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Description
The United States Department of the Navy, excited by the success of the TBV-1A Sea-Thunder, in 1942, immediately commissioned Prof. Anton Veeblefitzer, and his team of aircraft-design engineers, to develop a single-seat'd version of the craft, that could be used as an interceptor fighter, and, attack-fighter-bomber.
The result of this commission was the F1V-1A "Thundershark".
The overall dimensions, compared to the earlier designs, were reduced by 15%, and the weight was reduced by 20%.
The twin PW-R2800 motors, rated at 2,000hp were maintained
The weight reduction allowed for an increase in firepower weight.
The earlier wing positioned 4 x .50 cal mg. were abandoned, and replaced by, get ready....., 8 (EIGHT!) 20mm cannon, equipped with 175 rounds-per-gun!!!
The new design, nicknamed the "Thundershark", quickly proved itself completely superior to, not only enemy aircraft, but to all allied aircraft as well!
The "Thundershark" was immediately put into mass production, and distributed to US Navy and USMC air squadrons.
The 'craft pictured, was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Gettysburg, mid-late 1943. It was flown by CDR James D Wyrick Sr., father of the artist who has depicted this machine, for the DA viewer.
Pilots who flew the machine had this to say:
"You had to be born IN the cockpit, to fly this thing!"
(It was the first USN aircraft requiring a ladder to gain access to the cockpit).
"A measly one-half second burst of cannon-fire, and you'd toasted your opponent!"
"Strafing enemy ships was fun! They'd just blow apart, as the armor- piercing cannon rounds would ignite their ammo storage rooms!"
"It had more engine-power than it deserved! If you tried to go over 450 mph, in a dog-fight, it'd vibrate like hell!"
And so on..., and so on.... .

With thanks to "Ultracast" scale crew figures, painted by Kevin McLaughlin, and photo'd by Steve Bamford
Made with DeviantArt muro

Description
The United States Department of the Navy, excited by the success of the TBV-1A Sea-Thunder, in 1942, immediately commissioned Prof. Anton Veeblefitzer, and his team of aircraft-design engineers, to develop a single-seat'd version of the craft, that could be used as an interceptor fighter, and, attack-fighter-bomber.
The result of this commission was the F1V-1A "Thundershark".
The overall dimensions, compared to the earlier designs, were reduced by 15%, and the weight was reduced by 20%.
The twin PW-R2800 motors, rated at 2,000hp were maintained
The weight reduction allowed for an increase in firepower weight.
The earlier wing positioned 4 x .50 cal mg. were abandoned, and replaced by, get ready....., 8 (EIGHT!) 20mm cannon, equipped with 175 rounds-per-gun!!!
The new design, nicknamed the "Thundershark", quickly proved itself completely superior to, not only enemy aircraft, but to all allied aircraft as well!
The "Thundershark" was immediately put into mass production, and distributed to US Navy and USMC air squadrons.
The 'craft pictured, was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Gettysburg, mid-late 1943. It was flown by CDR James D Wyrick Sr., father of the artist who has depicted this machine, for the DA viewer.
Pilots who flew the machine had this to say:
"You had to be born IN the cockpit, to fly this thing!"
(It was the first USN aircraft requiring a ladder to gain access to the cockpit).
"A measly one-half second burst of cannon-fire, and you'd toasted your opponent!"
"Strafing enemy ships was fun! They'd just blow apart, as the armor- piercing cannon rounds would ignite their ammo storage rooms!"
"It had more engine-power than it deserved! If you tried to go over 450 mph, in a dog-fight, it'd vibrate like hell!"
And so on..., and so on.... .

With thanks to "Ultracast" scale crew figures, painted by Kevin McLaughlin, and photo'd by Steve Bamford
Made with DeviantArt muro