Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Ideas & Inspiration => Aero-space => Topic started by: The Big Gimper on February 14, 2012, 07:54:01 AM
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I just did an impulse buy of a 1/72 Academy KC-97G (the one without the J-47s).
Someone on the other forum did a great job creating a Coastal Command ASW Narwhale.
John L also did this USN profile:
(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n547/CF-101B/UCN-C-97.jpg)
So as an exercise for the reader, what do think the C-97 could have been in 1945, 46 or 47. I would like to put some turrets on and I love things under the wings. It can also stay as a tanker. We have a great WWII tanker theme going on as well.
Bonus points if your suggestion includes FAA markings. ;D
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Gunship like AC-119, AC-130. Of course it woild be wise to have some bomber type gun turrets.
Bill
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Has anyone ever attempted to build a VB-6 Felix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VB-6_Felix) GB-4, GB-8, Gargoyle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LBD-1_Gargoyle) or Bat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_%28guided_bomb%29) flying bombs?
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In the programs that led to the development of the AC-130 gunship, the KC-97 was one of the platforms considered for a gunship conversion before they went with the C-119. I've never seen anything about what weapons were considered or how they would be mounted, though.
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One wonders how a C-97 would as a EC-97 AEW aircraft. Too, there were turboprop conversions considered but not done. I'm thinking 'twould be interesting to do a late '50s - early '60s one with T56 turboprops, likely more a P-3 installation than a C-130 installation.
As regards to the EC-97 concept, Oz-Mods does the 1/72 antenna fairings for the EC-121/R7V-2 "Warning Star" and those could easily be adapted for this aircraft.
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Try looking at the turrets on Lockheed Neptunes. Some nice remote controlled 20mms would do just fine. You could use the same fire control as on the B-29 for commonality purposes.
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Zwilling anyone?
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Zwilling anyone?
Yup, no problem here. It's a go Houston.
[Camera: Silhouette of the back of SHWBO is seen. Carl and Model to the right of her. Look of abject fear on Carl's face.]
But but dear, my modeling friend Greg told me it was okay to build and hang it from the basement ceiling.
No, it is not almost 4' in width. That is an optical illusion. It is really only 2'.
No, Greg is a nice guy, really!! You should talk to him.
What are you doing with the broom???
Put it down!! PLEASE!!!
Kids!!!! Help daddy!!! He is under attack!
Nnnnnooooo .........
[Camera: Something appears from the upper right. It is blurred but moving at over 60 MPH an hour]
[Camera: Black]
[Camera: Now lying on basement floor tilted 90 degrees. Carl is unconscious. Pieces of the KC-97Z lie around him. Broom handle snapped in half.]
[Camera: Fade to black]
Okay Greg, I'll setup a conference call and you can tell SHWBO that this is the right thing to do. :-X
One wonders how a C-97 would as a EC-97 AEW aircraft. Too, there were turboprop conversions considered but not done. I'm thinking 'twould be interesting to do a late '50s - early '60s one with T56 turboprops, likely more a P-3 installation than a C-130 installation.
As regards to the EC-97 concept, Oz-Mods does the 1/72 antenna fairings for the EC-121/R7V-2 "Warning Star" and those could easily be adapted for this aircraft.
I already have a Heller EC-121 but this is interesting as it could the PACAF equivalent to 101 SQN.
And yes in FAA markings. ;D
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Gunship like AC-119, AC-130. Of course it woild be wise to have some bomber type gun turrets.
Bill
Yup. Lots of room on the lower deck for 20 and 40MM cannons.
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Okay Greg, I'll setup a conference call and you can tell SHWBO that this is the right thing to do. :-X
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C9yU4VSAFCs/Tp_lotaskAI/AAAAAAAAHUY/KVeNbCW3f74/s1600/wile-e-coyote_1261.jpg)
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Jets, Baby jets. ;D
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/joncarrfarrelly/367-64_01.png)
:icon_fsm:
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Yes please!
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Nice. But not with this modeller. :-\
Any takers.
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Look at that 367 8) So nice. Now I know what to do my KC-97G.
Thanks for posting the 367. Be good as cruise missile missileer. Or rewinged faster tanker.
Bill
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Jets, Baby jets. ;D
([url]http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/joncarrfarrelly/367-64_01.png[/url])
Hmm, in 1/144 I'm tempted to suggest a KC-97 crossed with a 707 as a starting point, perhaps with turboprop engines? Some conversion work would be needed on the engine nacelles, but powering it with four T57 engines (turboprop version of the J57) could be interesting.
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Ya know... Have a 1/72 KC-97G and two 1/72 Vickers Valiants (Mach2, Airfix).
Can make all jet KC-97 and straight wing prop Valiant.
Anyone on forum who can do overhead graphic of either or both?
Thanks
Bill
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Okay, I slept on it and I believe I have my plan.
