What if

General Modelling Forum => General Modeling topics => The Idea Bank => Topic started by: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 10:44:39 AM

Title: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 10:44:39 AM
I have seen a picture of a Defiant fighter sans turret and with wing cannon. Could the defiant handle the weight of wing guns along with the turret, or is it one or the other?
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: PR19_Kit on December 18, 2019, 11:27:51 AM
Give it a long enough runway.........................  ;D
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: kitnut617 on December 18, 2019, 11:42:21 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 18, 2019, 11:27:51 AM
Give it a long enough runway.........................  ;D

Or longer wings ---  ;D
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Mossie on December 18, 2019, 12:58:52 PM
There's the P.94 which flew, single seat, twelve .303s.  Alternative armament was four cannon plus four .303s.  I'm pretty sure it would be either-or with a Merlin

Upping the ante,  the P.96 was a Defiant with a Centaurus or Sabre.  There were five versions:
P.96A Sabre, two seat (back seat for AI radar operator), no turret, six fixed cannon.
P.96B Sabre, turret plus two fixed cannon.
P.96C Sabre, turret plus four fixed cannon with a slightly larger wing
P.96D version 1, Centaurus, two seat, no turret, six fixed cannon, larger wing.
P.96D version 2, Centaurus, turret plus four fixed cannon.
All had AI radar, the back seater operated it in the tandem seaters, pilot in the turreted aircraft.

If you do a Google image search for both types, you'll see plenty of pics.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 02:16:32 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 02:24:02 PM
I was thinking either a version of the P-94 with 2 20mm and a few 303s. Or a standard Defiant in Finnish service in place of the Roc. Not made up my mind yet.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Mossie on December 18, 2019, 02:30:23 PM
Both sound good.  I've always thought they'd rationalise the armament down a bit, four plus four seems a lot for a Spitfire sized machine.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Captain Canada on December 18, 2019, 04:32:59 PM
Stick a Griffon in it  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: kitnut617 on December 18, 2019, 04:42:22 PM
Quote from: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 02:24:02 PM
I was thinking either a version of the P-94 with 2 20mm and a few 303s. Or a standard Defiant in Finnish service in place of the Roc. Not made up my mind yet.

If you're going that route, stick a Martin turret with .5's in it ---
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 04:45:22 PM
Quote from: kitnut617 on December 18, 2019, 04:42:22 PM
Quote from: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 02:24:02 PM
I was thinking either a version of the P-94 with 2 20mm and a few 303s. Or a standard Defiant in Finnish service in place of the Roc. Not made up my mind yet.

If you're going that route, stick a Martin turret with .5's in it ---

I do like that idea for an USAAC one
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Mossie on December 18, 2019, 11:24:09 PM
I've seen drawings for a 2x 20mm turret too.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Doug K on December 19, 2019, 01:44:47 PM
There are a lot of Defiant drawings online, and quite a few whiffs too. Many of them on this forum (I had my wee Defiant phase myself). The airframe offers a lot of scope for creativity.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on July 19, 2020, 11:39:21 AM
Is it possible for a standard Defiant to carry a small bomb load underwing for army co-op?
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Mossie on July 19, 2020, 12:57:06 PM
Yes, they were fitted with hardpoints for small bomb racks but only the prototype flew with them.  The points were utilised in the ASR version for carrying dinghys.

This build of the ASR version shows were the racks went:
https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/forum/172-bp-defiant-mk-i-asr-a02069
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on July 20, 2020, 07:54:48 AM
Quote from: Mossie on July 19, 2020, 12:57:06 PM
Yes, they were fitted with hardpoints for small bomb racks but only the prototype flew with them.  The points were utilised in the ASR version for carrying dinghys.

This build of the ASR version shows were the racks went:
https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/forum/172-bp-defiant-mk-i-asr-a02069


Cheers
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: dadlamassu on July 20, 2020, 09:20:17 AM
Quote from: Geoff on July 19, 2020, 11:39:21 AM
Is it possible for a standard Defiant to carry a small bomb load underwing for army co-op?

Yes, my father saw some Defiants trying out bomb racks in 1940 for anti-invasion work.

Quote from: dadlamassu on July 22, 2018, 06:35:53 AM

During the "Invasion Scare" my father was  in a Defiant Squadron training for night fighting and when not doing that training for other anti-invasion duties.  Where he was posted there were various trials including fitting bomb racks under the wings of the Defiant.  Unfortunately he did not say if they were 250lb or the quad small bomb racks.  They also trialled strafing beach targets and circling over landing barges to pour the concentrated firepower into the hold.  A bit like modern AC-? series gunships. 
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on July 21, 2020, 05:27:45 AM
Thank you. That was my sort of idea
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: The Wooksta! on July 21, 2020, 05:43:21 AM
You can get said small bomb racks in either the Frog Blenheim or the new tool Airfix one, although I'm not sure which mark of boxing but the mk IV rings a bell.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Geoff on July 23, 2020, 12:44:37 PM
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 21, 2020, 05:43:21 AM
You can get said small bomb racks in either the Frog Blenheim or the new tool Airfix one, although I'm not sure which mark of boxing but the mk IV rings a bell.

Cheers I have some from the Swordfish for the 1/72nd one, and I am trying to fit a yank turret off an A-20 onto the 48th scale one for an Eagle Wing plane.
Title: Re: BP Defiant
Post by: Doug K on July 23, 2020, 12:59:44 PM
Quote from: Geoff on December 18, 2019, 02:24:02 PM
I was thinking either a version of the P-94 with 2 20mm and a few 303s. Or a standard Defiant in Finnish service in place of the Roc. Not made up my mind yet.

That sounds like a good idea