Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright

Model: CW-36

Name: Ascender II

Type: Jet fighter

Date:

Status: Service test

Country: United States of America

Service: U.S. Army Air Force

Designation: XF-55J

Gosh, this one took ages to complete! I actually started it in November 2010 but left it on the side as I couldn't seem to get it finished for some reason. Tried to go back to it in July 2011, quite unsuccessfully... And yet there wasn't much left to do, mostly the markings, jet exhaust, and a few things here and there, but sometimes the brain works in a strange way... Reopened the file a couple of times after that, then closed it...

Anyway, finally got round to completing it in November 2013! The XF-55J Ascender II is a complete rework of the original XP-55 Ascender prototype fighter. Actually if you compare this to the original photo that inspired it (below right), you'll find there isn't much left from it apart from the landing gear and wing!

• I might have to work this into my "Alternate Curtiss History" timeline. (ElSqiubbonator)
• If the development follows the typical canards of the time, yes a jet Ascender was surely in vision, as it was for Japan's Shinden and others. (Rekalnus)