Grumman Gander, Now Done!

sequoiaranger · April 19, 2009, 11:25:02 AM

This is an entry in the "Floaty Things" GB now going on. More detail and pics there and soon-to-be in my Gallery.

This is an upgraded Grumman "Duck" attack fighter on board the Philippine seaplane carrier "Manila" (See "Furashita's Fleet" for details of the ship) to counter the Nakajima "Rufe" floatplane fighter. Japan responds with the Kawanishi "Kyofu" in a floatplane arms race. Then the US Navy has Grumman ditch the pedestal float to enable a large, hard-hitting fighter known as the "Hellcat". Japan does something similar to make its Kyofu into its Shiden-Kai, but the US Navy does it first and better.

I widened the "Duck"'s pedestal float, made the outrigger floats "retractable", stuck on and blended a Hellcat fuselage and wings, and gouged out a second seat and defensive armament. The unique "Birds and Worms" camouflage is just my insanity coming through.

The Rat · April 19, 2009, 11:31:57 AM

YOWZA!!!

Stunning, that's all I've got to say, just stunning.

kitnut617 · April 19, 2009, 01:09:38 PM

I just love the effect of the camo, really well done

Brian da Basher · April 19, 2009, 03:07:26 PM

Outstanding, SR! Your modifications are absolutely pro-style and that amazing camo scheme takes it to the next level and looks great with Filippino markings!

Brian da Basher

frank2056 · April 19, 2009, 04:50:59 PM

Wow Craig! I love the Escher-like camo pattern. Nice aircraft design, too.

John Howling Mouse · April 19, 2009, 05:45:56 PM

Fantastic! This is really creative. The armament, the float mods, the rear gunner---a very exciting scheme, too...very cool! Did you embellish the shadowlines in post-production or did that just happen when you took the outdoor pics?

BlackOps · April 20, 2009, 08:25:09 AM

This came out great! I too am diggin' the paint work!

JayBee · April 20, 2009, 09:20:36 AM

Ye Gods!

My flabber is totally gassted!

That is one sensational model, conception, build, paintwork, backhistory. Everything, and it has a sharkmouth.

If I had a hat on I would take it off to you.

JimB

ChernayaAkula · April 20, 2009, 03:17:31 PM

Awesome!

Cool camo!

sequoiaranger · April 20, 2009, 04:37:09 PM

JHM--A little "photoshopping" and you can see how it would look with wheels and floats retracted (still on the ground, though!).

Thank you all for the kind words. This turned out better than I had envisioned, and I appreciate the appreciation!

Rafael · April 20, 2009, 06:15:39 PM

This is way beyond awesome, SR, that camo and the modifications are wonderful!!!
Rafa

noxioux · April 20, 2009, 07:29:19 PM

Superb. Really something out of left field!

van883 · April 21, 2009, 12:00:06 AM

I do like that!

Van

Tophe · April 21, 2009, 08:55:43 AM

Very interesting addition to the Hellcat family, after the Bubble Hellcat... Definitely, you make me prefer the pleasant What-if universe to the sad Real World. Thanks a lot...

sequoiaranger · April 21, 2009, 08:59:02 AM

>Really something out of left field!<

Isn't that were "whiffers" belong??

(for non-Americans, or non-baseball types, "out of left field" is a phrase used to describe something appearing from an unexpected direction, "came out of nowhere", something you don't see every day, or something weird. Its worst connotation is something inappropriate [undoubtedly the interpretation of JMN's]--I'll take them all!)