Recent Posts

21

Profiles and Pixels / Re: Apophenia's Offerings

« Last post by apophenia on Today at 08:29:56 AM »

Thanks for that, Chuck! I'd forgotten that Sea Island-built Cansos also had BuAer designations. I've decide that the entire USN Fortress concept has cursed me. First the pixels fight me all the way, then historical accuracy tramples all over things.

So, I am officially ending my do-no-research holiday ... after I post the next one 

___________________________________________________________________

English Electric (BAC) Thunderstroke F.Mk.1

I had a notion of a slender, paunchless, single-engined Lightning. Doubtless, EE considered such designs but this was to be one of my 'no research' projects. So ... all pixel-pushing, no accurate facts.

I'm imagining this slender Lightning - which I've dubbed Thunderstroke - to be powered by a single DH Gyron or similar turbojet of the era. I've moved the main undercarriage to the fuselage - mainly to free up wing space for fuel but also to provide more space for pylons.

The pylons shown are a new belly type (shown on both views) plus four underwing pylons. The 'airborne' view also shows optional overwing pylons fitted (and armed, although these are based on Lightning overwing drop tank pylons). I'm imagining a typical weapons load of 4 x AAMs. If three drop tanks are required, one pair of missile would go on those detachable overwing pylons.

Other mods are a vertical tail more akin to early Lightnings and resized ventral strakes. With the paunch gone, I'm not sure if the strakes are needed anymore ... but it looked a bit peculiar without them.

22

Aero-space / Re: 1/48 VAR-22 Osprey 771 Sqn RN

« Last post by Kerick on Today at 08:27:11 AM »

Wish I had thought of this!! Excellent!!

23

Aero-space / Re: 1/48 VAR-22 Osprey 771 Sqn RN

« Last post by LemonJello on Today at 08:00:35 AM »

Seconding Mr. Fontaine's evaluation.  This is a stunner.

24

New Model Kit News/Reviews / Re: Master Box Ltd.

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 07:23:01 AM »

<snip>The prospector/mule pair looks good for other settings, right off the bat.

Ditto! 

The box art is gorgeous but looks more like a donkey. The kit, on the other hand, looks more like a small horse (short muzzle, shortish ears).

To my eyes, neither has caught 'mule'. So, maybe a bit of 'corrective surgery' ... or am I just nit-picking here?

No, not nit-picking, I think something was lost in translation and "Mule" was used instead of "Donkey."  The features for a mule are not there but the features for a sweet ass/donkey most certainly are. 

25

Swords to Plowshares GB / Re: Yet to be Decided BTR Build

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 07:17:38 AM »

BTR Pick-Up truck/Ute?  Instead of a tailgate you have two side-gates. 




***Edit to correct spelling error.  TWO, not TO--jjf

26

Swords to Plowshares GB / Re: 1/35 Waldschlepper RS 1500

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 07:15:05 AM »

I thought at first glance that the front axles were also driven but I was mistaken.  You have created a very good interpretation of the front axles and suspension and that alone is an accomplishment to be proud of. 

27

Swords to Plowshares GB / Re: Der Phönix

« Last post by Buzzbomb on Today at 06:46:36 AM »

In that livery, that is fast standing still 

28

Aero-space / Re: 1/48 VAR-22 Osprey 771 Sqn RN

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 06:33:05 AM »

Call it WELL DONE!!!!  Nice work! 

The single yellow rotor blade certainly makes a difference in appearance. 

29

Aero-space / Re: Douglas A-20 What-If WIP

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 06:31:18 AM »

Looking good, Jeff!

Is your folding-wing TB2D-1 Havoc on hold due to that wing cut issue ... or is one of these fuselages destined to go to sea?

This project has been in and out of limbo for quite a few years.  I have been on and off this project for far too many years.  At one time, I had three A-20 kits all stuffed into one box and it was a major undertaking just getting the bits and pieces out of the box to a point where I could remember what I had last done with the project.  I disposed of one A-20/P-70 kit to a friend of mine in Utah that also enjoys the what-if niche and that helped in sorting things out.  Most of the parts have been identified for the project and included in the project box.  I was toying with the idea of trying to convert from R-2600 radials to R-2800 radials but that did not pan out as the engine nacelles are a bit too short to get away with the larger R-2800 engines.  That being said, the R-2800 engines from the AMT/Ertl-Italieri F9F Tigercat do fit inside the Havoc engine nacelles. 

As far as going to sea, that is the intention for both Havocs at the moment.  One started life as a P-70 night fighter and the other was the A-20G (four-gun nose).  I sanded the feature on the P-70 nose smooth so that it can become a radar nose and will have the two cheek mounted Browning machine guns.  There was some swapping of kit parts and I gave away the A-20G fuselage since it has a powered gun turret in the radio operator/rear gunner position and I was focused on a carrier strike aircraft that would need to lose some weight in order to haul bombs or torpedos with drop tanks and under-wing stores.  I acquired some blister pack machine guns for the B-26 Marauder and B-25 Mitchell with the intention of using one or the other on the Havoc and the remaining set to be used with my Attack Tracker (TB2F?) since the Tracker has no room up front for a battery of any kind, side blister mounted package machine guns seemed like the best solution for both the Havoc and the Tracker projects. 

30

Aero-space / Re: Douglas A-20 What-If WIP

« Last post by Jeffry Fontaine on Today at 06:17:37 AM »

What type of wing-fold are you planning? Corsair-like or Hellcat-like?

As a Douglas product, it would be more like the wing-fold on the TBD-1 Devastator.  I failed in my first attempt at a wing-fold when I made an error in the cut across the chord of the wing, it went a bit janky and I was very displeased with the results.  Also the Monogram Devastator kit as parts included to insert in the folded wing which by some strange coincedence matches the wing airfoil on the Havoc.  The challenge is getting those Devastator parts to fit inside the Havoc wing at right location to allow for the wing-fold to be created.  Otherwise, it will be another dismal failure for me.