Operational Pancake.

[zenrat]

Where will it be operating?

[NARSES2]

Late to the party, but I'd go inside as well very much for the reason Zenrat has given.

Must admit I enjoyed mine when I built it, but that was straight out of the box, apart from the markings.

[JayBee]

Going inside makes sense to me for the reason that with the propellors moved outwards there will be more space for forward firing munitions, guns and rockets for example.
Also, I think it would look prettier. 

[PR19_Kit]

Where will it be operating?

Hm, good question.

The backstory for the trainer says the operational Pancakes only saw action during the Lebanon Crisis in 1958, supporting the Marines there, and also saw some action for a short while during the early days of the VietNam conflict.

Of course that can always be changed, in line with Kit's 2nd Law of Whiffing. 

[Old Wombat]

The biggest negative to the inside extension is the handling issues raised by AeroplaneDriver.

Moving the line of thrust (where the engines are doesn't matter that much) further out from the centre-line reduces the general handling of the aircraft & is a major concern if you lose an engine, creating extra yaw, especially, both of which would require larger vertical stabilisers & control surfaces, which would increase drag & slow the aircraft down.

Increasing engine power will give you more speed, to make up for the extra drag, but it won't help with the handling issues & may require even larger vertical stab's & control surfaces for engine-out handling.

My vote is for outboard of the prop's.

[PR19_Kit]

Losing an engine isn't, and wasn't, a problem for a Pancake.

Both engines were coupled by a cross shaft connecting both props, so any one engine could drive both props at the same time, just like a V-22 does these days.

[TallEng]

Where will it be operating?

Hm, good question.

The backstory for the trainer says the operational Pancakes only saw action during the Lebanon Crisis in 1958, supporting the Marines there, and also saw some action for a short while during the early days of the VietNam conflict.

Of course that can always be changed, in line with Kit's 2nd Law of Whiffing. 

If it’s operating in Vietnam there’s always the experimental Olive green over white that the U.S. Navy trialed?

Regards
Keith

[PR19_Kit]

If it’s operating in Vietnam there’s always the experimental Olive green over white that the U.S. Navy trialed?

I quite like the sound of that, yes. 

[AeroplaneDriver]

Losing an engine isn't, and wasn't, a problem for a Pancake.

Both engines were coupled by a cross shaft connecting both props, so any one engine could drive both props at the same time, just like a V-22 does these days.

Did not know that but it makes sense. 

[zenrat]

Losing an engine isn't, and wasn't, a problem for a Pancake.

Both engines were coupled by a cross shaft connecting both props, so any one engine could drive both props at the same time, just like a V-22 does these days.

Did not know that but it makes sense. 

I did not know that but was going to suggest it.

What will its mission be?

[PR19_Kit]

The Current backstory says it's close air support, for the Marines mostly.

By the time the Pancake was operational air superiority was all-jet, and it's almost VSTOL capabilities meant it could operate from landing ships as well as carriers.

[McColm]

What about adding two more engines ? McColm's first law ' if it looks underpowered add more engines '.

[PR19_Kit]

It wouldn't fit the already written backstory, and would probably be unnecessary as the twin turbines already give twice the power of the original radials anyway.

[McColm]

It wouldn't fit the already written backstory, and would probably be unnecessary as the twin turbines already give twice the power of the original radials anyway.

A pair of turbojets?

[Flyer]

I would like a kit of the XF5U and this thread prompted me to go have a look on eBay... Wow... I think I will have to get by without. Approx $170-$200 (including postage) is way out of my budget.