Super Fulcrum

[Rafael]

That's the kind of build I like, Goober!!
Two Thumbs up!  

Those canards are really the decisive shape of the plane


Rafa

[gooberliberation]

^_^ Thanks for all the very kind comments. Now for a backstory.

Tentative designation and NATO nickname for this aircraft shall be a MiG-32 "Flashpoint." Even numbered designation is because it was developed initially as an interdictor/strike plane to compliment and replace the Su-24, which was still pretty new at the time but as far as I could tell, isn't fantastic by any measure. The resulting aircraft ends up with similar capabilities as the F-15E and eventually gets used as such.

Canards and trust vectoring would have been a design feature from the start, in order to improve low speed performance and give it STOL capabilities(similar to F-15S/MTD). By this point, the soviets have gotten over their enthusiasm for swing-wings, along with the technical challenges and diminished fuel capacity that came with them.

Performance-wise, i figure it'd be slightly inferior to the Su-27 in aerial combat, but at least as manouverable with longer range and vastly superior ground poundin' abilities.

[John Howling Mouse]

Wow, those ventral fins really set it off, don't they!?!?

Would look pretty darned threatening if that beastie pulled along side your B-52, now, wouldn't it?

[BlackOps]

Bold, yet refreshing    

This is gonna kick some serious tail end when finished!

[elmayerle]

Looks superb so far.  I'd probably make those folding ventral fins, as on the MiG-23, to keep the landing gear lengths reasonable.

[gooberliberation]

Looks superb so far.  I'd probably make those folding ventral fins, as on the MiG-23, to keep the landing gear lengths reasonable.

I was pondering that issue as well, especially since the F-15 landing gear doesnt leave much ground clearance(i found that out the hard way on a previous build). For the time being, I'll pretend that the fins fold. Unfortunately, the ventral fins are pretty well securely superglued on, so I think I'll either:

-Have it displayed in flight, which is kinda unfortunate cuz i've already installed anti-fod screens(similar to the ones on the Su-27) in the down position.

-Use freakishly long landing gear legs, probably from a 1/48 scale kit, that woul require making all new landing gear bays to accomodate them. It'd look weird, but on the plus side, it does allow me to load big-arse bombs 'n stuff under the fuselage.

Camo scheme will be 2 shades of light gray and a blue on the top, dark gray on the bottom. Probably wouldn't be that practical but I think it'd look cool  

[Archibald]

Looks superb so far.  I'd probably make those folding ventral fins, as on the MiG-23, to keep the landing gear lengths reasonable.

I was pondering that issue as well, especially since the F-15 landing gear doesnt leave much ground clearance(i found that out the hard way on a previous build). For the time being, I'll pretend that the fins fold. Unfortunately, the ventral fins are pretty well securely superglued on, so I think I'll either:

-Have it displayed in flight, which is kinda unfortunate cuz i've already installed anti-fod screens(similar to the ones on the Su-27) in the down position.

-Use freakishly long landing gear legs, probably from a 1/48 scale kit, that woul require making all new landing gear bays to accomodate them. It'd look weird, but on the plus side, it does allow me to load big-arse bombs 'n stuff under the fuselage.

Camo scheme will be 2 shades of light gray and a blue on the top, dark gray on the bottom. Probably wouldn't be that practical but I think it'd look cool

Well, this is whatif world, so you can say that's
"the MiG-32 had a misterious system, never disclosed to foreign observers.
When the aircraft is on the ground its ventral fins are folded because of a lack of ground clearance.
Just after take off the fins move to an in flight position. Some experts believe that the fins retraction system is linked to the undercarriage retraction mecanism... when wheels get down,  fins get up, and vice-versa... "
and your problem is solved  

[gooberliberation]

Ive decided to go for wheels-up. I've earmarked a Bandai Gundam model stand for this project. Hopefully I can get it to look slightly less sci-fi.

[Archibald]

Aaaarf, we need more photos, really!!  

[gooberliberation]

Aaaarf, we need more photos, really!!

[Brian da Basher]

It looks like high art sculpture in that pose goober! Nice shot!

Brian da Basher

[Archibald]

merci!    

[cthulhu77]

Now, THAT, is dynamic !

[Supertom]

Damn.  That's pretty nice.

[John Howling Mouse]

why does that stand look so familiar?