Fiat G.91YP in the PoAF - "Big Butt Gina" - Finished PAG.8

[Pellson]

Mavericks or a centerline targeting pod and smaller Psveways. 

[DogfighterZen]

I was thinking of Phoenix missiles but that would be the exact same loadout as my previous build, the PoAF Hawker Hunter...

Just noticed i was thinking Maverick but wrote Phoenix...  

Mavericks or a centerline targeting pod and smaller Psveways. 

Unfortunately, there's no space for any type of pylon there... the main gear doors' hinge point is at the center line and there's not enough room for any type of pylon. There's also the TACAN antenna just forward of the main gear bays so it's impossible.
Besides, i think that a targeting pod would be too modern for the time period, which would be around 1984/86, and even if those were available at the time, i don't think that the PoAF would have them. They only bought the AN/AAQ-28(V) in 2008 when they had the MLU done of the F-16 fleet so, way too early for them.

In my whiff scenario for this, there would be a laser range finder in the nose replacing the cameras, much like the Jaguar's so it could employ laser guided weapons.
I may well end up going with Mavericks... or just leave the pylons empty, just carrying the "Goget'em" sticks. Would be simpler and probably very usual if this whiff had been reality.
The scenario for this would the same as the one i imagined for the Hawker Hunter and the A-7P never existed so, the air defense and interception would've been it's main role due to it's better performance compared to the G.91R variants already in use by the PoAF.
The G.91Rs replaced the A-7P in those roles on a couple of occasions when they were grounded due to engine maintenance issues so i'm sure the G.91Y would've been the chosen for the roles if they had no A-7P.
The engineers at OGMA, the PoAF's workshop/depot, tested a 4 AIM-9B loadout on the Ginas but that was never used in service and only carried a pair when on air defense/QRA duties.
Will have to decide soon...
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[Pellson]

One shouldn't forget the fact that the most common aggressive loadout still today is dumb bombs and rockets. Look at the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Hence, a good LRMTS (as in the Jaguar) that helps greatly with targeting, paired with a bomb loadout isn't wrong.

But Mavericks are sexier, I'll give you that.. 

[Dizzyfugu]

In my whiff scenario for this, there would be a laser range finder in the nose replacing the cameras,

I had a similar idea when I built my Swiss G.91YS - I have it a new nose from a Harrier GR.3, and also hung Maverciks under its wings, since these were also used on the Swiss Hunters which the updated Gina was supposed to replace.


1:72 Fiat G.91YS, 'J-2308' of Fliegerstaffel 22, Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force); Meiringen AB, 1989 (Matchbox kit conversion) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[DogfighterZen]

One shouldn't forget the fact that the most common aggressive loadout still today is dumb bombs and rockets. Look at the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Hence, a good LRMTS (as in the Jaguar) that helps greatly with targeting, paired with a bomb loadout isn't wrong.

But Mavericks are sexier, I'll give you that.. 

Yup, i guess i could use what's inthe box but i agree, Mavericks are sexier.

In my whiff scenario for this, there would be a laser range finder in the nose replacing the cameras,

I had a similar idea when I built my Swiss G.91YS - I have it a new nose from a Harrier GR.3, and also hung Maverciks under its wings, since these were also used on the Swiss Hunters which the updated Gina was supposed to replace.


1:72 Fiat G.91YS, 'J-2308' of Fliegerstaffel 22, Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force); Meiringen AB, 1989 (Matchbox kit conversion) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

That's the one that inspired this build, Dizzy! 
My idea is that the Portuguese would continue where the Swiss stopped. Development of the YP would be very similar to your YS.

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, finally sprayed some colors on the Gina...



Still have to fix a bit of overspray of green on the wing and a small patch of grey on the fuselage where the masks covered a bit more than they should've. Not much so i'll do that when i apply the underside color.

[DogfighterZen]

So, since the last update, i'd already managed to spray the underside with some XF-19 but there was a bit more of ovrespray because i was lazy and didn't mask everything as i should've but last night i fix everything and today it will be getting some detail painting done on the nose and engine nozzles, after that is a gloss coat to protect the paint job and i should be able to begin applying markings today as the weather as been unusually warm since the rain went away so, the varnish will probably be fully cured in an hour, two at the most.

[su27rules]

  

[Captain Canada]

Her big butt is making the rest of her proportions look good as well ! Hi there, may I have this dance......?

[DogfighterZen]

Sorry if this is going to ruin it for you guys but i've gone stupid and changed the plan at the last moment, she is now the big butt and big nose Gina...



My reasoning for this change of plan is that i'll probably never have another G.91Y kit to do something like this and having done so much to it already, last night i was just imagining how it would look with markings on but there was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that i should've stuck with the initial idea... and there were two mods i left out, one being the radar nose and the other was the RWR antenna on the fin's leading edge... As was before this change, i was thinking of just adding the pitot tube and calling done on the nose section but i liked the way it looked when i tried that nose on and, YSI Maniac's G.91Y with a very similar nose for the Agave radar posted on the research thread for the G.91, gave me the nudge i needed to revert back to that idea on this build.
So, if i was going to do one of the mods, i might as well do both and fix whatever needs to be fixed on the paint job after the PSR stage is done.
Shouldn't take too long or be too hard to do once the sprue goo is cured...

[NARSES2]

It's your model, build it your way 

Looking good 

[DogfighterZen]

It's your model, build it your way 

Looking good 

Indeed it is, and that's why I did it.
Now, it's all been sanded down, sprayed with some XF-19 to check the work and begin restoring the paint layers that were sanded off.
Also, I've managed to lose one of the scratch built pylons for the Sidewinders so, I had to go back to the spares box and dig up some revell F-16 pylons to replace the ones I had.
Luckily, I have a bunch of them and it's simple work to reshape them as needed.

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, so this one has been moving well lately, might even be able to finish it sometime soon...





Last night i finally finished what must have been nearly 100 decals with service stencils included. This was a true mix of sources and a lot of them were modified from a RW Xtradecal G.91R sheet to get as close as possible to the markings a PoAF G.91Y would have painted on.
Looking at it now, i think this kit is coming out much better than i ever imagined it would so,  i hope i manage to keep it together and give it the finish i think it deserves.
Next will be finishing the landing gear and weapons, followed by a gloss coat to seal up the markings, followed by a panel line wash. I want to represent it as a recently overhauled airframe that underwent a big modernization process and got a fresh paint job too so, i'll probably keep the weathering to a minimum.
Weapons load has been chosen and will not include mud moving ordnance because, the YP's primary roles were interception and air defense and that's what she'll be loaded for but, don't let the big nose fool you, she was also capable of anti-shipping, TASMO, COIN, CAS and most other mud moving related mission acronym you can think of, as secondary roles... except for dropping nukes, which the PoAF (thankfully) never had!
That will all be explained in the backstory, which is ready in my head, just need to sort out a few kinks and write it all down.

EDIT: Forgot one of the pics...

[Dizzyfugu]

Looks "simple" but very attractive and convincing! 

[Old Wombat]

I think I prefer the original nose but, yeah, I agree with Dizzy!