English Electric Canberra F10

[PR19_Kit]

This is the second of my projected builds for this GB, the ultimate fighter Canberra.

The main source kit is the Airfix Canberra B(I)8, and with Colin Freighdog's P.12 conversion added to start off. I'm also using some Matchbox PR9 wings (which are longer....) and which will have an increased chord as well. Some shortened Northrop Scorpion F-89H tip tanks will be fitted to carry a trio of Firestreaks on each side. The forward bomb bay will hold some Hasegawa F-102 missile pylons which will carry a brace of Genie nuclear missiles, and the rear bomb bay will have the Double Scorpion rocket pack from Colin's conversion. The Red Deans will be carried on mid wing pylons. It won't be short of weapons........ 

As the poor Cranberry will be taxed to get this lot off the ground it'll have bigger turbo-fan engines, some 1/144 GE CF6s from my airliner resin engine collection.

To guild the lily I've also fitted the Pavla resin cockpit conversion intended for the PR9, but I've sawn the front half off as it interferes with the P.12 radome.

Here's the first build pic showing the Pavla insert in position. It's a REAL pain getting it in place as there are no locating marks, and I had to jury fit the cockpit coaming and fit the Pavla bit underneath before taking the coaming off again. The Scorpion tip tank is shown full length (it's LONGER than the Canberra's engines!  ) before I saw it down, and the PR9 wing is shown with the Airfix wheel bays glued in place.



Oh yes, B(F)8?

That's because there are no spare Canberra Mark numbers and it started off as a B(I)8, so now it's a fighter version of the same Mark.

Yeah, right.......... 

[Snowtrooper]

Sounds (and looks!) promising, this ticks all the right boxes, including enough things under the wings.

The Scorpion tip tanks are shockingly large, it looks like they're probably larger than the Gnat! Always wondered how you could fit several AIM-4 Falcons in those and still have space for fuel and rockets, since I thought them to have been about half the lenght and diametre...

[PR19_Kit]

As I happen to have 2-3 Gnats handy (don't ask....) I took this to compare them.

You're dead right, they're almost the same size, and I bet the tank really IS larger than a fighter Gnat!



As the Firestreaks are quite a bit longer than the Falcons that the Scorpion carried my tanks will only carry the missiles and be quite a bit shorter, and more proportional. But they'll still be BIG!

The fuselage is together now, with the bomb bay and nose wheel bay in position, but the former doesn't fit too well. Luckily it's on the bottom and only half of the inside will be visible anyway.

The main port wing assembly is done, with increased wing chord like the prototype PR9, and with a big RB 164 front fan engine replacing the standard Avon.

[kitbasher]

What's your backstory timeline, Kit?

[PR19_Kit]

What's your backstory timeline, Kit?

Erm, I've not worked on that so far. Watch this space.

[kitbasher]

What's your backstory timeline, Kit?

Erm, I've not worked on that so far. Watch this space.

Only asking 'cos it could be an F.10.  The U.10 conversions happened from 1960 onwards it seems, so in your timeline they could take a later mark number, or not exist at all.  And as the U.14 was basically a U.10 for the RN, in KitWorld (officially Spackmania) there would only ever be U.14s, so the F.10 is legit.

Simples!

[PR19_Kit]

Only asking 'cos it could be an F.10.  The U.10 conversions happened from 1960 onwards it seems, so in your timeline they could take a later mark number, or not exist at all.  And as the U.14 was basically a U.10 for the RN, in KitWorld (officially Spackmania) there would only ever be U.14s, so the F.10 is legit.

Simples!

That's a really good idea Dave, I hadn't considered how the time line would affect the existence (or not...) of any of the later sub-types.

The P.12 project was around in the early 50s but the Genie didn't enter service until 1958, but KitWorld is essentially flexible.............. 

[AS.12]

If you want really-big real-World thrust, there was the example of Canberra B.2 WD952 fitted with a pair of Olympus 102 / BOl.11.  12,000lb each and with scope for 30% more with a tweak.

[PR19_Kit]

If you want really-big real-World thrust, there was the example of Canberra B.2 WD952 fitted with a pair of Olympus 102 / BOl.11.  12,000lb each and with scope for 30% more with a tweak.

Indeed, but then I'd need totally new nacelles and LOTS more work.

Anyway, who's to say what the thrust of the RB164 was? Especially as Rolls Royce never got around to building one....... 

[Weaver]

Bit late now, but I was going to suggest an aft-fan. It's an easier mod to an existing engine installation and British industry's got 'form' with it: Metrovick were working on one before they sold out to Armstrong-Siddeley and it was proposed again for advanced Vulcan variants. Wouldn't surprise me if it had been offered for the VC.10 too.

[PR19_Kit]

Possibly so, but front fan engines are a lot easier to model, especially if you're an airliner modeller. 

[PR19_Kit]

Spent a while working on the hefty weapons load, and I've got the Genies matched up to the F-102's launchers OK. The Red Deans are assembled to their pylons, and are they HUGE! 

The Scorpion's tip tanks are a right pain to modify to dsiplay the missiles. The missile hatches are moulded with grooves on the inside to help you cut them out for the display positioning, but the styrene is so thick that it's a major job cutting them out! So far I've managed to do one, out of six!

I may only display the Firestreaks deployed from only one tip tank as a result. The Firestreaks will need the hatches extended rearwards around 5 mm, and that will make the whole assembly very fragile before gluing it all together I'm sure.

[PR19_Kit]

Ooops, missed this pic off the last post.



Red Deans top left, Genies on F-102 launchers top right, Firestreaks in the middle and the carved about Scorpion tank at the bottom.

[kitbasher]

Yay!  F.10!!

Why not consider Gyrons for your engines, Kit?  They existed at the right time.  Much chunkier than Avons, too.

[PR19_Kit]

Why not consider Gyrons for your engines, Kit?  They existed at the right time.  Much chunkier than Avons, too.

For the same reason I replied to AS.12, I'd need to make totally new nacelles, and for a Canberra that's a lot of work in plastic. The RB 164s should do the job OK, along with the rocket pack in the bomb bay.