6b, Commonwealth Boomerang, DHC-2 Beaver, Kopro Spitfire IXc.  Build is at http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,26459.msg388855.html#msg388855.
;D ;D
What If? & Secret Project SIG member.
On the go: Beaumaris/Battle/Bronco/Barracuda/F-105(UK)/Flatning/Hellcat IV/Hunter PR11/Hurricane IIb/Ice Cream Tank/JP T4/Jumo MiG-15/M21/P1103 (early)/P1154-ish/Phantom FG1/I-153/Sea Hawk T7/Spitfire XII/Spitfire Tr18/Twin Otter/FrankenCOIN/Frankenfighter

Slerski

« Le MAGIC, c'est fantastique !! » [Sgt Vincent D., FAF armourer]

« Un Pétaf qui s'ennuie est un Pétaf dangereux... »

madcatter

Not sure how this qualifies since there were a few Ju-87C's built but they were obviously never deployed in their intended role as carrier bomber.

Ju-87C-3 on the first deployment of the Graf Zeppelin in the North Sea.


-N8

ysi_maniac

Will die without understanding this world.

ysi_maniac

Will die without understanding this world.