What if? Atanasov BAMiG-15MT - die bulgarische Zwillings-Fagot

[dizzyfugu]

Ich poste dies einmal unter dem Vorzeichen obskur und "mit einem Quentchen Wahrheit", denn das Ding basiert auf einer Zeichnung aus einem polnischen Fliegermagazin von 2009: die Atanasov BAMiG-15MT. 


1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-15; NATO reporting name: "Fagot") was a jet fighter aircraft developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB for the Soviet Union. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful jet fighters to incorporate swept wings to achieve high transonic speeds. Introduced in combat over the skies of Korea, it outclassed straight-winged jet day fighters which were largely relegated to ground attack roles. The MiG-15 is believed to have been one of the most widely produced jet aircraft ever made; in excess of 12,000 were manufactured. Licensed foreign production may have raised the production total to over 18,000.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


One of the foreign operators was the Bulgarian Air Force. In 1955 a massive modernisation program started and a wave of deliveries began that would replace many piston engine aircraft from the WWII era. This included the MiG-15, and later also the MiG-17 and MiG-19 fighters and Ilyushin Il-28 bombers, as well as the first helicopters (Mil Mi-1).

In late Fifties the Bulgarian Air Force already had a number of obsolescent MiG-15s with only some 30% of their flying hours used. Dimitr Atanasov was the head of the Bulgarian Air Force's 149 Aircraft Repair Base at Tolbukhin, and he became known through several suggestions for upgrades of the MiG-15 fighter.

One of these works was the conversion of surplus fighters into two-seated fighter bombers/trainers, called the UMiG-15MT, which were more or less a MiG-15 UTI trainers with full weapon capability. The 'MT' suffix simply stood for модифициран в Толбухин ('Modified at Tolbukhin'). The  most radical proposal of Dimitr Atanasov was a twin jet fighter bomber, though, based on two MiG-15s mated together through a short, straight central wing and stabilizer. This would allow the new aircraft to carry an external ordnance of 1.500 kg (3.300 lb) while maintaining the MiG-15's performance, especially range and take-off/landing. This was a considerable offensive improvement, since the original MiG-15 could only carry light loads like a pair of 100 kg (220 lb) bombs or unguided rockets on 2 underwing hardpoints - or, alternatively, drop tanks.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Initial studies for the 'близнак (Bliznak = Twin)' derivative envisaged two standard fighter airframes to be used, with two separate cockpits, or just a single seat cockpit in the port fuselage. Calculated performance figures for the twin MiG were even better than required by the Bulgarian Air Force, so some extra equipment like more fuel or  armour could also be carried. Consequently, the space in the starboard fuselage formerly occupied by the cockpit was used for an additional fuel tank and an avionics bay, while the leftover cockpit received additional armor. The full cannon armament from both airframes was retained, and additional hardpoints under the central wings as well as in- ndd outside of the original wet wing pylons for light loads were added, for a total of seven plyons. In this form, two Atanasov BMiG-15MT protytypes were built and tested in 1958.

Much like the indigenous UMiG-15MT, the "new" aircraft was no offcial product of the OKB Mikoyan-Gurevich, but it received a 'thumbs up' and support from the original manufacturer.
Flight tests and acceptance trials lasted until 1960, when the MiG Bliznak was finally cleared for production/retrofitting at the Krumovo repair plant.

Thirty MiG-15Bs were created until 1963, not only from Bulgarian airframes, but also from other Eastern European Air Forces' stocks, e .g. from Czechoslovakia, where the MiG-15 was under license production. NATO's ASCC reporting name for the BMiG-15MT became "Fagot Z".
The Bulgarian Air Force remained the only operator of this exotic aircraft,  since many countries had already received the more modern and potent Suchoj Su-7 fighter bomber or already used the MiG-17 in the fighter bomber role.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The BMiG-15MT would eventually expand its role, though. It is a well-known fact that the Soviet Air Forces in Eastern Europe received a large number of nuclear weapons in the early 1960s. During this period, the Yak-28 'Brewer' tactical bomber and the first genuine Soviet jet fighter-bomber, the Su-7 'Fitter', were introduced to service and provided the most potent offensive capabilities. For the Soviet Forces in Bulgaria, several Atanasov MiG-15 twins were converted as tactical nuclear bombers, designated BAMiG-15MT (атомен/atomen = 'nuclear').

