So it's been a while since I've posted anything up. I'm still doing some model work but have been occupied by a number of other projects. However one I really wanted to return to was my Wildcat starfighter (I thought I'd posted a thread here, but even after a search I can't find it). Anyway, this is a concept that's been bouncing around my head for quite a few years, as part of an idea I've been working on for a SciFi story. Every now and then I'll do some world-building on it, and this is one of my concepts. It's still in a quite incomplete state, consisting only of a partially complete hull and markings. I do have models for the engines and weapons systems, but those aren't shown here. LOTS of work to do on the hull (I need to fix some issues in the windscreen frame, and still need to cut out the landing gear bays) before I can start laying panel lines with DecalMachine, but this should still give a good idea of how it will look. In-Universe The SF4A Wildcat is an aerospace fighter first developed in 2416, to provide a single platform capable of both atmospheric and deep space combat. As such, the craft is built around a typical space plane form to facilitate atmospheric handling. Main propulsion is provided by two S-370 SABRE VII hybrid engines. The main fuel source is compressed liquid hydrogen stored in fuel cells in the forward wing root. When operating in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, the engines make use of atmospheric oxygen for the primary oxidant. In oxygen-poor environments, or when operating in vacuum, the engines switch to on-board compressed liquid hydrogen, in tanks located in the aft section of the wing root. Because of the low-wing design, the thrust line is kept aligned with the vertical center of mass by placing the engines in faired nacelles mounted above the wing. In addition to forward thrust, the engines can be reversed through the intakes. Vectored thrust nozzles provide the fighter with supermaneuverability when operating in atmosphere, as well as assisting with maneuvering in space. Reaction control thrusters located in the upper and lower surfaces of the wingtips, nose, and tail provide translational maneuverability in vacuum, while attitude is managed by control moment gyros. The airframe is rated for hypersonic flight, providing Single Stage To Orbit from the surface. Atmospheric maneuvering is managed by means of tailerons for pitch and roll control (supplemented by vectored thrust from the main engines) and a large rudder for yaw. Leading edge slats and full-span fowler flaps further improve the fighter's maneuvering capabilities in atmosphere. The engines are placed just outboard of the tailerons in order to clear the thrust line from the tail surface. The fighter is relatively small and compact, measuring a mere 12 meters from nose to tail. The primary armament is four M3/AS (Fixed) MARAUDER autoblasters, two located in each wing. Each blaster fires high-energy toroidial plasma bolts at velocities of nearly 10,000km/s, and with a cycling rate for each blaster of approximately 500 bolts per minute. In addition to the raw energy output, (approximately 500MJ per bolt) each bolt on impact unleashes an electromagnetic pulse which can damage unshielded electronics in the target craft. Although the fighter has proven capable in its role, the type has nonetheless largely been displaced in fleet usage by the SF5A Starcat, a dedicated space-borne fighter which sacrifices the Wildcat's atmospheric capabilities for a focus on space combat. As such, the majority of the Wildcats in service have been handed over to Marine squadrons, which are in greater need of the multi-role platform in support of surface operations. Those Navy squadrons which continue to operate the Wildcat are primarily Reserve and Planetary Guard squadrons. The Wildcat is also used to supplement the FN12G Dakota atmospheric trainer for space qualifications, in lieu of a dedicated space-borne trainer. Errata The Wildcat's weaponry and engines are based on real-world concepts, namely the Reaction Engines SABRE, and the MARAUDER plasma cannon. As the name and designation implies, there's more than a few nods to WWII, here. The designation is based on the pre-Tri-Service US Navy designation system of Mission/Model/Manufacturer, with some modifications. In this case, I've used "S" to denote the craft is capable of space flight. Thus, "SF" indicates a starfighter (a strictly atmospheric fighter would simply use F. In the case of the Dakota, N is the old Navy designation for a trainer). I've tried to borrow a few design elements from the F4F Wildcat itself, particularly in the tail and spine. I'm also going to see if I can work in the landing gear design. The marking scheme I'm using here is based on those carried by the pre-war US Navy and Marine Corps. The tail color indicates the squadron, while the fuselage band, nose cone, formation stripes, and cowl lip denote the flight (IE, Red Flight, Blue Flight, etc.). Pictured here is the flight leader, ("Red One") indicated by the fuselage band (in this case, this would also be the squadron leader). The numbers on the band indicate the squadron, mission, and craft number (in this case, ship #1 of Marine Fighting Squadron 251). A Marine Air Group is comprised of four squadrons, so each squadron in the group would use a different tail color (for MAG 25, VMF-251 is red, VMF-252 is blue, etc.). I've yet to work out a determination for identifying air group. The individual ship number is repeated both on the nose, and on the upper wing surface. The roundel is based on that used by US aircraft in 1918, modified to use a star rather than the center dot. This is all still fairly rough conceptualization at this stage, and will get refined as I go along.