Author Topic: Inspiration thread  (Read 8039 times)

Offline Artoor_K

  • On the run from Polish Rivet Counters...
  • Moderator
  • Use the power of your dreams!
Inspiration thread
« on: September 06, 2020, 04:52:41 PM »
Any inspiration will be awarded by Caesar blessing :)
« Last Edit: September 09, 2020, 03:52:13 AM by Artoor_K »
Sickening, weakening
Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
It takes a bit of dark to rekindle the fire burning in you
Ignite the fire within you

Offline Sport25ing

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2020, 07:42:17 PM »
(Evil Laugh) Hahahaha, Finally! (sry, it's gonna be use)

Op. Downfall is literally my fav ATL, and i've search TONS of stuff for this timeline. Unfortunately for me, I can't contribute with any models, but I can give you several links + ideas:

links:
https://codenames.info/operation/downfall/
http://www.alternatewars.com/WW2/Downfall/Downfall.htm
https://www.deviantart.com/tylero79/art/History-of-the-Two-Japans-307440401
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_downfall1.html
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_downfall2.html
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_downfall3.html
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_downfall4.html
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/macarthur%20reports/macarthur%20v1/ch13.htm
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/10/19/what-if-the-kamikaze-and-the-invasion-of-kyushu-i/
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/10/19/what-if-the-kamikaze-and-the-invasion-of-kyushu-ii/
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2019/10/19/what-if-the-kamikaze-and-the-invasion-of-kyushu-iii/
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/10/20/no-atomic-bomb-version-i/
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/10/20/no-atomic-bomb-version-ii/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2NZVQzfAbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIY1-TYirIw
+
https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/many-flags-campaign-un-security-council-in-op-downfall.487110/#post-20444193
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/decisive-darkness-what-if-japan-hadnt-surrendered-in-1945.296250/page-218#post-13637104
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/101629-It-almost-happened-the-RAF-Tiger-Force
https://combatace.com/forums/topic/90210-raf-tiger-force-japan-1946/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zoqgBxtUl8
http://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc_tigerforce.htm
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canada-and-the-second-world-war/pacwar
https://www.deviantart.com/thekutku/art/Thousand-Week-Reich-Operation-Downfall-1945-756452798
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZfObRnZiw0&t=29s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I34pxr23Nhw&t=298s
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2020/08/10/tiger-force/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kII5dUXKg

my ideas (free to use):
1. Norwegian (and UN) participation
Typhoon Louise had first been spotted on October the 2nd as she formed around the Caroline Islands. Initially ignored, her unexpected turn north was not met with much concern as she slowed down, only to intensify, to the horror of American meteorologists, as she passed over Okinawa on October 9th. The staging area for the invasion of Kyushu, thought to have largely avoided the harsh weather seasons, was now struck with 140 mph winds. The typhoon passed and returned over the island for three days, wrecking almost every building above ground, rendering over a million troops and personnel homeless in the process. Dozens of ships awaiting the invasion were forced ashore only to be pounded into scrap by the huge waves of the storm. Dozens of planes were smashed, torn from their runways in impromptu flights, before being hurled back to Earth. By the time it was safe for medical ships to arrive, 4000 were dead, and several thousand more were seriously wounded, with bodies clinging onto wreckage still being washed onto the beaches of Buckner Bay.
With the damage cause by the typhoon, althrought not wanting, Truman was forced to call all UN nations to send any kind of support against Japan to end the conflict once and for all. Several nations that wheren't planned to participate decided to contribute in one way or another. Among them was Norway, by sending two squadrons that where formely operated under RAF while they where in-exile, been the No.331 and No.334 Squadrons. While the No.334 kept flying the De Havilland Mosquito (been FB Mk.21 - Canadian version of FB Mk 21), the No.331 was converted to the Hawker Tempest II. Once again, both squadrons where attached to the RAF, but unlike during the war in Europe, they where more independent, and one of the representacion is the fuselage stripes, been red/white/blue/white/red around the fuselage, in a similar way the D-Day ones. Both squadrons also decided to paint their aircrafts in the "Tiger Force" white/black scheme, as a way of allied identification, and been integrating in the respective force.

2. BB turret emplacements
With the invasion iminent, they began to search for every gun they could find. They then found suitable ideas, among them: re-using the 14inch turrets from Ise-class BB (4 turrets with two guns each) and Haruna BB (Kongo-class - also 4 turrets with two guns each), plus 9 18inch guns (intended for the Shinano BB)

3. Portuguese P-38 Lightning in Kyushu
Althrought not been part of the UN, Portugal also joins the war against Japan in October of 45, much to the annoiance of the Allied forces. The reason was for their request of the invasion of Timor island, not longer a strategic island for the Allies, but finally, they agree (just to shut up Portugal) and launched Oboe 7, from both Java (already invaded) and Australia. Later, Portugal even contributed for Downfall, with some warships and even squadrons of P-38 Lightings, themselves been replaced in US service by P-51H/P-47N/P-82B

4. T77 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
The T77 MGMC is M24 Chaffee light tank with a new AA turret, armed with quad .50cal M2 machine guns. Built to replace the M16 MGMC, it faired well against low flying piston-engine aircraft, but couldn't keep up with the new jet/rocket kamikazes that the japanese fielded (althrought it didn't stop them to score half a dozen of those). But their nickname: "Banzai chainscaw" said it all, as two T77 managed to stop single handedly an 300 person banzai charge with the intent to open the Tokyo pocket.

