Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => U.S. Enters WWII Early (1940) GB => Topic started by: Acree on October 16, 2019, 08:38:25 AM
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Here is a PB-2A of No. 43 Squadron, SAAF (see Robomog's entry above for justification!) Just a very quick profile. Enjoy!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48905786393_129f66fba1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hvCWrF)PB-2A SAAF (https://flic.kr/p/2hvCWrF) by cacree (https://www.flickr.com/photos/144515244@N05/), on Flickr
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That looks really good, that might just have swung me back to desert camouflage on the P26
Aaaah decisions, decisions !! ;)
Mog
>^-.-^<
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:smiley:
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Nice, but I wonder if the PB-2A's might be refitted with Allison V1710 engines, along the lines of what Bell did to the XA-11A Allison testbed, to give them a more modern and capable engine?
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Of course such a thing is possible, but with the Allison weighing 40% more than the Conqueror, I'm not sure a V-1710-powered PB-2 would be practical as a combat aircraft. Moreover, with only about 30 PB-2As available, the development and conversion work would probably not be worth the effort and delay. Still - would be cool-looking!
Another possibility would be a Twin Wasp version as proposed by Consolidated for the P-33.
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Development of the basic conversion was already on the XA-11A which served as the first flying testbed for the Allison engine; 'twas also the first major contract awarded to Bell Aircraft.
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That is one unique looking bird! :o
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I agree that a V-1710 on a PB-2A makes little sense, the increase in weight would
seriously reduce it's usable fuel and munitions load making the increase in power
a wash.
Perhaps instead Curtiss pulls its finger out and solves the problems with the Conqueror?
Of course, Curtiss pulling its finger out is one of the great What-If?s of history. ;D