You do also have the eight mini-jets at the knees - with thrust vectoring, which sidesteps the control freeze the real P-38 tended to get due to compressability issues when diving. It's still a subsonic airframe at heart, though, so you still need the dive brakes. Having the wings in a near vertical configuration also places their control surfaces to aid in generating side-slip, at least to a degree. There's a pair of booster rockets (profile lowered from the bulbous footbals of the earlier still image) that become a backpack available as well.
Of course, in the end, any such discussions are meaningless when you're dealing with something as ridiculous as a prop plane that turns into a giant robot and (later, with boosters, if you're crazy enough or lazy enough not to switch to a later type) flies in space.
What, don't look at me like that! Superdimension Cavalry Southern Cross did it with helicopters first! And all the engines are fusion powered turbines, that's why they're so small - the materials can only be produced in small parts until 1941, well after this was designed. The Fw-190 will be like that too - half a dozen little fusion turbines geared to a prop shaft in place of the OTL piston engine. I thought about giving it a more turboprop style five blade propeller, but the three blade prop is almost as much a part of the classic image as the bulge on each side of the booms (oil coolers in the original.)
(Of course, SDFCSC was the redheaded stepchild of the Superdimension trilogy, but let's conveniently ignore that)
You're right though in that B-mode is considered ground use only under most conditions - it's hard to melee in the air with no leverage, and if you just need arms to aim a gunpod around for off-angle attacks that's what C-mode is for. Flying up to a bomber, transforming, and tearing it apart is an interesting mental image - I might have an antagonist character do it in a cinematic...
ETA:
http://www.bushwings.com/Diary%20Photo%20Album3.html
http://www.ipmslivonia.org/ipms/Gallery ... 8-JF-2.htm
http://www.fritzandsheila.com/P-38/Frit ... 20Page.htm
Yes.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows
Of course, in the end, any such discussions are meaningless when you're dealing with something as ridiculous as a prop plane that turns into a giant robot and (later, with boosters, if you're crazy enough or lazy enough not to switch to a later type) flies in space.
What, don't look at me like that! Superdimension Cavalry Southern Cross did it with helicopters first! And all the engines are fusion powered turbines, that's why they're so small - the materials can only be produced in small parts until 1941, well after this was designed. The Fw-190 will be like that too - half a dozen little fusion turbines geared to a prop shaft in place of the OTL piston engine. I thought about giving it a more turboprop style five blade propeller, but the three blade prop is almost as much a part of the classic image as the bulge on each side of the booms (oil coolers in the original.)
(Of course, SDFCSC was the redheaded stepchild of the Superdimension trilogy, but let's conveniently ignore that)
You're right though in that B-mode is considered ground use only under most conditions - it's hard to melee in the air with no leverage, and if you just need arms to aim a gunpod around for off-angle attacks that's what C-mode is for. Flying up to a bomber, transforming, and tearing it apart is an interesting mental image - I might have an antagonist character do it in a cinematic...
ETA:
Bluemage Wrote:...does it come in black?
http://www.bushwings.com/Diary%20Photo%20Album3.html
http://www.ipmslivonia.org/ipms/Gallery ... 8-JF-2.htm
http://www.fritzandsheila.com/P-38/Frit ... 20Page.htm
Yes.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows