91
Profiles and Pixels / Re: GLanini Profiles
« Last post by Glanini on May 16, 2024, 05:51:44 AM »Thanks, here's a Viper from Kenya
... where imagination trumps reality
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92
Land / Re: Russians-in-Ukraine T-series Shed Tank build pics
« Last post by apophenia on May 16, 2024, 05:13:32 AM »Anyone interested in these should watch this excellent video:
Turtle Tanks, "Cope Cages" & Modified Vehicles in Ukraine - Purpose, Evolution & Effectiveness<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfGspOIg24" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfGspOIg24</a>
Yup, excellent analysis from Perun as usual
93
Profiles and Pixels / Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Last post by apophenia on May 16, 2024, 05:10:02 AM »Last go at a Vietnam-era air superiority fighter. My conclusion is that the only realistic option was to develop the F-5C 'Skoshi Tiger'. Those USAF experiments involved a handful of F-5A-15 and F-5A-20 'Freedom Fighters' withdrawn from MAP. But to truly succeed, the 'Skoshi Tiger' programme had to go further.
Two early-model 'Freedom Fighter' limitations needed to be tackled - the absence of a search radar and a limited range. With unfair use of a crystal ball, I've addressed both of these concerns with a time-warp belly CFT. Permanently attached, that conformal fuel tank also holds new landing gear stowage bays and the relocated gun armament.
A new, rearward-retracting nose gear (based on the F-100) and the relocated guns free-up nose space for the new search radar. For that new set, I am imagining an existing radar of the day fitted with a reduced scale dish to fit the F-5's smaller nose.
Bottom: Revised F-5CM 'Skoshi Tiger' on the ground with gun bays open in belly CFT. Equipped for mid-range aerial combat, this aircraft has inverted 'T' AIM-9D rail mounts on its wing pylons. Standard 'Freedom Fighter' wingtip tanks are also carried.
Top: Airborne F-5CM 'Skoshi Tiger' with missile rails on pylons and wingtips. For weight and speed considerations, normally only 4 x Sidewinders would be carried but this otherwise 'slick' fighter also has an inflight refuelling probe mounted.
Although in no way perfect, I suspect that this reorganized 'Freedom Fighter' would be the best that the USAF could have managed in a least-mod Urgent Operational Requirement of that time. The F-16 that they actually needed was still a long way off in time and technology.
Two early-model 'Freedom Fighter' limitations needed to be tackled - the absence of a search radar and a limited range. With unfair use of a crystal ball, I've addressed both of these concerns with a time-warp belly CFT. Permanently attached, that conformal fuel tank also holds new landing gear stowage bays and the relocated gun armament.
A new, rearward-retracting nose gear (based on the F-100) and the relocated guns free-up nose space for the new search radar. For that new set, I am imagining an existing radar of the day fitted with a reduced scale dish to fit the F-5's smaller nose.
Bottom: Revised F-5CM 'Skoshi Tiger' on the ground with gun bays open in belly CFT. Equipped for mid-range aerial combat, this aircraft has inverted 'T' AIM-9D rail mounts on its wing pylons. Standard 'Freedom Fighter' wingtip tanks are also carried.
Top: Airborne F-5CM 'Skoshi Tiger' with missile rails on pylons and wingtips. For weight and speed considerations, normally only 4 x Sidewinders would be carried but this otherwise 'slick' fighter also has an inflight refuelling probe mounted.
Although in no way perfect, I suspect that this reorganized 'Freedom Fighter' would be the best that the USAF could have managed in a least-mod Urgent Operational Requirement of that time. The F-16 that they actually needed was still a long way off in time and technology.
94
Profiles and Pixels / Re: GLanini Profiles
« Last post by apophenia on May 16, 2024, 05:09:01 AM »Nice stuff ... as always ... but your camouflaged Georgian F-16 is gorgeous! 
95
Other / Re: Revell B-17F External Stores Racks.
« Last post by apophenia on May 16, 2024, 05:01:40 AM »Nice work so far on a good score, Jeff
I kind of like the idea that the 'rival' firms might have agreed behind the scene to produce different sub-types in order to avoid duplicating each other's efforts.
...To suggest that there may have been some back-alley or behind the doors shenanigans going on between the two rivals is not too far fetched...
I kind of like the idea that the 'rival' firms might have agreed behind the scene to produce different sub-types in order to avoid duplicating each other's efforts.
