ESCI *(AMT/Ertl) had a variation on the V-22 theme that included some odd looking racks for a quartet of even stranger looking torpedo shapes.
Tell me about it, got one of those I'm kit-bashing into an AEW type
You're not the only one. I'm looking ot add dipping sonar, sonobuoy dispensers, and a deploable MAD "bomb". Definitely need better looking torpedos, though. I'll probalby replace the existing racks with something derived from SIkorsky ESSS pylons.
I was looking at using the UH-60 Black Hawk ESSS parts for that same purpose. Not quite sure where to apply them though. A friend of mine back in Indiana built an MV-22 with Pave Low features that included the external fuel tanks and pylons from the MH-53 that were attached on the sponsons just above the main gear on the Osprey. They really looked good at the time and along with a few other bits and pieces from the Pave Low bird that were attached to the top and bottom of the fuselage and a nice coat of dark green overall it looked quite convincing.
Most of the parts you require for an ASW Osprey could be sourced from one of the Lynx HAS, Sea King, Sea Hawk, or, Sea Sprite kits that have the parts included for the ASW mission. The dipping SONAR and the deployable MAD sensor being two of the most common parts in most cases. If you are wanting some kind of radome affixed to the Osprey you have a couple of choices on location. Add it on as an extended nose as suggested in the image above? Perhaps under the fuselage as flown on the Sea Sprite and Sea Hawk LAMPS birds? On top of the fuselage or attached to the rear loading ramp? Plenty of options on the location just need to make it fit in with the rest of the concept.
Decent torpedo shapes in 1:72nd scale are out there and some decent looking Mk 46 ASW torpedoes can be found in the Hasegawa P-3 Orion kit. Revell's Breguet Atlantic kit also has a couple of nice torpedo shapes and some nice life raft containers if you want to add something uniquie to your ASW bird to give it an SAR mission. There are a number of other 1:72nd scale kits out there with some torpedo shapes that might work but it all depends on how much detail you want on the things. I really do not know of any resin or metal aftermarket torpedoe shapes that are currently available. Anyone have additional information on that to share, please do. I have some of the following in my possession and I can say that they exceed my expectations for details on amu 1:48th scale torpedo:
offers a set of three different torpedo types for the Lynx HAS as [url=http://www.belcherbits.com/lines/148conv/bb34.htm]BB-34 - Lynx ASW Weapons set provides some nice aftermarket resin torpedoes for the Lynx in the form of the Mk 46, Sting Ray, and, Euro Torp MU90.
AeroBonus (AiRes) has a nice set of
Mk 44 ASW torpedoes and
Mk 46 ASW torpedoes.
Interior details for an ASW V-22 can be found in the same Lynx, Sea Sprite, Sea King, and, Sea Hawk kits though in most cases it is very sparse on the details in 1:72nd scale. Sonobouy launchers and sensor consoles being the most important pieces. I would guess the best location for the sonobouy launcher on the Osprey would be on the rear loading ramp or perhaps launched through the floor (underside) of the Osprey. You could drill some holes for your sonobouy tubes and box it over on the interior to make something that could pass for the launcher system. In 1:48th scale Osprey you have the same Lynx HAS, Sea Hawk and Sea Sprite kits to source for parts plus the Cobra Company resin conversions for the Sea Sprite and Sea Hawk.
Cobra Company offers the following items for the SH-2 Sea Sprite and the SH-60 Sea Hawk that could be applied towards your SV-22 Osprey ASW aircraft in 1:48th scale:
SH-2 Sonobuoy Launcher SeaHawk External Sensor SH-60B Super Detail Set includes a pair of torpedo shapes plus the sensor console equipment and the sonobouy launcher. Additional exterior details for the fuel tank sponsons and pylons plus the folding main rotor parts.
SH-60F Super Detail SetPretty much the same parts as above. Really can not determine what the difference is between them based on the images provided.
These following items are included just in case you want to adapt some of the parts to your V-22 Osprey:
HH-60H Conversion/Detail Set HH-60J "Jayhawk" USCG conversion/ Detail set MH-60L conversion for Academy UH-60L MH-60L DAP weapons set If you don't want to spend the money for the Belcher Bits and AeroBonus torpedoes there is always the alternative of using some of the lesser quality torpedo shapes from the various kits that include an ASW torpedo in the kit.
