Since I can't seem to find a model of one (big surprise), I'm designing a model of the XF8U-3 to 3D-print at 1:48 scale.  Got the idea because I have a spare F-8 canopy laying around with nothing better to do, along with some other odds and ends.  Backstory is still a work in progress, but I'm going for a what-if improved variant of the Crusader III circa either late '80s or mid-'90s.  Gonna have to stretch things a bit to get it to fly for that long 

Anyway, here's what I've got so far.  Just need the wings and tail.  Also I think I'm going to dispense with those HUGE ventral fins and replace them with more low-profile ones like the Crusader III's little brother (regular F-8) had.

Went ahead and did the wings too.

I could never see how the folding ventral fin or fins on any aircraft would be an advantage. Just some extra complications that would go wrong at the worst possible time (like landing). Maybe that's why everyone has gone to twin tails now days.
Your 3D drawing is looking good!

I always saw it that way too, the first time I found out about those ventral fins on the Crusader III, my first thought was something like "how do you land without ripping the tail off if the retraction mechanism fails?".  I know they were a stability measure, but I suspect that it might have been a bit overdone.

Anyway I should start printing the model soon, once I get the tail surfaces modeled and Sparrow troughs cut in.  I'm sort of conflicted about the weapons fit for this one.  It's definitely getting a gun of some kind (but I suspect I'll get rid of the Mk-12s in favor of a single Vulcan), and I fully intend to carry over the Sidewinder Y-pylons from the Crusader, but I'm not sure if I want to give it AIM-7s or AMRAAMs.  Hence the late-'80s to mid-'90s timeframe.  As much as I feel that a full load of 3x AIM-7Ps and 4x AIM-9Ms is fitting for such a plane, I can't shake the temptation to give it fire-and-forget radar missiles and/or high-off-boresight heat seekers.  Unless I REALLY stretch the backstory such that it stays in service (and gets upgrades) through the mid-2000s, my only high-off-boresight option is AIM-95 Agile (which means more 3D modeling and printing).  Would love to hear the opinion of others on this.  Usually I'm pretty good at deciding what I want when I do a build like this, but right now I'm stymied.  Also I'm curious to hear opinions on the idea of wing pylons.  I know the F-8E/J had them, and that would allow for more fuel or missiles, but the plane would probably look a bit cleaner without them.

I've got AIM-7s and AIM-9Ms left over from my F-15X build (which I still need to finish  ), but I'm also tempted to print up some AIM-152s instead of the AIM-7s.  Again that sticks me in the mid-'90s at least though...

I'm planning to go for a dirty low-viz paint scheme typical of the late '80s, like this.

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Not sure about squadron markings yet.  I had it in my head that I was going to use leftover decals from a Super Tomcat build, but those are already earmarked for a facelift of the first model airplane I ever had (a Revell F-14D incidentally).  I'll come up with something though...

Quote from: kerick on April 06, 2025, 04:36:26 PMI could never see how the folding ventral fin or fins on any aircraft would be an advantage. Just some extra complications that would go wrong at the worst possible time (like landing). Maybe that's why everyone has gone to twin tails now days.
Your 3D drawing is looking good!

Most of those twin tails are on twin engine aircraft. The F-35 is the only current twin tail single engine type. 

Quote from: kerick on April 06, 2025, 04:36:26 PMI could never see how the folding ventral fin or fins on any aircraft would be an advantage. Just some extra complications that would go wrong at the worst possible time (like landing). Maybe that's why everyone has gone to twin tails now days.

Same process as folding wings on naval aircraft &, in many ways, the fold joins are stronger than the rest of the structure ... But they do add a bit of extra weight.

I was thinking of coming in for a landing and having the fin fail to fold. That would probably wreck half an aircraft.

Quote from: kerick on April 06, 2025, 09:59:15 PMI was thinking of coming in for a landing and having the fin fail to fold. That would probably wreck half an aircraft.

As they wouldn't be needed during the relatively low speed landing, why not just jettison them if they failed to fold? Explosive bolts were invented for that purpose. Two fins would be LOTS cheaper than even half a Super Crusader.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on April 07, 2025, 04:10:12 AM

Quote from: kerick on April 06, 2025, 09:59:15 PMI was thinking of coming in for a landing and having the fin fail to fold. That would probably wreck half an aircraft.

As they wouldn't be needed during the relatively low speed landing, why not just jettison them if they failed to fold? Explosive bolts were invented for that purpose. Two fins would be LOTS cheaper than even half a Super Crusader.

True, that could be done.  I wonder if the Crusader III actually had a system like that.  Surely they would have had to incorporate that kind of thing into a production version.

Horizontal tail and ventral fins done.  They are a bit bigger than the ones on the regular Crusader, but I think that makes sense given this is a much bigger airplane.

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Still need to add the gun and intake bleed doors.  Once I get that sorted out, it'll be time to separate the wings and model the variable incidence mechanism (if I can...).

I decided I'd keep the 7-degree incidence angle from the F-8, since that's the best information I can find.  I'm test-printing the nose section now.

This is looking so good!

The cockpit may have to be redone, it's a bit on the wide side, but the rest of it is coming along well.  Here's another couple of photos of the model with more detail.  Sparrow troughs, intake bleed doors, and gun bulge added.  I also filleted the wing, tail, and ventral fin tips.

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Also wondering about powerplant.  The J75 is a good engine, but it would be very long in the tooth by the late '80s and totally obsolete by the '90s.  Much as I'd love an F101, it's just too big (I checked).  F110 would be available in the late '80s though, and it would be smaller and lighter.  Might be a little too big around though, will have to check.

That looks good,  I was thinking about building the two seater version in 1/72 scale as I remember seeing the vacform kit and two seater conversion set for the F-8 and A-7. One step further would have been the RF variant. The Super Crusader was the alternative to the F-4K/M for use by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.