Defiant replica

RE: Defiant replica

I wish!

But she does have a turning prop albeit v.slowly, working turret fairings and the turret itself will be operational(except firing mechanism of course).

RE: Defiant replica

Does she have an engine?

Next step a flying replica I hope.

RE: Defiant replica

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye out for that.

RE: Defiant replica

Hi Mark,

The Defiant isn’t available ‘off the shelf’ in a flight sim, but the one I use, and would highly recommmend to anyone, is ‘Fighter Squadron’. The game itself ships with a reasonable selection of very well-done WW2 aircraft, and it flies better than ANY other WW2 flight sim in my opinion. There is huge online support for this game from enthusiasts, many of whom have made extra planes for the game that you can download and install which are even better than the ones it ships with-the Defiant is one of these extras. Highly recommended if WW2 flight sims are your thing, and I can point you in the right direction for the extra downloads if you so wish.

Cheers,

Mike

RE: Defiant replica

I haven’t seen a Defiant featured in a flight sim before. Which one is it ?

RE: Defiant replica

I agree that some of Hendon’s lighting is starting to realy let the place down. I understand that the far end of the BoB hall has to be kept gloomy now for the hourly ‘Our Finest Hour’ presentation, which I’ve sat through three times and actually think is really bloody good, but surely the more of the lights could be dimmed/faded, rather than just plain off?!

I din’t mean to start the real vs. replica argument up again-yes it’s a replica, but it’s a bloody good one, and very well done, all concerned.

I have a great black-finish Defiant on my WW2 flight sim, and it’s a delightfully underpowered thing to fly! Often I’ve gone into combat and been franticaly pulling my trigger, only to remember that I have no forward firing guns! Quick hop into the turret then, and we’re away…

RE: Defiant replica

Hi, sorry to enter this discussion a bit late.
The wreck found in the Peak District was not used in the Defiant recontruction after all. That has been set aside as a display item in its own right.
The website has pictures from the last couple of years over which the Defiant was built. It has a wooden internal structure with Alcad skins, so it has a real metal finish. The Balliol is getting the same treatment and I have just learnt that one of the Battle of Britain Film Hurricane replica, now in New Zealand, is to get new wings using a similar method.
The turret is ex-Defiant and had to be straightened out somewhat before new glazing could be made and fitted. Original wheels have also been used but other than that, the rest is new.
Mark

RE: Defiant replica

Wombat, I know what you mean, because I also had to do a quick double take on it. But it sems as though it’s completely correct. There’s as good a set of photo’s as you’ll ever find of the RAFM’s Defiant at:

http://www.hotel.wineasy.se/ipms/stuff_eng_detail_defiant.htm

I really do wish Dr Fopp would think about diverting some of that Lottery money into a better lighting system for certain parts of the RAF Museum…

RE: Defiant replica

I agree that it’s good to see a Defiant in camo, instead of all black, but for some reason, perhaps its the angle of the photos, the profile of the nose doesn’t seem right. It has to be the photos because the group would obviously have ensured accuracy in the construction.

Wombat

RE: Defiant replica

I totally agree with the construction of this sort of aircraft using as it does some original components. Indeed it probably has more original parts than most of the flying Spitfire and Hurricanes. It is of great credit to the small team at the Boulton Paul Association for seeing this project through. I understand that the collection is only open to the public on a prior permission basis which is shame. Although not wishing to steal the project from the BPA it would be great for the project to receive greater public attention. Might I suggest that the finished Defiant ‘go on tour’. For example 3 months at East Fortune, 3 months at Cosford, 3 months at Duxford, 3 months at Yoevilton. Each of these venues have airshows so the Defiant should be able to attend some of these events, but please remember to park it outside and give the photographers a chance. Hopefully a sponsorship deal could be put together (Flypast ?) which would cover the transport costs. With a little coordination the Defiant could also pass by Elvington, Newark, Waddington Airshow and even London (Hendon or IWM) Although not as glamorous as the Spit and Hurricane the aircraft is distinctive enough to draw attention from the general public.

RE: Defiant replica

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-09-02 AT 09:19 PM (GMT)]Hi folks,
L7005 is a bit of everything-it’s part real and part replica.The original bits (including gun tureet and tail section)were recovered from a crash site,in the Lake District if my memory serves me rightly,and the rest is either aluminium or wood/fibre glass etc. Either way,it’s still an amazing achievement to see a free-standing intact Defiant.I know it has taken absolutely donkeys years to complete the project,but it’s well,well worth it to my mind,and I’m sure alot of others on the forum.

RE: Defiant replica

Thank you for the update, and WELL DONE to all of you connected with the Boulton Paul project.

RE: Defiant replica

Wow! I’m glad to hear this piece of news. I love the Defiant and find it to be a fascinating aircraft.

Thanks for the info and pictures from that link guys!

RE: Defiant replica

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-09-02 AT 06:11 PM (GMT)]If it is made like the real thing, and looks like the real thing, and it isn’t just a plastc shell like all those Spitfires around (I don’t even like real Spitfires, so you can imagine how I like those plastic fakes)I rate it as a real, but new, aircraft. If it has original parts in it, I rate it as a non flying restauration. The “new” 262’s, the “new” FW-190’s I rate them as new originals. They are going to make a production line of newly built P-51’ns and TF-51’ns now, I don’t care, better than todays Cessna’s, Pipers or VLA’s & MLA’s. Imagine they are going to recreate 12 “new” Lancasters, Halifaxes or Stirlings.

Seeing the photo’s, the Defiant looks great, so to me it is a Defiant, only younger than the other one.

RE: Defiant replica

Yes, a fantastic effort, and great to see in camo colours after being so used to seeing the Hendon machine in black. Doesn’t ‘double the population’ though-it’s only a replica! BUT, a bloody good one at that.