Seems fun to play............
Given its multi role I think I would go for the twin engined variant and choose two the 14 cylinder Taurus attempting to get a counter rotating set up.
With an initial 1200 hp devolping thru the war to maybe 1850 hp(Ash 82 type power). That gives a spread of 2400 to 3700 hp over the war. With super charging etc. It may end up with a low service cieling tho:(
Main gear is stowed below and to the rear of the engine nacelle and may need to rotate (P40'ish)
Each engine has its own oil cooler mounted to the rear of the gear stowage area.
I want some thing in size between a P38 and a Whirlwind with pre stressed frame and skin.
Pilot vision could be a problem so I take a corsair inverted gull wing approach to the wing shape to put him higher than the engines and forward of the wing.
He is sitting right at the font of his nacelle behind the prop tips which are as close as they can be to each other.
Fuel tanks are in the inner wings and rear of the cockpit nacelle which is now quite high.
The cockpit nacelle is a very thin thing. The whole front of the cockpit nacelle is armoured glass. With guages positioned in 3 islands one (essential) cluster just below the gun sight and one either side. This allows a low forward view for ground attack and deflection shooting.
The pilots sits high in the cockpit, the canopy bubble extending down to nearly waist level. Whilst the tall armoured seat extends to narrow behind the pilots head the bubble canopy allows good rear vision.
The cockpit nacelle houses the central services, battery, radio, oxygen, compressed air, (and as above fuel).
Below it and the inner wing are 3 mounting points for, bombs, rockets, external cannon packages and additional fuel and maybe a torp.
Toward the war end the two outer points can take upto 1000lbs each, with the inner point capable of 2500lbs.
Total package would be limited to about 2700lbs ( a Torp)
Given these mounting points (and the high cockpit nacelle)its gonna have to be a tail dragger.
I guess its gonna have some fowler flaps so we can put some taper on the outer wings and reduce drag at higher speeds but still have some controlable lift at lower speeds.
Unconventionally it would be neat to put twin mg later growing to 20mm cannon in/on each engine nacelle with ample space for ammo boxes over the gear stowage. They have to fire thru the props.
There may be room for 2 mg under the cockpit nacelle. They are belt fed from space in the front of the inner wing. These will never grow any bigger than 12mm.
So is this little monster twin or single fuselage? A pretty significant choice to leave til last............
Assume its a twin fuselage
I am worried about a "glass" tail. I want strength without weight in each of my engine nacel booms back to the tail.
My looong FAA landing hook is mounted to the rear of the cockpit nacelle.
In fact the hook would not be stowed under any fuselage just lifted clear tucking in a slot between two central elevators.
The vert and horizontal stabs may need to extend quite high depending upon how much the gull wing and high cockpit has up set the "total" wing.
My radio wires extend from the rear of my cockpit to the tip of the tail.
Do I have to have 1 tail wheel or can I have two?
