A/F-117X

[Firefox]

I'm working on a new project: A/F-117X (or F-117N). After checking a few sources from the internet, I'm still confuse about A/F-117X and F-117N. I only noticed that it seems both of them have different exhaust configuration from each other. It seems that the F-117N is offered to the navy first before a revised config called A/F-117X is tabled.

Some source from the internet stated that the main gears are from F-14 and the nose gear is from F/A-18. I have a 1/74 F-14 and F/A-18. The main gears of the F-14 are huge and the nose gear from the F/A-18 seems tiny in comparison. Is it a really a good technical choice to match those two together in A/F-117X?

Anyway, for this project, I couldn't spare my F/A-18 nose gear, so I'll use all the landing gears from the donor F-14. Using F-14 main gear means that I need to swap the aft section of the landing gear housing (as can be seen in the pic below). It was a more involving job than anticipated.

Any additional links, pics or info regarding the F-117N or A/F-117X are most welcome  

[Spey_Phantom]

interesting project, i was thinking about this aircraft just the other day, playing arround with the idea of building one out of a 1/144 Revell F-117.
had a dream once seeing this aircraft in us navy "Tomcatters" markings 

[bearmatt]

Very nice project !
And very promising, when I recall your F-111B.... 

[Hobbes]

These are the best sources I've found for the F-117 projects:

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2952.0.html

http://www.f-117a.com/af117x.html

http://www.f-117a.com/Variants.html

[Zombolt]

I read the title and thought of the Ace Combat 3 plane.

http://electrosphere.acecombatskies.com/topic/1251-af-117x-nav-hawk/

[Firefox]

Thanks Hobbes and Zombolt. The secretproject (the US Patent) clarify a lot in the exhaust part. The Ace Combat is a particular interesting one. I saw this before but this is the first clear big pics, will keep it for future.

[Thorvic]

Hi Firefox

Wow another interesting build to watch and a nice follow up to the F-111B 

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2952.0.html

I take it you have this link for data as SecretProjects forum has alot of the data for these type of projects.

Cheers

Geoff

[Mossie]

Some source from the internet stated that the main gears are from F-14 and the nose gear is from F/A-18. I have a 1/74 F-14 and F/A-18. The main gears of the F-14 are huge and the nose gear from the F/A-18 seems tiny in comparison. Is it a really a good technical choice to match those two together in A/F-117X?

Anyway, for this project, I couldn't spare my F/A-18 nose gear, so I'll use all the landing gears from the donor F-14. Using F-14 main gear means that I need to swap the aft section of the landing gear housing (as can be seen in the pic below). It was a more involving job than anticipated.

Any additional links, pics or info regarding the F-117N or A/F-117X are most welcome 

The underside of the A/F-117X was quite heavily revised.  There's a ventral fairing underneath to provide for a larger weapons bay.  The Secret Projects thread that Hobbes & Geoff mentioned has a three view & a few pics that show the underside, if not in great detail.  I've been hunting for pics with better detail of the underside but I've come up blanks so far.  Pics do seem to show a larger nosewheel bay & I'd assume the same for the main gear.

[Firefox]

Thanks for all the info guys! I couldn't find more pics of its underside too. I know it bulges like the B-2 but the actual size is kind of sketchy.

Here is my latest progress; trying to mimic the exhaust. I noticed that even the shape of the exhaust are different from one photo than the other. I decided to go ahead with the F-22 like exhaust.

[Mossie]

Found one! On this very site believe it or not!   Bagera3005 did a profile, which includes an underside view:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21956.945.html
http://bagera3005.deviantart.com/art/Lockheed-F-117N-Seahawk-192218997

IIRC he redraws his profiles so it might be worth sending him a PM to see if he's had to use any guess work.

[Firefox]

Thanks Mossie! It is indeed helpful. My only gripe of the A/F-117X underside is that it bulges rather than faceted. This imposes a challenge for me. I'll see...

Not much of an update except that the exhaust is roughly there and given the first rough coat of paint.

[PR19_Kit]

Thanks Mossie! It is indeed helpful. My only gripe of the A/F-117X underside is that it bulges rather than faceted. This imposes a challenge for me. I'll see...

So make it faceted!

Once the USN had found that radar could 'see' their A/F-117Xs they'd have bought a -B version that DID have a facetted weapons bay.......

[Hobbes]

I made a faceted bomb bay a couple of years ago:



http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,4251.0.html

The bulged version is not that hard if you build it closed:
- sculpt the front and rear fairings from e.g. Milliput
- build two spars and attach a thin sheet of plasticard as the doors.

Opening the doors would require making a master, and then heating the plasticard so it stays in the correct shape.

[Firefox]

Hobbes, thanks for sharing this. That's interesting. I briefly considered that before. Maybe I should reconsider that again.

[Firefox]

The exhaust is in better shape now. Lots of Miliputt and sanding. The cockpit is just a straight fix. I'm still pondering on doing the bulge or faceted underside...