These machines received a similar conversion like the UMiG-15MT, with a tandem cockpit in the port fuselage. The cannon armament was reduced in order to save weight, only a single 23mm cannon remained in the port fuselage, while the standard armament in the starboard fuselage was retained.
A BDZ-56FNM pylon for nuclear stores was added to the central wing, and the wiring for an RN-25 or RN-28 tactical nuclear weapon was added. These weapons were equipped with a remote or a direct impact fuse that determined the moment of detonation in order to create an aerial or a ground burst. Tactical nuclear bombs could be dropped using a LABS maneuver or during horizontal flight. In that latter case, a braking parachute was deployed behind the bomb.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In order to be able to deliver a weapon with precision during a toss bombing or LABS manoeuvre, the original MiG-15 weapon system had to be supplemented by an additional switchbox and indicator. The latter was called PBK (Pritsel dliya Bombometaniya s Kabrirovaniya or toss-bombing sight). On jets like the Su-7, the PBK was a separate box which was added to the left side of the instrument panel, in the BAMiG-15MT it was operated by the WSO/navigator on the rear seat, leaving the pilot free to concentrate on handling the aircraft. The LABS avionics were installed in the starboard fuselage.
A fixed point had to be selected on the ground to start the bombing run. That fixed point could be identified visually or it could be a radio beacon put in place by a commando unit or an helicopter. The PBK gave the informations necessary to complete the final bombing run.

Even though these machines were operated by the Bulgarian Air Force, the crews - at least when carrying nuclear stores or just when operated at the air bases with storage bunkers for nuclear weapons, were Soviet, even though Bulgarian crews were trained in the procedures for nuclear weapon delivery, too, and the BAMiG-15MT was a very good trainer for this task, even though unique in handling, especially on the ground where its wide track caused frequently taxiing accidents with unfamiliar crews.

The BA and remaining BMiG-15MTs were operated until the late Seventies, primarily as trainers. In the strike role they were already withdrawn in 1970, though, because the performance had become totally inadequate for the potential European battleground.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



General characteristics:
    Crew: 2
    Length: 10.08 m (33 ft 1 in)
    Wingspan: 12.68 m (41 ft 6 in)
    Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
    Wing area: 24.6 m2 (265 sq ft)
    Airfoil: TsAGI S-10 / TsAGI SR-3
    Empty weight: 5,800 kg (12,775 lb)
    Gross weight: 8,000 kg (17,620 lb)
    Max takeoff weight: 9,770 kg (21,515 lb)
    Fuel capacity: 2,450 l (540 imp gal; 648 US gal)

Powerplant:
    2× Klimov VK-1 centrifugal flow turbojet, 26.5 kN (6,000 lbf) thrust

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 1,059 km/h (658 mph; 572 kn) at sea level
                                        1,033 km/h (558 kn; 642 mph) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
                                        992 km/h (536 kn; 616 mph) at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
    Cruising speed: 850 km/h (528 mph; 459 kn)
    Range: 1,640 km (1,020 mi; 890 nmi)
    Service ceiling: 15,500 m (50,853 ft)
    Rate of climb: 51.2 m/s (10,080 ft/min) at sea level
                                 36.2 m/s (7,130 ft/min) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
                                 21 m/s (4,100 ft/min) at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)

Armament:
    3x NR-23 23 mm (0.906 in) cannon in the lower left fuselage
    (one in the port side fuselage, two in the starboard fuselage, 80 RPG)
    1x Nudelman N-37 37 mm (1.457 in) cannon, lower right starboard fuselage (40 RPG)
    Seven underwing hardpoints for a total of 1.500 kg (3.300 lb) ordnance, including bombs,
    napalm tanks, drop tanks, or unguided rockets.

