[email protected] +++ 1:72 Vultee P-52B Vanquisher USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), 1944

[kerick]

The box art pic is awesome! Such a great job all around. 

[Andrew Gorman]

that was fast!  And looks good too. I like it. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Here we finally go - and some of the scenic pics were enhanced or even (accidently in the wake) created with generative A.I., which is an amazing tool to work with, even thjough I am not certain about its "artistic value"? But here it is:


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
In the spring of 1940, the USAAC concluded that fighters that had been under development at that time, namely the Republic XP-44 and XP-47, were inferior to Luftwaffe fighters, and a request for advanced designs was issued to all major American manufacturers. Republic tried to improve their current, most promising design, proposing the XP-47A, but this failed. However, the proposed Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp twin-row, 18-cylinder radial engine, with its 2.000 hp output, showed much promise, so that proposals from other companies were required to use it, too, so that performance could be compared more easily, and the engine was already in production – the new fighter designs were supposed to enter service in early 1943 latest.

Vultee was one company that submitted a proposal in response to the U.S. Army Air Corps request. Vultee designated it Model 80. Richard W. Palmer designed the aircraft, and to ensure a quick development it was of conventional design, with a slender fuselage that was just large enough to accommodate the massive, air-cooled R-2800 engine. The engines oil coolers were mounted in characteristic fairings in the cowling's flanks, each breathing through its own vertical intake. While this was not the aerodynamically most efficient solution it kept the engine installation simple compact and avoided long ducts and oil plumbing, e. g. to a location in the wing roots.


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Large tail surfaces were added for high flight stability and agility, and the Model 80's wings showed Vultee's characteristic "double-kinked" planform. Main and auxiliary self-sealing fuel tanks were placed under and behind the cockpit and in the inner wings, with a total of 250 US gal (208 imp gal; 946 L). The air-conditioned cockpit was roomy, and the pilot's seat was comfortable—"like a lounge chair", as one pilot later put it. The pilot had a very good all-round field of view, thanks to a low spine, even though the three-section canopy was heavily framed (and reminiscent of the Mitsubishi A6M's). The wide landing gear was fully retractable, including the tail wheel. Armament consisted of six 0.5" machine guns in the outer wings, plus three hardpoints for drop tanks or bombs, even though the Model 80 had been primarily designed as a fast interceptor.

After completing preliminary engineering and wind tunnel tests, a contract for a prototype was awarded on 8 January 1941. The first flight of the XP-52A, how the type was officially designated, was made on 29 May 1941, with Frank Davis at the controls. The maiden flight proceeded normally until a hurried landing was made when the elevator trim tabs failed because of fluttering. However, flight characteristics were good, the XP-52 was easily able to fly faster than 400 mph (640 km/h; 350 kn), so that a second prototype was ordered on 6 June. The flight test program was concluded with relatively little problems, and in late 1942 the P-52 was ordered into production.


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


However, in the meantime Republic had been optimizing their P-47 as long-range fighter with an even better armament, and the upcoming P-51 Mustang promised even more range and better performance. Therefore, P-52 production was limited and only lasted between October 1943 and November 1944. Only 354 P-52s were ever built (three XP-52 prototypes, 51 P-52As, 300 P-52Bs, the main variant with some detail improvements like a bulged canopy to provide the pilot with an improved rear field of view, and a single XP-52C with improvements like a blown bubble canopy and a four-blade propeller).
In early 1944 the first P-52As were delivered to 8th Air Force units, and primarily equipped 4th Fighter Group units based at Debden in North Essex, Great Britain. The group was the first fighter group to fly combat missions over German airspace, one of the first to escort bombers over Berlin, and the first selected to escort bombers on shuttle bombing runs landing in Russia. The group was credited with shooting down 1,016 German planes.
However, with the start of production in late 1943 the P-52A was offered to allied export customers, too, and earmarked for Lend-Lease production – even though it was never cleared for the latter, despite massive interest through the Soviet Union, due to the new R-2800 radial engine.


