Vigilant Maritime Patrol Aircraft

[anthonyp]

Since intially being inspired by the Louisiana Purchase-as-country thread in the Alternate History section (before it took on a life of its own), I decided to come up with some planes for both French Louisiana and an Independant Quebec.  This is the first completed model to have those decals.

It's a Revell 1/144 Airbus A321-200, with some pylons from some plane or other attached to the wings, with some 1/144 Exocets from some ancient 1/144 weapons set.  I based it off the A319 MMA pic that someone posted here on the site a while ago.  The decals for the most part were printed up by me and are my interpretation of Louisiana markings.  It turned out pretty good, in my opinion, and looks nice when sitting next to my VP-93 P-7A and P-8A (those will be put up later).

Backstory:

These planes were acquired in 2004, to replace the aging P-3's, P-2's and Atlantiques that were beginning to show their age.  A total of fourteen Vigilants will be purchased and based throughout the République de la Louisiane Française (including the varied islands throughout the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean).  The Vigilant is based off of the A321 mid-range commercial aircraft.  It is larger and farther ranged than the smaller A319 based MMA that some nations are buying.  

The Vigilant has a FLIR turret under the forward fuselage, an aft weapons bay for torpedoes, and four underwing hardpoints (as opposed to two on the A319 MMA).  Typical underwing loadout for the République de la Louisiane Française's aircraft are usually four Exocets, though two Magic 2's, MICA-IR's, or AIM-9's can be carried in place of two of the Exocets.

More pics can be found here.

[Archibald]

coooool!!! Lovely plane! Wait the others NF and Quebec planes impatiently  

[Brian da Basher]

Awesome, Anthony! I just love those cool roundels and the missiles slung under the wings!

Brian da Basher

[lancer]

He's doing it again ain't he?  The Productive Comrade aircraft production line is churning out some more amazing stuff.

The MPA bird is simply gorgeous. Would look better in Hemp methinks..      

[Shasper]

Viva la Louisiane Francaise!


Shas B)

[anthonyp]

He's doing it again ain't he?

Da.

The Productive Comrade aircraft production line is churning out some more amazing stuff.

Thank you, comrades!  It is a GLORIOUS day to post models from the People's assembly line, and the day is not yet over...

The MPA bird is simply gorgeous. Would look better in Hemp methinks..    

I really like how this one turned out.  I even put a little FLIR turret on the belly.

I've been thinking of crashing Alvis' hemp markings, but he did them so well, mine would probably pale by comparison.  Though I have come up with a nation in the same vein, inspired by some background stuff from a TV program...

[Supertom]

That's it, I'm shutting the site down!  He's posting too much!!!    

[anthonyp]

I have not yet begun to post!    

[Shasper]

Maybe we should just give 'em his own forum.  

Shas B)

[Eddie M.]

This Airbus loks so right in a military role. A toast of Vodka all the way around!
    Eddie

[Ollie]

Could it have AIM-9s in case it encounters a P-8?

   

[anthonyp]

Could it have AIM-9s in case it encounters a P-8?

 

I was so suprised that I had 1/144 Exocets that I didn't even think of self defense AIM-9's.

I was actually surprised at how well this one turned out.  I was a little concerned when I first started it up, because I had all these other civvie airliners undergoing conversion, and I wasn't sure where any of them were going.  I almost ended up doing this one for France, but the Repulic of French Louisiana presented me with a great Whif outlet.