monitors with spare cruiser turrets.

Sauragnmon · March 28, 2013, 08:45:50 AM

Not really... all you'd have to do is build it with a farmer's field on either side, so there's plenty of open space.

Weaver · March 28, 2013, 10:03:05 AM

Take a leaf out of Manchester Airport's book and have two parrallel runways, one for each wing's main gears, and a taxiway in between for the tailwheel.

jcf · March 28, 2013, 03:05:56 PM

The serious issue would be weight rather than dimensions, you'd need a really thick
runway.

Rheged · March 28, 2013, 03:11:34 PM

Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on March 28, 2013, 03:05:56 PM
The serious issue would be weight rather than dimensions, you'd need a really thick
runway.

And unobtainium wing spars!

PR19_Kit · March 28, 2013, 04:02:08 PM

Quote from: Rheged on March 28, 2013, 03:11:34 PM
Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on March 28, 2013, 03:05:56 PM
The serious issue would be weight rather than dimensions, you'd need a really thick
runway.

And unobtainium wing spars!

You could build the whole runway out of unobtanium......

I'm not sure they'd FOUND enough of the stuff by mid-WWII mind you, but it'd be technically possible.

eatthis · March 28, 2013, 04:41:33 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 28, 2013, 04:02:08 PM
Quote from: Rheged on March 28, 2013, 03:11:34 PM
Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on March 28, 2013, 03:05:56 PM
The serious issue would be weight rather than dimensions, you'd need a really thick
runway.

And unobtainium wing spars!

You could build the whole runway out of unobtanium......

I'm not sure they'd FOUND enough of the stuff by mid-WWII mind you, but it'd be technically possible.

tank tracks instead of wheels to spread the weight on the ground

Sauragnmon · March 28, 2013, 04:48:43 PM

Track units instead of wheels... that reminds me of the Soviet B-4 203mm Howitzer... those things roll on track units rather than wheels too...

Weaver · March 28, 2013, 05:03:29 PM

Well it's not like it hasn't been tried....

PR19_Kit · March 28, 2013, 11:10:50 PM

And that bottom set of tracks has a B-36 perched on top of it!

eatthis · March 29, 2013, 01:32:09 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 28, 2013, 11:10:50 PM
And that bottom set of tracks has a B-36 perched on top of it!

backs my theory up nicely

Sauragnmon · March 29, 2013, 10:05:14 AM

I have to say, the most interesting alternative landing gear method I have seen so far was an air cushion landing support... that was kind of neat to see.

Weaver · March 29, 2013, 12:19:02 PM

Quote from: Sauragnmon on March 29, 2013, 10:05:14 AM
I have to say, the most interesting alternative landing gear method I have seen so far was an air cushion landing support... that was kind of neat to see.

There's even a kit of it:

What I want them to do is the QSRA Buffalo so I can put both systems on one airframe: short landing on any surface....

dadlamassu · March 29, 2013, 01:31:30 PM

Quote from: Rheged on March 28, 2013, 02:16:14 AM

Either way, the civil engineers are going to have an interesting time building runways...........

No need for a runway for a modified Sunderland with longer wings, twin hulls (like a Savoia Marchetti S66)

Add lots of engines. 20mm cannon barbettes at mid-upper, tail positions and fuselage side positions and a 4.5" DP gun used on destroyers in each hull. Both 4.5" guns set to fire simultaneously. Or for the faint-hearted a single semi-automatic 4.5" fixed in a wide centre section between the hulls.

rickshaw · March 29, 2013, 06:03:45 PM

You could design a Davis Gun principle weapon which was semi-automatic in operation, utilising a revolving breech system. The two barrels, fore and aft remain fixed, the breech revolves each round into position and a rotating interrupted screw collar ensures a gas-tight seal. If you literally designed the barrels as part of the hull's longitudinal structural members it could provide a "back" from which everything else hung. Rate of fire? 3-6 rounds a minute more than likely. Recoilless fire power of massive proportions. A good replacement for the torpedo.