"Is it me or do the fans appear to be significantly off centerline ?"
You're quite right, I think, but I've based my drawings on the given artist's
impressions , you can find by following SmithW6079s link.
I have just three explanations :
- I've underestimated the perspective distortion, but althougth the model seems
to show a higher sweep angle of the fin, than the artist's impresion, the
longitudinal position of the ducted fans seems to be more or less the same
- The N.500 militaire would have used significantly more powerful and heavier
engines, located in the rear fuselage, which demanded a more backwards
position of the fans.
- The model was just intended to show the possibilities of producing an attack
version of the basic N.500 and isn't really a dedicated design. that could perhaps
explain the striking similarity of the forward fuselage with the AH-1 Huey Cobra