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The P-52s were not operated for a long period, though, and replaced by P-47s and P-51s, because the number of operational types was to be reduced to optimize maintenance and logistics, and the P-52 did not offer the required range to escort Allied bombers ever deeper into enemy territory. They were rather used for point defense (e. g. of the British airfields) and for ground attack and CAS missions over France. However, P-52s were still in 4th FG operation when hostilities ended in 1945, but after that the machines were quickly scrapped.


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


General characteristics:
    Crew: One
    Length: 33 ft 8 in (10.26 m)
    Wingspan: 43 ft 1½ in (13.39 m)
    Height: 15 ft ¾ in (4.78 m)
    Wing area: 277 sq ft (25.84 m2)
    Empty weight: 9,238 lb (4,190 kg)
    Gross weight: 12,598 lb (5,714 kg)
    Max takeoff weight: 15,415 lb (6,992 kg)
    Fuel capacity: 250 US gal (208 imp gal; 946 L) internal

Powerplant:
    1× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-12W Double Wasp 18-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine
        with a two-speed two-stage supercharger and water injection, rated at:
        - 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) at 2,700 rpm at 1,000 ft (300 m)
        - 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) at 2,700 rpm at 15,500 ft (4,700 m)
        - temporarily up to 2,250 hp (1,680 kW) WEP with water injection
    driving a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic three-blade propeller of 13 feet 4 inches (4.06 m)

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 426 mph (686 km/h, 370 kn) at 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
    Combat range: 945 mi (1,521 km, 821 nmi) with internal fuel, clean
    Ferry range: 1,530 mi (2,460 km, 1,330 nmi)
    Service ceiling: 37,300 ft (11,400 m)
    Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13 m/s)
    Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,096 m) in 7 minutes 42 seconds

Armament:
    6x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns, with 400 rounds per gun
    1x Centerline rack for a single 1,000 lb (454 kg) or smaller bomb or a 150 US gal. Drop tank,
    2x underwing stations for one 500 lb (230 kg) or smaller bomb or a 75 US gal. Drop tank each.
    Maximum external load: 2,000 lb (910 kg)


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


...and some overview pics:


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Vultee P-52B 'Vanquisher'; 'VF-Q' ('Little Buckaroo'; s/n 433397), USAAF 336th FS, 4th FG; Debden (UK), late 1944 (What-if/kitbashing) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[DeeBob]

A magnificent looking beast! I read back from the start and having seen the finished product, I could scarcely believe it started life as a corsair!

[NARSES2]

I do like that Dizzy   

Mind you I do get the feeling that somewhere in it's ancestry lies a Hellcat   

[Dizzyfugu]

Mind you I do get the feeling that somewhere in it's ancestry lies a Hellcat   

Funny side note: in my initial attempt to create the oil painting styke for the box art visual the A.I. turned the model into an F6F in OB/NG livery, including a complete and non-sensical re-arrangement of anything plus text!

I gotta search if I can find that mess somewhere... 

[Dizzyfugu]

Ah, I have found the post online again, but the horrible/funny picture is not accessible anymore. Would have fulfilled any A.I. clichee, though...

[zenrat]

 

[su27rules]

    

[Gondor]

I am wondering, seeing that you mentioned the use of AI, if that was used to have the propeller blades spinning when the aircraft was in flight. If so, that would account for a lot of the pictures having four propeller blades rather than three.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Great, convincing work and terrific images - well done!

[The Rat]

Another well executed concept!

[PR19_Kit]

I am wondering, seeing that you mentioned the use of AI, if that was used to have the propeller blades spinning when the aircraft was in flight. If so, that would account for a lot of the pictures having four propeller blades rather than three.

Some of the pics do have three blades, but most of the AI ones have four.............

[buzzbomb]

More Dizzy magic, terrific work again 

[Rick Lowe]

Well done.