AH Fantasy Plane Mod Thread

[nrshida]

I was watching Kelly's Heros again recently and had to laugh at how Oddball's crew modified their Sherman tank especially the mechanical genius Moriarty tinkering with the engine so they could get out of trouble faster than they got into it.

I was thinking AH aircraft are one of the few things I use but don't / can't modify in some way so was wondering if I could modify my favourite AH plane what would I do?

So here are the rules of the game:

• Your modification has to be feasible for instance a mishmash of variants, armament which was fitted or tested in other variants or parts / features from similar types or prototypes for example. No hub cannons firing through radials, obviously.
  
• You can swap engines if they are reasonably compatible. There was a captured Spitfire for instance which the Germans fitted with a Daimler Benz engine, but suggesting a Tempest's Napier Sabre on the front of a Zero is silly and not allowed.
  
• You can strip out any unwanted part as long as you say why.
  
• You can source parts from allies or even enemy aircraft because parts might be stripped from captured aircraft, again as long as it's a feasible mod.
  
• You have a Moriarty in your ground crew, so say a 10% increase in power through tuning is a given, but any further engine mods, especially interesting ones are fair game.
  
• Only period mods allowed. For example you can't use any materials which weren't available such as Kevlar. Also no post-war developments or discoveries either.
  
• You can tinker with the shells or ordinance as long as it's within the scope of the home reloader / survivalist type.
  
• Paint schemes are open season.
  

What would you do?

[Dragon]

So sharks with friggin laser beams is out?


C-47 with rear twin 20 mm turret. 

[wpeters]

So sharks with friggin laser beams is out?


C-47 with rear twin 20 mm turret. 

P-51 with 4 20 mm Hispaniola

Bf-110g2 with the same Ap round as the stuka g2 in the 30mm canon 

[Arlo]

I think you're bored. You have friends that think you should reactivate your account.

[Volron]

I think Skuzzy should start deleting all of the complaint threads in the General Discussions.  Will instantly make AH look 10x better.

THEN we can get into the fun stuff.   At which point, I want the 129 and the 88 with the 75mm gun.

[Wiley]

Wonder if they could shoehorn 6x20mm into a P47's wings...

F4U-4 with 4x20mm might be fun as well.

The 410 with 8x20mm (it was a field mod for one guy, name escapes me) would be interesting to try.

Failing those, I'd second the C-47 with guns, although I'd make it a top turret x4.

Hmm... I seem oddly fixated with larger gun packages...

Wiley.

[Arlo]

Henshel 123 would be cooler. 

[Volron]

Henshel 123 would be cooler. 

(Image removed from quote.)

I'd fly it!

[Ack-Ack]

I'd do this to the P-38.

There was only one P-38K-1-LO built. This prototype (42-13558) combined a P-38G-10-LO airframe with more powerful 1425 hp V-1710-75/77 (V-1710F-15) engines, rated at over 1875 hp war emergency power. The engines were housed in nacelles similar to those of the P-38J and driving broader-chord propellers. In order to accommodate the new propellers it was necessary to increase the diamater of the propeller spinners slightly, which affected the top cowling lines and the interface at the oil cooler/intercooler inlet.

Tests of the P-38K were carried out between Feb 24 and Apr 30, 1943. The performance of the P-38K was quite a bit better than that of the production P-38J--in fact its performance was superior to all other fighters then in production in the USA, including the P-51B and the P-47D. Maximum speed at 29,600 feet was 432 mph. At 40,000 feet, maximum speed was 40 mph faster than that of the P-38J. It was expected that maximum speed at war emergency power could be as high as 450 mph. Initial climb rate was 4800 feet per minute, and an altitude of 20,000 could be reached in 5 minutes. Service ceiling was expected to be above 48,000 feet, and range was expected to be increased by 10 to 15 percent.

ack-ack

[palef]

I'd do this to the P-38.

ack-ack

OMG, you cheat enough as it is already!

[Wiley]

I'd do this to the P-38.

ack-ack

   I'd fly it... a lot.

Wiley.

[LCADolby]

I wonder.. I'd gut the 30mm out of the 410s, the 13mm from the G6s, and the G2s engine.

Mod the E4 with 2x13mm in the nose and a 30mm in the Hub.
Retractable tail wheel.
Remove the MGFFs and smooth out the bumps, increasing roll rate.
Replace the canopy with curved plexi to have it Yak3 style but retaining the razorback, adding mirrors to the canopy ring.
Replace the spring loaded slats with 262 style ball bearing slats (which are not on the AH 262 )
Replace the 3 blade for a Spit14 style 5 blade prop

Worried about weight I'd adjust the ammo loads 500x13mm and 40x30mm, lower the power output to match a 3bladed; improving fuel efficiency so I could carry less fuel.
Keep it no more than 6400lb at full fuel.

[Rogue9Volt]

I'd hope my dudes could find a way to double the ammo capacity on the Yak3....  Perhaps at the expense of fuel storage, or armor, whatever.

Edit:  I'd also steal Dolby's spiffy new Emil for a couple sorties...

[Hoplite]

The 410 with 8x20mm (it was a field mod for one guy, name escapes me) would be interesting to try.

  this.

I'm a big beleiver in massive overkill.  When you shoot like I do you have to be. 

[Wiley]

Ooh... just thought of a good one.

Yank whatever it is that makes the 190A8 so pig-dog heavy to turn (added armor?  optional package?) out of it.

Wiley.