Alr Piranha

[K5054NZ]

Hi all,

Those devils over at SecretProjects have got me really interested in making an ALR Piranha (what a cool name!) lightweight fighter in 1:72, but as I'm guessing no-one's yet produced a kit I'll need to kitbash to do it.

So what base kit/s will I need to make this beauty? I'd prefer t do the twin-engined dealie, as I've heard two is better for survivability.



I've no idea *yet* as to whose air force I would do it - maybe simply a demo a/c? Mmmm............demonstrator........... B) Apparently she was variously intended for air superiority (bleah!), battlefield interdiction, anti-helicopter and anti-armour roles. I like that combination!

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Zac

PS - Don't tell Lana I'm planning another jet! - ZY

[upnorth]

The nose (both single and two seater) has a distinctly Sea Harrier look to it. The Italeri/Esci 1/72 Sea Harrier kit has a separate nose section. You could also use the Harrier's tail extension bit as a base for the brake chute housing

As for the rest of it, My inclination would be to try to bang two Gripens together for the two engined fuselage. That way you get about the right shaped intakes and you can probably retailor the wings to look much like the piranha's.

As for the vertical tail and canards, I'd just do them with sheet styrene

[Geoff_B]

Get the drawings done to scale first - thats the key to issue. Once thats sorted you get a better for the size and the shape and thus what models could be used as a basis.

A Grumman Tiger might do for basis.

G

[GTX]

It also has a slight AMX look to it.  What do you think?



Regards,

Greg

[Archibald]

This was from Swiss no ? with the Novi Avion, these two represent the 4th and 5th Eurocanards  ^_^
I think one could scratchbuild a Novi avion starting from Heller Rafale A (the demonstrator).
I wait your scratchbuild impatiently, Zac!    

[Archibald]

It also has a slight AMX look to it.  What do you think?



Regards,

Greg

The fuselage also remid the Blackburn LWF of the 70's (AST-396) P.153, P.159 and the like  

[Son of Damian]

The wings look a lot like those of a Viggen, and the rear fuselage and canards look like they are from the Rafale.

[MAD]

I'd prefer t do the twin-engined dealie, as I've heard two is better for survivability.

Hi Zac

There is a very interesting study of this thought in the book 'The Pentagon Paradox' – The Development of the F-18 Hornet, by James P. Stevenson (ISBN 1-55750-775-9).
Its shows merit to this argument for the early jet engines 1950 till late 1960's (I think!)
I will take a look some time, as I think a lot of people would be surprised.

M.A.D

[K5054NZ]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your input. I agree withe the Harrier sentiment - possibly a GR.1 nose, a Gripen fuse, Rafale tail and canards and AMX wing?



Child's play.    

I'll let you all know when I'm going to get started, although I do have a DH.2 waiting with my name on it - and the SSGB, and the SBD, and the F-35, and the HS.1410.


Ok, give me a month or two! B)

Cheers,

Zac