Making a "Spooky" V-22

Wow John, sounds like a wild idea! you spent to much time out in that sandpile you were stuck in. You could probably get some of your piece/parts from one of the older monogram uh-1 kits. it would be alot cheaper then buying the big 1/48 hurcules kit. of course you probably want too upgun your creation with some 20 mike/mike, and a 105, but realisticly the airframe would most likely come apart blasting away with that kind of firepower. also, as you most likely well know spooky has a reputation for staying on station for long periods of time. not sure the osprey is up to the task. do some miniguns and ration cans with gernades in them. that is what we use to use in vietnam on our choppers. You know Marines forever finding new ways to blow stuff up. semper fi, mike

Yeah, staring at all that dirt and rocks can make your brain do strange things...but I'm really thinking about this one now. Like you said, I don't know if an Osprey has the legs to stay on station in the fire support mission, but it would make a cool model! I was thinking of going with the mini-guns, maybe some 20mm or .50 cal. I'd like to put a 105 or something similar in there, but that would be stretching it. Plus, I was thinking of hanging a couple of sidewinders on the wings, for self defense, of course. Like I said, way too much time on my hands.

Like I always say, yw18mc, there's no obstacle that a properly placed, shaped and fused application of high explosives can't handle. Good ol Marine Corps ingenuity will get it done every time!

Instead of Sidewinders, how about Stingers? I think you're on the right track with 20mm and .50 cal weapons. I'm thinking it would be armed similar to an AH-60 DAP or AH-6J Little Bird.

As far as time on station, just beef up the sponsons like an MH-47s and throw in a fuel tank inside the cabin kind of like they do on Pave Hawks.

I think Cobra Company may make some weapons for AH/Mh-60s but it'd probably be cheaper to find a UH-1C kit on eBay or in a shop somewhere.

Hmmm.... A V-22 gunship. Honestly, I'm wondering how the regular V-22s are going to handle getting shot at. A gunship version sounds cool, but won't it just fall out of the sky sooner? Then again, I'm probably being overly cynical. It'd look cool at least!

How 'bout the 30mm chain gun from the Apache, the recoil wouldn't tear the airframe apart like the 105.

Yeah, I think I'll look for some donor kits to get me some mini-guns and cannon. I'll keep you all updated if this project ever gets going. Keep the ideas coming!

wait a minute.......how's about a 37mm canon and the 30 MM gattling gun from the a-10?
The 30 mm could be mounted on an extendable rack right behind the loading ramp
and swung into place once the ramp is lowered. That'll shake some rivets loose fer sure.

Adding a howitzer might work if you think "outside the box".



Add a seat for the gunner as it would be uncomfortable to be hanging there for the whole trip. Add a hoist so crew members inside the cabin can lower ammunition. Add a winch with a line connecting to the rear of the howitzer so it can be raised/lowered to hit the target.

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Seriously, seems like you're not the only one thinking about this.

AV-22 Gunship
Another modeler attempting the same idea.

A couple of articles...
Marines ask Bell to explore TiltRotor Gunship
Bell asked to come up with a tilt-rotor gunship to escort V-22s
Un-Piloted Hybrid Plane: Potential Escort for V-22?

RE:heavily armored V-22s
A discussion about the V-22 which included a link to the following article.

Evading the Gun Issue
You'll need to scroll down the page to get to this section. Includes a link to a PDF outlining the original design for a chin mounted gun.

Something different...
V-44

Thanks for all the links and ideas, I'm really starting to look at this as one of my next projects. I just like the idea and I think it will make for a unique model. Keep the ideas and suggestions coming!

Sounds like a great idea.

personally, when I visualise a hypothetical V-22 its in Coast Guard or Customs Service markings lowing a heavily armed and sizeable boarding party onto some suspicious ship full of contraband that just came into your waters.

I had also visualized one in the bright yellow and red markings used by the Canadian Armed Forces' rescue units.

Good luck on your project

I''m thinking that as a hypothetical, a V-22 (AV-22??) would make a unique and intersting conversion. I'm thinking along the lines of 2 or 4 mini guns, and a pair of 20mm or 30mm cannon, along with some radomes, bumps and bulges and a FLIR/laser designator turret under the nose would make for a good "Spooky". Anybody know which kits would make for some good donor? Or of an aftermarket company that has what I need? I'm thinking maybe Cobra might have the kits, if I adapt some of their resin bits for my needs.

Underwing missiles? Should work just fine when the V22 is in hover mode, but a Sidewinder is going to make some mess of the blades if you fire it when in forward flight ..... Could end up with a Spooky glider!!!
Interesting project, though. Mini guns and Vulcan type barrels can be made with two or three discs of plastic card with holes bored through them and the barrels replicated with lead from a propelling pencil. Just a thought to save having to buy any 'donor' kits...

wasn't there supposed to be an MV22 for the USAF with a 7.62 minigun in a fwd turret?
I remember seeing a drawing in AFM? about 10+ years ago - the thing looked like a drop ship from Aliens.

From one of the links I posted before...

QUOTE: The original plan for a a chin mounted gun was dropped because it was heavy and couldn't be fired effectively by the co-pilot. The odd idea of a gun mounted on the rear ramp is under consideration, yet it impedes personnel egress and doesn't allow a vehicle to easily drive off. Moreover, a formation of V-22s approaching a landing zone can provide no suppressive fires if all guns are pointed to the rear.

There was a link to a PDF about the chin mounted gun.
http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2002gun/depasqual.pdf

I'm looking at it as more like the AC-130's "little brother" not so much an air-to-mud fighter-bomber. Though the idea of an armed V-22 as an escort for the troop carriers isn't such a bad one. Especially if its my regiment being dropped off by those birds...