1/72 Shorts Stiletto Prototype

Brian da Basher · July 08, 2006, 07:36:14 AM

In 1930, the Air Ministry, intrigued by the enhanced performance monoplanes could offer, issued specification 21/30 for a powerful, fast monoplane fighter prototype. The Shorts company took up the challenge and responded in the spring of 1931 with the Shorts Stiletto, a monoplane with a powerful, high compression inline engine, the Rolls Royce Rapture (often called the "Rupture" by mechanics who fine-tuned it). This aircraft featured an enclosed cockpit and fixed, streamlined spatted undercarriage. It was armed with two .50 caliber Browning machine guns synchronized to fire through the propeller arc. In flight trials, the Stiletto reached a speed of 275 m.p.h. and its maneuverability and easy handling characteristics were lauded by test pilots. Unfortunately, the tradition-bound RAF rejected the Shorts Stiletto, opting instead to continue with biplanes and placed a large order for Hawker Furies. One little known fact about the Stiletto is that it was the inspiration for the monoplane fighter featured in the 1936 film "Things to Come". The example pictured here was quietly put away in storage for the next 25 years until it was refurbished for display at the Royal Museum of Technology where it resides today.

1st of 5 pics.

Brian da Basher

Brian da Basher · July 08, 2006, 07:42:53 AM

After completing my entry in the Vac GB I wanted to do something different. Ok I was jonesing to build something Golden Age with spats! I love spats!

I was going through my two boxes of spare parts and I noticed the engine left over from my He-112. I always liked the sleek look of it but I lacked a propeller, fuselage, wings, tail and landing gear. Basically I had an engine and no airplane. I dug out a pontoon l put aside from my Northrop floatplane and the lower wings from an ancient 1/48 SPAD XIII. After some cutting and cursing, I attached the engine to the rear part of the pontoon and was able to fill in the gap inderneath with some leftover blisterpack material. Then I cut and cleaned up the wings and fabricated the tail feathers from leftover parts and the clips that hold bread bags closed. Now all I had to do was figure out the canopy, prop and landing gear...

2nd of 5 pics.

Brian da Basher

Brian da Basher · July 08, 2006, 07:47:27 AM

The canopy on this one was in a bag of spares Phil P was generous enough to include in my last purchase. The headrest part is actually the end of a drop tank from my RoG Corsair kit. The prop spinner is left over from a 1/144 Lancaster and the prop blades are from a CR-42 Falco. The spats are two halves of drop tanks with a blanking plate covering the open side and the struts are leftover sprue. This is the easiest method I've come up with yet for fabricating spats. Did I mention that I love spats?

3rd of 5 pics.

Brian da Basher

Brian da Basher · July 08, 2006, 07:51:23 AM

The entire model was painted with Testor's Light Gull Gray. I wanted something that seemed appropriate for a prototype aircraft. I've always liked the look of those 1930s blue and red RAF roundels and fin flashes so I cobbled something together from my decal stash. I ended out painting the blue by hand and then painting over the red by hand as well because the Japanese Hinomorus just seemed a tad off what I was looking for. The tail codes are also from spare decals. Here's a head-on shot that shows how I hand-painted the air intake on the engine.

4th of 5 pics.

Brian da Basher

Brian da Basher · July 08, 2006, 07:54:14 AM

I had a lot of fun on this little project. It was a nice break from my GB commitments. It was also a good test of fabricating a fuselage from a pontoon. I hope you folks enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed building this aircraft. Here's a shot of the underside which shows off all the flaws nicely.

5th of 5 pics.

Brian da Basher

Archibald · July 08, 2006, 08:09:02 AM

Nice hybrid! Just love having a pile of planes spares and creating a new thing from it (the B-3 Manta for example)

Lovely result!!! With a Merlin, it could maybe complete the BoB hurrican and spitfires

cthulhu77 · July 08, 2006, 09:14:42 AM

Very cool...also, love those spats!

Tophe · July 08, 2006, 09:19:50 AM

Brian now completely proved it: spats CAN be sexy...

Leigh · July 08, 2006, 09:27:45 AM

That thing is SWEET

Another masterpiece Brian, funny you think golden age and I'm thinking it reminds me of a modern Aerobatics plane, or how would summat like that look on floats for a Schnieder '49 entry?

lancer · July 08, 2006, 01:16:24 PM

Oh yes, that is a sweet looking bird Brian. It never ceaces to amaze me just how you can take a bunch of scrap and spare parts and build such a lovely little plane with it.

Martin H · July 08, 2006, 01:30:53 PM

funny. aint that how u described your building technique at the last sig meet?

BlackOps · July 08, 2006, 01:50:58 PM

Brian, the write up and model are both great. While I can build a passable model I have absolutely NO writing skills. I think the model is even cooler when you know it's story.

Jeff G.

NARSES2 · July 09, 2006, 01:51:25 AM

Thats is very nice Brian. Can just see it in bright squadron markings

lancer · July 09, 2006, 05:22:14 AM

Quotefunny. aint that how u described your building technique at the last sig meet?

Who said that?

Brian da Basher · July 09, 2006, 10:54:00 AM

Thanks for the comments, gents! Your responses always inspire me. Tophe is indeed right, spats ARE sexy!

If anyone ever needs a backstory, feel free to ask! I love writing "fake" histories.

Brian da Basher