Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker ***Finished***

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lancfan
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Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker ***Finished***

Post by lancfan »

I'm going to build an SI mk1a amphibian fighter-bomber from "Biggles in the Baltic" the 1940 DJ illustration shows this as a sort of Swordfish monoplane complete with Pegasus engine and fully rigged floats- I'm going to spruce my model up a little with a much larger radial engine from the spares box and wings from the Airfix Fairey Battle. The base model will be the Frog Swordfish.

David.
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Purplethistle
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by Purplethistle »

This sounds like a cracker, looking forward to seeing this!
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by lancfan »

Here are the obligatory box and sprue shots beginning with the Frog Swordfish-
ImageImage

Here is the donor kit for the wings and canopy, the venerable Airfix Fairey Battle, this does not have a box as it came with a Victoria Cross set.
Image

David.
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splash
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by splash »

This will be fun to watch.
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by lancfan »

I don't have any pictures tonight but the wing and tailplane halves from the Battle have been glued together, a suitable front cockpit has been robbed from an Academy typhoon and the rear office is being assembled from scraps and the swordfish fuselage has been filled where needed to hide the lower wing support struts. All this has been left to dry overnight so that work can properly begin tomorrow.

David.
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splash
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by splash »

The mind boggles as to what this is going to look like. :lol:
My work bench is starting to look like Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by iggie »

It sounds intriguing and it's going to be entertaining for certain!
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by lancfan »

The SI mk1a described.
As written the imaginary aircraft flown by 'Z' sqdn is quite a versatile machine, it is a twin float amphibian with a retractable undercarriage fitted within the floats and machine gun armament in the wings, it also carries underwing and centre line bomb racks for a variety of stores. The cockpit has an enclosed canopy for the pilot with a retractable canopy for the rear crew positions which has a waterproof canvas cover which is zipped over the rear cockpit opening when flown solo. The engine is also of note, it is not named but it is advanced enough for Von Stalhein to have it cut away from Biggles' aircraft and kept before the machine is abandoned at sea after being captured halfway through the story. As drawn for the 1940 edition of the book it is simply a Fairey Swordfish without the upper wing, such a machine simply could not stand the flight stresses let alone those endured during take off and landing so some modification will be necessary if this is to look convincing. The book DJ and other illustrations are here- http://www.biggles.info/Details/20/;

David.
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

Well, you are right -- a monoplane Swordfish :)
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by DavidWomby »

Wow, now I've looked at the link to the book cover: What a great choice!

David
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lancfan
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by lancfan »

The donor engine and propeller have been picked from the spares box, placed below those is the DIY decal sheet for the name and serials.
Image

The modified wings came next, here are before-and-after shots from above and below.
Image
Image

The next parts to be scratched up were the float pylons, these were made from the upper wing panels from an OT Airfix Hurricane I glued together and cut down, a mould was then taken from this and a pair of pylons were cast from resin.
Image
Image

Finally, the finished parts ready for assembly.
Image

The next step will be to build up the fuselage.

David.
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by DavidWomby »

Oh this is soooooooooo much better than the book cover :-)

David
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by Purplethistle »

So impressed with your ability to visualise and source the components David. A tour de force of imagination.
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

As proven numerous times over the years here ... it's like magic !
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lancfan
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Re: Lancfan's Biggles Baltic Attacker

Post by lancfan »

Thanks David, pt, John, this is the current state of play-
The completed cockpit, ready for the fuselage to be assembled.
Image

The assembled fuselage along with the Battle tailplanes.
Image

David.
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