Airframe vacuform Martin Baker MB5

[kitnut617]

Hi,

Here's a 'What could have been' had the jet not jumped to the fore.

While making this I was struck by the different views of this aircraft where in the side view it looked really sleek and then in the top view quite stubby.

While a lot of reference material always refers this to the Mustang, I have a hard time relating it to one.  Yes it does have an aft mounted radiator duct but it has only a passing resemblance to the Mustang, but when viewed from the top it reminded me of another just as famous design.

To me it looks like something out of the Grumman design office, the broad chord wings and actual shape looking like a Hellcat or Bearcat.  In fact while I was having trouble building the wings, I had a good look at using the Hellcat wing because there are some quite coincidental likenesses between the two wings. ( I ended up using some outer wings from a F-82 although I had to reshape the wing tips and rescribe the control surfaces)

I took some tracings from my Aircraft of the Fighting Powers books and found that the Hellcat wing matched the MB5's almost exactly, right down to the size of the control surfaces and flaps, the only difference being was the flap were split on the MB5.  I found that if you were to take a Hellcat wing from the fold joint to the wing tip you had a MB5 wing.

Another comparison which is totally different to the Mustang is the way the undercarriage works, folds away and attachment point, this to me is practically identical to the P-47's but without the mechanical shortening feature P-47's had.  This allows the additional leg brace to added.  Actually the leg is more like an XP-72 leg that a P-47's, as the XP-72 had it's scissor links turned 90 degrees towards the fuselage, just like the MB5's.  The tail wheel strut though looks like a Grumman design.

The tail surfaces look Grumman too.  The horizontal ones are turned around, but the shape is there and the fin/rudder have been extended at the top but looks like the Grumman.

http://groups.msn.com/TheWhatifandoddballm...to&PhotoID=2115

Robert

[Archibald]

Wow! I just love this model, Kitnut! Very, very well done!  

[kitnut617]

Thanks very much Archibald,


This is my first attempt at a Vacu-form kit. It is an Airframe 1/72 Martin Baker MB5, which as some might know, are very basic.  I detailed the cockpit, radiator duct, wheel bays etc. I used Sea Fury main wheels, Shackleton prop, Late Meteor Mk.8 canopy, Griffon exhausts, WW.II RAF bucket seat and control column from Aeroclub, I used main undercarriage legs and tail wheel from a High Planes P-47 and a P-51H radiator inlet also from High Planes.  Cockpit tub was an Airwaves Sea Hawk photo-etch. The main wings eventually came from a Hobbycraft F-82 Twin Mustang

Robert

[Archibald]

And even better, this is a vacu-form! I'm still reflexioning about buying or not an anigrand kit just because of the vacuform canopy. and this is an ENTIRE vacu-form model... you're braver (or most brave?) than me!!  

[John Howling Mouse]

"Indeed you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen..."

Love it, man.  You are braver than most, including me.

[Brian da Basher]

Wow that's sweet, Robert! Excellent work on what I've heard is not the easiest kit to build. I am impressed!  B)

Brian da Basher

[kitnut617]

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated,  it took me a while to get it right and in the end I did end up using wings from a F-82 so I did 'cheat' a little bit.

Robert

(err!, I think there should be an 'embarressed' smiley in the list)

[Alvis 3.1]

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated,  it took me a while to get it right and in the end I did end up using wings from a F-82 so I did 'cheat' a little bit.

Robert

(err!, I think there should be an 'embarressed' smiley in the list)

Pfft! Cheat? nah...all is fair in modelling, or at least until they start testing for styrene-oids! Looks great finished, and thats the goal in the end anyhow.



Alvis 3.1