[dizzyfugu]

Zum Bausatz und dem Vorbild:
Die Atanasov-Zwillings-MiG ist ein Mysterium, und kontrovers. (Ernsthafte) Quellen beharren, dass dies ein realer Entwurf aus Bulgarien war - aber es gibt kaum Informationen darüber und die einzige originäre Quelle ist das polnische Krile ("Schwingen") Magazin, Ausgabe 1 vom January 2009. Darin gab es dies...




Ich selber bin in einem Fachbuch über die MiG-15 darüber gestolpert, und wollte das bizarre Ding immer mal bauen. Ein "Kalter Krieg" Group Build auf whatifmodelers.com bildete dann endlich den geeigneten Rahmen und Motivation.

Natürlich bekam das Modell einen persönlichen Touch - so entschloss ich mich die beiden Einzelcockpits durch ein Tandemcockpit zu ersetzen, denn die erschien mir praktischer. Und in Bulgarien wurden tatsächlich alte Einsitzer-Jäger in bewaffnete Zweisitzer (die oben erwähnten UMiG-15MT) umgebaut, so dass auch hier ein Quentchen Wahrheit drin steckt.

Die Basis bildeten zwei Hobby Boss MiG-15en, ein Jäger, der sein Cockpit verlor, sowie ein Trainer. Die Modelle sind erstaunlich gut und komplex (für Bobby Boss Verhältnisse) - nicht nur Rumpf oben/unten/Räder dran, sondern echte und gute detaillierte Einzelteile. Sogar das Cockpit ist, bis auf ein paar Spalten, die ich später verkleidet habe, richtig gut.

Die MiGs wurden fast OOB gebaut, die größte Herausforderung waren die geraden Flügelteile zur Verbindung und das Fahrwerk. Die ersteren stammen von einer ArtModel Bv 155 (ein Teil des Außenflügels von der Restehalde) und einem Focke Wulf Flitzer (das Höhenleitwerk, allerdings mit vergrößerter Tiefe, um zum Rest zu passen).

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Weil nur die äußeren Hauptfahrweksbeine übrig geblieben waren, das Gewicht sich im Original aber fast verdoppelt hätte, entschloss ich mich, auch die Haupträder aufzurüsten. Vorbild war der Dassault Barougan Prototyp, den man mit Zwillingsrädern ausgerüstet hatte und dafür die Schächte "aufgewölbt", um sie zu verstauen. Die vier neuen Räder stammen von zwei Bf 109, Klappen und Ränder der Schächte wurden modifiziert.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Die Abwurftanks sind OOB, für die zugedachte Nuklearrolle gab es außerdem eine IAB-500 Übungs-Atombombe an den Zentralpylon - der komische grüne Anstrich richtet sich nach Vorbildfotos.

Beim Anstrich wollte ich kein Metallfinish, auch wenn bulgarische MiG-15 i.d.R. nackt blieben, nur die Trainer erhielten spät einen taktischen Anstrich, wie auch die Nachfolger MiG-17 und -19. Das Streifen-/Fleckenmuster, für das ich mich entschieden habe, stammt von einer echten bulgarischen MiG-21U, "21 Weiß". Im Grundsatz besteht dieses aus Humbrol 168 (Hemp), 102 (Army Green), und Humrol 65 (RLM 65, eine eher leuchtende Variation) von unten. Wie üblich frei Hand mit Pinsel gemalt, später mit einem dünnen Tusche-Washing und Trockenbemalung bearbeitet.

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Das Cockpit ist in PRU Blue gehalten, Fahrwerksschächte in Humbrol 87 (Steel Grey) sowie 115 (Russian Underside Blue) finish. Lufteinläufe sind Alu, die Räder klassisch Grün (Humbrol 131).

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Die wenigen Aufkleber stammen von einem Begemot MiG-25 Bogen und den OOB-Bögen von Hobby Boss. Auf der IAB-500 und dem Rumpf sind außerdem noch manuell ein paar Markierungen aufgemalt. Zum Schluss, nach ein bisschen Schmauch mit Graphit, gab es noch eine Lage Acryl-Mattlack.


