DefianceIndustries' conceptual Wildcat has gotten a handful of tweaks. In particular, the recognizable wingtips, nose shape and engine position have been changed to improve the lineage connection to the Hellcat. The ship's also gotten four external missile hard points, which make it look rather tough!
I got noodling on my doodling again (sorry it's been a long week already). And the things that to me say "this is a Hellcat" are the downward pointing wing tips, squared-off and stubby nose, overall delta shape, and 3 main drives. Otherwise it's a Bearcat XD. So I didn't want to just throw a 3rd engine on the back, it would ruin the tail assembly, so I tried offsetting an engine along the centerline. Above the hull oddly caused the ship to look A) too much like a viper and B) it kind of messed up the lines. So I stuck the engine on the ventral hull and I think it looks pretty good - it blends in better with the lines and gives it a bit of "meat" on the tail section. The change necessitated moving the canards outboard a bit but it gives them a secondary purpose as additional protection for the 3rd engine. Finally because this is a WC1/2 version it needed external missile pylons - so I gave it 2x Javelin and 2X Darts for fun which would pair nicely with the 4x laser cannons. (I figure this would be a medium fighter somewhere between a Hornet and a Scimitar).
On an unrelated note, LOAF is traveling this week, so tomorrow's episode of All Wings Considered will likely be rescheduled for Sunday.
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