Modernized F-9E Panther Light Attack Jet

Spino · February 27, 2024, 03:38:03 PM

Slowed to a crawl I'm afraid. The tip tanks were not printing correctly, and I still haven't been able to get successful prints of them. I have added a pair of underwing pylons that will probably end up holding either Sidewinders or APKWS rocket pods. That's about all there is to say right now. I also still need to make a cockpit, don't have one laying around unfortunately.

Spino · February 27, 2024, 03:43:17 PM

Going to try the tip tanks again, if they don't print properly I may just have to omit them or make do with some spares from the Sea Harrier II build. We shall see.

I just discovered that there's a considerable size difference between the Panther's original engine and the F404/F14. The J48 engine used in the F9F is about 110 inches long, and 50 inches in diameter. The F404/F414 are 154 inches long and 35 inches in diameter. Good thing it's not any bigger! The J48 had a centrifugal compressor instead of an axial compressor like more modern engines, which explains why it's so much fatter, but the extra length could be a bit of an issue. With the afterburner removed, the F414 might still be short enough to be believable, and the smaller diameter will leave more room for fuel/avionics.

Spino · February 27, 2024, 07:38:56 PM

Tip tanks printed properly, just had to print the tailcones for them separately. Made some more external progress, added the nozzle for the GE F414 engine and the wingtip tanks. Also reshaped the nose using half of a plastic pellet, and reshaped the intakes using pieces of raft from an old 3D print.

kerick · February 27, 2024, 08:41:24 PM

More fuel is always good! Looks cool.

The Rat · February 28, 2024, 12:32:14 AM

Always loved the Panther, it seems to combine equal parts of beauty and brute.

Spino · February 28, 2024, 07:07:10 AM

I'm trying to decide what the loadout should be. I added a LANTIRN pod on the centerline, but after a closer look at the landing gear configuration I realized why the Panther had no centerline pylon, ground clearance is a problem. Weapons are definitely going to include Sidewinders and laser-guided rockets, and probably some bombs. I'm just not sure what kind of bombs I want yet. The Panther had six small pylons for rockets and small bombs, and two inboard pylons for larger stores. Sidewinders will go outermost, then a pair of APKWS pods, and possibly some small air to ground missiles like AGM-179. The large pylons will definitely carry bombs of some description, I'm trying to decide between GBU-12s, GBU-16s, and GBU-38s. GBU-16s might be a bit much with the rest of the loadout though.

I'm also trying to figure out what to do with the targeting pod. Ideally it would mount to the centerline, but that's not an option since the landing gear are too short. I have already omitted a pair of the nose cannons to keep the extra streamlining (the model I printed has a pointy nose, all the Panthers I have seen have a more rounded nose). Since the cannons in the nose leave no room for a radar of any size, I may just build this pod into the underside of the nose. Also considering an IRST mount on top of the nose, but that might be overdoing it a bit.

Spino · February 28, 2024, 03:37:38 PM

Printed four AGM-179 JAGMs today, I think I have some appropriate launchers for them, although the missiles themselves could use to be painted.
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Don't have any photos of it yet, but I added the rest of the wing pylons and painted most of the plane with a rattle can of Testors Aircraft Gray. The underside of the nose got a thermal sensor/laser designator built in, slightly offset to the right of the centerline. It still needs to be blended in, which is why I have not painted the nose yet. I'm considering going around the nose with some Testors Gloss Blue, and probably also the front of the tip tanks. Bit of a Navy/Marine Corps grey hi-vis scheme maybe. Thoughts?

kerick · February 28, 2024, 09:19:33 PM

What about a targeting pod under one of the intakes? F-16, F-15, and F-18 do that.

Rick Lowe · February 29, 2024, 12:25:52 AM

What about a radar pod mounted on a pylon under the nose? Or on a wing, per the F4U?

NARSES2 · February 29, 2024, 02:26:53 AM

Quote from: Spino on February 28, 2024, 03:37:38 PMI'm considering going around the nose with some Testors Gloss Blue, and probably also the front of the tip tanks. Bit of a Navy/Marine Corps grey hi-vis scheme maybe. Thoughts?

"Cheer" it up a bit

Spino · February 29, 2024, 06:29:21 AM

Quote from: kerick on February 28, 2024, 09:19:33 PMWhat about a targeting pod under one of the intakes? F-16, F-15, and F-18 do that.

The issue there is that the main landing gear are right behind the intakes. With the extensions I made, it might work if I could push it forward far enough, it would definitely stick out from under the intake quite a bit. I'll have to look at that.

Quote from: Rick Lowe on February 29, 2024, 12:25:52 AMWhat about a radar pod mounted on a pylon under the nose? Or on a wing, per the F4U?

Interesting idea there, though I'm personally not keen on the idea of having pod on one wing like that. If I want a radar I'd probably just fill in the cannon ports I drilled and move the cannons down and to the rear to make room for it. I'll probably also get rid of that offset sensor that I added under the port side of the nose, not crazy about the way it looks. The thing about this is, I'm not sure if a radar makes sense for a plane like this, considering it's basically a light attack aircraft. I know the L-159 has the option for radar-guided missiles though. I'll think about it.

I also discovered that the small pylons on the F9F are too close together to permit double launchers for the AGM-179. I'll have to spread them farther apart if I want to get four missiles and keep my APKWS pods. Either that or the Sidewinders will have to go, which I'm not crazy about either. Maybe I'll just move the Sidewinder pylons outward some (they're longer than the others) and put in another set of the small pylons for my AGMs.

PolluxDeltaSeven · February 29, 2024, 02:29:44 PM

For the targeting pod, why not a semi-recessed centerline device ? Like on the F-35, but less stealthy, and behind the front landing gear instead of in front of it ?
Or maybe something "rounder", like the A-6's TRAM turret, or any modern Wescam MX-8/15/20D ?

If your plane is modern enough for AGM-179 and F414, it definitely could carry something like that under its belly

As for the Sidewinder, maybe just add extra pylons on the outward parts of the wings. It's quite logical for a modernised F9F to have some new wings, including with additional pylons, I suppose.

Spino · February 29, 2024, 07:59:23 PM

I added a pair of Sidewinder rails outboard of the rest of the pylons, that solves my problem. Unfortunately I glued that offset designator ball in so well it'll probably have to be sanded down or cut off if I want to remove it. I may keep it, not sure yet. However I did discover that the landing gear bays are at the rear of the wing roots, which allows me to cram the LANTIRN pod in front of the gear and under one of the intakes, sort of like the Hornet's solution. Not sure what I'll put on the other side, if anything. We shall see.

Rick Lowe · March 01, 2024, 12:50:27 AM

Who says there have to be symmetrical lumps'n'bumps?

Spino · March 01, 2024, 03:04:20 PM

True, I may just keep it. Loadout is finally finished, I also squared off the tail just a bit. Paintwork is very rough, will need another coat or two and some masking. Also did some rough control surface outlines. The hard part is likely going to be the cockpit...
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