This came about from brainstorming for the 20 minuters log and thinking about more flyers for the 40k universe and WWII planes that could be adapted - in this case the P38 Lightning



and led to a bit of cut and shut work on a CAD drawing of a Thunderbolt



this has since been tidied up a bit leaving me with this:



but it still needs a lot of refining, most importantly the engine layout as I have quite a few options and various reasons for them



First up is basically what the first plan showed, a pod on each side of the plane with an engine each side of the pod - it's two Thunderbolts jammed together. The main trouble is while the engines are doubled it ends up with 2 or 3 times as much plane with the same winds as a stock 'bolt. Its also too bulky for what I really want

Next is the revised plan, theres actual wing between the pods and the fuselage and only the outer engines are retained. I t looks good on the plan, but from the fron a bit odd, mainly the fact that the pods have no real purpose other than to hold weaponry - also it has the same engines as the 'bolt on a much larger plane

3 = bigger engines. Use the pods for the engines but enlarge them - not sure how MArauder engines scale to a 'bolt, but something like that

The last 2 are back to stock engines with twice as many - I prefer them stacked vertically as it's unusual and doesn't use up any more wing area

So that's the main thing to consider, but on top of that there the armament - obviously more than the 'bolt, but it has to be less than the Marauder. Maybe retain 4 Autocannon in the nose and then a pair of lascannon on each pod where the power is

A name would be good too :D

I like the second bird eyes veiw of Plane. Not sure on a name yet. What rules would you use? VDR? or counts as?

Four engines is two much, stick with two, think Lightning if fine as a name, the rest of the Navys birds are named after USAAF aircraft!

I really love your idea although, and as Jase said, 2 engines big enough are enough.

About the name, The lightning already exists in the Navy's armory :




and



But hey, tehre isn't any lightning without ... Thunder ;)
What do you think about this name ?

I guess I'd VDR it.

I think I'm leaning towards 2 oversized engines too, just looks neater. If I keep the hose detail on the original and put it either side of the pods and increase the number of hoses aswell as a bigger intake

Surely the Navy already have a plane called a Lightning? It has to be Thunder-something, or something-bolt

EDIT name ideas from another site

Thunderflash - Good
Thunderchief - Good
Thunderstrike - Good

Thunderstreak - Not so sure
Thunderstorm - Not so sure

I like the Thunder Chief.

++EDIT++

Consider that name stolen :ph43r: I need ork pilot names.

Bloody Orks, coming over here stealing our vehicles and flyer names!

I'm just stealing the name for a pilot, as for the vehicle.... well that would be tau stuff.

"Venom" a really cool aircraft name. Besides it too was twin "hulled".

Nice design and I really look forward to seeing te finished model!

Keep it simple, go for the third engine layout option. ;)

i agree 3rd looks best.

damn this would look ace once done!!

So I settled on 2 larger engines and this is where I'm at at the moment



C&C appreciated, as always, but I'm off this weekend so probably no more revision until Monday

EDIT - Damnit, left the tail too high!

Yep, I like the final cut, especially the tail! :)

Must resist erg to build.

Yup, that looks good, Still think it should be "venom" ;)

how about 2 crew? that would be acceptable for a heavy/night fighter (theres a thought extra auspex antenna in the nose and the weapons transfered to the space between the fuselage and the engines)

I think I'm sticking with one member of crew, I don't really want it to be much heavier a fighter/bomber than the Thunderbolt, most of the extra is engines.
I'm thinking of somthing more solid than a Lightning, but faster and with a bigger punch than a standard 'bolt. Targets that aren't big enough for a load of Marauders with escorts, or are too mobile.

Have this horrible feeling that when I do the side view I'm going to notice some glaring erroe - eg the already mentioned tail.
I also realised the the vents I've put in the wings are a bit pointless, on the original thrye are above the end of the engines, on this they're nowhere near, but I like them

Minor tweaks to plan and front along with added sides of the main fuselage and the engine pods

There are changes? Can't say I could point them out!

Nothing major, just tweaks to bring it in line with the side view when I discovered I was breaking a few laws of physics.
Mainly the nose and canopy as well as stretching it by another 10mm

Damn! I'm almost tempted to buy two models and have a go!!! :huh:

Looks great mate.

Pffff like 40k follows the laws of Physics

I'll be nicking this at this rate! I like the changes, its very ME110 now

Someone on another forum did suggest building one out of AI models, but I still think it'll be cheaper and less fidly to do it full size with plasticard.

Probably not going to draw any more details on as it's easier to do work them out when I have the base model built

I'll start planning on how to build the structure next, probably build a skeleton from square section plasticard tube and build around that

I'm tempted to join you in this endeavor.

Eh? 110 was a single boom aircraft. Only similarity I see is the twin engines. and nose mounted cannons.

That aside, this little project looks great so far.

Sorry BS, I meant the nose section mate

Still tweaking the design, still finding problems!



Stretched it a bit more, it's always going to look a bit stubby though, despite being 33% longer than a 'bolt the extra engine pods mean its 50% wider

The sections of wing between the engines and the fuselage (with the vents) line up now too - I think they were originally staggered so I didn't have to stretch the rear of the cockpit too much

Currently debating whether to keep the lascannon where they are or to split them so that there is one each side of the engine

Are the VTOL bits of a 'bolt the rectangular ports on the underside of the engines?

Off camping for the Bank holiday weekend and a bit more so I'm going to take my copy of Double Eagle with me and see if I can take down as many useful notes from it as possible about all the various planes and anything else that could be useful

The vectored thrusts go in the four outer rectangles as shown, but I've not put mine in yet...