Airfix 1:76 Bristol-Ferranti Bloodhound Mk.1 Missile
Discussion
I've always been fascinated by the Bloodhound missile. Don't know why, but possibly because I half built an Airfix model of it as a child in the mid '70's. To me it just looked so damned cool on the box lid. The colours look great, four Gosling solid rocket boosters and a pair of Thor ramjets, Mach 2+, and some '50's style electronic wizardry - what's not to like? Anyone who's seen the cutaway museum example of a Bloodhound, with it's guidance systems on view will know what I'm on about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Bul1cysT8
Of course most of that original model was consigned to the bin, apart from one small part. Ever since, I've wanted to try again, and managed to get a 2008 boxing when it was re-released back then:
Interestingly (sort of) the original kit has been released as being "OO", "HO/OO", 1:72 and 1:76 at various times, not that the difference is anything to worry about for a basic kit like this.
I'm slowly rebuilding and mildly updating the Airfix series of RAF vehicles I loved building and playing with as a child, starting with the Refuelling Set a couple of years back:
And the Bloodhound I consider to be an RAF vehicle set. I kept getting the box out of the loft, looking at it, and quickly putting it back. This time I'm going to make a start - maybe it's becasue of the Vulcan build, and the fact the Bloodhound was a V-bomber base defence missile.
Anyway, as expected for a new-tool from 1960, the kit is...basic:
The only fragment of my original mid '70's version is that white bonnet.
The sink marks in the figures are pretty extreme, even by Airfix standards:
Not relevant though, they'll go straight in the spares/nostalgia bin. There's also a guard dog, which I think my son already used as a pilot's mascot for one of his aircraft.
There's a Land Rover, which will need some upgrading, but the basics are definitley there:
...and the missile itself, which still manages to look way cool despite being pretty crude:
Lots of opportunity to improve it. There's also a trailer, and launch platform, which will also require some work to make them less toy like; these old Airfix kits were intended to be toys as much as models after all. I've seen a couple of builds of this set, with some nice upgrades (notably by Mike Grant), and it can look very good with some effort. Don't know why I've started another kit, but it's done now, so no going back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Bul1cysT8
Of course most of that original model was consigned to the bin, apart from one small part. Ever since, I've wanted to try again, and managed to get a 2008 boxing when it was re-released back then:
Interestingly (sort of) the original kit has been released as being "OO", "HO/OO", 1:72 and 1:76 at various times, not that the difference is anything to worry about for a basic kit like this.
I'm slowly rebuilding and mildly updating the Airfix series of RAF vehicles I loved building and playing with as a child, starting with the Refuelling Set a couple of years back:
And the Bloodhound I consider to be an RAF vehicle set. I kept getting the box out of the loft, looking at it, and quickly putting it back. This time I'm going to make a start - maybe it's becasue of the Vulcan build, and the fact the Bloodhound was a V-bomber base defence missile.
Anyway, as expected for a new-tool from 1960, the kit is...basic:
The only fragment of my original mid '70's version is that white bonnet.
The sink marks in the figures are pretty extreme, even by Airfix standards:
Not relevant though, they'll go straight in the spares/nostalgia bin. There's also a guard dog, which I think my son already used as a pilot's mascot for one of his aircraft.
There's a Land Rover, which will need some upgrading, but the basics are definitley there:
...and the missile itself, which still manages to look way cool despite being pretty crude:
Lots of opportunity to improve it. There's also a trailer, and launch platform, which will also require some work to make them less toy like; these old Airfix kits were intended to be toys as much as models after all. I've seen a couple of builds of this set, with some nice upgrades (notably by Mike Grant), and it can look very good with some effort. Don't know why I've started another kit, but it's done now, so no going back.
dr_gn said:
...
...and the missile itself, which still manages to look way cool....
It does - it looks like something out of Thunderbirds ...and the missile itself, which still manages to look way cool....
Your thread got me wondering what the UK currently does for air defences. Bloodhound was apparently decommissioned in 1991! (From entry in 1958!!).
Rapier ran from 1971 to present day. It seems we get some longevity out of these things
Sky Sabre is the new game in town. Looks nowhere near as cool, but allegedly can hit a tennis ball sized object travelling at the speed of sound! (video here. Put it on mute! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtPmb3CDM_k).
Murph7355 said:
It does - it looks like something out of Thunderbirds
Your thread got me wondering what the UK currently does for air defences. Bloodhound was apparently decommissioned in 1991! (From entry in 1958!!).
