28.04.2008, 01:48
For the Vengence, what about a lengthened/deepened SBD which is much closer in fuselage shape (remove carrier equipment), then add Avenger wings (slot in guns) and an enlarged Avenger tail, and base the FM on the Avenger. Is it possible to mate maybe the inner section of a curtiss wing with the outer of the Avenger to get a more authentic undercarriage?
As for the Boomerang, how about a Curtiss P-36 fuselage mounted to an F4F cowling (they shared the Pratt & Whitney engine), with A6M5b wings and undercarriage (two .303" and two 20mm Hispano fitted). FM should be pretty much identical to an F4F-4.
It's funny actually, the Boomerang wasn't a real powrful late war aircraft, but its popularity was probably derived from the fact that it most closely resembled the terrible Buffalo to RAAF pilots, but had the performance of the F4F and the armament of a Spitfire. It's not a bad fighter if it could've gotten into service earlier, and was kind of pretty good for the south Pacific theatre considering combined attacks on merchant shipping kept Japanese resupply (and aircraft upgrades) to a relative minimum.
But sure I'd rather have a Spit or Mustang (which re-equipped front line fighter deployment in 44-45 alongside the P-40N Kittyhawk IV).
The Kittyhawk Mark IV could be made with some simple cosmetic changes to the P-40M and a new FM. This one is totally superfluous without its own slot, but considering it was the Warhawk variant which was the most produced of the entire series and widely deployed in the Pacific, I'm surprised it hasn't been modded and given a new slot already. So much to do I suppose, but I'm sure somebody will get around to it.
The P-40N began deliveries just after the L high performance model (which followed on from the M) in March 43 and had the circa. 1360hp Allison of the P-40K with an improved structure and undercarriage a top speed of some 608km/h. It was the lightest of the Warhawks and had the best range (P-40A-C excepted) of 1350km on internal fuel. Naturally it was designed as a long range fighter-bomber and could carry up to three 500lb bombs under the wings and fuselage (source: warbird alley).
Here's a good pic showing the structural difference of the N variant
![[Image: fly-by-P-40.jpg]](http://www.warbirdalley.com/images/fly-by-P-40.jpg)
The P-40F and L Warhawks would be super duper too just for interest sake (USAAF 325FG used the L for example and both types were prominent in late North Africa), they're the Packard-Merlin versions (1300hp V-1650-1 with two-speed supercharger), early ones with P-40E fuselages and late builds with P-40M fuselage, with of course the smooth upper cowling that signifies the Merlin engine. The P-40L "Gypsie Rose Lee" was the lightweight high performance variant with only four .50" cals in the wings (201 rds pg) and the front wing fuel tanks removed.
Top speed is around 585km/h and 595km/h respectively at 6100m (but the L model accelerated and climbed much faster). Range is 1130km and 565km on internal fuel, respectively.
As for the Boomerang, how about a Curtiss P-36 fuselage mounted to an F4F cowling (they shared the Pratt & Whitney engine), with A6M5b wings and undercarriage (two .303" and two 20mm Hispano fitted). FM should be pretty much identical to an F4F-4.
It's funny actually, the Boomerang wasn't a real powrful late war aircraft, but its popularity was probably derived from the fact that it most closely resembled the terrible Buffalo to RAAF pilots, but had the performance of the F4F and the armament of a Spitfire. It's not a bad fighter if it could've gotten into service earlier, and was kind of pretty good for the south Pacific theatre considering combined attacks on merchant shipping kept Japanese resupply (and aircraft upgrades) to a relative minimum.
But sure I'd rather have a Spit or Mustang (which re-equipped front line fighter deployment in 44-45 alongside the P-40N Kittyhawk IV).
The Kittyhawk Mark IV could be made with some simple cosmetic changes to the P-40M and a new FM. This one is totally superfluous without its own slot, but considering it was the Warhawk variant which was the most produced of the entire series and widely deployed in the Pacific, I'm surprised it hasn't been modded and given a new slot already. So much to do I suppose, but I'm sure somebody will get around to it.
The P-40N began deliveries just after the L high performance model (which followed on from the M) in March 43 and had the circa. 1360hp Allison of the P-40K with an improved structure and undercarriage a top speed of some 608km/h. It was the lightest of the Warhawks and had the best range (P-40A-C excepted) of 1350km on internal fuel. Naturally it was designed as a long range fighter-bomber and could carry up to three 500lb bombs under the wings and fuselage (source: warbird alley).
Here's a good pic showing the structural difference of the N variant
The P-40F and L Warhawks would be super duper too just for interest sake (USAAF 325FG used the L for example and both types were prominent in late North Africa), they're the Packard-Merlin versions (1300hp V-1650-1 with two-speed supercharger), early ones with P-40E fuselages and late builds with P-40M fuselage, with of course the smooth upper cowling that signifies the Merlin engine. The P-40L "Gypsie Rose Lee" was the lightweight high performance variant with only four .50" cals in the wings (201 rds pg) and the front wing fuel tanks removed.
Top speed is around 585km/h and 595km/h respectively at 6100m (but the L model accelerated and climbed much faster). Range is 1130km and 565km on internal fuel, respectively.