Aero Union S-3 Fireking, maybe

[philp]

Ok, been wanting to build this for years and this may be the impetus to finally get me moving but I have a bunch of questions and hope for some assistance.

First, the profiles that I had requested from our fellow whiffers.





Thanks to the guys here who did the original profiles for me.

Next, the question of what modifications would be logical for this plane?

Obvious ones are deletion of MAD boom and equipment, deletion of retractable flight refueling probe and tailhook.

Now the less obvious, at least to me.

Would the ejection seats be replaced?  Seems would be helpful, especially after several fatal crashes in the US in the last few years but not sure a civilian outfit would keep them.
Also, would all 4 seats stay in place or remove the two rear seaters?  Their functions are not needed for a firebomber but seats could be good for support personnel.

FLIR pod, useful for a firebomber or excess weight?

Retardant tanks?  Just internal load or bulged like in the first profile? 
Capacity wise there is a lot of space above the bombay where tanks could be installed.  Also with the sonobouy launch chutes removed could they put an extra retardant tank there or would that throw off the CG too much?

Wingtips?  The pods on the ends house ECM gear and the tip lights.  Don't need the ECM gear so would you replace the tip with a normal rounded tip or leave the pods on, just remove the ECM gear?

There, lots of questions and not sure I even have time to work on this as I have several other GBs going in different forums and a couple of Review kits I need to build.  Our Regional IPMS show is coming up in 2 weeks in Denver and the Nationals are a month and a half away.  But, if I don't do too many modifications to the overall kit I just might be able to get it done during the GB (or early for the Nats).

Thought about a pose and have seen some neat flying firebomber models like these:





No props to have spinning so would be doable but I think having it on the ground and getting tanked up would make a neat dio (which definitely won't happen during the GB).

So, any and all help to my questions with suggestions greatly appreciated and we will see.  I have a few of the Hasagawa kits in the stash so kit is ready to go.

[sandiego89]

Aero Union was one of the most striking schemes of all time.  Like it it very much.  The Viking is under-Whiffed....

[Captain Canada]

Remove the pods and add winglets 

[McColm]

Possible kitbash with a CL-415.

[Mossie]

Like this!

Now the less obvious, at least to me.

Would the ejection seats be replaced?  Seems would be helpful, especially after several fatal crashes in the US in the last few years but not sure a civilian outfit would keep them.
Also, would all 4 seats stay in place or remove the two rear seaters?  Their functions are not needed for a firebomber but seats could be good for support personnel.

Most fire bombers have a crew of 2, so I would remove the backseaters, and paint over their windows (this seems to have happened on a few Aero Union types).  OV-10's had their bang-seats removed, so I'd follow that too/

FLIR pod, useful for a firebomber or excess weight?

I might be useful, but I can only remember FLIR being used on the Firewatch Cobra's.  I think it's useful for fire spotting, but the tankers are usually directed onto the fire.

Retardant tanks?  Just internal load or bulged like in the first profile? 
Capacity wise there is a lot of space above the bombay where tanks could be installed.  Also with the sonobouy launch chutes removed could they put an extra retardant tank there or would that throw off the CG too much?

If you're looking to save time, I would leave it off.  Would look cool, but not essential, as you say there's a fair amount of internal volume available.

Wingtips?  The pods on the ends house ECM gear and the tip lights.  Don't need the ECM gear so would you replace the tip with a normal rounded tip or leave the pods on, just remove the ECM gear?

I'd probably loose the ECM gear and round of the tips.  The Cap'ns idea of winglets would look good, but again if your looking to save time, just round of the tips.

Thought about a pose and have seen some neat flying firebomber models like these:

No props to have spinning so would be doable but I think having it on the ground and getting tanked up would make a neat dio (which definitely won't happen during the GB).

I've been thinking of posing my Gannet in flight in a similar way, would look cool, the dio too.

Aero Union was one of the most striking schemes of all time.  Like it it very much.  The Viking is under-Whiffed....

I agree.

[Dizzyfugu]

Such a red cloud of fire retardant should be easy to simulate with polishing cotton - you can easily hide a display in it. The stuff can be stabilized with hair spray and carefully painted with rattle can paint (acrylics recommended, enamels can melt the artificial cotton) or an airbrush. Should look awesome!