Rapier ran from 1971 to present day. It seems we get some longevity out of these things
Sky Sabre is the new game in town. Looks nowhere near as cool, but allegedly can hit a tennis ball sized object travelling at the speed of sound! (video here. Put it on mute! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtPmb3CDM_k).
There was a smaller version called the Thunderbird. Incidentally the Swiss hung onto Bloodhounds until about 1998.Your thread got me wondering what the UK currently does for air defences. Bloodhound was apparently decommissioned in 1991! (From entry in 1958!!).
Rapier ran from 1971 to present day. It seems we get some longevity out of these things
Sky Sabre is the new game in town. Looks nowhere near as cool, but allegedly can hit a tennis ball sized object travelling at the speed of sound! (video here. Put it on mute! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtPmb3CDM_k).
During my apprenticeship at BAC (British Aircraft Corporation) from 1967-1972 I spent some time in the Guided Weapons Division.
One job was during the reconditioning of Bloodhound missiles that suffered from corrosion of the aluminium fuselage frames & skins. Also worked on rebuilding the gearbox of the launcher.
One job was during the reconditioning of Bloodhound missiles that suffered from corrosion of the aluminium fuselage frames & skins. Also worked on rebuilding the gearbox of the launcher.
Eric, long time lurker of all your builds here. Also a massive Land Rover fan. Honest advice...ditch that Landy, the proportions are all wrong, and there are waaaay better models around.
Interesting that the LR on the box looks like a series 2 (the basic shape with the rounded barrelled sides that stayed the same from 1958 all the way through to the end of "proper" Defender production in 2016), but the actual model you have is a series 1 (the original, slab sided variant from 1948-1958)
Interesting that the LR on the box looks like a series 2 (the basic shape with the rounded barrelled sides that stayed the same from 1958 all the way through to the end of "proper" Defender production in 2016), but the actual model you have is a series 1 (the original, slab sided variant from 1948-1958)
Hard-Drive said:
Eric, long time lurker of all your builds here. Also a massive Land Rover fan. Honest advice...ditch that Landy, the proportions are all wrong, and there are waaaay better models around.
Interesting that the LR on the box looks like a series 2 (the basic shape with the rounded barrelled sides that stayed the same from 1958 all the way through to the end of "proper" Defender production in 2016), but the actual model you have is a series 1 (the original, slab sided variant from 1948-1958)
Appreciate the comments, but the idea is to improve the contents of the kit a bit, rather than go for total accuracy. If I was going down the accuracy route, as you say, I’d buy a better Land River kit, and possibly 3D model and resin print everything else.Interesting that the LR on the box looks like a series 2 (the basic shape with the rounded barrelled sides that stayed the same from 1958 all the way through to the end of "proper" Defender production in 2016), but the actual model you have is a series 1 (the original, slab sided variant from 1948-1958)
As with the Refuelling Set though, that’s not what I’m after.
BTW, I’m not Eric.
Glosphil said:
During my apprenticeship at BAC (British Aircraft Corporation) from 1967-1972 I spent some time in the Guided Weapons Division.
One job was during the reconditioning of Bloodhound missiles that suffered from corrosion of the aluminium fuselage frames & skins. Also worked on rebuilding the gearbox of the launcher.
That must have been pretty cool. Do you happen to know what the small, secondary intakes are for, below the main ramjet intakes? They also have small shock cones. I’m assuming they are inlets maybe for some kind of turbine - fuel pumps or generator perhaps? I found a nice Flight International cutaway of the Bloodhound, but I can’t enlarge it enough to see the details or read the part descriptions. One job was during the reconditioning of Bloodhound missiles that suffered from corrosion of the aluminium fuselage frames & skins. Also worked on rebuilding the gearbox of the launcher.
If anyone knows, these people will > https://www.pinterest.co.uk/bloodhoundMk2/bloodhou...
..and Wikipedia gives a description of the turbine and fuel pumps, etc.
..and Wikipedia gives a description of the turbine and fuel pumps, etc.
Edited by Regbuser on Thursday 27th January 20:46
Regbuser said:
If anyone knows, these people will > https://www.pinterest.co.uk/bloodhoundMk2/bloodhou...
..and Wikipedia gives a description of the turbine and fuel pumps, etc.
