Thanks for the pics, Trigger. Now I know what I’ll be doing with that other 1/35 AH-1W…I’ll be waiting for Cobra Company to put out an update set to make a -1Z!
[8-] YES!!! Now I have an excuse to pick up a second Whiskey! May be a while before Chris gets around too though, it considering they keep changing the configuration.
Rather wait and get the production version, but I want 1/48th(either update or new kit)
Hey, a road trip sounds good! I gotta go to BNOC though [:(], after that it will be just about time for the new tricycle motor to get here.
Mac
Great pictures, but as others have noted, they are still developmental test aircraft, not combat aircraft. But I think the designs are pretty much stable at this point, although there will certainly be detail changes.
Trigger, the bottom picture is lovely Solomon’s Island Maryland. That is the Thomas Johnson Bridge over the Patuxent River, and you can see the Chesapeake Bay in the background. I drive over the bridge every day on my way to work. Patuxent River NAS is on the other side of the river just out of the picture to the right.
Phil
True - details will change, but I thought they’d be a good indicator of things to come. They’ve given me ideas that I’d like to run by you later on if you don’t mind.
Ah, okay… I think I passed under a different bridge (we were coming up from Charleston, SC), but I was half-right… I’d recognize Tidewater country any day!
Well, here are some progress pics. Progress has been a little slow, since I spent plenty of time staring at the parts to figure out how to do this. Tricky to get weapons and landing gear on this configuration. Plus the Citation fuselage needed plenty of bodywork to get rid of the doors and windows. I thought the design had a sleek “hot rod” look to it, so I decided to try to preserve that look. I decided against any sponsons other than modifying the Citation wing roots to provide a place to hang the weapons. I also decided on a Harrier type landing gear. It’s tall enough to put a 4 rack of Hellfires or a rocket pod on the mini-sponsons, and there’s room for a centerline pylon. This type of landing gear would be low drag, nice and stable, but it would prevent wing-folding. But if the blades all fold inward, it would be about the same size as a Harrier. I haven’t worked on the outriggers yet. Today I started on the nose by adding a turret from a Commanche. (I just couldn’t bring myself to rob parts from the only Whiskey Cobra I have!) I plan to do some reshaping on the nose and add a FLIR ball above the gun. So far so good, here are the pics. I added a pic with my HH-60H to provide a feel for size.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Phil
Build’s looking pretty sharp Phil. I like how you were able to get four hellfire underneath. I forgot your HH-60H from a short while back so I’m looking forward to seeing this new build. Thanks for showing the two side-by-side for scale.
One question I have, based off of the landing gear. I was surprised you went with a bicycle configuration on an airframe such as this that has two heavy objects on either extreme of the wing. What about crosswind landings, pitching/rolling decks, etc.?
Lookin real good, Phil! I like the look of the Citation fuselage. I can only imagine the amount of putty that had to be used to blend all of that together. Great progress so far…I know what you mean about spending time just staring at the pieces, but sometimes that’s the best way to plot it all out in your mind before you start in on the plastic. Can’t wait to see more!
It will eventually have outriggers on the nacelles, so it should be plenty stable. Like this:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/eagle-eye.htm
Thanks for the comments guys. BTW LJ, I really like your MARPAT A-10! Excellent job! I’m still pondering the eventual finish for this, but that’s tempting.
Phil
Coming along great
PARTS EVERYWHERE!!!
The surgery has started in earnest. Relocating A-10 wings has turned out to be more of a job than I anticipated, but it will provide at least two wing hardpoints. I still need to grab a -64 for the cockpit and some weapons. This is really going to be a big, pie-in-the-sky beasty.
Mac
Four points - yup, that ought to work. Nice researching on that Phil!
Mac
- Sounds like you’ve got some real Dr. Moreau action planned with your A-10. [}:)] What have you got in mind?
It sounds a bit under-armed, but I don’t know where or how to add more weapons using what you’ve got. It looks good.
I LOVE that gun! The GAU-8 will be for any big stuff. I’m thinking Helfires/TOWs on the wings and 5.5’ rockets in swing out bays ( I have to do something with those engine nacels ). I also have some 50 cals from a P-61 that could go on the fuselage.This may end up as an AF bird, or even Army (sneak it in as an armed rotory wing).
I finally got Photobucket working, so maybe I can show something when I figure out how to hang the wings on this thing.
Mac
Can a GAU-8 even be safely fired from a hover position?
I don’t think that the GAU-8 could be safely fired from a hover. I’m thinking that this thing will have to have some serious power behind those props to keep flying when it is fired. I am leaning more to the CAS side of things anyway, escort will still be a secondary mission. I really just wanted to put alot of punch in it and have fun developing my scratchbuilding skills.
Mac
Genmtleman
First there is already a V22 platform in the works for spec ops and assualt work if i rember right it has the inflight refule probe, FLIR chaff flares and several armaments i jsut fo rth elife of me can not remember which chin mounted MG liek the AH-1/64 and i belive door mounted gatlin cannons and a ramp mounted 50 cali belive talk of a stinger like pod simular to whats on 64’s for short range air defensequite often though the idea is to avoid a fight or let the USAF flyboys have fun while the v22 slipps in during the other action granted i can not give the sources at this time but as a USAF member that has watched the developpment of the Osprey and Raptor from the beging given some time i will find the right reference material for you
In-flight refueling is already a requirement of the V-22, as is FLIR and countermeasure dispensers. Those are already on there as tactics and doctrine dictate them as a necessity. There was talk of a chin mounted gun under the nose of the V-22, but that was deemed as something that could wait until later - or something along those lines. In other words, no one’s holding their breath over that happening.
You can stick a .50 cal on the tail ramp, just like on an MH-53M, but as with the CH-46, that ramp is the primary means of getting a bunch of dudes on or off in a hurry. A gun and gunner gets in the way of that, especially if litters are involved. And a ramp gunner isn’t the same as a side gunner. The problem with side guns on the Osprey is the same as a Black Hawk with the HSSS system installed - you limit the gun azimuth. With the Black Hawk it’s a couple of drop tanks (you can lose those), but with the Osprey, the problem is the engine nacelle. Can’t dump those.
Stingers? Never heard of that. Is it safe to say that the biggest threat to an Osprey will come from below? I know that this is why all USAF and USMC aircraft these days are shades of gray - to hide against the sky from ground fire, not to hide them against the ground from enemy fighters.
Screaminhelo -
could you shoot me an e-mail please?
More reference photo - maybe these will help give people ideas:
