My Review and Build of AMT's 1/72 scale Kit #8810,
US Navy, SV-22 Osprey
Latest Update: Aug 3, 2014 Engines nacells, weapons, sensors, props, and complete fuselage
Introduction and What's in the Box- July 31, 2014
THE V-22 Osprey:
For decades the US military has desired a viable VTOL aircraft to operate from forward bases, airfields, and vessels to transport troops, carry cargo, and perform other functions. An early major effort towards this was the Vought XC-142 four engine aircraft designed in the 1960s which first flew in September of 1964. It was designed for the entire wing, holding all four engines, to rotate into the vertical for vertical take-off and landing, or at various angles for Short Take-off and landings (STOL). It could carry up to 32 fully armed troops, or approaching 10,000 lbs of cargo. As such, it was designed to transport troops for the US Marines or to provide cargo and COD missions for the US Navy aircraft carriers. It was also intended to be evaluated for eventual fit for special operations, refueling, and ASW missione. The program built five aircraft which were tested and qualified for US Carrier operation. In 1966 after a fatal crash, the US Navy backed out of the program, but the US Air Force program continued for a C-142B variant. After a study, that program was also cancelled and the remaining aircraft were turned over to NASA for tessting which went on until 1970.
The Vought XC-142 during carrier trials
But the XC-142 idea, and its need, did not die with the aircraft.
Ten years after the last XC-142 flights, in 1980 the failure of the Iran hostage rescue mission led to the US military once again seeking a medium sized aircraft that could not only take off and land vertically but also carry combat troops, and do so at speed. This resulted in a Department of Defense Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) program in 1981. This program was initially under the leadership of the U.S. Army.
While the program was in its intial stages, the US Marines expressed significant interest in such an aircraft to compliment their mission to perform amphibious landings and air assaults. The Marines understood that an airborne assault with good speed and range allowed for significant diversity and flexibility, and the CH-46s currently in use were slower, shorter ranged, and were wearing out without a replacement.
As a result of their high interest, in 1983 the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps were given the lead of the JVX program. This resulted in a combined requirement for the U.S. Marines, the US Navy, the US Air Force, and the US Army. A request for proposals (RFP) was issued in December for JVX preliminary design work. Aérospatiale, Bell Helicopter, Boeing Vertol, Grumman, Lockheed, and Westland all expressed interest. Bell decided to partner with Boeing Vertol. The Bell-Boeing team submitted a proposal based on an enlarged version of the Bell XV-15 prototype in February 1983. The Bell/Vertol proposal was the only serious, full-up proposal received, and so a preliminary design contract was awarded to them in April 1983
The Bell XV-15 Experimental Aircraft
Full design work began. In January 1985, the aircraft was officially designated the V-22 Osprey, and in March of 1985, the production design and development of the prototype version of the aircraft was started. Work was to be split evenly between Bell and Boeing. Bell Helicopter manufactured and integrated the wing, nacelles, rotors, drive system, tail surfaces, and aft ramp, as well as the Rolls-Royce engines and performed final assembly. Boeing Helicopter manufactured and integrated the fuselage, cockpit, avionics, and flight controls.
In 1966, the USMC variant of the Osprey received the MV-22 designation while the U.S. Air Force variant received the CV-22 designation. This was the reverse of normal nomenclature, but was done to prevent the Marine Corps aircraft from having a "CV" nomencature which would conflict with aircraft carrierrs which were also "CV"s.
On 3 May 1986, the Bell Boeing partnership was awarded a $1.714 billion contract for V-22 aircraft. At that point, all four U.S. military services had acquisition plans for V-22 versions.
The first V-22 was rolled out with significant media attention in May 1988. Later in 1988, the U.S. Army left the program, citing a need to focus its budget on more immediate aviation programs. The project then faced opposition in the Senate in 1989, but survived voted that may have cancelled it. Despite these votes, the US Navy was instructed to not spend more money on the program. Ultimately, the US Congress overruled attempts to decrease or stop funding of the aircraft, which the necessary funding despite those who were opposed to it.
The first MV-22 prototypes flew on March 19, 1989 in VTOL mode, and on September 14, 1989 in full fixed-wing mode. Aircraft number three and four successfully completed the Osprey's first sea trials on USS Wasp in December 1990. However, aircraft number four and five crashed in 1991 and 1992. This resulted in a grounding of the aircraft and caused Bell and Boeing to complete significant redesign work from October 1992 through April 1993. This redesigned version became the V-22B model, and V-22 flights resumed in June 1993 after the improvements were incorporated into the existing prototypes.
In June 1994, Bell and Boeing were awarded a contract for engineering manufacturing development (EMD). Flight testing at the stage focused on expanding the flight envelope, measuring flight loads, and supporting the EMD redesign. This and further flight testing with the prototype V-22s continued. The first EMD aircraft flew in February 1997. As a result of testing, the first of four low rate initial production aircraft were ordered in April 1997. These were delivered in May 1999 and the tenth existing Osprey at that time completed the second sea trials, this time from USS Saipan in January 1999, ten years after the first V-22 prototype flight.
