entry #3: Raider-B UCAV

[Spey_Phantom]

yes, i found another spare stand, now im gonna start working on another Raider 
this time, its the Naval version 

History:

following the succes of the Leutonian Aerodynamics its Raider UCAV, witch has been sold to the US in small numbers, the company decided to go ahead and build a carrier based version of the raider. the Raider-B features a number of changes compared to the first Raider. it features new and stronger landing gear, only a single rolls royce engine, a full delta wing and an enlarged weapons bay to enable it to carry the latest stand-off missiles and 2000lbs JDAM bombs. the aircraft will also feature greater range and a strenghened fuselage.

Parts to be used:

-the rear landing gear from the trumpeter 1/144 J7/F-8 kits
-front wheels from a trumpeter 1/144 Saab Gripen
-window from a 1/72 revell Heinkel Blitz
-a small sheet of leftover styrene
-a tailhook from an unknown model

as for the weapons i havent decided yet 

[Spey_Phantom]

UPDATE:

the inside of the stand wasnt big enough to fit 2 large weapons, so it was dremel to the rescue 
now the inside of the weaponsbay is big enough, the styrene plate is now glued inside. there were some gaps on the outside but that was fixed with some revell tubeglue.
the wing is now fully cut out, for an exsample of haw big the weapons bay is, i put 2 Mk.84 bombs in the hole.
although im thinking Harpoon, JDAM or torpedo's for the endresult 

EDIT:
i discovered the gripen wheel was to short for the UCAV, so instead i found a spare A-10 front wheel from an old revell 1/144 kit. as for the paint scheme, i was thinking all black or desert Camo. wait a minute.......Both  (bottom black, top in camo) decals, i have no idea, im thinking Israel or US Navy

another problem was the engine, the spare engines from a Bae146 i had were to small, instead, i cut of the engine from a salvaged 1/144 A-10 

[Spey_Phantom]

last one for today, she's now drying, the top will be desert camo while the bottom is painted black for night operations. as for decals, im now currently choosing either Israel, US Navy, RAF or Leutonian Navy 
i'll think of that after the second layer and camo is applied 

tomorrow there will be little or no work done, as im gonna take a grand day out

[kitbasher]

By gum, there's no stopping the lad!!

[Brian da Basher]

Woah I really like the look of that big jet engine on top of this one!

Go, Nils, go!!!



Brian da Basher

[Spey_Phantom]

Update:

almost done 

here she is, back in black, as a night attack bomber for aircraft carriers.
i still need to get rid of some dust and give her something to fight back with 

[Brian da Basher]

I like the black! Nice touch, Nils!

Brian da Basher

[John Howling Mouse]

The off-set nosegear to accommodate the bomb bay is very, very clever.   Looks sinister in black.

And, if it wasn't a UCAV, I think I know who would fly it:

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, she's done, and like they say in spaceballs (yes JHM, i love that movie, even got the DVD  )
"Make way for dark UCAV  "

here she is, ready for launch from the deck of a carrier. another interesting idea i had, next to the off-set nosewheel, is that the 2 AIM-9L's for self defence are fitted on the door, these are mountable on both sides, so the Raider-B can also funtion as a fleet defence fighter equiped with 4 AIM-9, 4 AIM-120 or a 2/2 combination of both weapons  .
this one is armed with 2 AIm-9's and 1 AGM-130 

[Spey_Phantom]

PS:

and to proove to the non-believers that this is not a reworked version of the earlier Raider UCAV,
here's a picture of BOTH versions standing side by side 

[John Howling Mouse]

Incredible creativity!