Page 5 of 7
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:00 am
by Medicman71
Wait! It had no forward firing gun? There's no way you'd get me to fly that thing. Nope!
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:43 am
by Stuart
No, it was based on some mad spec within the Air Ministry, the idea being that it would be easier to get in amongst a bomber stream and set about them if the fighter was armed with a turret - they never considered what would happen if it was set upon by fighters. (there was also another 'turret fighter' for the FAA called the Blackburn Roc). Early on in the war they had some good successes attacking un-escorted Luftwaffe bombers, and even against 109's etc that jumped them from behind thinking that they were attacking Hurricanes. However, once they learned to attacked from the front the Defiant crews were cut to pieces, even if they formed a descending defensive circle.
As it happens, as a night fighters they were very effective, as they could just do what they were designed to so and didn't have to worry about the 109's.
The other thing to consider is that the chances of bailing out of the turret, which had to be turned to the side and the doors opened behind the gunner, were very low.... They lost a lot of gunners over France and Dunkirk.
I've got the first coat of green on.
Cheers!
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:47 am
by Stuart
The course today has finished, just after I finished the painting. I've also painted up the parts left on the sprue.
On to the clear coats now...
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:57 am
by LyleW
Quite nice!
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 9:58 am
by Medicman71
Very nice Stuart!
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 10:19 am
by Stikpusher
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:22 pm
by Stuart
Thanks Gents!
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 1:50 pm
by BlackSheep214
Medicman71 wrote:Wait! It had no forward firing gun? There's no way you'd get me to fly that thing. Nope!
No forward firing guns? Oh hell no.....
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 2:06 pm
by jkim
Defiant looks great! The underside color looks very much like the color I used on my Dora. Is it RAF Sky?
Re: Stuart's Aircraft of the Royal Air Force in WWII
Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 3:02 pm
by Stuart
BlackSheep214 wrote:Medicman71 wrote:Wait! It had no forward firing gun? There's no way you'd get me to fly that thing. Nope!
No forward firing guns? Oh hell no.....
Agreed!
jkim wrote:Defiant looks great! The underside color looks very much like the color I used on my Dora. Is it RAF Sky?
Thanks John!
Yes it is indeed Sky.
