I’m a modeler who likes to create through modeling. I create the subject then the story, I’ll admit it I’m a What-If modeler to the core. Using existing kits, spares and fabricated assemblies I enjoy taking things such as this Hobbycraft 1/48 DH Vampire into something completely different…but plausible.

Plausibility is key in making any What-If or hypothetical craft or device a success when scrutinized by the public…especially those critical of their special are of study.

My first step with the Vampire was to use the kits tail section, slice and dice it so I could create a canard which I attached to the nose of the fuselage. In the initial stages of this project I was going to convert this into a twin propeller pusher…a single fuselage buried radial engine driving a transmission that turned both propellers which were to be mounted where the original tail booms were located.

This pusher concept was plausible but I felt that this aircraft needed MORE POWER! So I started thinking…ROCKET motors. I had some JATO/RATO bottles but that was not cutting it for me. A more refined concept was needed. Last night I was working on this project (trying to complete projects left from 2009 and before!) when I came across something perfect for the rocket motors. I found some components for a rocket pod (weapons type) in my spares stash. I felt this concept was completely plausible after watching the Rocket Racers a couple years ago at AirVenture.

For some reason I decided to lop off the wings to install some wing tanks from an F-84. This gives the craft an appearance of being somewhat of a lifting body. Either that or something out of a Star Wars movie.

I also added a fairing down the spine of the fuselage from the headrest aft to the mid fuselage. I simply used a half of one of the kits tail boom pieces. Cemented in place with solvent and held using masking tape to keep it clamped in place.

The F-84 fuel tanks slip inside of the wings, this left a step between the wing and the tank, so I added some filler to better blend the two together. If this doesn’t turn out satisfactory, I have another technique I can employ.

Some decisions need to be made once all of the sanding and polishing of the seams and fillers is done. What to do about the facilitation of landing gear? Do I use the kits or create some sort of skid system under the fuselage and off the wingtip mounted fuel tanks. If this aircraft is catapulted (V-1 rail launcher) or dolly launched ( like that of the Me163 Komet) a skid system is feasible. If it were to be more conventional, then using the kits landing gear with some slight modifications would be appropriate. I’ll have to ponder this one a while longer as I pick through my spares stash to see what ski/skid components I have on hand.

As to plausibility of the propulsion system. Inside the fuselage there would be one or two spherical shaped tanks depending on the configuration/purpose of this craft. The wingtip tanks would be nothing more than a streamlined fairing to house similar spherical tanks.

If this aircraft were to be used says as a bomber interceptor it would possibly be equipment with heavy machine guns or cannons. As with the Vampire, it held four guns in the fuselage firing from under the nose. This could be retained, but another alternative is to mount heavy cannons in the wingtip mounted pods. I can envision something on the order of a Bofors cannon mounted in each pod firing a flechette type round to punch holes into the targeted bombers. Again I will give this some thought, I have peeked inside my supply of stainless steel tubing to see which I might use as barrels.

For now I will continue to finish up fitting and installing the ailerons and working such things as the cockpit, canopy and landing gear. Then it will be time to decide on its mission and purpose so I can start coming up with a paint scheme and markings.

Its just me having fun as I use my imagination while scale modeling!

Continue on to Part II.