Here's an idea to ponder for New Years Day if you don't have much else to do.
If a kitplane company was going to build a carbon fiber TWIN-ENGINED replica that would be offered two ways-one as a perfect full scale replica (canopy options possible-both with perfect looking original ribbing, windscreen, etc., or with a better visibility single or two-place basic shape substitute); and two- as a racer version with racing wingtips, canopy, air scoops, propellers, etc.,...
...then what would be the best candidate to make enough profitable sales for both versions and not be too difficult to build molds for, design rugged original looking landing gear for, and keep weight and balance issues in check. Engines would probably have to be Allison V-12s or maybe the upcoming Atlas V-12s, or ?
MY CHOICES (in order):
1) D.H. Hornet
2) P-82B Twin Mustang
3) F7F Tigercat (with R-2800s or R-3350s)
4) Mosquito
5) P-38
6) Dornier Do-335 Pfeil
7) Westland Whirlwind
8) Northrop F-15 Reporter or P-61 Black Widow (both would be offered)
9) McDonnell XP-67 Bat
10) (you write in)
I love the P-38 but I think someone is already doing it (in 75-80%) so I put it down the list a few notches. The Hornet in racing trim and a couple of Doc’s Merlins would just be unstoppable me thinks. The single canopy P-82B would make a fine racer and the stock version could be an extremely fast 4-place cross-country ship (or would you still rather have a Lancair 4?) that would draw a crowd at every stop.
Another question arises. Would the company be wiser to scale it down to 75-85% or go full scale (mainly due to engine choices)? There are good arguments both ways. As an employee with the Thunder Mustang company for several years we did sometimes hear the complaint-“Why didn’t you do it full scale if you were going to this much trouble to do it right?” Sometimes that was a hard one to answer.
Your thoughts please…
If a kitplane company was going to build a carbon fiber TWIN-ENGINED replica that would be offered two ways-one as a perfect full scale replica (canopy options possible-both with perfect looking original ribbing, windscreen, etc., or with a better visibility single or two-place basic shape substitute); and two- as a racer version with racing wingtips, canopy, air scoops, propellers, etc.,...
...then what would be the best candidate to make enough profitable sales for both versions and not be too difficult to build molds for, design rugged original looking landing gear for, and keep weight and balance issues in check. Engines would probably have to be Allison V-12s or maybe the upcoming Atlas V-12s, or ?
MY CHOICES (in order):
1) D.H. Hornet
2) P-82B Twin Mustang
3) F7F Tigercat (with R-2800s or R-3350s)
4) Mosquito
5) P-38
6) Dornier Do-335 Pfeil
7) Westland Whirlwind
8) Northrop F-15 Reporter or P-61 Black Widow (both would be offered)
9) McDonnell XP-67 Bat
10) (you write in)
I love the P-38 but I think someone is already doing it (in 75-80%) so I put it down the list a few notches. The Hornet in racing trim and a couple of Doc’s Merlins would just be unstoppable me thinks. The single canopy P-82B would make a fine racer and the stock version could be an extremely fast 4-place cross-country ship (or would you still rather have a Lancair 4?) that would draw a crowd at every stop.
Another question arises. Would the company be wiser to scale it down to 75-85% or go full scale (mainly due to engine choices)? There are good arguments both ways. As an employee with the Thunder Mustang company for several years we did sometimes hear the complaint-“Why didn’t you do it full scale if you were going to this much trouble to do it right?” Sometimes that was a hard one to answer.
Your thoughts please…
Comment