If Burt Rutan had designed the B-17

[Rajay]

That's not a "warship" - it's a standard model "PEACEKEEPER"

If it had been an advanced model "Peacekeeper", it would have also had concentric red circles painted on it.

(It's my thread and I'll digress if I want to....)

[CAPFlyer]

Quick sidebar -

He also gave me points for painting it black. Star Trek always got it wrong! In space, why in the heck would you paint a warship WHITE?

For the same reason the Space Shuttle and ISS are white - temperature regulation.

In space, paint doesn't matter. Most of where combat would be taking place, actual ability to see would be negligible without serious image enhancement, and then in reality, color wouldn't matter as much. What you are worried about more is heat dissipation from internal to mask your ship from IR detection and reflecting as much of the external heat as possible to allow for proper regulation of the internal temperature.

Okay, back to the original subject, I've seen a couple of models of this "Rutan B-17" online in the past and they always looked interesting, especially how some solved the landing gear issues. I think someone even attempted to build an RC model of it, but I can't find it anymore. Can't remember if it worked or not either, although with most RC models, success of the RC version has no bearing on if the real thing would work due to the very different lift/drag ratios and thrust/weight ratios.

[Rajay]

Quick sidebar -

He also gave me points for painting it black. Star Trek always got it wrong! In space, why in the heck would you paint a warship WHITE?

For the same reason the Space Shuttle and ISS are white - temperature regulation.

In space, paint doesn't matter. Most of where combat would be taking place, actual ability to see would be negligible without serious image enhancement, and then in reality, color wouldn't matter as much. What you are worried about more is heat dissipation from internal to mask your ship from IR detection and reflecting as much of the external heat as possible to allow for proper regulation of the internal temperature.

I recently saw a horrible "Western" movie on the Sci-Fi channel. Aliens had invaded a small town where one enterprising scientist had already begun to mine uranium and the aliens wanted it.

I ranted about how inappropriate it was for everyone to be carrying double-action revolvers in the "Old West" (including a couple of Colt .357 Pythons) It was also possible that one of the characters carried an English Webley. It drove me nuts.

My wife asked me "so that makes it unbelievable for you? You can suspend your disbelief for the aliens but not for the wrong handguns?"

My point? By the time "we" are able to build single-seat "fighters" with the range to effect interplanetary travel between solar systems, their cooling capabilities might be more advanced than just relying on the color of the exterior paint. (i.e. the interplanetary travel didn't bother you, just the black paint did?)

In addition, the same things (regarding heat dissipation and IR signatures) have been said about modern air combat fighters, yet we still also use muted gray camouflage tones to minimize vulnerability and optical detection when the fight devolves into a "knife fight in a phone booth" when the primary sensor is the Mark 1 eyeball.

[muddyboots]

this thread makes my ears bleed.

[Canso42]

Seems like I read in a description somewhere of YB-40's that the radio room turret was a smaller Martin turret like from a Marauder. I've also read that by the time they saw use, no two had identical armaments. Double .50's at the waist, hand held 20mm's and one yahoo even tried a pedestal mounted 37 mm. In front of that rig sounded safer than holding it!
Rutan 17 landing gear? Simple. Nose gear where the bomb bay was and put a bomb or two where the old tail gear was.

[Dan K]

Seems like I read in a description somewhere of YB-40's that the radio room turret was a smaller Martin turret like from a Marauder...

Looks like a Martin. Still must've been a tight fit.

[dred]

C'mon - Rutan would have used pusher props.

[the330thbg]

While looking through my Dad's old logbook, i noticed he spent about 40 hours in a YB-40.., as noted in his book. He was training pilots in these clunkers.., luckily this was about the same time they posted a sign-up sheet for B-29 pilots and he made that list.., otherwise I may not be here. The YB-40's were a disaster waiting to happen.., . Battlewagon my A$$!!!

[Canso42]

Was the 330th your dad's outfit?

[cozmo]

He also gave me points for painting it black. Star Trek always got it wrong! In space, why in the heck would you paint a warship WHITE?

Sorry for the detour....

By the time folks worry about what color to paint a spacecraft it won't really matter.

But look at current aircraft, whites and grays really show stains. Finding leaks will probably be pretty important.

Okay, back to the original subject, I've seen a couple of models of this "Rutan B-17" online in the past and they always looked interesting, especially how some solved the landing gear issues. I think someone even attempted to build an RC model of it, but I can't find it anymore. Can't remember if it worked or not either, although with most RC models, success of the RC version has no bearing on if the real thing would work due to the very different lift/drag ratios and thrust/weight ratios.

Well duh, the nose gear comes out like a B-52. You just cannot see the bulges due to camouflage. And its just your imagination that they won't fit.

Also saw a model of a swept wing B-17 somewhere. It was pretty neat. I think it was a B-17, B-47 kitbash.

I always liked the clean look of the turretless fortresses.

[JBoyle]

Now back to our regular topic.... :)

My father spent time in YB-40s during his training....perhaps as one of the students taught by the330thbg's father.

[mtpopejoy]

Here is a link to a modeling site that has the plastic scale, "what if," model.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/

Click "Gallery" on the top then look for "Propeller" then search "B-17" and you will see it.
Sorry it's the only link it would give me

Regards,
Mark

[JDK]

Here is a link to a modeling site that has the plastic scale, "what if," model.

Good one Mark, and with a frame-bust: http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/G ... on/00.shtm

[the330thbg]

Was the 330th your dad's outfit?

Yes it was.

[the330thbg]

Now back to our regular topic.... :)

My father spent time in YB-40s during his training....perhaps as one of the students taught by the330thbg's father.

That would be cool!!!!