Myasishchev M-7 "Lebed". NATO reporting name Brawler. Finished Pics page 7.

[TheChronicOne]

Not real heavy, about three packs a week sometimes less..and some days I don't smoke at all, but yeah not the brightest thing to do and probably makes things like this damned croup (lol) last longer.

I'll learn one of these days. Trying to muster up the courage to ask the doctor for something (and I heard insurane companies will often times heap tons of free smoking cessation crap on you for free in an effort to keep future costs down).  I just don't want to try any of that stuff that makes people wig out and have walking night terrors and all that milarkey. 


And you know what... I was a fan of the minty green..   (but I'm a weirdo)   

[zenrat]

...I just don't want to try any of that stuff that makes people wig out and have walking night terrors and all that milarkey.  ...

I used that stuff.  Champix they call it here.  I had really weird dreams and didn't sleep properly for 3 months but it was worth it.
However, I also know one person who had to stop taking it because he got aggressive and another who lost impulse control (at least that was what he told his wife to explain the new motorbike).
First thing is to want to stop.  Without that you won't.
I won't lecture you (although i'm tempted).

Got to the part of the build i've not been looking forward to.  Getting her up on her wheels.  Despite using an SAC white metal set i'm still dubious about the strength of the join between the horizontally bits with the wheels on and the main leggy bits.
I attached the front wheels, attached the back wheels to the horizontally bits, propped it up and then epoxied the horizontally bits to the leggy bits.

Then, when the glue set I turned it upside down.  So far she has not sat on her wheels.  Hope they hold...

[PR19_Kit]

Hmmmm, '.....the main leggy bits.....' will be a technical term, will it? 

[Old Wombat]

Getting her up on her wheels.  Despite using an SAC white metal set i'm still dubious about the strength of the join between the horizontally bits with the wheels on and the main leggy bits.
I attached the front wheels, attached the back wheels to the horizontally bits, propped it up and then epoxied the horizontally bits to the leggy bits.

Sounds all technicallese to me!

[zenrat]

It's a direct translation from Engineering Russian.   

Well I stood her on her wheels today and when I left the shed she had been standing on them for 2 1/2 hours without any sign of problems.
Doesn't mean she hasn't collapsed by now though...


Other than that I glued on the small hydraulic rams that go from the main legs to the horizontal parts (bogies?) and painted a second coat of paint on the inside of the bomb bay doors.

[chrisonord]

I do like this Fred, and I am currently in the same boat with a build with dodgy undercarriage (oo-err!!)
Chris.

[zenrat]

Well I think I can uncross my appendages as she's stood on her wheels for 48 hours and they haven't moved.
I may still store her with the weight off them though.

Air brakes and undercarriage doors attached today.

[zenrat]

Elle a fini.

I will endeavour to take some photographs tomorrow.
I have already written some gibberish.

[TheChronicOne]

Cool!!   Looking forward to the Glamour Shotz (TM).   

[zenrat]

Myasishchev M-7 "Lebed": NATO reporting name Brawler.

Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The political upheavals that followed the death of King George VI in 1952 which saw the UK absorbed into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics resulted in the British aircraft industry being reduced to the role of satellite manufacturers.  While for a time they continued producing that materiel they had been before Brentry (as it became known in the tabloid press) their design departments were merged en masse into the existing Soviet Design Bureaus.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The English Electric designers were sent to Moscow to join Myasishchev where their first task was to produce studies for a supersonic all-weather aircraft that could deliver nuclear weapons over a long range, operate at high level at Mach 2+ or low level at Mach 1.2.
The result of these studies was, following a long and troubled gestation partly due to the need for "Russification" to fit in with then current central committee thinking, but mainly because of an initial distrust of the "English Men", the Myasishchev M-7.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 10 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
A tailed delta, powered by a pair of afterburning Kolesov RD-36-51A Turbojets the M7 had a long forward fuselage with a bulbous radar nose which led to it being nicknamed Lebed (swan).  In line with Soviet thinking it had a tail turret consisting of twin radar controlled Rikhter R-23 Autocannons.  A large internal bomb bay could accommodate a wide range of current and planned weapons.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 15 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The Lebed required a crew of two who were housed in a surprisingly cramped (given the size of the aircraft) cockpit under a very un-Soviet blown canopy.  The canopy design is thought to have been one of the few "radical" design elements introduced by the "English Men" to survive all the way through the development/review/approval/redesign process and it was loved by aircrews due to the unparalleled all round fighter-like vision it provided.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 5 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Initial M7 squadrons were tasked as night penetrators but as they worked up the new aircraft it soon proved to be adapt in its role at any time of day and in all weather conditions.
Mission profile was a high altitude approach at speeds in excess of Mach 1.7 with entry to and egress from the target area to be as low as 60m at a speed of Mach 0.95.  Something the Lebed was more than capable of.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The aircraft pictured, Red 20, is one of the initial delivery of 23 and is seen in the low level night camouflage scheme it wore in its first role as a night penetrator.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
The Model:
Airfix 1/72 TSR2-MS with its fuselage widened by 12mm.
Academy A-37 Dragonfly cockpit.
Revell 1/50 Honest John warhead as radar nose.
Wings widened and the tips leveled.
Empennage structure scratchbuilt to carry TSR2 flying surfaces.
SAC white metal undercarriage.
Decals from Italeri TU-28 (and very nice they are too – possibly Cartograph – they are thin but not see through and conform very well).
Pilots from the Little Men tub – probably Airfix Beaufighter.
Myasishchev M-7 Brawler 1 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[DogfighterZen]

That looks very good, love that nose!

[AXU]

Geez...that's look fantastic !!!

[NARSES2]

It almost looks alive, as though it was grown/bred rather than built ? I think it's the front 3/4 shot ? Got the look of a duck about it.

Love the back end and camouflage in particular. Lovely work 

[Snowtrooper]

The shape is so ugly it's almost beautiful, and certainly has the Myasishchev look nailed down. Well executed and original concept

[Librarian]

VERY Soviet, VERY Cold War Love the colours...the rear view looks very Ekranoplan . Gorgeous