Kaiser Fleetwing XBTK-2

[63cpe]

The Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK was an American dive and torpedo bomber developed by Kaiser-Fleetwings for the United States Navy starting in 1944. A mockup inspection without engine was carried out in April 1944 while the engine was installed in May 1944, with completion of the first prototype scheduled for November 1944. To speed up later production, the U.S. Navy even constructed a new airfield at the Fleetwing plant. In early 1945, BuAer requested that the aircraft would be able to carry a torpedo. The weapon was fitted to a new centreline station and the designation was changed to XBTK. The first XBTK-1 was finally completed in March 1945, making its first flight on 12 April 1945.

The flight testing revealed inadequate engine cooling and severe fuselage vibration. Resolution of these problems was replacement of the R-2800-22W engine, which was already out of production, by the -34 delayed restart of flight trials until July 1945. The aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Navy Naval Air Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, in August 1945 for evaluation. Test results recommended replacement of the novel exhaust system with a conventional system. It also noted that stall performance was poor, particularly with power off. It was noted, however, that diving characteristics were superior to any dive bomber in service or under development.

The aircraft was transported back to Fleetwings where redesign began. A full redesign was set up and featured an upgraded engine ( Pratt & Whitney R-4360-25 Wasp Major) with conventional exhaust system, increased its power output from 2100 HP to 3000 HP and built-in leading edge slots which greatly improved the stall performance of the aircraft.
This new engine required redesign of the fuselage and tail. To ease construction the wing was partly redesigned aswell.  First flight of the XBTK-2 was in July 1947. Initial flight tests conducted with the first two prototypes revealed significant problems with the engine, its cowling, the vertical stabilizer and rudder. In response, the cowling was lengthened 5 inches (12,7 mm) and the engine mount was canted two degrees to the right to offset the engine's tremendous torque. The R-4360 had severe thermal problems that decreased reliability, with an intensive maintenance regime involving frequent replacement of cylinders required, large cooling flaps were required, which decreased aerodynamic efficiency, putting extra demands on engine power when cooling needs were greatest. Owing in large part to the maintenance requirements of the R-4360, all airplanes were costly to operate and suffered decreased availability. Despite all the modifications to the aircraft over its short life, it remained a maintenance nightmare, especially the leaky hydraulic systems.

Carrier landing trials revealed a structural weakness of the rear fuselage when one aircraft was broken in half during a heavy landing. Other necessary changes were the addition of spoiler ailerons and an elevator control boost to improve the aircraft's poor controllability at low speeds. In addition, the cockpit layout was unsatisfactory and had to be redesigned. Pilots found the XBTK-2 a heavy-handling aircraft which was difficult to fly in formation and hard to land aboard a carrier because a less-than-perfect landing often caused the aircraft to bounce over the arresting wires and into the safety barrier. It was a very stable dive bomber, more so than the Mauler and Skyraider, and could carry more ordnance than the Skyraider. Maintenance problems and the difficulty of landing aboard a carrier caused some pilots to mock the plane.

By early 1948 procurement of new aircraft was drastically cut down and the XBTK-2 found its role already filled by the Douglas AD Skyraider and Martin AM Mauler.and the U.S. Navy finally terminated the contract on 3 September 1948, as there was no need for the aircraft anymore.

Pictured is one of the 10 XBTK-2 prototypes.

IMG_0047 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr
IMG_0040 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr
IMG_0043 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

More pictures here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/albums/72177720298008351/with/54869180216

It's actually an scale-o-ramaed 1/48 Monogram A6m Zero with 1/72 KC-97 prop, engine nacelle, oilcooler and lower nacelle. Canopy is from an A-1. Can't remember by what stabilo the vertical tailplane was replaced.

Cheers,
David aka 63CPE

[chrisonord]

That is really cool 

[kitbasher]

That is really cool 

It is indeed.  👍

[Joe CalPo]

Dr. Frankenstein would be a fan, just like I am.   

[Old Wombat]

 

[su27rules]

    

[Weaver]

Damn, what a great idea!     

I had ZERO clue it was a scaleorama until I read the last line: I was guessing it was a limited run kit of some real, obscure prototype.

[Dizzyfugu]

Great conversion - looks very natural! 

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

Great conversion - looks very natural! 

Indeed