Flankerman Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 (edited) With the running down of the US Navy’s F-14 Tomcat fleet in the early 2000’s, a proposal was put forward by ex-Grumman VP of Advanced Programs and Chief Engineer on the F-14, Robert W. Kress and retired USN fighter pilot Adm. Paul Gilchrist suggesting that the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker might make a good replacement. Following negotiations with the Russian government, Rosboronexport and the Sukhoi design bureau, a licence was granted for the tandem two-seat Su-30 to be built at Grumman’s Bethpage facility in New York. The baseline Flanker was ‘Amercanized’ - with the Russian AL-31F engine being replaced by the Pratt & Whitney F-119 turbofan, conferring increased thrust and reduced SFC. It was fitted with the Raytheon AN/APG-71 digital multi-mode radar and Martin-Baker NACES zero-zero ejection seats replaced the Russian K-36 originals. The first F-17A ‘Flankercat’ entered service with VF-1 aboard the USS Enterprise in 2005 and to date, a total of 237 have been built by Grumman. The What If isn't so crazy as you might think - the model was inspired by an article in the US magazine 'Flight Journal' dated February 2002 - where a proposal was put forward by Robert W. Kress (ex-Grumman VP of Advanced Programmes) and Rear Adm. Paul Gillcrist, US Navy (Retd) suggesting the replacement of the F-14 Tomcat by the Su-27!! The model was cobbled together from an old, inaccurate, Nakotne Su-30 kit with nosewheels, missiles and markings from an old Airfix F-14 Tomcat. I think the Flanker looks gorgeous in those colours..... More photos of the finished model here Ken Edited October 22, 2009 by Flankerman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
copey Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 That looks awsome . excellent idea Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loftycomfort Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 ROFL! Ken, why not Jolly Rogers? Cheers, Terry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sauragnmon Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Awesome, sleek job, seriously beautiful piece of work. Extra merit for Not using the Rogers. Love how you used the Phoenix pallets on the intake mountings, quite an idea there. Only question - for the timeframe, wouldn't AIM-120's be a more suited option to the AIM-7? Seriously, she looks so sleek and clean in those colours, almost impossible to recognize her. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Ken, why not Jolly Rogers? Naah, such a clichè. Swordsmen or Freelancers! Cool idea, Ken! I wish the world would've been ready... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Love that you went with a Decommissioned squadron! This is superb! Excellent work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 It has been done for a 'What If' display at this years IPMS UK Nats - Scalemodelworld. I don't normally do WIF's (there's too much real stuff to be getting on with) - so I didn't spend too much time or money on it. I just looked around for what I had - Nakotne Su-30, Airfix Tomcat etc. I didn't want to spend any money on decal sheets - so I used what came with the Airfix kit - I thought the Wolfpack scheme suited the Flanker rather well. The whole thing was done in about two weeks. Even the paint job was rushed - spray cans of acrylic car paints - Ford Polar Grey on top and Appliance White on the undersides. It's an idea I have had for some time - and the Nats display was just the inspiration I needed It will go alongside my Sukhoi T12 bomber...... ... and a Revell 1:144 scale A-90 Ekranoplan I did years ago - in Virgin Atlantic colours !!! :) Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnobiz Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Great idea, original and very well executed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TXCajun Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Too funny - and scary, that Gillchrist would recommend a Soviet fighter. Of course, I wouldn't put something like that past the current administration. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Way cool! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richter111 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Nice bird, and could have been an interesting concept if actually done Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Awesome WHIFs!!! It would have looked cool tho if the red band continued all the way like this... Just love those Wolfpack decals, they look so right on a Flanker....odd eh?! Cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 STUNNING... !!!! AMAZING... !!!!! AWESOME.....Both are GORGEOUS......!!!!! HOLMES.... :lol: :P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
su27rules Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Great idea, original work Ken!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Cool ! Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Julien (UK) Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 (edited) Nice one Ken. The flanker looks great in Grey/White. Funnily enough I used the Airfix Decals for a what if as well, I give you the F/A-16(N) Perhaps we can start an alternative VF-1 history! Julien Edited October 22, 2009 by Julien (UK) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mario krijan Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Very nice Ken!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Nicely done! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijozic Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 (edited) The first F-17A ‘Flankercat’ entered service with VF-1 aboard the USS Enterprise in 2005 and to date, a total of 237 have been built by Grumman. For such a timeline, shouldn't it be in a weathered TPS scheme? (I believe it would look more convincing like that, but I'm probably just being biased because I prefer the TPS-scheme painted Tomcats) Edited October 24, 2009 by ijozic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 For such a timeline, shouldn't it be in a weathered TPS scheme? Tsk. It's the CAG bird... *obviously*. ;-) Nice models, Ken (and Julien)! Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 If it's present day, you could argue they went retro for the impending 100th birthday of naval aviation :o Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ijozic Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 If it's present day, you could argue they went retro for the impending 100th birthday of naval aviation Everybody knows you never go full retro! ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Firecaptain Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 Not a fan of "what-ifs".....but nice work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JP Vieira Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 These are simply amazing. Congratulations Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MiG31 Posted October 25, 2009 Share Posted October 25, 2009 (edited) Everybody knows you never go full retro! ;) It's a what-if Flanker in USN markings. So what if the markings are retro? It looks great in high-vis VF-1 markings, even if they are retrograde. :P EDIT: I think it would've been cool to see it with folded wings, though. Up to the task on the next build, Ken? Edited October 25, 2009 by MiG31 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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