1/32 Piper PA-18 floatplane

[Librarian]

My son (sounds so Star Wars ) has decided to follow me down the tree lined avenues of Whatifry, and wants to adapt a 1/32 Piper floatplane into a Vietnam-era COIN-ish aircraft and wants me to ask the community out there for some inspiration, ideas etc. Has anyone done something similar?

Any help very much appreciated .

[Dizzyfugu]

Ah, a young padawan, turned to the dark side... very good!  

(Not helpful, but I HAD to...  )

But, seriously: maybe have an eye on ebay and organize a cheap 1:32 donation kit, just for some extras and mods. Some time ago, I scored an AH-64 (with water damaged, box, but complete) for just EUR 5,-. Has already been used in several projects.

[Captain Canada]

Machine guns mounted atop the floats !

[Gondor]

Maybe a torpedo mounted between the floats?

Small bombs, rockets, gunpods under the wings?

Gondor

[pyro-manic]

A pair of 7-shot rocket pods under the wings, and a door-mounted minigun/M60/.50? All-over dark green, or possibly SEA camouflage. Armoured seats and cabin floor, black boxes in the back for radio and EW gear. Upgraded engine to drag the lot into the air.

[Librarian]

Dacian (Senior Sprog) sends his thanks and much appreciates the ideas. As a fan of a serious over-loaded weapons fit I think he's going to be raiding my spares box . Too old for Lego, too young for girls....

[philp]

Definitely SEA camo with black undersides maybe even up the fuselage sides to the wings.

If using it for a COIN bird I would probably go with forward firing weaponry instead of a door mount gun.

I see it working with the Brown Water Navy providing some additional air support for the Monitors and PBRs.

[Old Wombat]

2 x 7-shot rocket & 2 x mini-gun pods plus a door-mounted M-60!



Guy

[rickshaw]

I think it would be hard pressed to lift a lot of the weapons being proposed.   I'd suggest just 4 or 6 5in HVAR rockets.  Perhaps a GPMG in the door and that's about it.

[philp]

Got to up engine it with a turboprop, right?

[Librarian]

Why did he have to choose 1/32  . Going to cost to get these parts...

[jcf]

I wouldn't bother with a turbine conversion, go for one of the turbocharged variants
of the O-360, they're in the 200 - 215hp range and 180hp non-turbo O-360s are
used on some PA-18 Super Cubs. That way you can say it has a more powerful
engine but won't need to futz with redoing the nose.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoming_O-360#Variants

Backcountry Super Cubs produces kits of enhanced PA-18 versions,
their full span slots would look good on a model and would fit in your COIN
scenario as a counter to the performance degrading effect of adding the weight
of weapons. The lowered engine mount and thus forward fuselage line
adds an agressive look.

http://www.supercub.com/

[Weaver]

Why did he have to choose 1/32  . Going to cost to get these parts...

Possibly not. Let me finish my tea.....

EDIT: you have PM 

[Weaver]

Backcountry Super Cubs produces kits of enhanced PA-18 versions,
their full span slots would look good on a model and would fit in your COIN
scenario as a counter to the performance degrading effect of adding the weight
of weapons. The lowered engine mount and thus forward fuselage line
adds an agressive look.

http://www.supercub.com/

I love the huge balloon tires on those: makes them look like flying dune buggies! Proper bush plane.....

These things are hilarious even without the slats:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv5BtJMKamM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsIzCqAQOck

[martinbayer]

Here's a WWII example of a Piper Cub armed with four Bazookas: http://lostgallery.blogspot.com/2009/01/piper-cub-with-bazookas-mounted.html

More inspiration can be found here: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11776.0;all

Martin