Lightning spies (and Mustangs)

[Tophe]

It is already April 1st on this side of the planet, so here are Lightning electronic ears...:

[Tophe]

and Lightning visual eyes, old way:

[taiidantomcat]

I like these! Could use some in a U-2 layout... 

[Tophe]

Thanks!
And here are the Bell Mustacuda (Mustang/Airacuda half-breeds for reco):

to be transformed in electronic spies too...

[Tophe]

And here the electronic Mustacudnic(s):

[Tophe]

and Lightning visual eyes, old way:

The last one seemed to have no engine (in fact I had forgotten it...) but this may be a rocket plane, with a tiny exhaust pipe:

[Tophe]

Adding the missing engine, I got new Lightning spies:

[Tophe]

I used aso the Lightning reco pods on Mustangs:

[apophenia]

You are a twisted man Tophe!  I love the Mustacuda 

[Weaver]

The last one seemed to have no engine (in fact I had forgotten it...)

You know an aircraft designer can make himself really unpopular with pilots by doing things like that.....

Love these: the glass recce pods remind me of the EXINT "people pods" proposed for the Harrier and the parachutist pods devised for the Stuka.

How about a "U-38" (just for Kit), with extended wings and outer tailplanes, a pressure cabin and nose cameras?

[Tophe]

You know an aircraft designer can make himself really unpopular with pilots by doing things like that.....

In the World outside (of my brains), the marketing dpt would have waken up the designer, long before the airplane is built and flown...

How about a "U-38" (just for Kit), with extended wings and outer tailplanes, a pressure cabin and nose cameras?

The U-38??! Do you mean the top secret W-38K secretly used as U-38?? I am not allowed to draw it: it is still top secret!:

[GTX_Admin]

I love that last one. :)

[PR19_Kit]

How about a "U-38" (just for Kit), with extended wings and outer tailplanes, a pressure cabin and nose cameras?

The U-38??! Do you mean the top secret W-38K secretly used as U-38?? I am not allowed to draw it: it is still top secret!:

Oh YES!

Now that I like, a LOT even! And it's pretty buildable too, AND I have a few P-38s in The Loft as well.  :)

[Tophe]

Thanks! And good luck for building it (I'd be glad to vote for your one...).

And here is the missing link between electronic Mustangs and Lightnings: the EP-82 Twin-Mustonic:

[ericr]

How about a "U-38" (just for Kit), with extended wings and outer tailplanes, a pressure cabin and nose cameras?

The U-38??! Do you mean the top secret W-38K secretly used as U-38?? I am not allowed to draw it: it is still top secret!:

Oh YES!

Now that I like, a LOT even! And it's pretty buildable too, AND I have a few P-38s in The Loft as well.  :)

it is beautiful indeed! if you give it a shape (in 3D) I'd vote for it too

[Weaver]

Nice one Tophe: you nailed exactly what I was seeing in my head with the W-38K.  :) :) :)

How about a "U-38" (just for Kit), with extended wings and outer tailplanes, a pressure cabin and nose cameras?

The U-38??! Do you mean the top secret W-38K secretly used as U-38?? I am not allowed to draw it: it is still top secret!:

Oh YES!

Now that I like, a LOT even! And it's pretty buildable too, AND I have a few P-38s in The Loft as well.  :)

Thought you might.....

It's even from the right company: you could retcon the back story to have Lockheed getting the U-2 job on the basis of their work on the W-38K.

[Tophe]

Thanks again for the idea (and comments) about the W-38K/U-38!

And here is the missing link between electronic Mustangs and Lightnings: the EP-82 Twin-Mustonic:

I have forgotten the other missing link: the reco Twin-Lightnings:

[Tophe]

Of course, a reco plane is not a fighter and does not require the power of 2 engines. This provides us with asymmetric derivatives:

[Tophe]

Thanks to raafif revealing the CIA-38 at http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=4248.0
here are the CIA-38, CIA-3838, CIA-3839:

[Tophe]

Thanks to raafif revealing the CIA-38 at http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=4248.0

At the same adress, The Big Gimper presented another inspiring marvel:

[Tophe]

Related Mustangs:

[GTX_Admin]

Me likey!

[Tophe]

Thanks!
And here is a related Half-Twin-Mustang:


And Mustangs with a Rear Observation Post:

[Tophe]

And here is a related Half-Twin-Mustang:
And Mustangs with a Rear Observation Post:

Both ways are mixed on the RP-82:

[Tophe]

The RP-51D (first) Twin-Mustang was very different from the RP-82: half-bubble tandem-wing, twin-engine with double rear post...

[Tophe]

The RP-82B and C were more classical than the standard RP-82 (renamed RP-82A):

[Tophe]

Human hostilities are peanuts compared to...
Ahem, these are the (secret) reco planes installed at Roswell AFB, 1944, inspecting the "true" flying saucers passing over:

(don't be afraid, I see my psychiatrist tomorrow)

[Tophe]

Of course, there was not a single USAAF reco-plane in Roswell. All the last ones were different and asymmetric, like the alien flying saucers (the designers hoped to come near without destruction - the result is still secret...).

[ChernayaAkula]

The "flying saucer" ones are whacky! 

How about a development of the RP-82C: a pusher prop on the cockpit pod, making a triple-engined aircraft. Cockpit I'm not sure whether a P-51-sytle cockpit (with a big nose for cameras, a radar or other armament) or an Ar 234-sytle streamlined cockpit.

[Tophe]

Here are the XRP-82D & 82E, delivered as soon as ordered! (and cheap: 1.99 billion $ each prototype)...

[ChernayaAkula]

Way cool!  :)  Still undecided on the cockpit issue: they both look great! 

[Tophe]

Here are the XRP-82D & 82E, delivered as soon as ordered! (and cheap: 1.99 billion $ each prototype)...

Poor customer, liking both designs but unable to afford both... North American provides the solution, fortunately, the Quadri-Mustang XRP-82F (only $billion 2.99!)

[ChernayaAkula]

  Funeeeee!

[Tophe]

Thanks!

Back to Lightnings, here are ones with just forward observation:

[Tophe]

And ones with backward observation:

[Tophe]

An observer does not need big engines with coolers nor a tail with maneuvrability, just: observation posts

[Tophe]

Triple and Double Droop Snoots are good platforms for observation:

[Volkodav]

I do like one and three, probably one has the edge for me.  Good work.

[Tophe]

Thanks!
And here three-engined versions:

[Volkodav]

 :)