5. Italian Hamilcar Mark X
Another UN contributor was Italy. Initially, Italy wanted to contributing for the Pacific War, but the Allied forces refused initially. But after the US request of UN support, Italy sought a opportunity. Almost all of their expeditionary forces were send to the SEA front (infantry brigade, tank battalion and a fighter squadron). A Flight of Hamilcar Mk.X (powered variant) was also send to support Operation Downfall. In a similar way with the Norwegian, all squadrons had their British SEA blue replaced with green.

6. "Communist" Korean A-20 Boston
After the "liberation" of Korea by the Red Army, the Korean People's Armed Forces where formed, with the intent of liberating what remains of japanese pockets/resistance (and dissidents). But despite this, them wanted to take revenge on their colonizers, and the soviets approved, providing them with A-20 Bostons (and illegal move, since no Lend-Lease material is to be sold to a third party)

7. Blackburn Firebrand T.F.VA
The Firebrand wasn’t the best aircraft the FAA ever operated, but luckily for the RN, all 4 earlier variants (F. I; T.F. II; T.F.III and T.F.IV) weren’t mass produced due to several problems (although the later variant was kept as a trainer). The best variant was the T.F.V, although itself been re-modified as T.F.VA in January of 1946. These new strike aircraft became almost immediately as the new torpedo bomber of the RN, replacing most of the Avengers (although have less range) and Barracudas as the main carrier-based torpedo-bombers, with “fighter” capabilities.

8. VOS/VCS Squadrons
In the Pacific, the catapult-launch observation floatplanes (1942 to 1944 - SOC Seagulls and OS2U Kingfishers; 1945 - SO3C Seamew and JL-1 Seafox) where common among island hoping, by helping the battleships and cruisers as artilhery observers. This all change on 9 of September of 1945, where 8 SC Seahawks where attacked by 4 Ki-43 Oscars. 2 Seahawks where lost with the japanese losing 2 Oscars as well (one by an Seahawk itself, an second after been after an third that got safe by the AA gunfire from USS West Virginia).
There was a sudden urgency, as dozens of ships of several navies, that possessed the capabilities of carrying floatplanes, where necessary for the accuraccy of the shore bombardment, for less allied casualties on the ground, while at the same time, making themselves vulnerable for any enemy aircraft or AA gun that might escaped the heavy bombardment, like what happen in Sicily. One of the aviators of the heavy cruiser Quincy proposed the VOS used on Operation Overlord to be rebuild. As in Europe, there was a similar problem that occured in Mediterranean, and a Observation squadron was formed in England with formed Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V, and operating until the liberation of Cherbourg.
The biggest problem of these new squadrons where the training of the observation floatplanes to fighters and the aircraft itself. The training was made with some of the former VOS-7 pilots training the newers pilots with help of some extra Marines pilots removed from the frontlines. The aircraft problem was resolved almost imediately as an enormous number of F4U-1 Corsairs variants from the US Marines began to fill some airfields as surplus, as the aircraft where replaced by F4U-4 and -5 variants prior to Op. Downfall. About 20 Observation Squadron (VOS/VCS-1 throw 20) American squadrons where created between October and November, while later 3 where formed with foreign personnel (either British or French).
The remainer catapult-launch observation floatplanes, from now own, where used on secondary missions, mostly rescue, submarine patrols; rarely (only where there was absolute air superiority), they could be used as navy artilhery observers.
As with many Allied squadrons in the late stage of the war, they used special marks to indentify themselves from other fighter squadrons. VOS-5 squadron (show where), besides the red/whites ID stripes, add 4 white stripes in the horizontal stabilizer and black/yellow/black stripes in the wingtips. Unlike the seaborne VC squadrons, that had the FM-3B Wildcat (specialized airborne forward air controller role variant), the VOS squadrons where been used only by the Navies big guns, with limited support to others units, as the VC ones support any unit that request aerial spotting support.
On the first day of combat, they where only armed with MG's (cannons in case of F4U-1C), with none of the squadrons had a ace in a day, unlike the fighter and even the dive-bombers squadrons. Later on the campaign, they began been armed with either rockets or bombs, to destroy any target that survived. As the Japanese grounds units started to realise the rule of these squadrons, they started to receive an increased among of flak (been the main contributor of 70% of all squadrons shootdown in total). There was cases where AA artilhery focus on one Corsair of VOS-12, while been attacked by an flight of Tigercat's dropping napalm.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2020, 06:30:42 AM by Sport25ing »

