Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Extended Service Life and/or Back dated GB => Topic started by: LemonJello on March 25, 2015, 04:04:50 AM

Title: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: LemonJello on March 25, 2015, 04:04:50 AM
A warm, inviting place for all those ideas and photos meant to inspire your fellow travelers.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Kerick on March 25, 2015, 10:41:08 AM
The Marine Hueys and Cobras are RW examples.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/AH-1W_UH-1Y_take_off_from_Bastion_Afghanistan_2009.jpg/1024px-AH-1W_UH-1Y_take_off_from_Bastion_Afghanistan_2009.jpg)

Chinooks have been around for ages too. There was the gunship version, Guns-a-go-go.

(http://www.aviastar.org/foto/bvertol_armoredchinook.jpg)

Food for thought.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 25, 2015, 08:04:40 PM
To get Chinook into this you would probably have to either take it back to WWII (anyone for an Axis of Time Chinook?) or take it into the 22nd century...

Anyway, here are some possible inspirations from Clave:

WWI Phantom:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/image.jpg1_zpsnezyqpra.jpg)

US ANG Bf-109:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/image.jpg2_zpshsoo4lxj.jpg)
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Kerick on March 25, 2015, 08:40:16 PM
To get Chinook into this you would probably have to either take it back to WWII (anyone for an Axis of Time Chinook?) or take it into the 22nd century...

At least Korea.....
Chinooks are like the Army's B-52. So good at it what it does there is no replacement in sight.
Chinooks in Avatar???
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 26, 2015, 12:08:38 AM
The Chinook is actually better than the B-52.  The Chinook has (I believe) been in continuous production from 1961 to the present day.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Silver Fox on March 26, 2015, 05:16:08 AM
C-130V delivering new recruits to Starfleet Academy. :)
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 26, 2015, 07:36:43 PM
C-130V delivering new recruits to Starfleet Academy. :)

Love it!
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on March 26, 2015, 10:05:21 PM
I have a slightly silly idea that should work, when did the AIM-9B enter service?
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on March 26, 2015, 10:09:38 PM
I have a slightly silly idea that should work, when did the AIM-9B enter service?

1956 I believe.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on March 26, 2015, 11:26:41 PM
My cunning plan is doable and it's something similar to what someone has has posted a real world photo of on one of the inspiration topics a while back.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: elmayerle on March 27, 2015, 12:06:25 PM
So, would a Harrier GR.3B or Sea Harrier FRS.1A (basically a GR.3 with the usable upgrades of the AV-8C and a Sea Harrier FRS.1 similarly modified - but with radar upgrades that don't change the profile) in RAuxAF and RNVR FAA markings, respectively, work as current aircraft?

Or a Super Sabre re-engine with a dry F110 and with the four 20mm cannon replaced by a single M61?  Possibly re-wired for targeting pods on a hardpoint?
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on March 27, 2015, 12:52:49 PM
F-404 Super Lightning!
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: finsrin on March 27, 2015, 01:24:30 PM
So, would a Harrier GR.3B or Sea Harrier FRS.1A (basically a GR.3 with the usable upgrades of the AV-8C and a Sea Harrier FRS.1 similarly modified - but with radar upgrades that don't change the profile) in RAuxAF and RNVR FAA markings, respectively, work as current aircraft?

Or a Super Sabre re-engine with a dry F110 and with the four 20mm cannon replaced by a single M61?  Possibly re-wired for targeting pods on a hardpoint?

Super Sabre :)
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: perttime on March 27, 2015, 03:16:28 PM
What if they had Spitfires "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."?
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: LemonJello on March 27, 2015, 07:55:39 PM
So, would a Harrier GR.3B or Sea Harrier FRS.1A (basically a GR.3 with the usable upgrades of the AV-8C and a Sea Harrier FRS.1 similarly modified - but with radar upgrades that don't change the profile) in RAuxAF and RNVR FAA markings, respectively, work as current aircraft?

Or a Super Sabre re-engine with a dry F110 and with the four 20mm cannon replaced by a single M61?  Possibly re-wired for targeting pods on a hardpoint?

In my humble opinion,  both of these would be worthy entries for this group build. 
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: dy031101 on March 28, 2015, 01:54:51 AM
Guess I'll be Shipbucket-butchering a Terrier/Standard-2ER ship for this one.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Kerick on March 28, 2015, 04:13:30 AM
What if they had Spitfires "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."?

Sooo, you've been watching Dr. Who and Star Wars lately?
Sounds awesome but where would you put R2D2?
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: jcf on March 28, 2015, 05:57:56 AM
What if they had Spitfires "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."?


Sooo, you've been watching Dr. Who and Star Wars lately?
Sounds awesome but where would you put R2D2?


Behind the pilot.  ;)

(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/joncarrfarrelly/TYPE-305_02.png)

(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/joncarrfarrelly/TYPE-305_01.png)

Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: perttime on March 28, 2015, 04:16:17 PM

Sounds awesome but where would you put R2D2?
Clave has drawn at least a Defiant with an R2 unit...
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Kerick on March 29, 2015, 06:42:24 AM

Sounds awesome but where would you put R2D2?
Clave has drawn at least a Defiant with an R2 unit...

