My other "What if" project I have pics of

[upnorth]

In the wake of my Italian Komet, I'm pleased to share with you, from the Pacific Theatre, my Commonwealth NF.MK.1b Nighthawk.




After endless delays and the eventual cancellation of the P-61 Black Widow for the RAAF, the Nighthawk which had been intended only as an interim nightfighter to fill in until the P-61s were delivered, found itself as Australia and New Zealand's main frontline nightfighter.

Converted by the Commonwealth aircraft company from existing RAAF P-40s, the Nighthawk, was, while effective, far from ideal in the nightfighting job. The first improvement came in the form of the MK.1b which was equiped with a radar, the initial batch of MK.1s lacked this. The radar did improve the type's effectiveness, and survivability, however, its flight performance was still hindered by wings that had not been extended as the fuselage had been. This required the MK.1 series to have very experienced pilots who could deal with the unforgiving flight characteristics of the type.

The Nighthawk didn't show its full potential until the MK.2 series was put into service. The MK.2s were entirely new airframes rather than conversions, they included extended wings and tail surfaces and a taller vertical tail. the radar was moved to a position on the aircraft's centre line between the pilot and the radar operator's positions. The MK.2s also included an Australian developed version of the Rolls Royce Griffon engine.

The MK.2 came into service just in time to meet a new threat from Japan: the Kawanishi Nadare (Avalanche) radar equiped night bomber. The Nadare was the main weapon used in very successful night raids against Aukland in New Zealand  and Brisbane in Australia just prior to the MK.2s entrance into service. The Japanese Navy was poised to take the Tasman Sea and the Nadare bombers seemed easily capable of clearing the way for them to do so.

The MK.2 Nighthawks were met with scepticism by their crews, most of whom had been MK.1 crews. Their doubts soon evaporated when they got their MK.2s airborne and found them responsive, fast and more than a match for the Nadares. Nadares were falling from the sky with their bellies cut open from the Nighthawk's twin upward firing 20mm cannons. The Japanese fleet retreated from the Tasman Sea and Australia and New Zealand were saved.

The MK.1 Nighthawks were much maligned by their crews, however, the MK.2s are now legendary aircraft given the same respect as Spitfires and Mustangs. Many are preserved in museums and three remain airworthy two in Australia and one in America.

The final chapter of the Nighthawk story was the MK.2c, this was the American version. Essentially it was a MK.2b with a license built American engine. 112 MK.2c were delivered to the USAAF mostly for use in the European Theatre in which they proved very effective against Luftwaffe night bombers and fighters.

The Nighthawk legend lives on today in the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk II

I built the MK.1b from two Academy 1/72 P-40N kits so I could make the extended fuselage. The radar and 20mm cannons come from a Hasegawa 1/72 Hellcat nightfighter.

One day I'll build a MK.2b in 1/48

[NARSES2]

WOW !!!! Fantastic, plus love the backstory. Looks like a Fulmar/Firefly that's had an accident with a P40. Glad to see I'm not the only one with an expanded Pacific WWII Theatre, although I'm concentrating more on SE Asia

Chris

[F-32]

That's beautiful......................simply beautiful  

[upnorth]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Chris, I do have a couple of other Pacific Theatre projects as future plans; I will build a Nadare if I ever find a kit of a WWII bomber that generally has the look I want for the beast.

The Hellcat I swiped the radar and guns from will eventually bear the markings of the Federal Russian Navy for whom Polikarpov license built roughly 100 for. The FRN used them almost exclusively against the Japanese to help safeguard the Aleutians and the Kamchatka Peninsula. Nadares nearly flattened Vladivostok and the Russians were none too pleased about it.

The Federalist movement in Russia rose from the ashes of the old imperial regime and easily stifled the upstart Bolsheviks and their "Soviet Union" ideals.

Well thats the idea anyway  

[NARSES2]

The FRN used them almost exclusively against the Japanese to help safeguard the Aleutians and the Kamchatka Peninsula. Nadares nearly flattened Vladivostok and the Russians were none too pleased about it.

The Federalist movement in Russia rose from the ashes of the old imperial regime and easily stifled the upstart Bolsheviks and their "Soviet Union" ideals.

Well thats the idea anyway

I have a Russian "Rodinia Govt" from about 1943 onwards which was formed after "Black Month" - the fall of Lenningrad, Moscow and Stalingrad and the subsequent downfall of Stalin. They are having to fight on three fronts - West against the German's, Soth against the Turks & Italian's and East against the Japanese who invaded Siberia rather than carried on into  Southern China.

Also in my scenario the Allies agree a Pacific First policy after the US efeat at Midway and loss of the Hawaian Islands

Chris

[upnorth]

History is so much more interesting when you make it up isn't it?  

[nev]

That looks great Upnorth.  Fantastic piece of kit-bashing, and a good backstory as well    

[Ollie]

Good show!

But I wouldn't want to fly that thing!

   

[upnorth]

Thanks, it probably represents the most extensive and involved kit bash I've done to date.

I really just built it to test the feasibility of stretching the P-40 fuselage, I wasn't even sure it was possible. I liked the result so much I dressed it up a bit more and put some history behind it.

Likely the Nadare will be an even bigger kit bash as I'm having trouble finding an exisiting WWII bomber that reall does capture the look of the sketches I made.

I'm considering a kit bash that could include a B-26, a Mosquito, a Petlyakov 2 just to name a few. The only thing I've really decided is that she'll be twin engined, medium night bomber with radar and most likely remote controlled gun turrets. I'm probably going to fit her with a tricycle landing gear too.

But the Nadare is a long way off. The 1/48 MK.2b Nighthawk will most certainly come first.

[upnorth]

Good show!

But I wouldn't want to fly that thing!

 

Well of course you wouldn't want to fly it, its a MK.1 series nighthawk, they were a step away from "Flying Coffin" status due to their short wingspan.

Once I get MK.2 series one done (whenever that will be) and show it off here, you'll change your tune, just like the RAAF guys did. You'll fall in love with the MK.2, I swear it. You'll sing songs around the officer's club about her and how she brought your butt back home from seemingly impossible situations.

The restored ones at airshows will make you misty with nostalgia from the very sound of the Griffon revving up.

[Aircav]

Makes you wonder how a Firefly would look witha P-40 engine fitted, i think it looks great, especially in the black paint scheme            

[Captain Canada]

Wow....great job, and the story is even better ! Very believable.....would probably fool alot of Americans, if not for the USAAF version...that might tip 'em off !

Looking forward to seeing the Mk.2B !

 

[Mike Wren]

 very nice! like the multi-tone black finish a lot    

[Ollie]

Makes you wonder how a Firefly would look witha P-40 engine fitted, i think it looks great, especially in the black paint scheme          

Bob Diemert did such a thing in Canada in the 60's-70's.

It flew like crap apparently.  He converted a Firefly I with a Merlin (as in P-40F) and put 5 seats in.

Crazy sod....

       

[Aircav]

The CAA wouldn't even let you think of doing that let alone do it