96
Other / Re: 1/35 Prospector
« Last post by apophenia on May 16, 2024, 04:56:58 AM »Beautifully done, Frank! Your work on the donkey is exceptional
Also like your Winchester-ization
BTW, your very convincing-looking "elliptical thingamabob behind the trigger" is Winchester's lever action cocking handle
Also like your Winchester-ization
BTW, your very convincing-looking "elliptical thingamabob behind the trigger" is Winchester's lever action cocking handle
97
Other / Re: 1/35 Prospector
« Last post by Frank3k on May 16, 2024, 03:39:34 AM »Thanks, guys! There's probably 50-100 year difference in the guns. The long guns could probably take the prospector out before they got in range of his Winchester.
98
Land / Re: Anti-Aircraft: SPAAG/SAM Ideas and Inspiration
« Last post by ChalkLine on May 16, 2024, 03:18:06 AM »Thanks, I was only using 'quick reply'.
99
Other / Revell B-17F External Stores Racks.
« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on May 16, 2024, 02:50:19 AM »Monogram and Revell both released a 1/48th scale B-17 Flying Fortress at almost the same time. Also many of the parts were compatible between each kit. Revell's B-17 was the F model while Monogram's was an early G model. To suggest that there may have been some back-alley or behind the doors shenanigans going on between the two rivals is not too far fetched.
That said, I have both kits in protective custody and recently acquired an extra pair of the Revell B-17F External Stores Racks from a nice modeler at the most recent Seattle IPMS Annual Spring Show. It helped that I offered him $5.00 for the parts to convince him to part with the pieces in question. Money well spent! Now the bad news. Somewhere between putting the individual pieces into my shirt pocket and returning home one of the sway braces escaped so my new set of racks were now incomplete. Not a critical issue considering how comically oversized the things looked so it must have been a sign from on high to make something more presentable from what was left.
I discarded the remaining sway brace parts and set about finding some useful bits from the parts stash. Trying to keep it simple was the real challenge since the real external stores racks were not much more than a strong bar attached to the wing spars with a bomb release unit installed on the string bar. I cleaned up the surface of each rack to get rid of the mold lines which helped immensely with the appearance of the racks. Next came the gray "L or V" shaped bits that staddle the string bar length wise. I added two sets of small dark gray plastic pieces from an unknown source but looked very much like they were something bomb racks/bomb release unit in appearance. Two sets of tiny, very tiny T-shaped bits were added between the new release units to represent the release lock mechanism latches. As far as replacement sway braces go, that is dependent on what I can find that will look right for the purpose. For now this WIP is in limbo until suitable sway braces can be located.
As far as what aircraft will receive these racks, that will be either a B-17G or a B-29. I would really like to acquire a pair of the Navy NBS ASM-1 Bat glide bombs and/or the USAAF GB series glide bombs to complete this concept.
That said, I have both kits in protective custody and recently acquired an extra pair of the Revell B-17F External Stores Racks from a nice modeler at the most recent Seattle IPMS Annual Spring Show. It helped that I offered him $5.00 for the parts to convince him to part with the pieces in question. Money well spent! Now the bad news. Somewhere between putting the individual pieces into my shirt pocket and returning home one of the sway braces escaped so my new set of racks were now incomplete. Not a critical issue considering how comically oversized the things looked so it must have been a sign from on high to make something more presentable from what was left.
I discarded the remaining sway brace parts and set about finding some useful bits from the parts stash. Trying to keep it simple was the real challenge since the real external stores racks were not much more than a strong bar attached to the wing spars with a bomb release unit installed on the string bar. I cleaned up the surface of each rack to get rid of the mold lines which helped immensely with the appearance of the racks. Next came the gray "L or V" shaped bits that staddle the string bar length wise. I added two sets of small dark gray plastic pieces from an unknown source but looked very much like they were something bomb racks/bomb release unit in appearance. Two sets of tiny, very tiny T-shaped bits were added between the new release units to represent the release lock mechanism latches. As far as replacement sway braces go, that is dependent on what I can find that will look right for the purpose. For now this WIP is in limbo until suitable sway braces can be located.
As far as what aircraft will receive these racks, that will be either a B-17G or a B-29. I would really like to acquire a pair of the Navy NBS ASM-1 Bat glide bombs and/or the USAAF GB series glide bombs to complete this concept.
100
Land / Re: Russians-in-Ukraine T-series Shed Tank build pics
« Last post by GTX_Admin on May 16, 2024, 02:48:47 AM »Anyone interested in these should watch this excellent video:
Turtle Tanks, "Cope Cages" & Modified Vehicles in Ukraine - Purpose, Evolution & Effectiveness
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfGspOIg24" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhfGspOIg24</a>
Turtle Tanks, "Cope Cages" & Modified Vehicles in Ukraine - Purpose, Evolution & Effectiveness