That or a Firefly would have room but a Spitfire would be tight. Not impossible, perhaps a slight fuselage lengthening.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: finsrin on April 01, 2015, 05:06:43 PM
With three well along but unfinished kitbashes (one bomber, two gunboats), gotta finish them.
Also have about eight 1/1 small to large car builds in work too.  Am busy.
Much as I am enthusiast of this GB premise likely won't be building.
You guys go for it.  With all your imagineering and skills know it will be a - WOW
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Claymore on April 01, 2015, 08:46:59 PM
Hmmm... This has got me thinking of a conversation I had during my last stint in Talibanistan.  God forbid, I might have to build another aircraft!  :o
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: ChernayaAkula on April 02, 2015, 12:43:05 AM
I don't remember what I did this one for, but I think it had something to do with the Pegasus Bridge Raid in WWII.


(http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/ChernayaAkula/WhIf/WestlandWessextH1.png)
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 11, 2015, 04:51:12 AM
Random Idea if anyone wants it:  How about a M4 Sherman still in service today?  Possibly with Reactive armour, advanced targeting/sensors, modern gun....
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Kerick on April 11, 2015, 06:58:14 AM
Random Idea if anyone wants it:  How about a M4 Sherman still in service today?  Possibly with Reactive armour, advanced targeting/sensors, modern gun....

And a much bigger engine! Instead of a tank gun maybe a 20-30mm gun and TOW missiles? Say its for urban combat where the range of a tank gun is not required. Berlin brigade urban camo. Slat armor. Go with a late model Easy 8.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: finsrin on April 11, 2015, 07:00:47 AM
Random Idea if anyone wants it:  How about a M4 Sherman still in service today?  Possibly with Reactive armour, advanced targeting/sensors, modern gun....

Like to see one of you build it :)
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on April 11, 2015, 04:48:59 PM
How about an updated M-24, well more updated than has happened in reality, how far could you go?
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Claymore on April 12, 2015, 06:48:18 AM
And a much bigger engine! Instead of a tank gun maybe a 20-30mm gun and TOW missiles? Say its for urban combat where the range of a tank gun is not required. Berlin brigade urban camo. Slat armor. Go with a late model Easy 8.

Hmmmmmm...  ;)
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Weaver on April 20, 2015, 01:51:17 AM
Jon asked a question on the rules thread about whether civilian service counted (it does), and that got me thinking that actually, post-military civilian service is a really good scenario for extending the service life of a piece of hardware, since surplus military kit is often cheap for the amount of performance it provides, and the fact that it's military characteristics are obsolete is usually irrelevant.

The first idea I had was for a Lysander crop duster, but a quick Google search shows that not only was it done for real (in Canada), but someone'salready made a lovely model of one and it's been found by Dizzyfugu over on whatif:

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/10211914254_bd436b2c17_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/gyoJk9)Westland Lysander Version agricole / Agricultural version 1949 (https://flic.kr/p/gyoJk9) by Franclab (https://www.flickr.com/people/86452472@N02/), on Flickr

No reason you couldn't do a what if version though: my concept was slightly different anyway.

You could do lots of other types as crop sprayers. One amusing idea I had was a De Havilland Mosquito converted to spray pesticides as part of a UN anti-malaria programme: a Mosquito killing mosquitoes... ;)

Some other possible civilian uses of ex-military aircraft:

General passenger/freight transport
High speed courier
Survey (certainly photographic and possibly other sensors too)
Rescue
Water bomber
Firewatch
Movie camera platform
Fishery control (some agencies are civilian, some are military)
Coastguard
Pollution control (detergent spraying)
Warbird (air shows, joyrides, sponsored publicity, movie appearences etc.. I's say it's "in service" if it's still earning it's keep)


Tanks and AFVs:

Rough terrain transport
Bad weather transport
Mobile platform for construction/industrial equipment
Snow clearance (dozer blades or jet engines)
Rescue
Law enforcement ( e.g. SWAT vehicles)
Secure personal transport ("armoured limo"for really rough areas)
Firefighting (airfield, forestry, oil wells etc..)


Ships, boats and watercraft:

Eccentric private yacht
Survey vessel
Science vessel (Cousteau's Calypso was an ex-minesweeper)
Ferry (landing craft, amphibians, hovercraft)
Rescue
Law enforcement
Fishery control
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on April 21, 2015, 08:41:38 PM
Christina O, a yacht converted from a WWII River class frigate, is still going strong.  Maybe a yacht converted from a destroyer, or even a light cruiser.......
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Weaver on April 22, 2015, 07:56:18 PM
I have an idea that I want to run with (none of the above), which is fairly simple to do. However, I've also just had a brainwave about how to re-organise my house (including modelling arrangements) and I want to strike while the enthusiasm's there, so it may the end of the month before I get started.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on May 20, 2015, 12:38:42 AM
The Australian Army operated four LSM-1 type vessels from 1959 until 1971; how about, instead of being disposed of, they were life extended / rebuilt? 

It had originally been intended to replace the four LSMs, one for one, with the larger faster Australian designed LSM Mk II but a class of eight smaller heavy landing craft (which were then transferred to the RAN) were built instead, with the last three only just being retired after four decades of service.  Maybe, when the Army saw the LSM Mk II was in trouble, they could have argued for a life extension and modernisation of the existing vessels incorporating a number of features of the new design.  This would have gotten around the RANs position that the larger LSM Mk II should be an RAN vessel because it was larger than the in service LSM-1 as well as giving the Army an organic regional amphibious capability into the 80's or even 90's.

All a good excuse to buy a Revell 1/144 LSM, partially cover the tank deck with a new (aluminium, it was pre Falklands after all), full width, superstructure and embark some modern armour, perhaps as part of the Timor intervention of 99.
Title: Re: Extended Service Life and/or Back Dated Inspiration
Post by: raafif on May 22, 2015, 01:30:34 PM
there's a WW2 German 10.5 cm howitzer still in action in Syria !! :o