In 2000, there were two more fatal crashes which killed a total of 19 US Marines. This caused another grounding of the aircraft while the the cause of these crashes was investigated. Upon determining the cause, a further redesign occurred. Upon review and testing of the redesign, flight operations and testing continued. Finally, the MV-22 successfully completed its final operational evaluation in June 2005, which included long range deployments, high altitude, desert and shipboard operations. It was determined that the problems identified as a result of the accidents had been addressed.
As a result, in September 2005, the US Defense Deaprtment formally approved full-rate production for the V-22, The produiction rate would grow from eleven in 2008 to twenty-four per year in 2010, and reach forty-eight per year in 2012. A total of 458 aircraft were planned, including 360 are for the U.S. Marine Corps, 48 for the Navy, and 50 for the Air Force.
US Marine production has been steady and the aircraft have seen combat in both Iraq and Aghanistan. The U.S. Air Force's first operational deployment of the CV-22 occurred in November 2008 when four aircraft flew to Mali in support of Exercise Flintlock. AFSOC declared that the 8th Special Operations Squadron reached Initial Operational Capability on 16 March 2009, with six CV-22s in service with the US Air Force.
Although the first US Navy aircraft joined the Navy flight test program in May 2002, no production US Navy aircraft have been purchased to date.
The Proposed SV-22 ASW Osprey:
The US Navy has identified several potential missions for US Navy Osprey variants. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), Vertical Replenshiment (VERTREP), and Carrier on-board delivery (COD). A further AEW potential also exists.
When the final carrier based S-3B Squadron, VS-22 were decommissioned at NAS Jacksonville in January 2009, the US Navy no longer had a medium sized, long-range aircraft capable of ASW duties embarked on its aircraft carriers. The S-3 Viking had provided US Navy Aircraft Carriers with the significant, long range, and long loiter ASW capability necessary during the Cold War. As a result of the end of the Cold War with the demise of the Soviet Union, it was felt that the US Navy could save money and adequately provide ASW coverage against the new threat level with helicopters alone.
After 2010, with the growth and development of new of Chinese and Russian nuclear attack submarines, many analysts feel that this decsion was premature.
The V-22 Opsrey was designed to be able to address the ASW mission for the US Navy, and an ASW variant, herein called the SV-22, could be developed for it. This has been part of the plan for the Opsrey from the beginning. Such an aircraft would be able to carry more and larger sensors than the current helicopters, would fly faster, could be on station longer, and would carry up to twice the torpedo payload as Seahawk helicopters currenty employed.
For this reason, the SV-22 Opsrey, though not fielded to date, remains a viable and critical solution for US Navy Carrier Strike Group deploymnet.
Specifications for the SV-22 Osprey:
Flight Crew: Four (pilot, copilot and two flight engineers)
ASW Crew: Four Anti-submraine Warfare specialsts.
Capacity: 20,000 lb (9,070 kg) of internal cargo, sensors, equipment.
Length: 57 ft 4 in (17.5 m)
Rotor diameter: 38 ft 0 in (11.6 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 10 in (14 m)
Width with rotors: 84 ft 7 in (25.8 m)
Height: 22 ft 1 in/6.73 m; overall with nacelles vertical (17 ft 11 in/5.5 m; at top of tailfins)
Disc area: 2,268 ft² (212 m²)
Wing area: 301.4 ft² (28 m²)
Empty weight: 33,140 lb (15,032 kg)
Loaded weight: 47,500 lb (21,500 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 60,500 lb (27,400 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Allison T406/AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each
Maximum speed: 275 knots (509 km/h, 316 mph) at sea level / 305 kn (565 km/h; 351 mph) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Cruise speed: 241 kn (277 mph, 446 km/h) at sea level
Range: 879 nmi (1,011 mi, 1,627 km)
Combat radius: 390 nmi (426 mi, 722 km)
Ferry range: 1,940 nmi (2,230 mi, 3,590 km) with auxiliary internal fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Armament:
ASW: (Up to 4,900 lb (2,220 kg))
- 4 x Mark 50 or Mark 54 Torpedos
- Sonarbouys
Guns:
2 × 7.62 mm (0.308 in) M240 machine gun,
The AMT SV-22 Kit:
AMT produces several 1/72 scale kits of the V-22 Osprey. These include the MV-22 for the US Marines, the CV-22 for the US Air Force, and this 1/72 scale, SV-22 for the US Navy.
This model comes in a typical AMT box with a decent depicton of the intended aircraft in operation on the cover, and photos of the completed model on the sides.
AMT makes a decent model kit. There is little or no flash, and the parts of are superior quality in terms of their detai.
