TSR2: Hell-For-Leather

[Skyraider3D]

http://www.digitalaviationart.com/forums/TSR2/Hell-For-Leather_web500v.jpg

Hell-For-Leather

After their nuclear attack against a Soviet industrial target, the crew of this TSR2 dive back to the relative safety of supersonic low-level flight. With the bomber’s cover now broken, a “Shilka” self-propelled anti-aircraft gun is the first enemy unit to respond. As they speed away from the target, hopes are high for a safe return to their forward air base in West Germany... if it is still there. This is the doomsday scenario that could have unfolded, had the Cold War turned hot and had the TSR2 not been cancelled in 1965.


Around the height of the Cold War, the British government released a specification for a nuclear-capable strike and reconnaissance aircraft. The result was the British Aircraft Corporation TSR2. Sadly Britain was in a poor financial position at that time and simply couldn't afford this state-of-the-art machine. The cancellation that followed in 1965 nearly wiped out military aircraft production in the UK.

This image was created for Damien Burke's superlative book TSR2, Britain's Lost Bomber, published by Crowood. If you have any interest in the TSR2 at all, this is the one book to get. Freshly researched, it debunks all the misinformation and myths that surrounds it and adds lots of new insight, information and fantastic technical detail that has been hidden in archives for over four decades. An absolute must for anyone interested in Cold War aviation. More information about this book can be found on http://www.tsr2.info

Prints of the cover art are available through my web store at http://www.digitalaviationart.com


Merry Christmas everyone!

Ronnie


PS. Below a few close-ups:

http://www.digitalaviationart.com/forums/TSR2/Hell-For-Leather_web750_cu1.jpg

http://www.digitalaviationart.com/forums/TSR2/Hell-For-Leather_web750_cu2.jpg

http://www.digitalaviationart.com/forums/TSR2/Hell-For-Leather_web750_cu3.jpg

http://www.digitalaviationart.com/forums/TSR2/Hell-For-Leather_web750_cu4.jpg

[John Manrho]

Thanks, one of my all time favourite a/c.....looks magnificent.

John

[young knobby]

If you want to see a real one in the flesh, take a trip to IWM Duxford.

http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1206

[Skyraider3D]

Thanks John!



If you want to see a real one in the flesh, take a trip to IWM Duxford.I extensively photographed that one before I started my 3D model. Along the way I found out that XR222 has seen better times, as a number of items went missing and were (sometimes crudely) replaced along the way. XR220 in Cosford is a more genuine specimen and I used it as my main reference.

[waghorn41]

Beautiful artwork!

I believe that even in 1978 there were still large chunks of TSR2 on the 'ness range. A friend of mine visiting the site was asked if he knew what he was standing on - it was a TSR2 wing...