Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Ideas & Inspiration => Aero-space => Topic started by: GTX_Admin on December 28, 2011, 03:19:50 AM
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So there I was looking at the cover of the Italeri 1/48 USAF Lockheed TR-1A/B:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/KGrHqJHJDE7BcvgeYCBO6-IVT-60_12.jpg)
when I started to wonder what it would look like if those wing pods had props...
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/u-2-2.jpg)
Regards,
Greg
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Looks somewhat like an MPA type. I believe there was a proposal for the U-2R as a maritime type.
Regards,
John
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There were proposals for U-2s in Anti-shipping and Ocean Surveillance roles (including possibly to Australia).
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/ArmedU23.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/ArmedU22.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/ArmedU2.jpg)
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Love the props concept. Now fuselage has room for bomb bay and tail turret. Could patrol off coast at 50,000ft with with a couple anti-missle missles on board. Targeting ICBM warheads and get SLBMs any time after launch. Maybe target hostile ships at long range.
Bill
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Allow me to add my modest contribution with these two whiffs, which I think they are relevant to this topic:
1°) The Lockheed CL-1860 Bright Star was an original attempt from Lockheed to produce a naval observation type at a reduced cost using elements of the U-2 spy plane. Though the length of the airframe was unchanged, the fin, rudders and wings were shortened (the latter being hinged for carrier use). 45% of the aircraft were taken directly from the U-2 production lines, and another 25% were modified from U-2 elements, leaving only 30% new, basically the cockpit and dorsal intake. The Navy evaluated the sole prototype in 1973 but tests were not conclusive enough to justify procurement.
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/183/1/c/Lockheed_CL_1860_Bright_Star_by_Bispro.jpg)
2°) The Lockheed YU-12A Twin Star prototype was proposed by Lockheed to the US Air Force as a way to augment the range and autonomy of the original U-2 spyplane. Apparently this was not conclusive and the experiment was halted.
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/014/a/6/Lockheed_YU_12A_Twin_Star_by_Bispro.jpg)
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I just got a Special Hobby TR-1A. :)
I was thinking an offensive minded U-2 with AIM-120 missiles mounted inboard of the super pods or even inside them, a v-tail Ala Dale Brown EB-52 Old Dog
The designation would naturally obscure it's real purpose and capabilities: Fighter Utility Model 6K sub-model U or FU-6KU. >:D
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The Soviets started to reverse engineer the U-2A. But it never got to completion.
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Y'know Greg, that first line drawing of yours does not necessarily need a cockpit....... 8) 8) 8)
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I wonder...how about instead of a massively long monoplane, they'd instead built a biplane with half the length of wing? U-2s don't go very fast and the higher lift from a biplane would have worked well with them and been stronger and easier to build....
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The Soviets started to reverse engineer the U-2A. But it never got to completion.
Yes, the Beriev S-13
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Hum......
Is it true that most U-2 kits lack details on (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2341308002703425&set=pcb.2341287846038774)its cameras (https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2341308982703327&set=pcb.2341287846038774)? :-\
Samples from AFV Club kits (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2341307739370118&set=pcb.2341287846038774).