From: CNO@navy.mil
To:SECDEF@pentagon.gov
Subject: USMC F/A-18D Wing Spars
SECDEF,
Due to unforseen increased operational tempo and heavier than anticipated utilisation in lo-lo-lo mission profiles all USMC F/A-18Ds equipping VMFA(AW) squadrons have issues with fatigue cracks in wing spars A, B and C. All airframes are now grounded and have been assessed as beyond economic repair. Request urgent extra-ordinary funding in FY06 and FY07 to allow 1-for-1 airframe replacements with Foxtrot model Super Hornets soonest.
Best,
CNO
From: SECDEF@pentagon.gov
To:CNO@navy.mil
Subject: Re: USMC F/A-18D Wing Spars
CNO,
Are you nuts? Don't you know we're spending 5 billion a month in Iraq? We've had to cancel the Big Gulp capable cup holders in the F-22 and replace the ejection seat in the JSF with a lawn chair and a fire extinguisher. There's no damn money for USMC Super Hornets, that's for darn sure. Son, I think you might be falling into the trap of old thinking. You've got to be more imaginative in this age of asymmetric, network centric information warfare. Isn't there something cheap and foreign you can buy? I've got my secretary Grace looking for my glasses right now and as soon as she finds them I'm going to cancel something unimportant like that HUMVEE armor to raise some cash for you. Armour only impedes mobility in this age of asymmetric, network centric information warfare. For God's sake get something cheap.
Semper Fi,
SECDEF
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-3.jpg&hash=5d6c6fb2ef4c8c1c0e05e68424881145bb99aed3)
But sir! The committee is already working on a 64oz capable cup holder for the raptor. Today's fighting men dont drink "thirsty-two" ouncers anymore.
Very nice fla....helldiver btw :wub:
:o :D :lol:
And a damned fine model too! :cheers:
Sure I thought the post was hilarious but what a shock to scroll down: I nearly fell off my chair------fantastic model there, Simon!
I need a moment...
:wub: :wub: :wub:
From: mbooger@bbc.ru
To: CNO@navy.mil
Subject: Re: Sukhoi Su-27SKA Purchase
Many thanks to you my friend for the DVD box set of American Idol season four. I hope you find the Sukhoi fighters satisfactory. My men are all big Carrie Underwood fans and much prefer her singing to flying. I am willing to part with a Tu-160 if you send her to my Cabin in siberia. I appreciate the case of Grey Goose Vodka, but my children prefer authentic russian vodka with extra ethanol.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Igor E. Boogervitch.
Chief Marshal of the Air Force of the Russian Federation
:lol: Niiiice!
I'm glad you all like it, but so far nobody has noticed that the USMC ticked a few option boxes when they placed their order with Rosboronexport/Sukhoi.
Look closely... B)
QuoteI'm glad you all like it, but so far nobody has noticed that the USMC ticked a few option boxes when they placed their order with Rosboronexport/Sukhoi.
Look closely... B)
Ok, yes or no
This bugger has 4 engines, right?
:cheers:
QuoteQuoteI'm glad you all like it, but so far nobody has noticed that the USMC ticked a few option boxes when they placed their order with Rosboronexport/Sukhoi.
Look closely... B)
Ok, yes or no
This bugger has 4 engines, right?
:cheers:
Effin A!
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-8.jpg&hash=797fb6652dcc8fcd2198b0aebf201aee84de83ec)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-2.jpg&hash=6c6d08cf72796a79e4a74dc2d69383103ae993d7)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-1.jpg&hash=f0d7490ca7c1a1bcbca776701bf2dbaf5bf1ebfb)
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-9.jpg&hash=a55c1a53d74cdcb73fc48086622ef2ccc79ba5c8)
.. :blink:
.. :o
.. :wub:
OK, the first post sent coffee through my nostrils!! thank the gods I have a spil proof keyboard!! :lol: :lol: :lol: The Super Flanker is bleeding awsome!! I love the 4 engines on it. I'm assuming that it need to tank immediately after take off though, yes?
Lovely. :lol:
Matt B)
Absolutely incredible! B) I love it! :wub: All around great looking monster :D
I built a 4 engine plane and it looks like a tank with wings. Yours look sleek and maneuverable. BRAVO ZULU!!!
Eddie
QuoteAbsolutely incredible! B) I love it! :wub: All around great looking monster :D
I built a 4 engine plane and it looks like a tank with wings. Yours look sleek and maneuverable. BRAVO ZULU!!!
Eddie
Eddie,
That's praise indeed, because I wasn't in the kit chopping business and didn't own a razor saw or putty until I was inspired by your F14/F15 hybrid. Thanks...
WhooooWheeeee! That is a great jet, very slick !
:o :o :o :o :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:
Now what a way to start the new year, great model and a hillarious story
:cheers:
Patrick
Whoa, what a shock!! Love those additional views.
:wub: :wub: :wub:
Humorous backstory, a shade of plausibility, and a heckuva model!
Excellent whiffing to start the New Year Simon!
WOW! I'm in love! :wub: :wub:
I really like how the engines are staggered. Having them all lined up would be too brutish - this looks like finesse!
Mark
That is just incredible! It took me a bit to notice the extra engines, and I think you really blended them in nicely! They look like they belong there! What a fantastic bird!
Brian da Basher
From: CNO@navy.mil
To: sales@Rosboronexport.ru
Subject: order #2566-0469876
Dear Dimitry,
What the hell were you thinking? We wanted four SPARES per aircraft included in the original delivery because we all know how reliable those Saturn Lyulkas are, not for you to weld an extra pair of engines onto each airframe!
