Vought Kookaburra

[zenrat]

You may remember my Peoples Democratic Republic of Victoria Skyraider floatplane.
This is it's companion aircraft, the PDRV Vought Kookaburra.
Carrying a 3 man crew the Kookaburra can operate from the short strips that were all that remained when rising sea levels created the Mornington Archipelago following the British nuclear attack on the Japanese Antarctic bases in 1945.  It can loiter over the Bass Strait for up to twelve hours at a time watching for toll runners and smugglers and calling in the Skyraiders (or the Wyverns) when needed.

Following the end of WW2 the PDRV acquired a number of surplus to requirement (non floatplane) Vought Kingfishers from the RAF.  These were comprehensively rebuilt and were renamed Kookaburra (which is after all a member of the Kingfisher family).
A Tricycle undercarriage was fitted to give clearance for the radome and wingtip tanks were fitted to increase duration while slats and retractable flaps give improved STOL capability.
The increased all up weight necessitated more power so Victorian Engine Works No.2 at Morwell upgraded the Wasp Juniors to 900hp by fitting improved oil cooled heads and barrels and updating the supercharger.  A chin mounted oil cooler keeps everything cool.
When operating with Skyraiders carrying laser guided bombs the Kookaburras carry a laser targeting pod under the left wing.
Once again the aircraft is shown in PDRV Archipelago camouflage - albeit an earlier version than I used on the Skyraider (less sand). Once again the post Korean war roundels are used.
PDRV Vought Kookaburra 018 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
PDRV Vought Kookaburra 017 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
PDRV Vought Kookaburra 014 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
PDRV Vought Kookaburra 019 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
PDRV Vought Kookaburra 020 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
As you can see I used the latest release of the Airfix Kingfisher.  The wingtip tanks are Heller Skyraider drop tanks and the underwing tank is from an academy P-39.  The Pave knife pod is from a Hasegawa weapons set and the radome is a Gundam head.  Spats, slats, undercarriage, interior and flap mechanism are scratch built.  The oil cooler is part of an electric toothbrush.  Crew (other then the pilot) were pinched from an Airfix Arado AR-196 (next on the bench) and the prop is a resin Lincoln item from Ozmods with the blades shortened slightly to fit.

[The Rat]

The word 'spectacular' would not be out of place here! 

[Captain Canada]

Oh yeah...that's almost a perfect whif right there ! Love everything about it. The colours, the pattern, the new engine ( and the cooler also makes it look cooler ) and the radar. The asymmetric wing load, the shape of the knife protruding, the big wing tip tanks  The fowler flaps ( hey, a fowl is a bird too  )

Great stuff !

[ChernayaAkula]

  Wicked! 

[Dizzyfugu]

 

Great work - I cannot help, but this creation has a certain anime look to it? Could come straight from "Porco Rosso"? 

[sandiego89]

Fantasitc, especailly well done with the flaps and slats.  Really nice work! 

[NARSES2]

Amazing work 

[pyro-manic]

Wild! I love it!

[ericr]

incredible pattern!

(I mean it positively of course  )

[CSMO]

Man your super-plane formerly known as a Kingfisher is just outrageous. It is really Out-of-Box thinking at its finest. What next? A PZL P.23 Karas on floats? Well done, sir!

Adios, Larry.

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

And yes, the laser pod does stick out a bit far.  Slight miscalculation (I forgot how long it was when I decided to add the flaps).  In retrospect I should have put it on the tip of the left wing instead of a fuel tank.

[comrade harps]

Kingfisher on steroids!

Love the camo and the back story.

[zenrat]

Thank you comrade.

[Cobra]

Superb Job :thumbsup:When they Next Do the Whiffies,You should be in the Running with a Masterpiece like this The Camo is Cool,Interesting,and Quite Stunning to look at. Any plans to Add Jet Fighters to Your Air Force? Keep up the superb Work Dan

[zenrat]

As it happens I have a pair of Fulcrums in my stash...