Fictional challenge! The H-1 Racer was approved as an American fighter in 1936.

[_PabloSniper_]

Hello everyone!
It's 1936, and the H1 Racer plane has been approved as a USAAC fighter.
There were several problems, because millionaire Howard Hughes has a bad relationship with many American congressmen. But since the performance of his plane is much better than that of its competitors, this project moved forward.
However, the high command of the USAAC decided to maintain the production of the Seversky P-35 and the Curtiss P-36, because many commanders do not believe that Howard Hughes will deliver this plane in sufficient numbers.
This is a fictional story that I created to generate immersion.
But the challenge is the following.

Insert into this photo, or another photo of the H-1 Racer, a P-35 or P-36 skin.
I leave the photo of this P-36 as a suggestion.

But the choice is yours!
A three-blade propeller and a higher cockpit can give a more realistic tone.
And also a .50 and a .30 machine gun on the engine hood, similar to the standard weaponry of the time.

These are examples of my attempts.
I hope you enjoy the challenge.
And forgive me for any grammatical errors, but I'm Brazilian.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Probably needs to get refiled into the "what-if" section, but hey.

Myself, the pilot visibility looks dreadful. Moving it forward and upward would solve the issue, at the expense of pure speed.

I don't know the roll-rate or turn-rate of the a/c, which are pretty important in that era of fighter design.

 

[_PabloSniper_]

Probably needs to get refiled into the "what-if" section, but hey.

Myself, the pilot visibility looks dreadful. Moving it forward and upward would solve the issue, at the expense of pure speed.

I don't know the roll-rate or turn-rate of the a/c, which are pretty important in that era of fighter design.

I'm sorry I put this in the wrong section. But if any moderators can fix this I'd appreciate it.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm sorry I put this in the wrong section. But if any moderators can fix this I'd appreciate it.

That's a niggle, don't sweat it.

I think the topic has been discussed a bit over the years. I don't think the USAAC had much trust in Hughes Aircraft being able to pump out a lot of them -- assuming it had the fighting qualities they wanted.

 

[_PabloSniper_]

That's a niggle, don't sweat it.

I think the topic has been discussed a bit over the years. I don't think the USAAC had much trust in Hughes Aircraft being able to pump out a lot of them -- assuming it had the fighting qualities they wanted.

I have participated in many debates about this myself, but in this thread my idea was simply to make it look like a contemporary fighter.

One more thing that escaped me: Another subtle modification would be to slightly increase the diameter of the engine casing, giving the idea that the R-1535 was replaced by the R-1830

 

[SaparotRob]

Who cares if it's realistic? I love this idea of reskinning the H-1. I'm loathe to look up stuff like embargoes but an H-1 in IJAAF colors? How about a L'Armée de l'Air scheme?

 

[ThomasP]

IMO the main advantage to adopting a modified H-1 as a pursuit aircraft (ala XP-2?) would be the learning curve that followed.

Even if we figure the top speed dropped by 20-25 mph after the mods needed for military use (ie increased weight, drag due to weapons fitted, radio antenna, etc) the aircraft would still be ~70 mph faster than the nearest USN/USAAC in-service 1936 airframe - at least until the P-35 & P-36 entered service after which it would still be ~30 mph faster. Later mods with an R-1830 would probably increase the speed advantage - particularly at altitude (IIUC the top speed of the H-1 was at the relatively low altitude of 10,000 ft?). The USAAC had a pretty good appreciation of aircraft maneuverability (ie turning, roll rate, etc) and ACM in general, but the speed difference would have been an eye opener relative to the ideas of hit-and-run/boom-and-zoom.

And the airframe arrangement was such that it could have held a useful amount of fuel while still allowing SSFT to be fitted.

Also, if I am not mistaken, the seat was reclined at about 30° with the pilot's legs relatively high for the time. Experience with this might have taught lessons about improving the pilot's G tolerance, such as was the case with the Bf109's pilot's seating arrangement.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I have participated in many debates about this myself, but in this thread my idea was simply to make it look like a contemporary fighter.

One more thing that escaped me: Another subtle modification would be to slightly increase the diameter of the engine casing, giving the idea that the R-1535 was replaced by the R-1830

Wouldn't that also increase the visibility issues?

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

IMO the main advantage to adopting a modified H-1 as a pursuit aircraft (ala XP-2?) would be the learning curve that followed.

Even if we figure the top speed dropped by 20-25 mph after the mods needed for military use (ie increased weight, drag due to weapons fitted, radio antenna, etc) the aircraft would still be ~70 mph faster than the nearest USN/USAAC in-service 1936 airframe - at least until the P-35 & P-36 entered service after which it would still be ~30 mph faster. Later mods with an R-1830 would probably increase the speed advantage - particularly at altitude (IIUC the top speed of the H-1 was at the relatively low altitude of 10,000 ft?). The USAAC had a pretty good appreciation of aircraft maneuverability (ie turning, roll rate, etc) and ACM in general, but the speed difference would have been an eye opener relative to the ideas of hit-and-run/boom-and-zoom.

