Airframes
Benevolens Magister
A few of us here have mentioned doing some 'What if?' type of builds, so I thought I'd start things off, as a diversion from the complexities of the GB Beaufighter.
I've always wanted to build a model of a 'Zero', but don't have any real interest in, or detailed knowledge of, Japanese aircraft of WW2 - I just like the look of this particular aircraft !
I had intended to get a 1/48th scale kit, and do 'something different', then Karl gave me a 21st Century Toys 1/32nd scale kit, which he'd managed to pick up mega cheap. So, it got me thinking....and I came up with a semi-plausible scenario! (OK, it's BS, but almost believable!!)
Here it is;
It's late 1943, and the RLM have been in discussion with their axis allies, exchanging plans, technology and some hardware. A few years earlier, Japan had taken delivery of a small number of FW190A5's, for evaluation purposes and, in return, had provided an early model of the A6M, along with construction drawings and technical specifications.
The air war in Europe is going heavily for the Luftwaffe, with the B17's and B24's of the 8th USAAF attacking German cities and industry from British bases, and the 15th USAAF, flying from Italy, raiding targets in southern Germany, Austria and (then) Czecheslovakia. Added to this are the nightly raids, by very large numbers of RAF heavy bombers, on most major cities, as well as key industrial targets, plus the medium bombers of the 9th USAAF and RAF 2 Group attacking stratgeic targets by day, including airfields, and industry associated with aircraft production.
Although the German aircraft industry is able to turn out enough fighters, the main factories and assembly plants for both the FW190 and Bf109 are under severe threat, leading to further dispersal, and the decision is made to form local 'protection' units, to cover these plants in the event of attack. The decision was not reached lightly, as it would mean diverting valuable Gruppen, or at least Staffeln, to undertake this job.
However, with the main lines of fighter defence already well established, most raids could be intercepted, often in strength; but, a large number of these raids were still getting to, and hitting their targets, due, in part, to divisionary tactics and electronic counter measures by the allied air forces. What was needed were 'local' units, based on, or near, the aircraft plants, which could be scrambled in time to intercept a raid which might have turned onto the I.P at the last minute. The Luftwaffe High Command were in favour of this idea, but were still concerned about withdrawing valuable front line resources from the established defensive network, thereby creating a possible, and likely, loophole in the overall defence of the Reich.
Because of this, the decision was made to construct a modified version of the A6M, using German methods and materials, and powered by a German-built engine, and with available weapons as armament. In order to lessen the impact on the already strained German aircraft industry, the job of building these 'light fighters' was diverted away from the major producers, Focke Wulf and Messerschmitt, and handed to a number of the lesser manufacturers, some already involved in the sub-assembly of the two main fighter types in service.
One of these manufacturers was Arado, who were orderd to produce 150 airframes, powered by a modified, uprated version of the Japanese Sakae engine, with two stage supercharger, developing 1,450 hp, giving a maximum speed, at 23,000 feet (7,010 m) of 370 mph (595 kph) and armed with two, 20mm cannon, and two, 13mm machine guns. The aircraft would retain the wing fuel tanks, and the rear fuselage tank was to be enlarged, giving the fighter an operational range of 900 miles (1,448 km), and a service ceiling of 34,000 feet (10,363 m). Standard radio and navigation equipment would be fitted, together with armour plate, to the rear of the fuselage fuel tank, and beneath the pilot's seat.
The Arado designation for this aircraft was Ar290A, and the first operational unit to use the type was formed, in January 1944, from IV/JG4. This was 13/JG4, based at Bremen.
So, for better or for worse, there's the background to this 'What if?' model.
I'll be building this more or less 'Out of the Box', with a couple of scratch-built additions perhaps, and will post a few pics as the build progresses. The aim is more to see what a 'Zero' would look like in Luftwaffe camouflage and markings, rather than build a detailed model, and is purely for fun!
I've always wanted to build a model of a 'Zero', but don't have any real interest in, or detailed knowledge of, Japanese aircraft of WW2 - I just like the look of this particular aircraft !
I had intended to get a 1/48th scale kit, and do 'something different', then Karl gave me a 21st Century Toys 1/32nd scale kit, which he'd managed to pick up mega cheap. So, it got me thinking....and I came up with a semi-plausible scenario! (OK, it's BS, but almost believable!!)
Here it is;
It's late 1943, and the RLM have been in discussion with their axis allies, exchanging plans, technology and some hardware. A few years earlier, Japan had taken delivery of a small number of FW190A5's, for evaluation purposes and, in return, had provided an early model of the A6M, along with construction drawings and technical specifications.
The air war in Europe is going heavily for the Luftwaffe, with the B17's and B24's of the 8th USAAF attacking German cities and industry from British bases, and the 15th USAAF, flying from Italy, raiding targets in southern Germany, Austria and (then) Czecheslovakia. Added to this are the nightly raids, by very large numbers of RAF heavy bombers, on most major cities, as well as key industrial targets, plus the medium bombers of the 9th USAAF and RAF 2 Group attacking stratgeic targets by day, including airfields, and industry associated with aircraft production.
Although the German aircraft industry is able to turn out enough fighters, the main factories and assembly plants for both the FW190 and Bf109 are under severe threat, leading to further dispersal, and the decision is made to form local 'protection' units, to cover these plants in the event of attack. The decision was not reached lightly, as it would mean diverting valuable Gruppen, or at least Staffeln, to undertake this job.
However, with the main lines of fighter defence already well established, most raids could be intercepted, often in strength; but, a large number of these raids were still getting to, and hitting their targets, due, in part, to divisionary tactics and electronic counter measures by the allied air forces. What was needed were 'local' units, based on, or near, the aircraft plants, which could be scrambled in time to intercept a raid which might have turned onto the I.P at the last minute. The Luftwaffe High Command were in favour of this idea, but were still concerned about withdrawing valuable front line resources from the established defensive network, thereby creating a possible, and likely, loophole in the overall defence of the Reich.
Because of this, the decision was made to construct a modified version of the A6M, using German methods and materials, and powered by a German-built engine, and with available weapons as armament. In order to lessen the impact on the already strained German aircraft industry, the job of building these 'light fighters' was diverted away from the major producers, Focke Wulf and Messerschmitt, and handed to a number of the lesser manufacturers, some already involved in the sub-assembly of the two main fighter types in service.
One of these manufacturers was Arado, who were orderd to produce 150 airframes, powered by a modified, uprated version of the Japanese Sakae engine, with two stage supercharger, developing 1,450 hp, giving a maximum speed, at 23,000 feet (7,010 m) of 370 mph (595 kph) and armed with two, 20mm cannon, and two, 13mm machine guns. The aircraft would retain the wing fuel tanks, and the rear fuselage tank was to be enlarged, giving the fighter an operational range of 900 miles (1,448 km), and a service ceiling of 34,000 feet (10,363 m). Standard radio and navigation equipment would be fitted, together with armour plate, to the rear of the fuselage fuel tank, and beneath the pilot's seat.
The Arado designation for this aircraft was Ar290A, and the first operational unit to use the type was formed, in January 1944, from IV/JG4. This was 13/JG4, based at Bremen.
So, for better or for worse, there's the background to this 'What if?' model.
I'll be building this more or less 'Out of the Box', with a couple of scratch-built additions perhaps, and will post a few pics as the build progresses. The aim is more to see what a 'Zero' would look like in Luftwaffe camouflage and markings, rather than build a detailed model, and is purely for fun!