The kit includes four sprues molded in gray. Three of these are common to all of the various AMT Osprey models in 1/72 scale, but a fourth is the special sprue for the SV-22 kit. It includes the torpedos, the mounts for the torpedos, and the under belly of the aircraft showing the sonarbouy ejectors. There is also a clear plastic sprue for the canopy and lights.
Altogether, there are right at 100 parts to the kit.
The kit does not include a provision for the engine naceslls to rotate. I intend to build them in the vertical take-off position, with the landing gear down. It does allow for the props to spin.
The interior detail is adequate, though the cargo bay is not separated into the consoles and set-up for the ASW mission. I will scratch build some of this and leave the access door open. The cockpit is relatively well detailed, though the pilots seats are somewhat lacking. The Cargo access hatch can be shown down, and I intend to model mine with it down showing some of the sratch interiror work I plan.
The decal sheet includes markings for the US Navy, US Marines, US Air Force...and even US Army aircraft. I will use the US Navy markings. Altogther, there are 80 declas, though I will only use aproximately half of these.
The instructions are decent. No glossy color photos or depictions. However, the black and white/shades of gray color scheme is more than adequate and the paint scheme is very easy to follow. The instructions themselves provide step by step instructions for the building of the aircraft and the various options. It is a large sheet that is folded for storage but unfolds to reveal all of the instructions on one side and the painting scheme on the other.
Here are the pictures of the model out of the box. I had already done some intial painting.
In my first build session, I will build the cockpit and flight deck and add my scratch builds. I also hope to complete the aircraft fuselage with the tail boom and vertical stabilzors.
The Build:Cockpit, Scratch Build mission area, initial fuselage - August 1, 2014
In this session I will build the cockpit, scratch build an ASW mission area for the ASW specialists, and then glue the fuselage together and get the wings and read, horizontal stabilizer or.
First the cockpit. The flight deck is fairly detailed with the entrance and its bulkheads all in place, including the exit from the aircraft. The seats, as stated earlier, are not real detailed, but the various control sticks, pedals, and main screens are fairly well done. Decent decals for the Multi-function displays:
Then it was on to the area behind the cockpit and entry. Normally this would be set up to either carry troops, perhaps cargo, and would have places for the flight engineers, troops, and perhaps gunners to sit. but for the ASW version, this would all be replaced by the various electronics and stations for the ASW specialists that would be on the aircraft monitoring for enemy subs and controlling the systems to find, target and engage them. I scrounged around through my parts and found seating, parts I could use for cabinets and work surfaces, parts for computer monitors, and a number of left over decals for instrumentation. The following is the result.
Once this was completed and dried, it was then time to glue the entire deck into one half of the fuselage and put the fuselage together. I then glued the three parts for the main wing together (an full upper surface and two undersides of the wing for each side of the aircraft, and the two parts of the horizontal stabilizer in place. I then glued all of this together and dry fitted the vertical stabilizers in place. This is how that turned out:
That's enough for this session. She's looking pretty good, and when you shine a light into the cockpit, the exit, or the from the aft, you get a good view of the detail. I'll show that off in the end product.
The Build:Engines nacelles, weapons, landing gear, sensors, props, and complete fuselage - August 3, 2014
Lots to do in this session. I started off by building the engine nacelles and found that I was mistaken about the ability for those nacelles to rotate. They can indeed be built to rotate which I will do. I also am building the props to rotate. Numerous parts to paint and put together to make all of this happen.
Then I masked off the wing and fuselage for additional painting and painted the props. Looking good.
Then it was time to build the torpedo pylons for two Mk-50 or Mk-54 torpedoes on each side of the aircraft. Also time to build the landing gear and their doors, build the IR turret on the chin of the aircraft, the radar, the refueling probe, the various VFH and UHF antennae and place the loading ramp in the down position, along with the doors and stairways for the entry. Also painted the canopy and glued it on, and then, finally, glued the props on. The props needed to be carefully handled and each one held in place after gluing until it dried before moving on to the next. I actually did them two at a time, one on each engine nacelle until complete. With all of that in place, the aircraft is looking very good indeed.
Now THAT is looking like the proposed SV-22 ASW variant of the Osprey. In my next session I will complete the touch up painting, add the decals, and then add the final two coats of dull coat. Then we'll set the model up for display and include a number of pictures. Should have that all completed by August 5th.
SCHEDULE for Future Activities- August 3, 2014
- By Aug 05, 2014, Complete 1/72 scale US SV-22 Naval ASW Osprey.
- By Oct 01, 2014, Start the US Navy Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Gallery USS Wasp with an LHD, an LPD, a DDG, a SSN and two LCS.
- By Nov 15, 2014, Start the PLAN Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Trumpeter Type 071 LPD-999, with a FFG, and three DDGs.
- By Dec 31, 2014 Go back and start fleshing out the rest of the DDG and FFG escorts for each CSG and ARG group.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62(which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle, R91. I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit D612 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD