P-61 Black Widow

[ytown2010]

What would it look like with nose gear from an F-18 and main from an F-14? I didn't know how big the E-2's gear was.

[jcf]

The bridle and hold-back method of launch makes more sense for a WWII era aircraft, simply from the standpoints
of airframe stress and modification, it was already known in the WWII period and it is still used today in some services.
For a period in US service the super-carriers operated both bridle and nose-tow launch aircraft (from the same catapults)
, the Carl Vinson was the last USN carrier to be built with the bow-mounted bridle arrestors.

http://www.skyhawk.org/2e/flt-ops.htm

[ytown2010]

When did the Vinson get her bridle system removed?

[jcf]

When did the Vinson get her bridle system removed?

The bridle catcher was removed in the late 90s during a later refit, there is no 'bridle system' per se, the same cat
shuttle was used to launch the bridle equipped and nose-tow aircraft.

A photo on the linked page dated circa 1996-1997 shows the catcher, another from 1999 shows no catcher.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/70.htm

Jon

[GTX]

Does anyone produce a P-61E kit in 1/48?

Regards,

Greg

[kitnut617]

Does anyone produce a P-61E kit in 1/48?

Regards,

Greg

A company called Lone Star Models in the USA did/does an F-15 Reporter which is very close to a 'E'.  It's a vacuform kit but after checking my link I find it's a conversion.

http://www.lonestarmodels.com/products/lsm0141.html

[jcf]

Mike West, who is Lonestar Models, posts regularly on Hyperscale and has indicated that he is releasing a firebomber version of the F-15A,
in both 1/48th and 1/72nd.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/message/1276833548/More+fire+bomber+aircraft+on+the+way

[GTX]

Thanks guys!

His planned Bassler BT-67 conversion for the C-47 also sounds tasty!

Regards,

Greg

[kitnut617]

His planned Bassler BT-67 conversion for the C-47 also sounds tasty!

Regards,

Greg

Heritage Aviation does one of those in 1/72 scale, I've got one that I've started.  It comes with the forward fuselage plug and some other bits & bobs to do a South African Radar Trainer

[GTX]

Does anyone produce a P-61E kit in 1/48?

Regards,

Greg

A company called Lone Star Models in the USA did/does an F-15 Reporter which is very close to a 'E'.  It's a vacuform kit but after checking my link I find it's a conversion.

http://www.lonestarmodels.com/products/lsm0141.html

Has anyone tried this or have one in their stash:



regards,

Greg

[KJ_Lesnick]

I really like the idea of using the airframe of the F-15/RF-61 Reporter with the radar and guns of the regular P-61 Black-Widow, and no turret.  The P-61, despite it's size, was pretty agile, and probably doesn't need a turret, and being that the F-15/RF-61 is more aerodynamically streamlined, it could at the very least extend the maximum range, if not increase the overall top-speed.

[Jschmus]

The Reporter was an outgrowth of the P-61E, which was originally pitched to the Army for the long-range escort fighter program, which was won by the Twin Mustang.  The E featured four nose-mounted .50s and four belly-mounted 20mm cannon.  You could swap out the nose-mounted guns for the radar, and either beef up the belly armament (2 more cannon) or add package guns like the light and medium bombers carried.

[KJ_Lesnick]

Why did the P-82 win?

[Jschmus]

Why did the P-82 win?

Apparently it was 100mph faster.

[KJ_Lesnick]

Jschmus,

100 mph faster?  At least some P-61's could do about 430 mph