Bell Airacuda

[finsrin]

Is question not a statement.
Anyone built OOB or kit-bashed Valom Airacuda, any version ?
Comments about the kit ?
Bill

[tsrjoe]

i built one bout three years ago when it was released, a really nice kit and looked good on the shelves, goes together well altho with usual MPM lack of positive locations and sometimes vague instructions re details.

I did mine in a Finnish Winter War scheme of olive and black with light blue unders based upon a profile by John Lacey 'maverick', definately suited it, i really should do another for the collection as i passed mine along for a museum display

should have some pics of the model under construction and completed somewhere il try find and post em up, cheers, Joe

[finsrin]

Thanks.  Good to know it "goes together well".  If parts didn't fit well can picture a lot of filing and filling need for that configuration.
Is one of those designs odd enough to be pre-kit-bashed OOB.
Know there is one (maybe two) in stash.  Probably an engine upgrade is plenty for a bash.
Bill

[ysi_maniac]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_YFM-1_Airacuda

What if, after failure as combat aircrat, Airacuda is converted to airliner?

[elmayerle]

The wing gun positions as premium seating?  Each would need their own toilet, though.  Designing such could be an interesting challenge.

[ysi_maniac]

sunbath facilities lol

[elmayerle]

On second thought, private cabins with all amenities.  Wonder how a stretched one with the V1710's replaced by W3420's would do as a commercial aircraft, either airliner or specialized "air yacht".

[Kerick]

From the description of the flying characteristics you wouldn't catch me flying in one.
But then, a good whiffer can solve many problems.

[GTX_Admin]

With the planned 37mm cannon in each wing pod I always thought it screamed to be used in a ground attack role.

[jcf]

Have one partly constructed, Valom completely hooped the exhaust system.
They moulded it as big, ugly snakes raised above the surface of the nacelles,
the exhaust and/or turbo piping of the Airacuda was below or flush with the
surface of the skin. They're rendition looks like complete crap. One of these
days I'll finish grinding off their moulded on turds and finish the thing.

The Airacuda would have been dead meat in ground attack.

[Rickshaw]

How would it have done if you removed the wing cabins, slimmed down the wing nacelles and put the guns under the floor of the fuselage?   The massive reduction in weight would have helped a lot, I think, in it's handling qualities.

[finsrin]

If not desirable in 1/1 metal air force still works fine in 1/72 styrene air force.
Have one Valom and one vacuform in stash.  No OOB or kitbash plans at this point.  Plenty other builds to do.

[jcf]

Then you have two different versions, the Valom kit and the Rareplanes vac are not of the same
Airacuda model.

[finsrin]

How would it have done if you removed the wing cabins, slimmed down the wing nacelles and put the guns under the floor of the fuselage?   The massive reduction in weight would have helped a lot, I think, in it's handling qualities.

I'd think so too.
Being same size as B-10, it could be a bomber contemporary of B-10.

[ysi_maniac]

On second thought, private cabins with all amenities.  Wonder how a stretched one with the V1710's replaced by W3420's would do as a commercial aircraft, either airliner or specialized "air yacht".

Air Yatch? I like this idea :) :)

[Logan Hartke]

Here's a crazy idea:

Bell YFM-2/XP-52 Airamamba? Airanha? I'm open to naming ideas.



Think: missing link between the YFM-1 Airacuda and the XP-58 Chain Lightning



Replace those people at the front of the engine nacelles with two more V-1710s to get four engines in a push-pull configuration (like the Farman bombers and airliners).



Keep the M4 47mm cannons and just condense the P-39's configuration, more like the Hispano-Suiza 12X motorcannons that had been in service for years at that point. Put four .50 cals in the nose and go down to just two crew (pilot and radio operator/flight engineer). Ditch those side blisters and all the various gunners, stick with the tricycle landing gear of the YFM-1A.



You get yourself a four-engine fighter, but you also get about 4,800 hp and can ditch all but two of the crew. Now, it would be impractical and hideously expensive, but you might actually get something in service by 1942, unlike the Chain Lightning.



Best case scenario, you get something like a maintenance-heavy A-26 Invader, but a couple years earlier.



Cheers,

Logan

[robunos]

On second thought, private cabins with all amenities.  Wonder how a stretched one with the V1710's replaced by W3420's would do as a commercial aircraft, either airliner or specialized "air yacht".

Air Yatch? I like this idea :) :)

Crazy idea for an Air Yacht. Move the flight crew into the nacelle noses, Blohm und Voss, or Twin Mustang style. Leaves the entire fuselage free for 'entertaining' . . . Hugh Hefner, is that you ?


cheers,
Robin.