Twin Engine Thunderbolt in 1/72nd Scale

[T Bolt]

I am not trying to make something that an aerodynamic engineer would put his blessing on as much as trying just make a twin engine thunderbolt that still looks like a thunderbolt. Just addressing a couple of the points as stated above, removing the engine and turbo system from the fuselage frees up an enormous amount of space. Infront of and behind the cockpit as well as on either side as well as underneath. Remember that a benefit of the fuel tank beneath and in front of the cockpit added extra protection for the pilot. These additional tanks would add even more protection. Also, more fuel could be stored in the wing as there would no longer be 8 .50 Brownings there.
At to more wing area, I have already started work on that and each wing will be increased the width to one gun bay. I would have liked to lengthen the fuselage a bit but that would be very hard to do and still look like a Thunderbolt so it will remain as is.
Anyway, when it comes right down to it, I just want to make something that looks like it could possibly fly and still looks like a thunderbolt with the same cowlings and fuselage.

 

[T Bolt]

Here is the lengthened wings. I cut the inner section at the outside if the gun bay and the outer section at the inside of the gun bay.

Cutting the wing fairing off the Razorback fuselage to make up the port side nacelle

More test fitting

The joint from lengthening the wings could have been better because of the two different kit mfg I was trying to match up. These joint will be hidden in the nacelles for the most part. I also has to add some plastic to the trailing edge which will be trilled back

 

[Wurger]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice going Glenn, your doing wonders.

 

[dcasey33]

I definitely want to see this when it's finished! Much Buenos................

 

[SaparotRob]

I'd like to see both the twin P-40 and twin P-47 photographed together.

 

[K5083]

Impossible to fly with one engine out. Needs longer fuselage and more fin/rudder area.

 

[SaparotRob]

Think of it like a GM Futurama concept car. All show and no go.
Check out the thread on the twin P-40, which did exist.

 

[GrauGeist]

Impossible to fly with one engine out. Needs longer fuselage and more fin/rudder area.

Grumman's P-50 didn't have an elongated fuselage.

 

[fannum]

Grumman's P-50 didn't have an elongated fuselage.

Much less weight, less power, twin fin/rudders.

 

[fannum]

Still feel the monster nacelles are not needed for ANY reason and make it fugly besides.

How about digging in your scrap box for A-26/B-26/F7F ... or even C-46 bits, and try them on for size?

Your current configuration would seem to be a nose-over ready to happen and would keep Hamilton-Standard solvent. I don't want to re-niggle your entire concept, but pushing the fuselage back, nose behind props, moving nacelles in, and cockpit forward ... like virtually all successful era twin fighter/bombers would support the wisdom of those designers.

 

[Ivan1GFP]

Think of it like a GM Futurama concept car. All show and no go.
Check out the thread on the twin P-40, which did exist.

That Twin P-40 only "existed" as a mock-up. It really wasn't a viable aircraft even though it looked cool. A twin Thunderbolt actually has a lot ore potential than a twin P-40 for the simple reason that there is a lot of space to arrange the necessary components in a "reasonable" fashion.

 

[T Bolt]

The point is to make a twin-engine version of the Thunderbolt that STILL LOOKS LIKE A THUNDERBOLT, inspired by that photo of a twin P-40, using the same iconic Thunderbolt engine cowls and therefore the large nacelles. I did the twin P-40 because I thought it looked cool, and I'm doing this one for the same reason.
I'm just doing this for fun guys. I've been doing stuff like this for years. It doesn't have to fly, it just has to look interesting. I did something like this to a Monogram P-38 kit when I was in middle school

 

[GrauGeist]

I'm looking forward to this project.

There's plenty of concept art out there, but rarely do you see a model of one.

When Glen gets this project done, maybe he can try his hand at the Belyayev OL-2

 

[Ivan1GFP]

The point is to make a twin-engine version of the Thunderbolt that STILL LOOKS LIKE A THUNDERBOLT, inspired by that photo of a twin P-40, using the same iconic Thunderbolt engine cowls and therefore the large nacelles. I did the twin P-40 because I thought it looked cool, and I'm doing this one for the same reason.
I'm just doing this for fun guys. I've been doing stuff like this for years. It doesn't have to fly, it just has to look interesting. I did something like this to a Monogram P-38 kit when I was in middle school

I probably have enough pieces from a scrap P-38 kit to build something similar!
Most of my "modelling" for the past couple decades has been in the 3D spaces and for simulators. When you do that, you need to come up with some numbers for the flight model and ideally they should somewhat reflect what the visual model is showing. Thus one has to determine silly things like where the armament and fuel and such is located because they are disposable loads and affect the "flying characteristics" in the simulator. You also need to decide where things like radiators and oil coolers, and other pieces live to create a reasonable damage model for the combat sims.
Thank God we don't have to do any real engineering!
Or perhaps Life would be so much more "Interesting" if WE were doing the engineering!

- Ivan.

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work so far Glenn!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

You go for it Glenn, it's YOUR creation, do with what YOU want.

 

[T Bolt]

More work done on the nacelles

I will be using these parts for the main parts of the nacelles. The larger part is from an AMT A-20 kit of which I have 2. The rear portion will be used for the upper rear nacelle and the forward section for the gun nose of the fuselage.
The smaller part is 1/2 of a rocket pack from a Hobbycraft Arado Ar264 and is for the lower nacelle.

I've got the lower part on but still have to work on the upper

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Looks like fun.

 

[rochie]

Nice work Glenn