Armed V-22 Osprey

[silverwindblade]

I've always had a love affair with the V-22. It's such a cool aircraft, and having seen them flying on more than one occasion, I was inspired to build the one in my stash.
It's the 1/48 Italeri example, of course, as there's no other options in that scale.
It's a mother of a kit to build; I had a lot of trouble with fit issues and there were several moments where teeth were gnashed and expletives uttered. However, I eventually managed to make it to the end. At one point, just as I was about to begin painting, I did have trouble with the interior becoming detached, which put paid to my idea of doing it with the ramp open.

Instead, I did it all closed up.
I did it in a desert scheme, which unintentionally made it look like one of the Ospreys from Half-life..!

The weapons pylons are on in the location as seen in the test versions of the Osprey, as shown a few years ago.
Had I been feeling more bold, I might have opened up the passenged door and put a pintle-mounted minigun in, but I didn't feel up to it, and besides, I liked my weapons already planned too much.

It also received a fully retracted IFR boom, as that would stop it getting knocked off the shelf or snapped off. The probe tip was replaced with one of the metal Master Model ones.
Weapons are resin rocket pods, and two Hellfires donated by a friend. The remaining ones a slated for a Tigre build later this year (well, probably) and a Bronco.

The Osprey also met a fellow WHIF osprey on the table at my local model club; the same friend who donated me the Hellfires also did an example in RAF colours, and had the idea of adding a Chinook defensive suite - an idea I wish I'd thought of too.

Hope you like the pics!

[rickshaw]

Nice!   

[kerick]

This turned out really well! The weapons placement is about as logical as I could imagine.

[silverwindblade]

This turned out really well! The weapons placement is about as logical as I could imagine.

Thank you - I based the pylon placement on the images I'd seen on Foxtrot Alpha of some tests of an Osprey with weapon in that location. I just made them a bit more 'finished' looking, and used parts I already had to fashion the pylons.

[McColm]

Cool

[zenrat]

That looks pretty good.
Hard to believe they haven't done this for real yet.

[Devilfish]

Cool! I do love an Osprey whif. 

I placed the pylons further back on my RN one.  But then I have the luxury of the fact that Sea Skuas drop away before firing up.

[Captain Canada]

Very nice. I love the colour scheme and the flashy tail, and the weapons looks great on her !

[kitnut617]

 

I've been thinking of something along the same lines for one of my V-22's, if a comment must be made I think the weapons should have run in line with the bottom of the fuselage, like your photo of the test V-22 shows. I've seen a V-22 flying back in 2012 and they don't fly like a helicopter does in forward mode, they fly like an aeroplane does

[Glenn Gilbertson]

That looks one mean beast!

[TheChronicOne]

How cool is that!! Nice work!

You mention that you really like the Osprey... just so happens I'm building one for the Soviet Group Build so keep an eye out for that! You may enjoy it. I doubt it will be nearly as nice that this, however.

This is really great, bravo!

[comrade harps]

Rally nice. 

[Joe C-P]

Very nice!
I'd thought of making a USMC version, taking the weapons from an AH-1, or a US ASW version taking the equipment from an SH-60. Glad to see I'm not the only one. 

[KiwiZac]

I like this so, so much. The pylons and camo really make it.

[DogfighterZen]

Missed this one... that's very nice work... IMHO, the only thing missing is a gun...