Focke Wulf FW 57 reincarnated

[starship1]

I was recently going through my copy of Hitler's Luftwaffe, and I got to wondering how the FW 57 would have faired if it had been built with a pair of radials in the 2000+hp range and a solid nose instead of what it got?  I was thinking in terms of a large ground attack aircraft.  Your replies will be most anticipated.

[Maverick]

Given the aircraft was part of the Kampfzerstorer concept, rather than the Zerstorer idea that ended up with the Bf-110, I suspect, had the type entered service, that it would have been able to perform in a ground attack role.  Perhaps a solid nose with heavier fixed armament than its two 20mm cannon would have been a logical progression of the type.  Greater performance with later variants would certainly have been an option, although given the Fw-190's radial was around the 1500hp class, it might have been a while before 2000hp engines became available for the type.

I actually think the Kampfzerstorer concept had more merit than the Zerstorer.  Conceptually, one might consider it as a multi-role aircraft in the sense of a modern aircraft rather than finding itself adapted to the roles, like the Mosquito or Ju-88.  I always thought the Zerstorer concept was a flawed one, given that it failed to take into account enemy fighter opposition.

I did three profiles of the basic Fw-57 a while ago.

Regards,

Mav

[starship1]

I'll have to find those profiles.  Thanks, Mav.

[GTX]

I'm assuming one would need to scratch build any Fw-57 model since I'm pretty sure there are no kits.  Based upon the drawings etc below, what would be people's suggestions:

Regards,

Greg

[The Wooksta!]

An Fw 58 *might* be a starting point. 

One of the major problems with the Fw 57 was that it was overweight.  Given the success of the Ju 88, cancelling the Fw 57 was a good move.

[starship1]

True, it was overweight.  But if you compare it to the proposed P-61E, you see that the P-61E was heavier. That is, of course, if my data is correct.

[GTX]

An Fw 58 *might* be a starting point. 

One of the major problems with the Fw 57 was that it was overweight.  Given the success of the Ju 88, cancelling the Fw 57 was a good move.

That was my first thought too, but comparing designs, there is actually not much that is usable (IMHO):



Maybe bits of a Me410 for the wing and rear fuselage/empenage perhaps?



and parts from a Potez 63 series aircraft perhaps?



Regards,

Greg

[rickshaw]

If anything the rear fuselage reminds me heavily of the Hs129.

[The Wooksta!]

Tail surfaces perhaps but the Hs 129 is a much smaller aircraft.