Reconnaissance A/C - USN F2H-5P, USAF RF-102A and RB-58E

[The Big Gimper]

Folks:

My first projects and posting. All are WIP but I hope of interest to the What-if members.

First is my RF-102A. The is straight forward conversion of adding a RF-101A nose to a F-102A. I also cut out additional windows for the lateral cameras. I might add a centerline pod for photo-flash cartridges or an ALQ-131

The second A/C is McDonnell-Republic F2H-5P Super Banshee.

McDonnell recognized in the mid 1950s it may be losing the Navy's Photo Reconnaissance business to Grumman and Vought. McDonnell executives decided to make one last hail Mary pass to make the F2H the fast jet Recce platform of choice for the Navy. A few discrete late night phone calls were make to Republic who had never won any Navy contracts and were asked if the would be willing to share their swept wing expertise to co-develop a swept wing version of the F2H. By the way this took place almost a decade before the first flight of the F4H-1P (RF-4B)

So in one very late night with a a few pots of coffee, a few-dozen pencils and few quite a table napkins, the F2H-5P was born.

What transpired that night on the napkins of horror was the project called "Mary Shelley" which merged of the fuselage of the F2H-2P with the wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizers of the RF-84F. The now named F2H-5P now had a top speed of 679 MPH and range of over 2,000 miles. The F2H-2P in comparison was capable of 532 MPH and 1,400 Miles.

The third is a RB-58E Reconnaissance Hustler

<sneak preview>
As the B-58 force was being stood down from active service, the remaining flyable TB-58A airframes were flown to Davis-Montham AFB in 1968 for storage.  Several of the TB-58A airframes suffered "navigational equipment failures" while in transit and accidentally landed at Groom Lake aka Area 51. What left Groom Lake almost a year later was the RB-58E.  It was named Project Sneak Peek.
</sneak preview>

The kit it is an Italeri TB-58. I added some bumps around the tail cone as well as two underwing shapes which contain ECM equipment. The RC-1C aka MC-1B pod will hold the cameras. The Finish will be gloss black.

I cannot / do not know how to attach photos so if you are interested, the pictures are here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.wimmi/ModelPhotographs?authkey=Gv1sRgCOD_j82Ijp34bA#.

On the bench:
- RB-49F Stratowing  Strategic Photo Reconnaissance
- B-58E Hustler Supersonic Photo Reconnaissance

[philp]

Welcome to the fun.  Pulled a few of your pics over so hope you don't mind.

First, regarding the RF-102, while I like the nose camera idea, would think they would have just added them to the weapons area.  Maybe instead of the belly pod, put the extras in the belly?



Now the Banshee idea is sharp and I am looking forward to see how this one progresses.

[Pablo1965]

Interesting start.

[Tophe]

Will your model above stay asymmetrically weird or will it become boringly symmetric?

[PR19_Kit]

RB-49F?

Oh yes, that sounds LOTSA fun! 

[The Big Gimper]

Thank you for all your comments. I do need to make an editorial correction: The ECM pod should be a ALQ-87. Not sure how the -131 got in there. 

philip: Thanks for attaching the photos. I though of that as well. Since I had the RF-101 in the spares bin, I decided to try the nose out first. But I agree the belly pod idea should be followed up on. I have an extra Trumpter F-107 so maybe a RF-107C?

tophe: To fit the F-84 wing, I had to a cut a a new tab slot out above the existing one as also trim back the fuselage fairing as the F2H wings were blended into the fuselage. Once I am happy with the right side, I will do the left.

PR19_KIT: I have an OCD for delta and flying wings so the master plan (subject to spousal approval  ) is:

- EF-12B (YF-12A) Black Weasel V Anti-SAM Strike
- F-16A (N-9MC) Flyingwing Photo Reconnaissance with the Sharkit HeS011 engines
- F-17A (B-35A) Superwing Photo Reconnaissance
- KB-35C Superwing Tanker aka "The Flying Bladder"
- B-49B Stratowing Strategic Bomber
- RB-49F Stratowing  Strategic Photo Reconnaissance
- B-58D Hustler Laser Guided Bomb Carrier