Retro WWII Apache whopper chopper

[McColm]

Are you using skis or wheels for the landing gear?

[kerick]

So far looking at wheels for landing gear Blackhawk style. See if I can get something together from the parts I have on hand. I'm planning to just replace the wheels themselves on the Apache version with the P-40 wheels. WW2 era aircraft always had those oversized wheels and tires compared to today. I had not thought of skids so if the wheel landing gear doesn't work out that's a good plan B.

[Scotaidh]

So far looking at wheels for landing gear Blackhawk style. See if I can get something together from the parts I have on hand. I'm planning to just replace the wheels themselves on the Apache version with the P-40 wheels. WW2 era aircraft always had those oversized wheels and tires compared to today. I had not thought of skids so if the wheel landing gear doesn't work out that's a good plan B.

That's because the whole "hard surface runways, taxiways, and aprons" thing mostly applied to heavy bombers operating from specialized bases.  Remember, the biggest airliners were seaplanes or DC-3 sized.  Private & small military - ie; fighters, trainers, DC-3s - were expected to use grass or "unimproved surfaces." In Britain, aerodromes were all grass runways, etc. partially as a holdover from WWI, but also as 'camouflage' - if the enemy can't tell an aerodrome from a pasture, then they'll probably bomb a pasture.  Also, a lot of 'hostilities only' aerodromes were basically taken over from farms who expected to get them back - so they still had to be 'farm friendly'.  It also made construction a lot faster if you didn't have to plan out wind directions - just put an airsock - far less install foundations under runways rated for who knew how many tons aircraft were going to weigh.  I suspect if one had said "aircraft" and "weighing tons" in the same sentence one would have been laughed out of the planning room ... 

I had a summer job at one of those farms just outside Edinburgh.  The amount of stones thrown up by the plow was astounding to me - then the farmer explained that his farm, West Fenton, had been part of a Fleet Air Arm shore training facility (the remnant of which was operated by the local flying club) and to handle the aircraft the FAA had brought in truckloads of stones which were then 'incorporated' into the soil.

[Old Wombat]

Also made runway repairs a lot easier & faster.

[NARSES2]

I would sell my sisters soul for snow and cold but apparently you cant sell it twice so im stuck with sticky hot humid crap..bring on what this country calls winter.

Amazingly Hawaii is not very humid at all. Sounds like you live in the down under version of Florida!

I've always found Hawaii has an almost ideal climate when I've been there. One of my favourite places on the planet and one where I've made some good friends over the years. 

[Wardukw]

Chris mate theres this thing called timing and yours is obviously very good cause theres times of the yr thier which will make you feel like your sweating so baddly your feet will feel like they peed themselves..the moral of this is ..dont wear shoes 
Thailand is super nasty for that hence why im not going there and yes yesterday did suck here.
Well i dont think a runway would be to much of a issue for a helicopter and if you do need a small parking area us that wonderful US invention of steel matting 

[kerick]

Steel matting with grass growing through it would make a great display base. Interesting idea.

Speaking of weather and places to live I just found out as a retired veteran I could live on Hickam AFB family housing from around $2600 to $3000 per month depending on the size of the house. Apparently they have more houses than active duty personnel so are renting out the extras. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the whole idea! I told my brother and he said "So why are you still here?"
I could start my alternate universe where the Hawaiians kept their kingdom and built their own Royal Hawaiian Air Force. The RHAF!

[NARSES2]

I could start my alternate universe where the Hawaiians kept their kingdom and built their own Royal Hawaiian Air Force. The RHAF!

Oh yes and of course keeping close contacts with the UK, after all the State flag already has a Union Jack in it 

[Wardukw]

Oh thats a cool idea alright for a display..never thought of that idea..glad i could help 
The Royal Hawaiian Air Force..i like it and i think your colour chooses would be interesting to figure out too.
Cant be just OD ..it will look like it was imported straight from the US ..i do wonder..the camo the blokes in Australia use on their aircraft might look pretty cool on your build Rick.

[kerick]

I'll have to figure out some national insignia in the proper colors. Per British style a fin flash too. Not much use for tanks on islands with not really all that much flat ground. Maybe smaller ships for close in defense of the islands and shore batteries around the harbor. Larger ships to go on blue water patrols. And lots of airfields. In 1941 there was Dillingham, Wheeler, Bellows, Hickam, Barbers Point and Ford Island just on Oahu IIRC. And the radar site on top of the mountains that everyone ignored. Lots of possibilities.

[Wardukw]

National markings could be like alot of others with the roundels with a national marking in the middle..like with South Africa having the Springbok or tjat might be to modern a thing..yeah starting to see this could be annoying but you'll come up with something.
What about anti submarine patrols ..choppers are great at that sort of work so it can go on many a ship aswell
Hell anti shipping too 

[zenrat]

How about Tiki mask roundels?

[NARSES2]

Your choice of Polynesian symbols is huge, but they do all have specific meanings and some are modern creations for the tourist trade so you'd need to be careful in your choice.

As an aside there is an active movement that's trying to restore the Royal Government. Last I heard they are taking the US to the International Court in the Hague.

[kerick]

Well the British version of the retro chopper has wheels now! I borrowed some F-18 main gear and the P-40 wheels. Tail wheel is from the Blackhawk but moved farther aft. I found some radial engine exhaust pipes that are 1/48th scale but pretty small. I think I can make them work. I'm trying to decide if I should attach the engines before or after painting. Probably after. Should I call these Hercules engines?

[Wardukw]

Like the sound of Hercules for the name of your engines ..works for me 
Wheels are always better then skids so your choices for that make sense ..ten times easier to move with wheels and for what your building the bird will also look a heap better too.