Hustling the Hustler

[tc2324]

Ye gods..., I`m actually posting a whif WIP.....   

Some of you older folk may remember my 1/72 scale days long ago and the whif-tastic, (or should that be crazy...?), ideas, I had back in those days making all sorts of stuff.

One build really grabbed my attention.....,





So much so, that I felt you need to revisit this idea for a What If GB on another forum.

But this time.....,     it`s gonna be bigger and better.......





Hopefully, in the years since the 1/72 days, I`ve improved my skills and I can produce a better rendition of it.

So first things first......, how big is this thing gonna get?

Well...., I used a 1/48 EE Lightning for scale and the main question I now have is..................,



..........  where the hell am I going to store it when finished....

[FAR148]

..........  where the hell am I going to store it when finished....

Yeah, I feel your pain. One of my many future projects is a 48th scale B-29 No idea where to put it. It's flipping huge! Butanywho... What are your ideas/plans for your Hustler? I've always been fascinated by the 58, such a large and fast aircraft for her day.

Happy modeling,
Steven L

[Cobra]

Just Wondering, Are You planning to Go Gerry Anderson with it? Keep it up & Stay Cool. Dan

[Captain Canada]

Wow...this is going to be so cool ! Love the original. Also like the Lightning ! I can't wait to build my kit of that one. Yours looks perfect.

Looking forward to seeing some more pics !

[kerick]

Will you replace the J-79s with Speys?

[sandiego89]

Nice.  Looks like you used the upper pod only on the 1/72 version, does the 1/48 kit give you the option for a one or two componant pod? 

[McColm]

Wow!
I had a secondhand 1/48 B-29 and I know how large that was. It's now used by one of my mates as a weather vane on top of his shed.

[Weaver]

Nice one!

You know, that's just begging to be scaleorama'd to 1/72nd with an F-111 canopy.....

[tc2324]

The main answer to most of your questions is that I`m building this pretty much to the same specification and scheme as the 1/72 model I did before. Hopefully, just a little bit better.

I might look at adding a few items though, just to give it that `RAF` look and also I might be looking at a different weapons layout, more of which is discussed below.

Nice.  Looks like you used the upper pod only on the 1/72 version, does the 1/48 kit give you the option for a one or two componant pod?  

You pretty much get everything with the kit, the four B43 or B61 nuclear weapons, the MB-1C pod which is the smaller one and the TCP (Two Component Pod), which placed the nuclear weapon in an upper section while the lower fuel component could be independently jettisoned.



I`m kinda playing with the idea of what the mission profile might of been with this aircraft.

By the early 70`s any nuclear strike would have been a low level dash followed by the steep climb to `lob` the weapon at the target before either returning to base or moving onto the next target again at low level.

With that in mind, I`m thinking the RAF may have gone for a standard central fuel tank to extend the range with the four nuclear free fall/lob weapons.

Saying that, why not bung on a couple of cruise missile pylons between the engines and increase your weapons delivery by two and improve your stand off capability while your at it?

Any and all ideas/comments welcome.

[sandiego89]

Nice.  Looks like you used the upper pod only on the 1/72 version, does the 1/48 kit give you the option for a one or two componant pod?  

You pretty much get everything with the kit, the four B43 or B61 nuclear weapons, the MB-1C pod which is the smaller one and the TCP (Two Component Pod), which placed the nuclear weapon in an upper section while the lower fuel component could be independently jettisoned.

I`m kinda playing with the idea of what the mission profile might of been with this aircraft.

By the early 70`s any nuclear strike would have been a low level dash followed by the steep climb to `lob` the weapon at the target before either returning to base or moving onto the next target again at low level.

With that in mind, I`m thinking the RAF may have gone for a standard central fuel tank to extend the range with the four nuclear free fall/lob weapons.

Saying that, why not bung on a couple of cruise missile pylons between the engines and increase your weapons delivery by two and improve your stand off capability while your at it?

Any and all ideas/comments welcome.

Thanks.  Looks like a nice kit, with good options for the bombs and the two componant pod.  I agree that the 4 free fall weapons and the central tank would be a good fit for an RAF aircraft. Maybe 4x WE177 on the fuselage stations.   

[Weaver]

Well if the RAF could afford Hustlers, maybe they could afford a decent stand-off missile to go with it? Why not convert the external tank into a missile with wings and jet/ramjet pods?

[TallEng]

Would a Blue steel missile fit?
The under fuselage shapes remind me very much of Blue Steel now I think about it
I've got a 1/72 Hustler and a Blue Steel somewhere......

Regards
Keith

[Weaver]

Would a Blue steel missile fit?
The under fuselage shapes remind me very much of Blue Steel now I think about it
I've got a 1/72 Hustler and a Blue Steel somewhere......

Regards
Keith

They're similar shapes but much bigger, which would be appropriate for a decent stand-off missile. To compensate for the range reduction implied by replacing the tank with a missile, the latter would have to have a much longer range than Blue Steel.

[TallEng]

Would a Blue steel missile fit?
The under fuselage shapes remind me very much of Blue Steel now I think about it
I've got a 1/72 Hustler and a Blue Steel somewhere......

Regards
Keith

They're similar shapes but much bigger, which would be appropriate for a decent stand-off missile. To compensate for the range reduction implied by replacing the tank with a missile, the latter would have to have a much longer range than Blue Steel.

That would be Blue steel II (cancelled)  Wiki says a developed Blue Steel could go 900NMI (1700Km)
although wether they mean Blue steel (original) or the proposed Mk II isn't clear.
still as its a Wiff......

Regards
Keith

[Captain Canada]

I had never noticed the upper wing before...funny how you can miss somat like that. Then again, this is an aeroplane I have never built. Almost bought one in Austin with Scooterman and the gang. Wished I would have !