LemonJello

Or the east coast up to at least North Carolina on those hot, humid summer days. (I just had to pile on) Seems like alot of the procurement processes are broken, or woefully bogged down in red tape. Even for things as simple as IT hardware and software, so I can't imagine the SNAFUs incurred with big ticket projects. It's one of the reasons we're still riding around in 1970's tech AAVs while the EFV/AAAV keeps running into obstacles and delays. How to go about changing it? That's way above my paygrade.

I just like the idea of hearing "rolling in hot" over the net and seeing a pair of Hawgs with MARINES on the side providing CAS. Definitely going to add this project to my "someday" list. With all the surgery I'll be doing on this one, if I go single-seater, I may just go the cheap route and get a Revellogram kit instead. But I'll keep this one in mind if I choose the 2 seater model. As for a timeframe, I don't really know. First blush, I'd go with gloss grey over white versus gunship greys for the paint.

I need to pick up another Hawg kit so I can scratch build some wing folds, add a tailhook and mark it up in USMC service. Now, would we use a 2 seater or just 1 in the Corps?

A Merlin in 1/48? Well, there's one more kit to add to the "gotta get" list.

"Me go to the desert? That's UNpossible!" This only means that after everyone gets used to operating in that kind of environment, we'll get involved someplace at the extreme opposite of the weather spectrum next. (In other words, it'll be colder than a witch's teet in a brass bra).

Hmmm, I'm not a pilot, but two of those three systems seem kind of important in keeping from becoming a smoking hole in the ground. Who would have ever thought that military helos would be deployed someplace hot?

1/48? Looks like I know what to add to the list for the holidays. One more for the stash.

Well, that beats the foul language, MRE bombs and rocks that most of them are armed with right now.

In the new modern Russia, presidential aircraft flies you! Paint up a C-17 in Air Force One scheme, add a multi-level VIP suite to the interior AND still have room for the presidential limo or a VH-60/Marine One. V-22 in Forestry Service livery and set up as a tanker?

I've heard a lot of names for the new bird, but this one is pretty darn funny... Who's coming out with a resin weapons set for this? (ducks for cover) I, too, am planning on grabbing some of the new decals when I get a chance.

A bottle of Tenax and a bottle of CA. I did eyeball the Revell A-10 and the Hasegawa weapons set C, but SWMBO pointed out that I needed to make my wish list for Santa so that's all I bought.

1:48, 1:49, eh, whatever it takes. I don't need a Raptor, since the Corps ain't buying any. What I need is a F-35 JSF (the VTOL version). Oh, I also need a droid that understands the binary language of moisture evaporators...and speaks Bocchi.

Anything and everything for the V-22 would get my vote. Though I'd snap up a new 1/48 -1W or even better, the -1Z kits if/when they hit the shelves.

Some day, I'm going to have one of these as well, a V-22 in Coast Guard white/orange. Also, to go along side my A-10W, I'd like to take a stab at another Marine CAS A-10, this time with a hook and wing folds, probably in the high vis grey over white paint scheme (I know there's a version of it that's been done, and as soon as I saw it, I wanted one for my collection), or maybe in the WWII Atlantic scheme? Also, just about any airframe looks good in MARPAT.

If you have a "geek boner" for more than 4 hours.... Call all your friends and brag about it! On the serious side, well, I don't have a serious side, and I don't build USN aircraft, but sometimes squadron markings just click with people. I'm looking at building a few USMC airframes with the Fighting Shamrock markings on them, plus a couple with the Blacksheep markings...no real good reason, just that's what I want to do.

Dang. That does suck.

D, depending on the MOS, you should still be able to lat move...When I switched from 0311 to 4066 back in 99, there were 5 SSgts, 3 other Sgts besides me and a Cpl in a class with 20 PFCs! So it can be done. And now, with the Corps' expansion it may be even easier to do. I'd like to get a ride in the -22 some time. That and a Huey are the only 2 battle taxis I haven't ridden in yet. Oh, and the EFV if it ever gets into service.

Those are all being used by the Navy...they're strapping them to sharks' heads for ASW purposes. Budgets are tight what with the war going on and all... We did get a nice deal on some ill tempered sea bass, though.

Great, just great! Now I've got to start looking for a second 1/48 -53E kit one of these days and add to the "someday to-do list" an AH-53E DAP. How many weapons can I put on that monster?

How do you break it to a guy that even if its possible to come back to -46s, you're just going to wind right back in a -22? It's not like they (Boeing) are churning out new -46s, are they? Sal and Jon make some very good points, especially about keeping the drivers focused on driving and not going for the high score on Halo 3 while the grunts go down the rope/out the ramp. I'll just keep playing with my models and arming and marking them in all kinds of interesting ways...who knows, maybe I'll get a job offer from Boeing to design an escort when I hang up the tree suit for good?

Could you mount a pair of those under the chin? That would be pretty sweet! But, wouldn't there be clearance issues with how low the Osprey sits to the ground? Or would the turret retract into the fuselage?

Yes, sir. That's the big problem with the standard way of arming helos compared to the -22's design. I ran into that problem with my escort tiltrotor, had to put a "lift kit" on the landing gear so I could put hellfires and a centerline cannon pod underneath... The troop taxi is going to need somebody to ride shotgun with it and suppress the LZ.

That is one mighty fine collection, D, thanks for sharing them all with us. I've got my AH-1W, the A-10 in MARPAT and my tiltrotor escort sitting on a shelf in my office, but nothing like what you've got here.

Well, the reason no one has seen any finished photos of my little project it that it's still sitting on the bench, waiting for someone (ME) to get the lead out and decide on a paint scheme...I've got the wing in place and the nacelles are mostly assembled, plus I've been playing too much Civ IV on the laptop (my other vice). Now, as for suggestions...I'd go with a minigun of your favorite caliber on the ramp, and a chin turret for forward defense. The prop ARC and nacelles severly limit your fields of fire, as many here have stated. I'm surprised no one has mentioned a couple racks of hel