The Allies saw and felt the impact of the use of aircraft launched missiles when used against shipping targets. But there was room for improvement. There was a limitation on the existing Axis wire guided missiles and the ability for the larger carrier aircraft to remain safely near the target and not be attacked, damaged or shot down during the terminal phase of the missile's flight.
So the Allies developed a crash plan to build a Hunter-Killer team.
They added a radio link to the missiles (I have not got to the what-they-will-look-like stage but will have a German look to them ;) ) so the terminal phase the flight can be handed off to a smaller, more agile aircraft. This way the launch aircraft is in stand-off mode and can be part of multiple attacks.
So the USN, RCN and RN Boffins took the P-38J Droop Snoot and KC-97G and created a H-K team which consisted of the Opsrey Mk. II and the Cormorant Mk. I. Up to 4 missiles could carried by the Cormorant. Mines and Depth charges could also be carried.
The P-38J Droop Snoot was selected as the glass nose was an ideal platform for the missile controller to visually monitor and control the final descent and have the agility to avoid attack.
The standard H-K team consisted of one Cormorant and two Opsrey's. The Cormorant had several gun turrents for self defence. The Opsrey's were also tasked to defend the Cormorant if necessary.
Carl
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Interesting...
Re Allied guided weapons, you have at least the following real world examples during WWII:
Bat:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/BAT-PB4Y-wingbat.jpg/771px-BAT-PB4Y-wingbat.jpg)
Azon:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/Azon_-_the_worlds_first_smart_bomb.jpg)
McDonnell LBD Gargoyle:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/LBD-1_Gargoyle.jpg)
And probably a couple more.
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If you want "different", you could do air-launched versions of some of Northrop's rocket and jet-powered flying wing guided weapons; air-launching might make more sense than the "fun" they went through with ground launches.
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Hi Greg:
I saw these. What I think I will do is take some of the Condor Missiles and modify them to look like some of the US designs.
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Hmm, in 1/144 I'm tempted to suggest a KC-97 crossed with a 707 as a starting point, perhaps with turboprop engines? Some conversion work would be needed on the engine nacelles, but powering it with four T57 engines (turboprop version of the J57) could be interesting.
Evan, it looks like a part of a B-52 wing don't you think ?
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Hmm, in 1/144 I'm tempted to suggest a KC-97 crossed with a 707 as a starting point, perhaps with turboprop engines? Some conversion work would be needed on the engine nacelles, but powering it with four T57 engines (turboprop version of the J57) could be interesting.
Evan, it looks like a part of a B-52 wing don't you think ?
Actually the 707 wing is similar too, note the trailing edge. The B-52 had a straight trailing edge. Those definitely look like the B-52 engine pods though. The Boeing designs used a very similar wing, with just slight changes here or there for about 30 years. Even the modern 787 one is just narrower and longer. Airliner kits in 144th scale are a great source of wing parts, even for WW2 era flying wing designs or other odd projects.
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Got out KC-97 and Valiant (Mach2) models. Placed Valiant wing top half next KC-97 fuselage for some pictures.
Just quick crude pictures to get a visual. Only four parts involved.
Possibility for KC-97, B-50, B-29
Bill
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Turboprop variant kept on and used to drop high speed test aircraft in addition to the B-52
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So how about a more conventional and conservative looking AEW aircraft based on the C-97?
Take the radar antenna parts from the Lockheed Model L-729 Warning Star (USAF: EC-121, USN PO-1W/WV-1/WV-2/WV-3) Warning Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_EC-121_Warning_Star) and mount these features in the same approximate locations on the C-97.
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So how about a more conventional and conservative looking AEW aircraft based on the C-97?
Take the radar antenna parts from the Lockheed Model L-729 Warning Star (USAF: EC-121, USN PO-1W/WV-1/WV-2/WV-3) Warning Star ([url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_EC-121_Warning_Star[/url]) and mount these features in the same approximate locations on the C-97.
Got a KC-97 and a Warning Star in 1/144th with exactly that in mind. Of course, the boom will go the other way to make a KC-121. The main difficulty is the lack of ground clearance under the KC-97 for the Warning Star's ventral radome. Solutions might include taller gear, a completely different retactable ventral radar or fore-and-aft aerials at the ends of the lower deck. I was mulling all this over when the Battle Flight pics of the RW AEW proposal came out, so now I have another C-97 and a Freightdog conversion in the stash....
Totally different idea: Stratocruiser flying boat. The lower hull of the Airfix Clipper fits nicely around the lower hull of the C-97, but that leave the issue of wing location. Realistically, it has to go in a C-133 style hump on top of the fuselage which you'd have to scratch-build.
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I'm currently working on a scale-o-rama project involving a 1/144 Boeing 377. The double-lobed fuselage lends itself to being scaled down to create a 1/72 tandem-twin jet fighter, in the vein of the Lavochkin La-200. I'm envisaging it as a twin J33/J42 engined alternative to the F-89. It will not be winning any beauty contests or speed records! I may even be able to use the left-overs and a hapless B-29 fuselage to create a 2nd one. Expect to see pics in summer 2026!