Hi, Ya all!
While I'm in kinda hurry to get one model finished for the show tomorrow (http://www.ipms.nl/euroscalemodelling/30-esm/2000-euro-scale-modelling-mainpage-english.html)
I'm exited about my latest whif. Just in time finished for the show. I'll post better pictures after the show but couldn't wait to share these with you.
Subject is the Breguet Dorand G.V a French-just after-ww2 gyroplane for (armed) reconnaissance.
Frenchman Louis Breguet, had already experimented with rotorcraft in 1909, however, he chose to concentrate on airplanes until the end of the 1920s. In 1929 he announced a set of patents which addressed the flight stabilization of rotorcraft, and, in 1931, Breguet created the Syndicat d'Etudes de Gyroplane (French for "Syndicate for Gyroplane Studies"), together with Rene Dorand as technical director. Their goal was the development of an experimental helicopter, the Gyroplane Laboratoire. The Gyroplane Laboratoire was an early helicopter.
In 1938, Rene Dorand created the Societe Francaise Du Gyroplane, to develop a new aircraft with coaxial rotors, the GII, which was evacuated to Chambery in 1940 and finished. After the end of the war, it was found that no one dared to start the rotors, which, were very close to one another. The aircraft was donated to the French Air Museum.
It also became clear that especially the Americans had developed the concept of the helicopter into a practical useful aircraft and the development of the French prototype as compromised by the war. While the French Airforce and Army were re organized it needed all sorts of aircraft. A lot were supplied as lend-lease project aircraft but soon the urge for independence fueled by De Gaulle requested French built aircraft. This spawned the development of many different experimental aircraft.
One of the many requests from the French army was for a fast, armed reconnaissance aircraft/helicopter. While Dorand wanted to develop a Helicopter to meet the requirements, Breguet thought it was best to instant develop an gyroplane and not a helicopter. The technical development could be done a less time than the development of a helicopter. Altough not really happy about the decision Dorand knew the development of the gyroplane could mean more experience and development funds for the helicopter. So in 1949 the design was started.
To keep the costs down and speed up the development, parts from other aircraft were used. Undercarriage legs were taken from the Me-109 and altered. To blend-in the main undercarriage wheels, rubber fairings were used. The engine is an American Pratt & Whitney R2800 then also used for the Breguet Br 761/3/5 Deux-ponts. The engine was placed right in the middle of the airframe and powered an large six bladed variable pitch propellor and the rotor. This propellors as an integral part of the fuselage and a gearbox was needed to direct the power from the engine to the propellor. The rear amperage comprised of a butterfly tail, aluminium clad tubular airframe and the retractable tail wheel witch had to be long enough to clear the propellor.
Development was quick and in june 1950 the first test trials were started.
Altough some teething problems with the gearbox and it's cooling, three prototypes were ordered. In march 1951 the first prototype was finished and was trialed by the just resurrected escadron de reconnaissance 3/33 "Moselle" at Cognac airfield. Pictured is the prototype in its trial livery at ER 3/33 in may 1951.
Although an external oil cooler was fitted in the field the gearbox kept it's cooling problems. Also the landing gear was prone to collapsing while landing, creating massive damage to the airframe. After the third prototype was finished the French airforce lost interest as more useful, fully developed aircraft were available.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5497/30054039763_e4806148e8_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MMLNXn)IMG_3674 (https://flic.kr/p/MMLNXn) by David Dunnebier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/), on Flickr
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5702/30053385733_9f045af89f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MMHswZ)IMG_3646 (https://flic.kr/p/MMHswZ) by David Dunnebier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/), on Flickr
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5694/30053467623_1ef7dc1ba2_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MMHSST)IMG_3649 (https://flic.kr/p/MMHSST) by David Dunnebier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/), on Flickr
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5473/30651061526_1fc372f8cc_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NGwGJ3)IMG_3668 (https://flic.kr/p/NGwGJ3) by David Dunnebier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/), on Flickr
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5825/30599405131_8f59540268_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NBXX5x)IMG_3661 (https://flic.kr/p/NBXX5x) by David Dunnebier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/), on Flickr
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5797/30687471505_689dd50e67_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NKKj9i)IMG_3673 (https://flic.kr/p/NKKj9i) by David Dunnebier (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/), on Flickr
The complete album is to be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/albums/72157674629746520/with/30687471505/
The fuselage is build from an 1/72 Academy Wildcat fuselage turned upside-down. Wheels were glued shut and puttied. Frontal parts and canopy is from an Ilyushin DB4. The rotor mast are the tophalves of the inner wing from the Wildcat. The tail planes came from an 1/144 Kawanishi H8K. Undercarriage came from the spare box (can't remember what model gave up it's parts).
