Design dilemma on this weeks build...

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well fellas, I was pretty happy after all with last week's build, but lets be honest, there's not a whole lot of imagination invovled in slapping a bog-standard pre-Falklands RN scheme on an A-7.  So this weeken I though I'd dive a bit deeper into the whif-pond.

I started with a Hasegawa X-29, and intended to build it OOB as a lightweight fighter.  The backstory will end up being along the lines of a need for a new light, agile fighter for the European theater after a brief conventional NATO/Warpac conflict in the early 80s.

Anyway, as we whiffers do I began looking at the X-29 and thought it might look better with a different tail, so out came an old F-16 tail...one thing led to another and "mission creep" now has me torn between several different designs.

So, here are the 4 contenders:


1.  


First is a basically standard X-29 with twin tails.


2.


Next we go back to a single F-16 vertical stab and add H-stabs.

3.


Now we depart from the X-29 planform a bit and go with a Delta wing (donated by a Rafale).  Though I think the FSW looks cooler, I do like my whifs to have real world practicality to a degree, and the delta gives more fuel and weapons capacity.

4.


Finally we combine the twin tail with the delta wing.  I think this one if my favorite combination of looks and practicality.


So, what do you guys think?  Any comments?

[Bryan H.]

They're all great.    The last two have a very Chinese look to them.  The first two look like they're from Robotech.

Bryan

[Aircav]

First one looks the best Nick      

[Ollie]

I vote for #3!

 

[lancer]

If you want to keep the FSW idea, then I like no. 1. The twin tails make it look very cool. My favourite has to be no.4 though. Looks bloody awsome.

[Damian2]

They're all great.    The last two have a very Chinese look to them.  The first two look like they're from Robotech.

Bryan

You hit the nail right on the head with that description!

As for a design...I vote #1!!!

[RotorheadTX]

Personally, I like number one the most; it has the most exotic look to my eye, while making the smallest amount of change from the original airframe. Number two is attractive too, as I have a liking for X-wing planforms. As Bryan said, they look like something from Robotech, and there's nothing wrong with that!!

For some odd reason, I look at the deltas and get a gut feeling that there isn't enough wing area, and they just look 'wrong' as a result. Maybe it's the black plastic itself, but something about those two looks unbalanced.

Now, off to the workbench to steal the ideas of #1 and #2!! MUHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[MMM]

Try #1... but turn the tails around so they're forward-swept, too. (If the base of the F-16 tails moves them too far forward, try it with the two F-16 horizontal stabilizers.)

[kitnut617]

I would go for #1 too, but I would suggest the tails be attached to the outer sides of the fuselage B)

Robert

[John Howling Mouse]

In all comedic seriousness...

I'd get three more of the X-29 base models if I was you.
These designs ALL deserve to be crafted to completion.

I'd like to see #4 with the fins on the wings (don't care if it would really fly or not) similar to what I did with my "Straken" as one of my first kitbashes about a million years ago.

They are all stunning ideas.  Really, do them ALL.

Just my 2 cents.  

[AeroplaneDriver]

JHM-first off, how did I miss that masterpiece!!??

I do have one more X-29 in the stash, so I will do a delta and a more traditional X-29 wing version.  For this build I think I'm going to go with #1 with the FSW and twin tail.  To solve the lack of room for fuel in the tiny X-29 wing I'm putting conformal tanks alongside the aft fuselage.

I did play around with wing-mounted vertical stabs on the delta wing last night, and that is still in the running for the eventual delta wing version.

Thanks for the input guys.  I'll post progress through the day.

[nev]

Number 3!  With a ton of ordnance hanging from the wings    Think the kind of "swing" loads carried these days - AAMs, LGBs and ARMs    

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I vote for #3!

Number three is the most practicalof the four concepts as it has the best approach to form, fit, and function.  

[BlackOps]

AD, I liuke #1 & 4 the best but all are good ideas.  

Barry, that is sweet!

[Shasper]

# 2 and 3, hands down. Call GRumman and tell thuem to get the line started!


Nice Fangs

Shas B)