Strikehound

[Shasper]

Ok guys I've had this one in the closet long enough I guess . . . a mud moving "MiG-31" idea has always been floating in my head for the last 10 years, and last August I finally started putting my thoughts into styrene:










Started with the old Revell MiG-31 kit and used the kit's giant underwing tanks as a base for the CFTs. Eventually the saddlebags will gain some stores attachment points, and I'm going to try and scratch the Sabre LERXs from the real Foxhound-E (which is strictly air-to-air) along with a FLIR/Laser designator housing under the nose.


Shas  

[sv51macross]

 

Looking cool!

[John Howling Mouse]

Keep it coming.  Love the name "Strikehound," too.

[GTX]

There was actually a ground attack (or multirole would be more apt a description) MiG-31 proposed in real life:  at the Paris Air Show in 1995 there was a variant of the MiG-31B designated the "MiG-31F", with "F" standing for "frontovy / front AKA tactical", which was fitted with air-to-surface weapons for the strike or particularly the SEAD role.   As far as I'm aware, nothing more came of it.  Perhaps you can weave this into the backstory for this?

Regards,

Greg

[noxioux]

Smooth.  She needs a gun, too, IMO

[Shasper]

MiG-31F eh? I'll have to give it some thought . . . As far as the gun goes, the regular mount above the right side MLG would be obscured by the new CFT, so the gun will be removed unless I can find a alternate location.


Shas

[cthulhu77]

Gun pods?

[Shasper]

Some sort of semi-conformal gunpod might work . . . I'll chew on it

Update: It's been a looong while since I messed with this bird, but today I pulled out of the box & managed to get the weapons pallets put on, no pics but I hope to get some more work done on it in the coming weeks

[Sauragnmon]

Looking forward to more of this Mudhound, Shas - should prove to be interesting to say the least I think.

[Army of One]

Like it lots.....great idea,but have to agree with other....needs a gun whether internal or in a pod.....

[Shasper]

Haven't touched this bird in a while, but I did get some pics of the changes:




Still need to fill in the rear fairings



And the bridge between the pallets

[pyro-manic]

Cool! Gun in one of the side pallets maybe?

[Shasper]

Thats a negative Pyro, I'm looking at either a pod on the centerline or an external arrangement similar to the Gripen, except further up the ventral fuselage (between the centerline station & the nose gear). *If* I go for the external mounting the gun type will be changed to the single barrel 30mm found on the Flanker or the twin barrel from the Frogfoot, as the original 6-barrel cannon will be too big for the location.

To complicate things, I'm still working out the FLIR & laser designator details, whether or not I'll stick them internally along with an EO sight for dumb/optical-guided munitions dropping or if it'll got the podded route ala Mudhen. . .


About the only things I have decided is a) it'll be finished in tactical camo and b) there will be an extra pair of pylons under the wingtips for AAMs!