And the airframe arrangement was such that it could have held a useful amount of fuel while still allowing SSFT to be fitted.

Also, if I am not mistaken, the seat was reclined at about 30° with the pilot's legs relatively high for the time. Experience with this might have taught lessons about improving the pilot's G tolerance, such as was the case with the Bf109's pilot's seating arrangement.

I think there's got to be a large-ish redesign happening to redress the forward visibility issues as well as accommodating armament, and balancing the aircraft after such mods. Move the pilot forward and up, and put armament up front, you're moving fuel aft at that point, no?

 

[SaparotRob]

Plus the added weight of nose armor.

 

[ThomasP]

re

I think there's got to be a large-ish redesign happening to redress the forward visibility issues as well as accommodating armament, and balancing the aircraft after such mods. Move the pilot forward and up, and put armament up front, you're moving fuel aft at that point, no?

I am not sure about the need to improve visibility - not that it would not be nice to do so, but when I look at the IAR.80 I do not recall any major (actually any) complaints about visibility. The F4U had its canopy moved back despite its use as a carrier airplane. Does anyone know if this was a significant impediment to effective operations in real life - either in the air or in TO & recovery ops? (I realize that the cockpit on the F4U is not as far back as on the H-1/XP-2, but since the H-1/XP-2 was intended for land ops . . .?)

IAR.80

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

re

I am not sure about the need to improve visibility - not that it would not be nice to do so, but when I look at the IAR.80 I do not recall any major (actually any) complaints about visibility. The F4U had its canopy moved back despite its use as a carrier airplane. Does anyone know if this was a significant impediment to effective operations in real life - either in the air or in TO & recovery ops? (I realize that the cockpit on the F4U is not as far back as on the H-1/XP-2, but since the H-1/XP-2 was intended for land ops . . .?)

IAR.80
View attachment 826691

I'd hate to try and pull lead in the Hughes, or stalk from above.

 

[_PabloSniper_]

I think this topic is taking a different direction.
The technical data about the H1 has already been discussed extensively in other topics here on the forum.
This topic is just a kind of challenge to see who can take the best photo of an H1 as a USAAC fighter. That's all.

 

[_PabloSniper_]

I'm trying to do this in GPT Chat, but it's still not how I would like it to be.

 

[tomo pauk]

I'm trying to do this in GPT Chat, but it's still not how I would like it to be.

At any rate, the aircraft on the pictures are gorgeous.

 

[_PabloSniper_]

At any rate, the aircraft on the pictures are gorgeous.

I tried to insert the P-36 machine guns into H1, but I couldn't.

 

[Shortround6]

I tried to insert the P-36 machine guns into H1, but I couldn't.

You are not going to.
The H-1 was a beautiful plane, but it was not a fighter.
You can make nice pictures of an H-1 in fighter livery.
You can also put red paint, gold leaf and red lights on a Porsche, doesn't make it a fire truck

 

[fannum]

How about a L'Armée de l'Air scheme?

That would be appropriate.

They sure showed a propensity to develop too many of the wrong airplanes, squander the good ones, and misuse all of them.

 

[Grasshopper"Baby Baby"]

Hello everyone!
It's 1936, and the H1 Racer plane has been approved as a USAAC fighter.
There were several problems, because millionaire Howard Hughes has a bad relationship with many American congressmen. But since the performance of his plane is much better than that of its competitors, this project moved forward.
However, the high command of the USAAC decided to maintain the production of the Seversky P-35 and the Curtiss P-36, because many commanders do not believe that Howard Hughes will deliver this plane in sufficient numbers.
This is a fictional story that I created to generate immersion.
But the challenge is the following.
View attachment 826661
Insert into this photo, or another photo of the H-1 Racer, a P-35 or P-36 skin.
I leave the photo of this P-36 as a suggestion.

View attachment 826662

But the choice is yours!
A three-blade propeller and a higher cockpit can give a more realistic tone.
And also a .50 and a .30 machine gun on the engine hood, similar to the standard weaponry of the time.

View attachment 826663


View attachment 826664


These are examples of my attempts.
I hope you enjoy the challenge.
And forgive me for any grammatical errors, but I'm Brazilian.

I would just draw it as a P-26, Spitfire, or P-47

 

[BobB]

You are not going to.
The H-1 was a beautiful plane, but it was not a fighter.
You can make nice pictures of an H-1 in fighter livery.
You can also put red paint, gold leaf and red lights on a Porsche, doesn't make it a fire truck

A Porsche Ferdinand or Elefant fire truck would be interesting. If the only mods were paint and lights, the gun could be used to create fire breaks in a city instead of dynamiting houses.