CNO
From: sales@Rosboronexport.ru
To:CNO@navy.mil
Subject: Re: order #2566-0469876
Ah, Barry Jamesovitch,
a simple oversight. Let us not squabble over details. Besides, my engineers inform me that the four-engine arrangement improves survivability in the unlikely event one fails.
Tell you what: I'll send a new car for you along with the next shipment. A Zil, maybe. Think how envious your neighbours will be!
Na Zdarovje,
Dimitri Borisovich Kherov
That arrangement just screams to be used on the SU-34.
QuoteThat arrangement just screams to be used on the SU-34.
That was one of my original intentions, however I couldn't find an Su-34 option in 1/48. At one point I started laying out parts from a pair of 1/32 Trump Flankers to do this then I realised I wouldn't be able to fit the completed model through the door.
two words.......
FECK ME!!!!
Most sweet dude!
Four engines, I love it! BTW Ms K5054NZ compliments you on your paintjob.
QuoteQuoteAbsolutely incredible! B) I love it! :wub: All around great looking monster :D
I built a 4 engine plane and it looks like a tank with wings. Yours look sleek and maneuverable. BRAVO ZULU!!!
Eddie
Eddie,
That's praise indeed, because I wasn't in the kit chopping business and didn't own a razor saw or putty until I was inspired by your F14/F15 hybrid. Thanks...
Thank you for being inspired to build such a kick donkey model B) . As it was said in the Bicentennial Man, One is glad to have been of service. :) It's very hard for me to tell where you joined these birds together. I'm in awe of that aircraft. :) Once again, excellent job!
Eddie
Holy frack!! Great job! Love the ongoing correspondence! :lol: :lol:
:cheers: :cheers:
QuoteThank you for being inspired to build such a kick donkey model B) . As it was said in the Bicentennial Man, One is glad to have been of service. :) It's very hard for me to tell where you joined these birds together. I'm in awe of that aircraft. :) Once again, excellent job!
Eddie
Here's some in progress pictures to show how I did it...
Take 2 Academy 1/48 Flankers and a Dremel. They were just too big to cut up with a razor saw. It was about now I wished I'd done this in 1/72.
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I had to cut alot of the upper surface of the outer pair of engines away as they have a surface that curves up.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-5.jpg&hash=ce0cdd76aaa6d17d56eb416dc3d4801bce62573c)
Then I rebuilt the missing sections with plastic card. I had to put horizontal and vertical pieces in. This gave a pleasing F14 style 'kink' to the wing roots.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb172%2FSimon__R%2FF24-6.jpg&hash=20c27831ee65166f78f2e6579104cef455aa9433)
Masked and ready for painting. Just being examined by the QA Inspector.
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15 days from start to finish!
Most Excellent! :wub:
Very nice job of making it come together. Great story and great build!
Jeff G.
Funk-key! B)
JoeP
Silly question maybe but what kind of tape is that for your masking?
QuoteSilly question maybe but what kind of tape is that for your masking?
It's long thin sausages of Blu-Tac (don't know what this is called where you live - it's like semi sticky crap you can use to put posters up without putting holes in the wall) to give the feathered edges. The tape in the middle is B&Q (British equivalent of Home Depot I guess. I live in Belgium but buy all my masking supplies on trips home.) own brand low tack masking tape. This tape very thin and easy to cut without disturbing the Blu-Tac sausages. Some of the edges are secured with 10mm Tamiya tape.
Awesome!
Absolutely bloody brilliant :D
I have to tell ya, I first scanned the pics and went, hey cool, a 27 in US livery. How nice, and I simply didn't clue in untill the shot of the back. The fecken thing looks so slick and right I simply thought it was an OOB build. What skill! It really looks right!
Great job mate!
Wicked !
Didn't notice the four engines at first...pretty darn cool ! Love the way it looks from the top...that'd be one powerful beast !
And in order to save money, just buy the 400 dollar hammers instead of the 700 dollar ones.
first now I was seeing the two engines....hmhmm.... :)
good good....
what speed? if the two engines of a SU27 can make it go mach +2, then this must be able to do mach +4
Hum... The top speed is not a question of number of engine, it's more complicated...
For example, the twin engined Rafale is a Mach 1,8 plane, while the single engined Mirage 2000 was a Mach 2+ fighter!!
And it's not a question of maximal thrust too: Rafale has 15-18t thrust while the Mirage 2000 was only 9-10t !!
Another example, the A380 with 4 engine isn't twice faster than the B777...
It all depends of the plane's design, its weight, drag etc etc...
Whoa!
I just noticed this!
Awesome!
:D :wub: :wub:
Sure it can get supercruise, that´s a matter of thrust to weight ratio or am I wrong?
Whats to say??.........just brilliant. :o :o :o
Supercruise is more a matter of aerodynamic cleaness.
The F-22 is not the first plane to supercruise, Concorde could do it, it used to cruise supersonically without the burners (only used for acceleration).
I think the MIG-31 Foxhound ( the real one) was supercruise capable, and so does the Typhoon.
Problem is that drag increases exponentially with speed, for example 2 x speed=4 x drag. As drag increases, more thrust is required and so on...
That's right!
About the supercrusing planes, we have the Concorde, the Mirage IV, the Mirage 4000 (even able to supercruse few minutes with only one engine!), the Typhoon, the Rafale, the F-15, the Su-27 and maybe the Super Hornet?
All the example I said could supercruse with some external loads (most of time a couple or two of air-air missiles, sometimes external supersonic tanks)...
So, the F-22 wasn't the first one to do that... The amazing fact with the Raptor is that it could supercruise with a FULL load of weapons!! And it could do that for HOURS !!
There is no drag in space, because that's where this monster looks like it should operate :lol: . I'm still in awe. It must look good wherever you display it. B)
Eddie
deliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire !!!!!