Twin-Whirlwind & Catalina…

[Tophe]

what-if the Convair staff wondered in 1944 "with the tools paid by the USAF for our XB-36, we may propose a big very-long-range airliner, in case peace happen tomorrow: AL-36... and even better: twice more passengers on a double: AL-36Z" ?...

Well, a little later, with the double-deck C-99 drawing available, came the idea of a double-double-deck for 800 passengers... Long before the An 225 and A380. Anyway, there is a long path: imaginating, building as model, building at scale 1, selling, producing, delivering, operating... The C-99Z of early 1945 stayed at step1 (or zero: I am not an Historian taking care of The Truth)...

[Tophe]

With the jet engines coming in the mid 1940s, the engineers dreamed: "maybe 800 passengers is not the best, let us add jet engines below the wings and with them we could reach 1600 passengers per plane, uh, 1600 soldiers we mean, general, this C-1600 would be useful in 1945 to bring a whole army in a single flight, just requiring a 10 miles long runway, probable standard in the years to come. No? Or with a few extra million $, we could create the flying boat derivative of Ing. Elmayerle Sr. Oceans allow even more, 3200? Cheap cost per seat is guaranteed!".

[Tophe]

From http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal4...nus/gal3707.htm thanks to The Rat, here are new twin-engined Spitfires, very different from the others: Spitraider and Twin-Spitraider...

[Tophe]

Thanks to Rallymodeler's topic
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...t=0&#entry80256
Here is a tail-less P-82T... (the wing is way back compared to a classical P-82 with tailplane, I am not sure it is appropriate as in the old times, the tailplane was not producing lift but a force downward for balance)...

[Tophe]

I will of course zwill them for the twin-tail collection.

From http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...t=0&#entry80303 thanks to Radish imagination, a P-47T:

[Tophe]

We all know the Grum-man F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, F8F Bearcat [and F14F (!) Tomcat], but the F5F Skyrocket [and F9F Panther] was not named for the collection. Fortunately came the Luft46models-man F5F Bobcat, and here is a preview of the related Twin-Bobcat F5F-11 :

4 engines/4 fins/4 landing gears, 2 fuselages/2 tails... zero canopy for the moment  

[Tophe]

An early artist drawing of "not known yet" Me 163 Komet, with a bubble canopy, reminded me the Me 163C and Me 263 while slightly different.
Yes, a bubble canopy could have been installed on the classical 163B basis, but where to put the chemical tanks on this tiny plane? The answer is the Me 163Z-2, made from a 163Z-1 with a larger central wing providing much room...

EDIT: I add a 163Z-0 from the "not known yet" art with rear bubble, and a 163Z-3 with the short front bubble of the 163C:

[Tophe]

The big bubble without metal on the Me 163Z-2 above gave me an idea: what-if we improve the reco warbirds with very clear glass, making observation more easy. Well, this Fw189E-2 below was just a stupid idea , for 2 reasons:
- curve glass may act as a lens, disturbing photographs
- human modellers have not the ability (of JHM and a few other half-gods) to invent clear parts
Though, for myself, it may be all right , for 2 reasons:
- I do not consider models as war machines but as beautiful objects
- usually, I do not let the canopies clear, I paint them black, and I can put all the putty I want to invent a shape...
Stupid happiness in modelling   ? JMNs would say it, of course, but not (all of) you, I am sure...

[Julhelm]

The twin-B36 would be even cooler if you added identical tractor engines to "complement" the pusher ones.

[Tophe]

You are very right: as I did that for the XB-35, I could do the same for the B-36.
(This is just for fun, as for extra power, jet engines below the wing were preferred.)
Thanks.

[Tophe]

The twin-B36 would be even cooler if you added identical tractor engines to "complement" the pusher ones.

Gentlemen, modellers MUST respect tradition ! And not dream ! Today January 1st 1945, all serious people do understand those 'jet' engines will not work at all, so if we need more power, let us add more piston engines and propellers, simply. 36 propellers on a B-36 would be good, but this Convhelm TB-36PP with only 20 is a shy first step.
I tell you a secret: I have heard what-ifers saying an aircraft can break the sound-barrier!!!  Not a bullet, they mean an airplane, with a pilot ! So stupid, so innocent, they are like children.  No need of jail, psychotropic injections will be enough, for them to become serious adults.

[Tophe]

I have read elsewhere incredible things, this morning 01/01/1945: Consolidated and Boeing, the leading experts in bombers, rather good for Cargo, would try to invent "airliners"!!! Boeing airliners!  Yes, and Zwilling probably, with a wonderful view ahead for first class passengers, without disturbing pilots... :dum:
The ones saying that seem to ignore that the very top in aviation technology has been already reached and cannot be overrun: nothing, ever, will be better as airliner than Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-4. All experts and even leading modellers do agree.
Boeing airliners! Oh God!  :dum:

[Tophe]

Among my forthcoming models, there is a 1/72 Go 242/244. My initial project (1997?) was to buy 2 of them, to build both 242 and 244. Well, now that I have joined you, dear what-ifers, I would do something better: Zwilling Go 244Z !

Why ? Because: it is well known that twin-booms are perfect for holding tails free from a rear cargo door, but 2 rear cargo doors are better ! Loading all in seconds !

However, the British Argosy twin-boomer was even better: 2 doors as 1 rear and 1 front. Yes, but 3 doors are still one step above: Go 244Y !

Why Y, why why?? Uh, because... the initial project was Go 244Y, after a secret Go 244X, then this Y model appeared too much complicated, and decision was made to join simply 2 Go 244: Go 244Z, both after-Y and Zwilling. Very Logical, almost...

[Scooterman]

You're not right Tophe.  Totally twisted mind........  :dum:  

[Tophe]

Totally twisted mind........  :dum:

Do you remember Chubby Checker singing in the 1960s? "Let's twist again!"... And in public, dancing, carrying along: "With me! Together : let's twist again...!"