I’m a sucker for high fineness ratio and swoopy airplanes that are tailored for speed. And so, the past supercruising and quite boom concepts from the past are a source of constant inspiration. Eventually I wanted to see how a potential ‘modern’ BVR optimized supercruiser non-stealth aircraft could look. In theory, such a design would focus on using a large radar for active target sensing and large high contrast IR search and track (IRST) systems for long range passive detection. Armament would have to be boosted long range AAMs, in this case something analogous to the “Meteor” is envisioned. With that, the foundation of what would become Wahoo was laid. A very long fuselage sized around a large radar and large IRSTs would form the centerpiece of the concept design. The engine, a single afterburning fighter turbofan would be placed to even out the area rule curve while being nearly tucked behind the fuselage when viewed from the front. Sharply swept high aspect ratio wings to keep the jet lean would be used with main landing gear fairings being utilized to tie the wings into pitch stabilizing surfaces. Together this network of lifting surfaces and landing gear fairings would further aid in smoothing area curve again lowering wave drag. Making Wahoo a relentless, long distance marathon running predator!

This model is roughly a 1/72 scale airplane, 8.7” long, designed around a posable Hogwerks 1” pilot figure and/or other 1” posable figures like from the Jazwares Micro Galaxy line. Wahoo also features a movable canopy as well as magnetized and swappable landing gear modules and accommodations for magnetized weapons. To complete you will need:

1 A resin printer, try FDM at your risk 2 CA glue 3 1mm x 1mm magnets 4 0.52mm steel piano wire 5 For a clear canopy and sensor window: clear resin + high gloss quick shine floor finish or other high gloss clear coat; the more it can self-level the clearer the finish can be! 6 I recommend wet sanding for all resin printing, less dust and can get real smooth finishes! 7 Misc small modeling hand tools such as xacto knife, sprue cutters, pin drill (hand or powered) 8 Lack of friends 9 A proclivity for airplanes, really an obsession. Probably an obsession for airplanes that encourages your loved ones to wonder if you should be diagnosed with autism, or really already have said neuro divergent tendencies towards flying machines. Aren’t airplanes cool? Seriously. Probably the coolest. You should stop reading this now and just start building one of these! Maybe even 2!