hovis Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 (edited) OK so I really should get myself ready for this. Apologies in advance for any flaws in my storyline, but for my What-If to work I need a few things to happen. Anyway, here goes... December 2010: Work on the F-35B, the V/STOL version of the Joint Strike Fighter comes to an abrupt halt after two fatal crashes within a week. The reason behind these crashes, both of which occurred during transition from forward flight to vertical landing, was found to be with the lift fan located behind the cockpit, and in particular the driveshaft linking it to the main engine. The solution, scientists found, was to use heavier, stronger materials which although would solve the problem, would also result in an aircraft, which is particularly heavy in the first place, being much heavier, and therefore not practical in it's role, as fuel load would be lessened and range seriously cut. Solutions would be found in time, with even more funding, and delivery dates were pushed back further. In the UK, the Government weren't happy. Feelings in Westminster were to pull out entirely of the whole program, and cancel their order for 72 Royal Navy aircraft for the THREE new Carriers and 180 for the RAF. The Harriers were coming to the end of their life so something needed to be done. The US Government, knowing how critical UK involvement was to the program, knew they had to act fast to keep their strongest allies on board. The plan agreed by both sides involved, in the interim, the US supplying 'cover' aircraft to bridge the gap until the F-35B came safely online. It was agreed that the US would also provide funding to convert the UK's first new Carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, to catapult and arrestor wire operations, and that a squadron of F/A-18E Super Hornets would equip this ship. February 2016: the first 801 Sqn Super Hornet FA mk1 arrives on board HMS Queen Elizabeth..... Edited July 29, 2010 by hovis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 well it gets my vote! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share Posted July 22, 2010 That's because you're up late.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 well i am ment to be working Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Sounds good to me too! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Works for me as well, now extend it further so that we never buy the damn things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTnailZ Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Top man really looking forward to seeing the super bug in RAF colours Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilfish Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Top man really looking forward to seeing the super bug in RAF coloursRuss RAF?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTnailZ Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 RAF?? You know what i meant lol Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Nice idea and good back story, shame you picked 801sqn. May have to pick the banner up again for 800sqn as it never seems to get the recognition it deserves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share Posted July 22, 2010 Nice idea and good back story, shame you picked 801sqn. May have to pick the banner up again for 800sqn as it never seems to get the recognition it deserves. I may add that the actual squadron may be subject to change......... I had an idea of making my own black and white chequered decals for the tail, but hey, that's too easy Same with the overall colour scheme, I'm trying to decide between a retro style a la EDSG over white (or sky) or an ordinary grey jet with colourful tails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Nice idea and good back story, shame you picked 801sqn. May have to pick the banner up again for 800sqn as it never seems to get the recognition it deserves. So we can expect a WIF build from you too then Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 So we can expect a WIF build from you too then Dan I'm seriously thinking about it. Just not sure what. Plus I haven't built an aircraft in ages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Doesn't need to be an aircraft. .. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 Doesn't need to be an aircraft. ..Dan It does if I'm going to get 800sqn involved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borz666 Posted July 28, 2010 Share Posted July 28, 2010 I love the sound of this, and after watching the Super Bug in action at RIAT I wish this wif would come true! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted July 29, 2010 Author Share Posted July 29, 2010 No pressure then, eh? I hope I do it justice.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) OK I suppose I should start posting with this. I'll need to get my skates on as this might actually turn out to be a "What-When" rather than "-If" First things first, the ever-present box shot- Weapons sprue, most of which will be finding it's way into my spares box so there was really no reason to show it.... anyway..... In the process of research on this build, I came across a few people saying this particular kit is rubbish, but looking at the detail and how crisp the plastic looks, well, we'll see. I know the IP is nothing like the real thing actually, and the seat's a bit basic. The IP will do, it's mostly hidden and anyway, I can put it down to what-if the Brits fitted their own As I was saying, the seat is very basic, so I thought I'd modify it up a wee bit. Nothing too fancy, I'm not that good, but I think one area the Brits would change with this would be the bang seat. Therefore I'm making a Martin-Baker Mk 10J (if that doesn't already exist). Progress so far... First pic shows the seat with mods just begun, compared with another seat very similar to what I started with. Plastic card and filler to bulk out the head box of the seat. You can see in the background too the air intakes built up. This is a strange kit as in you don't just stick two halves of the thing together. Instead you first build the intakes, which then get added to underside rear, then there's the topside front which you put the cockpit into, and finally the nose and underside front, and all these get added together to form the basic airframe. You'll see what I mean from the pics. Seat, pit, two intakes and the nose with weight added in amongst the cocktail sticks. Edited August 1, 2010 by hovis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 OK, so a little more twiddling with the seat and I arrive with this (in the wee small hours of this morning) Forgive the quality of the pics btw, I have two cameras and a pretty good mobile phone camera and these are the best I can get with any of them. Two intakes built and added to the rear underside fuselage. I must say, I like the level of detail on this kit. Lovely panel lines, decent detail in the wheel wells and even has the engine fans way at the back of the intakes. (Can't be seen - I tried to take a pic but no joy). So far I've not come upon any bad gaps, in fact only the intakes have needed a touch of filler. The kit seems to fit very well, although I'd say the intakes do require a bit of modelling nous, they're a bit fiddley, but they end up looking good. See? I tried... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) Right then, pit fitted... Yes yes I'll be tidying up the paintwork with those belts...!! The seat isn't glued in place yet but just fitted to see how it looks. I'm a bit worried if my modifications to the seat's headbox will prevent the canopy from closing.... Maybe I'll just have the canopy open... Last pic for the time being. I tried to 'busy up' the rear parcel shelf (I added three strands of wire in other words). Then looking around the 'net for pics of this location, it seems it's more of a flexible cover, so a bit of liquid filler scraped around with a blunt cocktail stick will hopefully give me a sort of 'flexible cover' effect. I'll see when I paint it. BTW the above picture clearly shows the Fisher-Price switches fitted by the FAA to replace all those fiddley wee buttons and stuff..... Edited August 1, 2010 by hovis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTnailZ Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 BTW the above picture clearly shows the Fisher-Price switches fitted by the FAA to replace all those fiddley wee buttons and stuff..... Lmao comin on nice tho Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Really looking forward to this one. Problem is you may get banned from this GB...? After the reports in the news going around the last 24 hours or so, this may not be a WHIF anymore...!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Really looking forward to this one. Problem is you may get banned from this GB...? After the reports in the news going around the last 24 hours or so, this may not be a WHIF anymore...!! Agreed - but dont let that stop you !! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Really looking forward to this one. Problem is you may get banned from this GB...? After the reports in the news going around the last 24 hours or so, this may not be a WHIF anymore...!! Racing against two deadlines now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Well if it happens you can claim the credit! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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