1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Atanasov 'близнак (Bliznak)' BAMiG-15MT, aircraft '38 White' of the 3rd Squadron, 22nd Fighter Air Regiment, Bulgarian Air Force (Военновъздушни сили), Bezmer Air Base, summer 1964 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit bashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Ein bizarres Gerät - und man weiß halt nicht, ob das nun real oder ein Aprilscherz aus Polen war... Ein "echtes" Whif-Modell. 

[Karotte]

Obskur triffts ganz gut. Aber irgendwie hat der Vogel was. Bin ja ein Fan dieser Zwillings-Designs. Man glaubt ja nicht, dass solche Flieger wirklich in die Luft kommen und da auch bleiben... 

Gefällt mir! 

[urban warrior]

Cooler Umbau (mal wieder  )  , da muss ich gerade an die F-82 Twin Mustang aus dem Koreakrieg denken ... auch wenn's eine Propellermaschine ist.

Cheers
Martin

[SandStalker]

tolles Projekt und es hat schon etwas von Sci-Fi 
die Bilder sind sehr realistisch und man könnte fast glauben sie sind von einem Realem Flugzeug gemacht 

[dizzyfugu]

die Bilder sind sehr realistisch und man könnte fast glauben sie sind von einem Realem Flugzeug gemacht 

Danke sehr an alle - und die Bilder gehören ja mit zum Gesamtpaket. Die Landschaften sind übrigens aus dem Balkan, wie auch mehrere Flugfeld-Hintergründe (beachte z. B. den typischen Wasserturm). So etwas macht viel aus, und manchmal ist man auch überrascht wie effektiv ein seltsam wirkender Anstrich ist, wenn man ihn mal im richtigen Kontext sieht.

[Bernie]

Cooles Design
Ich habe direkt an die He-111z denken müssen

[HangMan]

moin,

absoluter "Hingucker"!!! 

egal ob es die nu gab oder nicht!

[Galactican]

Sehr ineressante Geschichte und tolle Fotos! Klasse gemacht! 

[Sheriff]

Schöner Bau, das Design gefällt mir gut.

Möchte mich nochmal positiv für deine Showthreads aussprechen.
Story, wip Bilder, Galeriefotos und Actionpics. Da ist wirklich alles drin 
Macht Spaß sich das anzusehen.

[dizzyfugu]

Vielen Dank - das ist auch der "Anspruch" dahinter. Es ist nicht nur das Modell, das aus irgendwelchen restteilen zusammengelötet wird, sondern es geht um die Idee dazu, ihr historischer und ggf. auch technischer Kontext oder Machbarkeit (soweit ich das beurteilen kann). Insofern gibt es immer eine Story und auch technische Daten, die ich so gut es geht zu recherchieren versuche. Das ist schon "Science Fiction", wenn auch sehr speziell. Die Bilder sollen das dann reflektieren, und manchmal klappt das sogar sehr gut.

Irgend jemand hat mal geschrieben, ein "gutes" What-if-Modell zu bauen ist" so knifflig wie Geld zu fälschen". Da ist was dran - und ich bin erstaunt, wie oft meine Bauten in Internetforen in aller Welt auftauchen, Fragen aufwerfen oder bedenkenlos für bare Münze genommen werden, trotz Hinweisen auf Fiktion und Modellbau... 

[Sheriff]

Eine bessere Bestätigung kann man wohl nicht bekommen   

[dizzyfugu]

Eine bessere Bestätigung kann man wohl nicht bekommen   

In gewisser Weise schon. Und es ist lustig zu sehen, wenn sich manche "Experten" echauffieren, wenn sie merken, dass es sich um fiktive Dinge handelt mit denen sie anderswo mit stolzgeschwellter Brust oder anmderen Körperteilen herumhantiert haben. Einige der Whifs (von zweien weiß ich es, eine Hawker Hurricane mit Sternmotor und eine Ta 183 mit geraden Tragflächen als japanischer Jet-Jäger) haben es sogar schon als Fan-Downloads in Flugsimulationen geschafft! So schließt sich der Kreis, zumal ich auch schon virtuelle Designs aus solchen Simulationen in Modelle "überführt" habe.