Another Flying Tank idea!!

[McColm]

The Russains gave their tanks removeable wings, whilst the rest of the world opted for either a transport aircraft to carry the tank internaly or suspend it under the fuselage. The Brits came up with a glider concept.
Both 007 and The A Team have piloted tanks out of the rear of a transport plane whilst in flight. Tanks have been parachuted in or though if they were given a pair of wings the gun turret might get in the way.
But we are in Whiffing Land, where anything is possible and if your model gets broken/damaged a new part can be glued on from your stash.

I was thinking of converting an A-10 into a tank-plane, a sort of dual purpose concept. The upper fuselage would rotate (A-10 without the landing gear) and the lower half would contain the tank tracks and base.
I might go for a larger scale than 1/72 as the tank tracks on the 1/76 kits are a bit fiddlely and I can't seem to line them up.

[martinbayer]

Something like this?

http://www.strange-mecha.com/vehicle/track/R-FT.htm

Martin

[McColm]

Yes thanks,
The A-10's wings would be hinged in an upwards direction, once the Tankplane had landed. The A-10 wouldn't need the turret as the gun barrel would replace the cannon in the aircraft's nose. The A-10 would act as the turret to a tank and provide the propulsion via it's jet engines. A drivers' seat would be kept in the lower tank for steering and a tank crew to reload the gun. Additional missiles/rockets would be carried on wing plyons on both sides of the wings.

Tank tracks have been used on aircraft before, the F-16 during trials and the Fairchild C-123.

[RussC]

Have the wings fold along the side to act as skirts, a rear fold like on the F6F.

There were tracked landing gear tests (better for mud conditions) since the 30's. I have seen pics of P-40's with them plus most of the 35-45' Russian types.

Interesting videos of LAPES dropped tanks show running gear moving at airplane speeds, amazing dirt and dust movement.

[PR19_Kit]

Convair even flew a B-36 with tracked landing gear. Now that's a BIG set of tracks!

[McColm]

Now there's a whiff worth building!!