F-8S "Super Crusader" - Ultimate USN Dogfighter

Spino · April 07, 2025, 03:15:41 PM

If I'm going to do this with HOBS missiles, the pilot will need a VTAS helmet-mounted sight. Probably going to have to design that myself. I've got a pilot model that I've been using for some of my modern builds (he's wearing a Scorpion HMS or something like it), but that's probably not going to pass here. Something more like this is probably in order:

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jcf · April 07, 2025, 03:30:44 PM

Quote from: kerick on April 06, 2025, 09:59:15 PMI was thinking of coming in for a landing and having the fin fail to fold. That would probably wreck half an aircraft.

You increase stability in yaw by enlarging the vertical stabilizer, stabilizer and rudder or adding more vertical surfaces. In the case of the F8U-3 (just a "derivative" doncha know) Vought added the folding ventral fin. The only other option was greatly enlarged vertical surfaces, which wouldn't have been a great choice for a carrier based aircraft.
Hmm, the "Fin Mk.1"?

The need for more vertical area for
stability in yaw is why you often see ventral fins added to landbased aircraft that have been put on floats. Aircraft that have been built from the start to be convertible have the needed area included from the beginning. The neatest conversion from land to float is probably the A6M2-N, when Nakajima designed it they added the necessary area with an enlarged fin and rudder that blended almost seamlessly into the Zero. So cleanly that some model companies missed the differences.

Spino · April 07, 2025, 03:54:50 PM

Got the fuselage sections printed and glued together. Unfortunately my 3D printer isn't the greatest, so this is definitely going to need some PSR, but I'll sort that out.

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Spino · April 07, 2025, 03:59:05 PM

Quote from: jcf on April 07, 2025, 03:30:44 PM
Quote from: kerick on April 06, 2025, 09:59:15 PMI was thinking of coming in for a landing and having the fin fail to fold. That would probably wreck half an aircraft.
You increase stability in yaw by enlarging the vertical stabilizer, stabilizer and rudder or adding more vertical surfaces. In the case of the F8U-3 (just a "derivative" doncha know) Vought added the folding ventral fin. The only other option was greatly enlarged vertical surfaces, which wouldn't have been a great choice for a carrier based aircraft.
Hmm, the "Fin Mk.1"?

The need for more vertical area for
stability in yaw is why you often see ventral fins added to landbased aircraft that have been put on floats. Aircraft that have been built from the start to be convertible have the needed area included from the beginning. The neatest conversion from land to float is probably the A6M2-N, when Nakajima designed it they added the necessary area with an enlarged fin and rudder that blended almost seamlessly into the Zero. So cleanly that some model companies missed the differences.

The reason for that had something to do with stability at high speeds as I recall. Apparently the Crusader III's profile was considered unstable in the Mach 2+ range or something like that. I'm gonna probably just pretend the Navy realized that while being able to do Mach 2.35 is nice, in the real world it wouldn't be operating at speeds that high, so the folding ventral fins were removed in later versions of the design.

Spino · April 07, 2025, 05:12:41 PM

I did a quick and dirty model of a pilot with the VTAS helmet sight, any imperfections will be less noticeable when it's printed.

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Captain Canada · April 07, 2025, 05:28:05 PM

Wow. This is gonna be so cool ! Love the Crusader. Never seen that pic before of the low viz R jobs. Just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing that ! Looking forward to seeing more of this build.

frank2056 · April 07, 2025, 06:31:18 PM

What software are you using to make the pilot figure?

Spino · April 07, 2025, 06:32:24 PM

Quote from: frank2056 on April 07, 2025, 06:31:18 PMWhat software are you using to make the pilot figure?

I took an existing pilot model and imported it into blender. Then I made modifications to the helmet.

Spino · April 07, 2025, 07:12:55 PM

Quote from: jcf on April 06, 2025, 05:45:52 PMMost of those twin tails are on twin engine aircraft. The F-35 is the only current twin tail single engine type.

Not quite true, there is the T-7 Redhawk (though it's in development currently).

NARSES2 · April 08, 2025, 06:30:36 AM

That's coming along nicely.

Spino · April 08, 2025, 08:17:54 AM

Well my printer messed up on the wings, so badly that I probably can't fix them without a TON of PSR, so I'm re-printing them on a much more expensive printer that I happen to have access to. We'll see how those turn out.

I'm open to suggestions for engine, weapons fit, and wing pylons. Right now I'm thinking the most likely engine option is the original J75 turbojet, though an F110 GE-100 would theoretically fit. It might even be possible to cram in an F401. The VTAS helmet is non-negotiable, but I have six AIM-9Ms and four AIM-7s on hand. Adding AIM-152s or AIM-95s means more 3D printing, and 152s puts the plane firmly in the '90s. I can also fit drop tanks or have up to nine AAMs if I include the wing pylons. Let me know what you guys think!

Spino · April 08, 2025, 02:51:36 PM

So I ended up having to thicken the trailing edge of the wings to get them to print correctly, but they turned out okay.

Captain Canada · April 08, 2025, 06:38:58 PM

Okay with you is okay with us lol

NARSES2 · April 09, 2025, 05:30:23 AM

I'm just fascinated by the whole 3D process

Mossie · April 09, 2025, 12:26:13 PM

Quote from: NARSES2 on April 09, 2025, 05:30:23 AMI'm just fascinated by the whole 3D process

Something I'd love to get into, but holding off for now.

So watching this with great interest.