Posted by Matty
on January 31, 2009, 7:49:24
4.235.201.130
--Originally Posted 1/30/09--
As already described, no doubt the most dramatic episode in U-505's career (aside from the historic capture itself) was the 11/10/42 assault by a Hudson patrol bomber upon her which she survived, heavily damaged from depth bomb impacts - but which the attacking aircraft didn't! The plane was a Hudson MkV, # V9253 of 53 squadron RAF Coastal Command, then based out of Trinidad, southeast of which she caught U-505 on the surface, that fateful day.
As I was already resolved to depict U-505's earlier fit; from the time of this attack, it naturally follows that a build of this plane would be a great accompaniment. Particularly since I still have two "open slots" for RN subjects in my "Paired Twins", twin-engined naval-related aircraft project.
In fact, the Lockheed Hudson is very close - though not an exact match - to one of the "Paired Twins" aircraft I was already planning to build:
Click on Image to Enlarge
), and got the powerful impression of a huge, aluminum rattletrap; drafty, frigid and no doubt mind-numbingly noisy in flight. This one was in USN livery - and I had originally planned to build and paint/mark one accordingly - but the inspiration of the U-505 episode now is more than sufficient to warrant a changeover to this Coastal Command plane. Particularly as the above kit is already in my stash, and already with decals for RN markings, to boot.
What it doesn't quite have, is exactly the right fuselage and engines for a Hudson MkV:
Click on Image to Enlarge
A couple additional demands, though, include the dorsal turret which, rather than moving forward with the rest of the Ventura's fuselage, actually has to move further aft - to right ahead of the tail - for the Hudson. Also, close examination of the engine cowlings reveals the Hudson MkV - despite having upgraded to Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines from the earlier Hudsons' Wright Cyclones - still had a shorter and less streamlined engine nacelle than the Ventura II, with its Pratt & Whitney R-2800s.
Scratchbuilding both of the above is still do-able, but here my existing stash may again provide an easier solution:
Click on Image to Enlarge
The alternative, of course, is simply to buy a bona-fide Hudson kit. And I see inexpensive Airfix Hudsons on-line, though I don't know the quality of that mold; I suspect it may be quite crude, compared to the Academy kit which I have. These days I'm really not jazzed about any new purchase expenses - plus, if I were to get a new kit, then I really wouldn't need the Ventura and be saddled with having to sell it.
What do y'all think of the above? Anything else about the above conversion that I'm missing? Or is there anyone who wants to swap a comparable Hudson kit for my Academy Ventura II - in completely pristene condition - above? If so, let me know ASAP - because I'm psyched to start this build!
Cheers,
-Matty
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