Grumman AOV-7 Night Tiger – US Marine Corps, Vietnam

[CammNut]

The U.S. Marine Corps wanted a min-gunship able to provide overhead fire support for patrols in Vietnam, day or night. Grumman proposed a development of the venerable F7F Tigercat, modernized with turboprop engines and equipped a turreted 20mm cannon slaved to a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) targeting sensor. This became the AOV-7 Night Tiger night observation gunship.

The Night Tiger program involved a major remanufacturing of stored F7F-2N Tigercat airframes. The two-seat cockpit was completely reworked around the new weapon system and a new canopy installed. The turboprop engines were mounted in new, larger nacelles to accommodate the twin-wheel, high-flotation landing gear, which enabled operations from unprepared or damaged airfields.

The turboprop engines drove large-diameter, slow-turning five-blade propellers to reduce noise and improve efficiency. Fuel capacity was increased to extend loiter time in support of ground patrols. An M187 three-barrel 20mm cannon was mounted in a turret under the fuselage, slaved to a FLIR turret mounted under the nose and controlled by the weapon system officer in the rear seat.

Deployed to Vietnam in 1969, the Night Tiger had a brief but effective operational life, raining down havoc from above.

[NOTE: The V-7 designation was actually given to four de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalos that started life as US Army AC-2s, became CV-7As and ended up being transferred to the US Air Force as C-8As. But this is whifland...]





This started life as an Octopus (Pavla) F7F-2N mixed-media kit. I cut out the cockpit area and used a Falcon vacform canopy for an F9F-8T.





The nacelles and spinners came from a Wolf Model S-T Turbo Tracker conversion set. The cannon and FLIR turrets came from an Airfix OV-10.





The main gear legs and prop blades are from a Hasegawa Tracker. The drop tanks are from an unknown F/A-18. The extra wheels are from a Monogram Tigercat.





The markings are from AOA Decals' excellent Black Ponies and Other Broncos in Vietnam sheet. They represent an aircraft operated by Marine Observation Squadron VMO-6.

[Leading Observer]

  Really good work

[PR19_Kit]

Very nice indeed, both the model and the idea itself. 

[chrisonord]

That is really cool and would not  look out of place in my alternative  Honduras airforce 
Chris

[buzzbomb]

Very neat

[DogfighterZen]

Excellent!

[AeroplaneDriver]

Absolute Grade A Whiffery!!   

[perttime]

Oh yes!
I've thought about different canopies for the Tigercat - and now you've done it 

Is the nose shape and length stock? Perhaps it is the other changes that give ME the impression that it is different.

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice, the paint scheme suits the Tigercat well, too. 

[NARSES2]

Excellent work on both the model and the back story 

Got me musing on a P-38 upgrade with similar engines ?

[zenrat]

I do like that.  Very good.

[Hotte]

 Good work 

Hotte

[TomZ]

Looks great.
I've always loved the Tigercat.

TomZ

[kerick]

Very nice work and concept! A person could apply this to any number of different aircraft. Sky raider pops to mind.

[CammNut]

Thanks folks! I have always loved the Tigercat, so it was fun giving it a new lease of whif-life.