I hope you like it! As always, your comments are always appreciated!
David
That, sir, is a thing of beauty :wub: :thumbsup:
Thank you for posting it.
Terrific work :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:o :wub: :thumbsup:. Incredible chimaera and actually seems flyable. 10/10 for man-spheres with the NM finish.
This looks completely crazy and I love it.
Just like something the French could have dreamt up....
See you tomorrow.
TomZ
This looks utterly dangerous. And French. Frightening combo! :thumbsup:
Wow! :wub: :thumbsup: :bow:
Fantastic build and a very well thought up back story too :thumbsup:
Brilliant. Best thing i've seen on here all day.
Bravo!
:thumbsup:
That is so cute and cool. :thumbsup: :wub:
Bartender, I'll have whatever he's drinking. :blink: :bow:
Quote from: The Rat on October 28, 2016, 07:11:34 PM
Bartender, I'll have whatever he's drinking. :blink: :bow:
Absinthe by the look of it. :cheers:
Zur alors!! C'est magnifique!.....and spectacularly French.
Ouch! That's really wild!
And I have missed seeing it this morning! (https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aerosoph.net%2FHTML-version_Forum_Archive%2FSmilies%2Fbanghead.gif&hash=6cd661d26c3abb201926bd66540989ce79de712f)
But you didn't say where the propeller comes from, and the tail cone.
Hahaha, it was right there on the table!
Mmm, maybe I should have noticed you about the model. Didn't it attract your attention?!
The propellors are from a revell He-177 (from the spares box as they came from the Myasichev Projet M) and the tail is from an Academy Grumman Wildcat turned upside down (and the tail+fairing behind the cockpit removed). The left-over is an almost circular fuselage and just carved the propellor ring in the fuselage (razor saw cut in the front, milled in the rear). So the prop doesn't turn! (bugger..) but the rotor does!
Anyway the holes for the stubs of the prop blades where drilled out. At first I started out trying to make it a 5 bladed prop. But made a mistake in setting out the holes for the propblades and became six bladed. (bugger 2...)
But, I hope you enjoyed the show and it been nice meeting you in person! Have a save drive home. It's a long trip.
David
Thanks everybody for the positive replies! Made me laugh couple of times, utterly enjoyed it!
I'll make pictures of it next week if the weather is OK. I think pictures of the model have to be made in the garden as this does more justice to it's sleek shape and bold lay-out.
David
Quote from: 63cpe on October 29, 2016, 01:13:36 PM
Hahaha, it was right there on the table!
Mmm, maybe I should have noticed you about the model. Didn't it attract your attention?!
The propellors are from a revell He-177 (from the spares box as they came from the Myasichev Projet M) and the tail is from an Academy Grumman Wildcat turned upside down (and the tail+fairing behind the cockpit removed). The left-over is an almost circular fuselage and just carved the propellor ring in the fuselage (razor saw cut in the front, milled in the rear). So the prop doesn't turn! (bugger..) but the rotor does!
Anyway the holes for the stubs of the prop blades where drilled out. At first I started out trying to make it a 5 bladed prop. But made a mistake in setting out the holes for the propblades and became six bladed. (bugger 2...)
But, I hope you enjoyed the show and it been nice meeting you in person! Have a save drive home. It's a long trip.
David
Thanks for your wishes <_<. I am at the french base now. Tomorrow another long drive. :rolleyes:
And I didn't think the rear fuselage of the Wildcat was such a regular circular section. It's not easy to "see" the possibilities of a part before cutting up. You have a good "vision". :thumbsup:
New pictures added....
That centre prop ring is crazy... in a completely awesome sort of way. I'm imagining if there were two of them... ;)
I'm speechless!! :wub: :wub:
Its mad! I love it! :cheers:
Made me think of a drop tank meets submarine meets chopper! Nice work!
That is so cool ! I'd love to see ( and hear ! ) that thing fly ! Love the natural metal finish and those markings.
:thumbsup:
So you're certain this isn't some Unicraft or Mach2 kit? It is so well done I can't get over it. Bravo!
@Strobez: a double prop ring is a nice futher development. By that time it could have been turbo prop powered...well maybe, some day....
@ Kiwizac: No i'm sure it's not produced by Mach2 or Anigrand....:-) It's just a product of al lot of sanding.......In the album are some pictures of the built, but should have made more.
Thanks everybody for the great reactions and the nominatio for the whiffie award.
David