Apophenia's Offerings

[apophenia]

An AN/APQ-126 might be doable.

Nice! And, going by YA-7D development, should be available around 1968?

[GTX_Admin]

Nice! And, going by YA-7D development, should be available around 1968?

Yep.

[apophenia]

M.A.D asked me to do a whif night fighter derivative of the Grumman F9F-8T 2-seater for carrier use by the RAN's FAA. (Hope that you like it, Rob.)

He chose the pre-1961 markings of 805 Squadron - a sawtooth pattern in red and white. Those colours were worn on 805 Sea Venom tip tanks. Since the F9F-8 didn't have tip tanks, the sawtooth markings were moved to the drop tanks. Other RW markings were moved about to suit the Cougar's rather unique body shape. This included overlapping 'NAVY' on both the upper Extra Dark Sea Grey and lower Sky surfaces.

The most liberties were taken with the individual aircraft number - with '801' rendered in white on the upper surface as well as being moved from the main undercarriage covers forward to the nose gear cover. I also added a national flag to the vertical fin ... just for a bit of extra colour.

[Old Wombat]

The Cougar looks odd with that double-bubble.


Whilst the single-bubble looks elegant dressed in a 1950's inspired high-demarcation EDSG-over-Sky scheme.




 

[GTX_Admin]

 

[apophenia]

... Whilst the single-bubble looks elegant dressed in a 1950's inspired high-demarcation EDSG-over-Sky scheme.

Nice! I much prefer this Sky-up-on-the-spine demarcation. I wish I'd thought of that!

The Cougar looks odd with that double-bubble...

It does indeed. The basis for this was the F9F-8T trainer but then the radome from F4D-1 Skyray's radar set was grafted on. Of necessity, the curve of the F9F-8T's lower fuselage is largely eliminated to accommodate the larger diameter of thatAN/APQ-50 radome.

M.A.D didn't tell me his overall plan for this Cougar night fighter within his alternative orbat. I doubt that it will match his thinking but I'm imagining something like the following:

N4 = Grumman (CAC) Cougar F(AW) Mk.48 (aka F9F-8NF) [1]
- N4(NF) = Cougar shipbard all-weather/night fighter
-- Armament = Up to 4 x AAM-N-7 Sidewinder IA missiles; and

N6 = Grumman (CAC) Cougar trainer (aka F9F-8T and F9F-8NF)
- N6(T) == Cougar pilot trainer (based on Grumman F9F-8T)
- N6(NF) = Cougar radar-operator trainer (based on Grumman F9F-8NF)
- N6(TT) = Cougar target tug; surplus N6(T) conversions with Delmar target kit

I could see elements of this fleet outlasting the RW Sea Venoms and Vampire T.34 trainers. For example, after retirement from shipboard operations, I can imagine a few lower-hour Cougars being moved into a land-based spoofing role to keep RAN air defence operators on their toes.

Anyway, I guess will know for sure when M.A.D publishes his orbat.
_____________________________________________

[1] I wanted a British-sounding designation so I made up F(AW) Mk.48. The '4' came from N4 - the RW Sea Venom code - and the '8' from F9F-8, of course.

[Litvyak]

... Whilst the single-bubble looks elegant dressed in a 1950's inspired high-demarcation EDSG-over-Sky scheme.

Nice! I much prefer this Sky-up-on-the-spine demarcation. I wish I'd thought of that!

I really like both, but my vote is for the line lower down, just because I like EDSG as a colour. :)

[apophenia]

Inspired by Robomog's build based on Tophe's original concept, I've spun off on my own.
-- https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=780018ed97a037113eecbec10ba52bc4&topic=11235.msg222703

Now that 'Mog has done the hard-graft in styrene, I get to push the pieces around in pixels 

Basically, I've shifted the fuselage pod forward to simplify its nose gear installation. I've also shortened that pod, pushing the rear engine forward. The cockpit has also been relocated (more on that later).

I've changed the main gear to now being rearward-retracting. That provides room in extended boom noses for armament - I'm imagining something like twin 37 mm COW guns (which Tophe most certainly would not approve of!). Since the main gear has been removed from the inboard wing panels, that space is now available for fuel (hence the ability to remove the Spit's main fuselage tank and push the cockpit forward).

Detail-y stuff is moving the foremost Merlin's carburettor intake to the port side (smoothing air flow for the rear intake which remains on the starboard side); increasing the horizontal tail span; substituting a bubble canopy; etc.

[Robomog]

Brilliant adaption, really  nice. 

I think Tophe would like this. Two adaptions from one of his idea's 

(but maybe not the cannon  )

Mog
>^-.-^<

[apophenia]

Cheers 'Mog.

Tophe would definitely have appreciated seeing evolutions springing from his original concepts. (Though, as you say, not the added weaponry!)