Douglas B-42 and B-43

[Archibald]

http://www.anigrand.com/AA2031_XB-42.htm

Well this was aparently a very good, fast bomber ( A-26 Invader replacement?)  killed by the end of WWII.
Just imagined it wasn't the case... some whatifs around it!!!
Why not a post-war career similar to the B-26 Invader? It started in 1946, and ended in 1974 in San salvador...
- B-42 in Korea
- French  B-42 in Indochina
- Turboprop B-42 (with the Mamba of the Fairey Gannet!)
- COIN B-42K in VietNam (with a pile of rockets and bombs underwings)
- Firefighter B-42 in the 90's (!)
- ASW B-42 for USMC, USN or even US Coast Guards
- RB-42
- B-42 Bussiness plane (before the first jets, in the 50's, ala Howard 500)
- B-42 worlwide (including some South american shemes, late 60's)
If you have other ideas...  

[jcf]

The jet-powered B-43 development would have been the more likely production version.



Although the XB-42A with the underwing podded engines is also a possibility.


More here:
B-42/B-43 at Protoypes.com

Cheers, Jon

[Archibald]

Eeeeeeeeerh... we all know that piston-engines resisted turbojets (on the bombers) up to the beginning of the 50's. More, the XB-43 was underpowered...So why not keep on with the B-42 up to the late 70's?  

[Tophe]

If you have other ideas...

Of course: XB-42Z, see http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...60&#entry145323  

[B777LR]

This one screems to be used in vietnam, and not to forget those beutiful SEA schemes!
Shame the kit is so expensive (for me it is)

 

[Archibald]

For me, too.. must restrict to 2 or 3 anigrand kits (Skylancer, Crusader III and maybe Avenger II)
I think, too about a XB-42 in vietnam with a turboprop. I think about something like the B-26K, Cavalier Enforcer or OV-10 Bronco (Ie FAC, light attack, tarhet marker and the like), and tons of bomb racks underwings (and wingtips fuel tanks , I forgot that!!!)

Tophe, as usual you are brilliant A twin B-42 is much more efficient than a Liberator, that's sure!!!  

[jcf]

Eeeeeeeeerh... we all know that piston-engines resisted turbojets (on the bombers) up to the beginning of the 50's. More, the XB-43 was underpowered...So why not keep on with the B-42 up to the late 70's?

Only true of heavy bombers, light and medium bombers quickly became jet-powered.

Ar-234...1944.

B-45...begun in 1944, first flight 1947.

B-47...begun in 1944, first flight 1947.

Canberra...begun 1945, first flight 1949.

Il-28...first flight 1948.

As to being "underpowered"...what jet aircraft of the period wasn't underpowered?
Later in its life one of the B-43's J35 engines was replaced with a J47...why not a completr re-enginning with J47s? Plenty of power then.

Even being underpowered the B-43 was faster than the B-42.

Anyhow seeing was this is all fiction anyhow...why not both types but performing different missions?

While thousands of the basic V-1710 engines were available on the surplus market I have to wonder how that unique V-1710-125 engine and extended drive-shaft arrangement would have done in service.

Cheers, Jon

[elmayerle]

Twin-Allisons replaced by a XT40 (testbed only) and a T54 (prototype and production)?  T54 is to the T56 as the XT40 is to the XT38.

[Archibald]

In fact I wanted a thread about the XB-42, not the XB-43. that's why I didn't considered the latter...Elmayerle, I like the idea of a turboprop powered B-42. I was thinking about that for the 60's (like the cavalier Enforcer) but your idea is cool! There's plenty of things to do with the B-42 in the postwar era (as with the
B-26 Invader )  

[NARSES2]

Well I've done my XB-42 in USAAF SW Pacific markings and Mike McEvoy did one as a USAAF B26 replacement in NM, one as French B-26 replacement in black/white maritime finish and a B-43 in SEA finish - lovely looking airplane

[Archibald]

cooooooool!!! Do you have any photos of these lovely models?  

[NARSES2]

Here's Mike's French one

French Mixmaster

And here's my USSAF one

USAAF

Both on Martins site

[Archibald]

This is simply superb....!!!!!!

[Alvis 3.1]

Add U2 wings and make it Photo Recon?



ok...my solution to EVERYTHING is to add U2 wings!




Alvis 3.1

[jcf]

Add U2 wings and make it Photo Recon?



ok...my solution to EVERYTHING is to add U2 wings!




Alvis 3.1

With 1/48th scale P-38 turbo-superchargers inset into the the top of the fuselage...need BIG turbos for high-altitude.

Cheers, Jon