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2020, 08:34:01 PM »
In case anyone has forgotten this (or, more likely, remembered):

Modified German Pattern 75mm-gun Type 5 Tank Kuroi-hyō (Black Panther)











Build & rather spread-out backstory here: http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=8708.0
« Last Edit: September 06, 2020, 11:55:28 PM by Old Wombat »
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Sport25ing

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2020, 09:43:33 PM »

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2020, 01:08:45 AM »
Some Inspiration from A Simple Issue of Metals

The Nakajima J9Y






Kawanishi G9Ks




Nakajima Ki-201s



All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage

Offline Sport25ing

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #6 on: September 07, 2020, 03:25:12 AM »
This is the last before you kick me for spam  :icon_crap:


Ki-43 in French markings (RW):

https://www.frankhenriquez.com/scale/ki-43-hayabusa-oscar-in-french-markings/

The Oscar isn't the only Japanese aircraft in French service: https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/08/30/wwii-japanese-aircraft-in-postwar-french-service/

some images (including from the Roast and Comrade Harps (last from WhatIfModellers):


















« Last Edit: September 14, 2020, 06:50:47 AM by jcf »

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #7 on: September 07, 2020, 03:33:38 AM »
Of course, the Ryan Fireball.  Their place/time to be in operations before corroding away.
« Last Edit: September 07, 2020, 03:52:02 AM by finsrin »

Offline Spey Phantom

  • 1/144 addict
  • the modeler formerly known as Nils.
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #8 on: September 07, 2020, 04:59:28 AM »
my 1/72 Me262, built some time ago as a Ki-201  8)



on the bench:
-various models

on the drawing board:
-various 1/72 TinTin aircraft
-1/72 Eurocopter Tiger (Belgian Army)
-various other 1/72 and 1/144 aircraft

Offline Buzzbomb

  • Low Concentration Span, oft wanders betwixt projects
  • Accurate Scale representations of fictional stuff
    • Club and my stuff site
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2020, 07:00:47 AM »
In case anyone has forgotten this (or, more likely, remembered):

Modified German Pattern 75mm-gun Type 5 Tank Kuroi-hyō (Black Panther)


Panther was first on my list of candidates for this, as that scenario of Captured Panthers/Panzers being supplied to Japan by Russia was in Red Gambit Alt History book series.
You of course have done this admirably

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2020, 11:18:02 AM »
Wouldn’t there be boatloads of Bearcats?

Offline Sport25ing

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2020, 06:51:37 PM »
Wouldn’t there be boatloads of Bearcats?

Most likely, althrought they might not replace all Wildcats and Hellcats, they might form (less say) 50% or more off the Grumman-made fighters by early/mid-46

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #12 on: September 08, 2020, 01:42:30 AM »
And Tigercats.   Which made operational sorties in last days/weeks of war.   Did not encounter enemy, so no combat....
« Last Edit: September 08, 2020, 01:44:03 AM by finsrin »

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2020, 02:31:46 AM »
On the IJN side, operational G8N1's with anti-ship missiles?

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #14 on: September 08, 2020, 09:43:08 AM »
How much of that sort of Japanese industry would be left? With the resources turned from Europe to Japan I can’t imagine much hi tech capability after nearly everything being bombed into oblivion.

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #15 on: September 09, 2020, 11:53:03 AM »
I400-class and other floatplane launching submarines repurposed to launch unmanned or manned anti-ship strikes from threat vectors the USN and allies would not be expecting.

Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #16 on: September 09, 2020, 12:48:16 PM »
Perhaps the Japanese developed the Ki-63, replacing the DB 601 copy engines with DB 605, or bigger.


Offline Kaibokan

  • nah
  • meh
    • deviantArt account
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #17 on: September 09, 2020, 01:37:23 PM »
Please don't actually try these at home lol





I can guarantee that these may (or may not) fit the criteria.

Offline Dr. YoKai

  • Was in High School when mastadons roamed the plains...
  • A notorious curmudgeon who is partial to...hemp!
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2020, 01:53:45 AM »
Figure my old GohtenGo might serve here -

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
  • Patterns? What patterns?
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2020, 02:46:43 AM »
Figure my old GohtenGo might serve here

Love the tracked Gohtengo  :-*   Of course, ideally, it should have a few more turrets  ;)
« Last Edit: September 16, 2020, 09:22:39 AM by apophenia »
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2020, 05:46:14 AM »
I remember that build!

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2020, 06:26:27 AM »
How about another Mega-carrier ?     http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=8408.0

Need not be as "mega".

Offline Sport25ing

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #22 on: September 13, 2020, 09:33:45 PM »













"Italian Volunteer Group"


"See B&V 155"






Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #23 on: September 27, 2020, 03:55:15 AM »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Inspiration thread
« Reply #24 on: September 27, 2020, 09:47:56 AM »
RAAF MB-5! Nice fit! 8)


Possibility of operational CA-15s. too! ;)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."