Naval air: a modest proposal.

[Bluefish]

Given (a) the announcement that "the navy" will arrive in vers. 1.04 and (b)AH's (generally) late-war focus and predilection for modelling "unusual" aircraft (as per Pyro's recent post on the General Board), what would be the view of modelling all late-war carrier planes rather than the "same old" F4F-SBD-TBF-Val-Kate?

How about a Judy (liquid cooled, please)and Jill (or Grace?) for the IJN, along with a "naval" N1K (-3A or -4A, I believe) or A6M8, and for the Allies Helldiver and maybe a Fairey Barracuda?

Just a thought.....

[Vermillion]

If we're gonna do a late war Japanese Torpedo bomber, how about the

Aichi B7A-2  Ryusei (Shooting Star) Codenamed: 'Grace'
 
One of the fastest most agile Torpedo planes I have ever seen the stats on.

Just imagine a Torpedo bomber with a max speed of 350 mph (almost 100mph faster than a TBF), and a empty wingloading of 23 lbs/sq ft.

Here is a writeup that I did a long time ago, on it for AW & WB's.
 http://web.mountain.net/~arringto/archives/B7A-2.htm

Truely impressive
 


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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"

[Nath-BDP]

Only 105 B7A were built, planned as a carrierborne torpedo bomber, but by the time it was manufactured Japan had no operational carriers left, not to mention an earthquake that ended Aichi's production in Sasebo in '45.  Thus they were used from land bases and saw sufficient operation service to aquire an allied reporting name.

Can you say OKHA? Weee, a 2.6k lb pound explosive mounted on 3 type 4 Mk 1 solid propelent rockets, flown by a pilot.  

[Vermillion]

Ummm Nath, if you would have clicked that link, you would have known that I was well aware of its production numbers, service history, and the demise of the factory.

My point was that it is a very capable torpedo bomber, not its service history.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"