What if

Picture Post => Current and Finished Projects => Topic started by: tigercat2 on July 05, 2009, 08:29:37 PM

Title: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 05, 2009, 08:29:37 PM
The wife was visiting her sister over a long weekend recently, so naturally I took the opportunity to whip up a few more What Ifs.

My current kick is Mirage F1s in USAF and USN service and F-104s with F-16 wings and tail, plus and occasional F-8 in USAF markings.  These markings, are of course, totally incorrect since it is a What if world.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 05, 2009, 08:31:49 PM
Here are a few more


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: AeroplaneDriver on July 05, 2009, 08:54:53 PM
OK...for that you are excused....Great stuff!!   :thumbsup: :wub:
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: sideshowbob9 on July 06, 2009, 02:23:52 AM
Some truly excellent models! I particularly like the tip-tank Mirages  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 06, 2009, 04:28:58 AM
Thanks, here are a couple of the F-104s with F-16 wings, plus a "normal" F-104.  For the Mirages, used F-104 tip tanks.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: ChernayaAkula on July 06, 2009, 06:12:45 AM
Really like those miarges! :wub: (https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi107.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm309%2FChernayaAkula%2FEmoticons%2Fwoo.gif&hash=52a40d3ecaed88b48b985c9eb54e33a7cbc19b01)
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 06, 2009, 06:33:17 AM
Here is a little bit better shot of a USN Mirage F1 with a USAF F-8.  I got the idea for the Mirage in USAF/USN service after looking at a model of the Lockheed Lancer; very similar planform.  If the Mirage had about a 6 foot extension ahead of the air intakes, it would be very close to a Lancer.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: Captain Canada on July 06, 2009, 10:00:37 AM
That's some funky looking stuff ! The changes you have made really alter the look of the aeroplanes. Very cool !

:cheers:
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 06, 2009, 10:42:49 AM
It is amazing what tip tanks can do; the Mirages are just stock Revell kits; some have F-104 wingtip tanks and some of the wings are painted white, as in many '104s.  I beleive that the Mirage F.1 was looked at as both an F-104 replacement and a few years later as a contender for the "Deal of the Century" that resulted in the big European purchase of the F-16.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: sideshowbob9 on July 07, 2009, 04:39:59 AM
Those F-16 wings really work for the F-104  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 07, 2009, 05:59:10 AM
I agree, the F-16 used is the Academy YF-16A, available from Squadron for about $7.00.  I take the wings and tail from the kit, and match it with a Hasagawa, Monogram or ESCI F-104.  A very simple mod but it looks good and is easy!!

I give the left-over F-16 pieces and the original F-104 wings and tail to a friend at work; he is building several really neat What Ifs using these parts.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: Just call me Ray on July 07, 2009, 12:12:01 PM
Looking at those Mirages, I can't help but think of Grumman's proposal for the competition that led to the A-7, based off the F-11.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 07, 2009, 12:33:09 PM
Quote from: Just call me Ray on July 07, 2009, 12:12:01 PM
Looking at those Mirages, I can't help but think of Grumman's proposal for the competition that led to the A-7, based off the F-11.

Excellent point about the F-11 similarity.  Will have to get a few more F-11s and build them as what ifs.  (already have one in West German markings, as if the F-11 had beat the F-104 in the late '50s).

Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 07, 2009, 03:17:12 PM
It's always a great treat to see more of your work, Wes. I find your navalized Starfighter especially nice.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 07, 2009, 03:43:31 PM
Thanks for the compliments.  Here are a few more.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 07, 2009, 03:46:06 PM
That Air Force Skyhawk in arctic markings is most striking. I bet it turns a lot of heads!
:wub:
Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 07, 2009, 05:32:05 PM
Thanks so much; I have done three USAF Skyhawks to date; here is the third, more to follow.

IMHO, this is an aircraft that the Air Force could really have used, especially in VN.  However, up until the advent of having the A-7 pretty much forced on them, same with the A-10, the USAF geneneraly went for the big ticket supersonic fighters.  They even abandoned the "Attack" designation in 1948, which, again, IMHO, was a huge mistake.   The USAF could have really used a Skyraider in Korea instead of force-fitting the F-51 (with its vulnerable liquid cooled engine) into the ground attack role.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: sideshowbob9 on July 09, 2009, 02:49:59 AM
Nice Scooters!

Is that a XP-47H I see before me?  ;D
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 09, 2009, 04:31:15 AM
Yes indeed, it is an XP-47H, or in this case a P-47H (with the Chrysler XIV-2220 V016 hemi engine); this is marked as an operational bird, OD over neutral grey, coded HV-A.

This is a kit from Eastern Europe, I believe, that was a bit crude but its the only game in town.  I don't have very good photos of it; I will get more and better photos when it comes out of deep storage and is rotated back into the display case.

Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 09, 2009, 05:52:32 AM
While doing a bit of research on the P-47H, I came across this superb What if Website:

http://www.inpayne.com/whatif/whatif1.html

Some great profiles of P-47Hs and Js, plus P-72s.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: jorel62 on July 09, 2009, 07:11:53 AM
WHAT A GREAT SITE!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: sideshowbob9 on July 10, 2009, 04:09:36 AM
Must get me a P-47H one day. For now I'll have to be content with my WHIFed up IV-2220 Corsair  :wacko:

You have a lot of good looking P-47s there!  :thumbsup:

Yes that site is awesome. I knew of the -47Hs & -72s but completely skipped the Js! Thanks.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 10, 2009, 09:25:47 AM
Quote from: sideshowbob9 on July 10, 2009, 04:09:36 AM
Must get me a P-47H one day. For now I'll have to be content with my WHIFed up IV-2220 Corsair  :wacko:

You have a lot of good looking P-47s there!  :thumbsup:

Yes that site is awesome. I knew of the -47Hs & -72s but completely skipped the Js! Thanks.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: tigercat2 on July 10, 2009, 09:27:10 AM
Would love to see your IV-2220 Corsair; how about a photo or two.


Wes W.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: sideshowbob9 on July 10, 2009, 01:11:14 PM
Quote from: tigercat2 on July 10, 2009, 09:27:10 AM
Would love to see your IV-2220 Corsair; how about a photo or two.

Would be happy to, though please understand it's still very, very much a work in progress. I'll get round to it at some point this weekend.
Title: Re: Excuse me while I whip these out
Post by: John Howling Mouse on July 11, 2009, 12:15:32 PM
Wha----no T-Tails?  :rolleyes:  Nice models.  Great collection.   :thumbsup: