Shorts Choco GR.1

kitnut617 · February 21, 2009, 02:31:15 PM

I'm going to start this one but whether it gets finished in time I don't know. But to start with if anyone is wondering why 'Choco', it's a sub-species of the Toucan family.

I've had this project in mind for quite sometime and when this GB came up I thought this was just perfectly timed. Along with the Winjeel these seemed to fit the bill.

I get the impression that the wing of the Tucano might be related to the P-51, it has a lot of similarities. When I fitted these guns in, the chord profile seems to match very well. Anyway, here's the start and what you see here is all the changes I'm going to make to the airframe, maybe something fitted to the wingtips, but that's all.:

John Howling Mouse · February 21, 2009, 04:05:40 PM

Very feasible, as always!

Hope you can get this one finished...will be a real treat to see it completed.

kitnut617 · February 21, 2009, 06:18:37 PM

Thanks Barry,

The story would be that the RAF, after their experiences in Afganistan, realized that fast jets weren't always the best solution in the situation over there. Always keeping an eye at what equipment was around, they decided to send a couple of their Tucanos back to Shorts after having a good look at a Super Tucano, with a request to upgrade the aircraft with a new engine and store points under the wings. Shorts responded by installing the latest version of the PT-6 with a five blade prop, one centerline pylon wired to take a targeting pod, two pylons just outboard the main u/c plumbed for fuel tanks, two more heavy ordnance pylons and then eight small pylons for weapons like the Hellfire/Brimstone plus cannon in the wings. The cockpit would be orientated accordingly for the use of these weapons.

These aircraft were tested thoroughly in the operational environment by the RAF and after completion, were loaned to the CAF who also did their own evaluation while the aircraft were still in Afganistan. This will get some Canadian markings I have left over from the CH-151 project but not with all the little stones that helicopter got ('cause I've none left

)

This is the load out I'm thinking for this one.

Ian the Kiwi Herder · February 23, 2009, 11:45:42 AM

Mmmmmmm whifgasm

Ian

kitnut617 · February 23, 2009, 12:06:57 PM

Can anyone tell me what the four larger missiles are please ?, I got them from somewhere but do you think I can find the source kit now. Also are they an AGM ?

kitnut617 · February 23, 2009, 12:07:45 PM

Quote from: Ian the Hunter-Gatherer on February 23, 2009, 11:45:42 AM
Mmmmmmm whifgasm

Ian

Ed S · February 23, 2009, 02:37:08 PM

Quote from: kitnut617 on February 23, 2009, 12:06:57 PM
Can anyone tell me what the four larger missiles are please ?, I got them from somewhere but do you think I can find the source kit now. Also are they an AGM ?

If you are referring to the ones next to the fuel tanks, they are Durandals. A French made runway cratering munition. They are designed for high speed jets to fly across an airfield at low level and are retarded to allow the jet to get away and not get caught in the blast.

Ed

Ian the Kiwi Herder · February 23, 2009, 03:20:04 PM

Yup they certainly are, I got them in (of all things) the Hasegawa F-111 !

Ian

kitnut617 · February 23, 2009, 03:24:45 PM

Thanks Ed, ~~guess this little sucker won't have to worry about the blast effect, the missiles will be miles out in front before the Choco even catches up with it.~~

~~Now I have another thought, are they missiles ?~~

Edit: strike that, I've just found out for myself, they're bombs.

Looks like I'm looking for something else again

PR19_Kit · February 23, 2009, 04:00:04 PM

The Durandal does have a rocket motor though, albeit a rather strange one.

The idea was (is...) that the motor fires when the thingie is pointing straight down, that helps punch its way through the runway surface before it goes off. I was lucky enough to watch a test of one once and the eruption when it went off was awe inspiring!

kitnut617 · February 23, 2009, 05:20:23 PM

I wonder if they would work on underground hide-aways and such, like how the Vietcong had a network of underground tunnels and bunkers

ChernayaAkula · February 23, 2009, 08:43:11 PM

This is gonna be awesome!

rallymodeller · February 23, 2009, 08:43:24 PM

Quote from: kitnut617 on February 23, 2009, 05:20:23 PM
I wonder if they would work on underground hide-aways and such, like how the Vietcong had a network of underground tunnels and bunkers

Probably -- they had a delay-fuse and an armoured nose-cap to penetrate reinforced concrete. Take a look at this Youtube video.

Spectacular stuff there, KN. If you are trying to sway this moderator with leafy roundels, I must advise you that you may be on to something...

Weaver · February 24, 2009, 04:18:58 AM

Quote from: kitnut617 on February 23, 2009, 05:20:23 PM
I wonder if they would work on underground hide-aways and such, like how the Vietcong had a network of underground tunnels and bunkers

They'd work if they hit close enough, but they're not guided in any way, so although getting them on a runway or road when you're flying along it at low level isn't that hard, hitting a point target would be rather more difficult.

kitnut617 · February 24, 2009, 05:54:21 AM

I'm thinking that there could be a labyrinth of tunnels and such, so --here's a scenario:

The ground forces are closing in on the baddies, but they've gone underground. Instead of the ground forces then having to root them out, they surround the perimeter at a safe distance and set off some target flares, then call in a couple of Chocos. They swoop in, drop the Durandals and then the ground forces go to work on whatever pops up in the aftermath.

Sounds possible -- right?