Thanks - why didn’t I think of Wikipedia? So as suspected, they drive turbo pumps for hydraulics and fuel. Electrical power was from a battery...and Wikipedia gives a description of the turbine and fuel pumps, etc.
Edited by Regbuser on Thursday 27th January 20:46
I found the group on FB, so I’ve asked if they have any decent images of the Mk.1 transporter and launcher.
Cheers.
FFS! Apologies!!!dr_gn said:
Glosphil said:
During my apprenticeship at BAC (British Aircraft Corporation) from 1967-1972 I spent some time in the Guided Weapons Division.
One job was during the reconditioning of Bloodhound missiles that suffered from corrosion of the aluminium fuselage frames & skins. Also worked on rebuilding the gearbox of the launcher.
That must have been pretty cool. Do you happen to know what the small, secondary intakes are for, below the main ramjet intakes? They also have small shock cones. I’m assuming they are inlets maybe for some kind of turbine - fuel pumps or generator perhaps? I found a nice Flight International cutaway of the Bloodhound, but I can’t enlarge it enough to see the details or read the part descriptions. One job was during the reconditioning of Bloodhound missiles that suffered from corrosion of the aluminium fuselage frames & skins. Also worked on rebuilding the gearbox of the launcher.
One little bit of info that is often bandied about is the supposed fact that the Bloodhound was already at a Supersonic speed by the time it left the end of the launcher..
It was actually supersonic after around 1.7 seconds by which time it was around 200m from the launcher.. Which is still impressive for the technology of the time, which included valves in the electronics 😳
It was actually supersonic after around 1.7 seconds by which time it was around 200m from the launcher.. Which is still impressive for the technology of the time, which included valves in the electronics 😳
Top Banana said:
One little bit of info that is often bandied about is the supposed fact that the Bloodhound was already at a Supersonic speed by the time it left the end of the launcher..
It was actually supersonic after around 1.7 seconds by which time it was around 200m from the launcher.. Which is still impressive for the technology of the time, which included valves in the electronics ??
I've seen that quoted before, but I couldn't find it this time around. It did seem a bit extreme, but not out of the question. After all there are no launch rails - it just...goes.It was actually supersonic after around 1.7 seconds by which time it was around 200m from the launcher.. Which is still impressive for the technology of the time, which included valves in the electronics ??
Fairly mild today, so I thought I’d spend some time in the garage. No aftermarket for this one as far as I can see, so it’s a DIY job for the refinements. I started by making a pair of shock cones for the ramjets. According to a few references they are 24 degree cones, which by the look of them mean a 48 degree included angle.
They were fitted with air pressure sensors at their tips, so I began by facing some aluminium rod, and drilling to 0.2 mm:
Then machined the cone with a very sharp GT type insert:
Should really be a double cone angle, but at this size it would be invisible - the transition is pretty much in the inlet. Then machined the spigot to 1.6 mm:
The result:
After sawing off the original plastic one (actually represents a FOD cover I think), and hollowing the inlet, I Blu-Tacked one in place, with some 0.15 mm wire representing the air pressure probe:
The auxiliary intakes below the main ones will probably be replaced with brass tube for the surround, and a cut-off pin for the cone.
They were fitted with air pressure sensors at their tips, so I began by facing some aluminium rod, and drilling to 0.2 mm:
Then machined the cone with a very sharp GT type insert:
Should really be a double cone angle, but at this size it would be invisible - the transition is pretty much in the inlet. Then machined the spigot to 1.6 mm:
The result:
After sawing off the original plastic one (actually represents a FOD cover I think), and hollowing the inlet, I Blu-Tacked one in place, with some 0.15 mm wire representing the air pressure probe:
The auxiliary intakes below the main ones will probably be replaced with brass tube for the surround, and a cut-off pin for the cone.
On to the auxiliary inlets this morning. I found some 1mm diameter aluminium tube, and drilled it to 0.75mm to thin the wall:
Then cut the existing plastic items off, and filed a location groove in the two body halves:
Then tried a darning needle to form the shock cone:
I need another couple of needles before I can finally cut to length, but this is approximately where the inlets fit:
The surrounding plastic wedge needs refining, then the tubes will be set with Araldite, and blended with Milliput.
Then cut the existing plastic items off, and filed a location groove in the two body halves:
Then tried a darning needle to form the shock cone:
I need another couple of needles before I can finally cut to length, but this is approximately where the inlets fit:
The surrounding plastic wedge needs refining, then the tubes will be set with Araldite, and blended with Milliput.
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