That is surely one of the weirdest looking things I think I've seen 

Great work on getting all those fiddly bits lined up and symetrical 

Great work, I also imagine it would be quite a fiddly build to get things straight.

The main techniques I've used to achieve a nicely symmetrical model are hope and low lighting photography 

Quote from: RAFF-35 on April 15, 2025, 11:32:30 AMThe main techniques I've used to achieve a nicely symmetrical model are hope and low lighting photography 

   
Very helpful building technique matey 👍 😀

Quote from: Wardukw on April 15, 2025, 12:44:20 PM

Quote from: RAFF-35 on April 15, 2025, 11:32:30 AMThe main techniques I've used to achieve a nicely symmetrical model are hope and low lighting photography 

   
Very helpful building technique matey 👍 😀

Indeed! 

The modelling is excellent, but I am particularly impressed by the magnificently bonkers idea of this wonderful machine operating off the quarterdeck of a Danube flotilla river monitor

 

In 1917, the Austro-Hungarian Navy—known as the K.u.K. Kriegsmarine—commissioned Petróczy-Kármán-Žurovec to develop an untethered version of their PZK-2 helicopter for naval observation and reconnaissance. The decision to pursue an untethered design stemmed from the instability of launch ships at sea; the pitching and yawing of the deck made it impossible to keep the tethered PZK-2 stable in flight.

The resulting aircraft, designated the PZK-3, was ready for flight trials by May 1918. To enable independent, untethered flight, the design featured three rudders mounted beneath each of its three legs. Positioned within the downwash of the twin counter-rotating rotors, they allowed the helicopter to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

Altitude control was achieved by varying the RPM of the central drive shaft, which was powered by three Siemens-Halske Sh.I radial engines. Forward motion was provided by a pusher propeller mounted at the rear, driven via a clutch connected to the same shaft. The pilot sat in an exposed cockpit, precariously positioned above the main rotor assembly.

Initial test flights demonstrated that the PZK-3 was flyable and could be controlled, though it demanded exceptional skill and concentration. In forward flight, it exhibited instability in pitch and roll, often wobbling unpredictably.

As part of its testing with the K.u.K. Seefliegerkorps, the PZK-3 was launched from the cruiser SMS Admiral Spaun. After several reasonably successful trials, disaster struck. During a landing attempt in mildly choppy conditions, the helicopter touched down hard on the deck. The impact ejected the pilot from the open cockpit, tragically sending him through the spinning rotor blades beneath.

Following the accident, development of the PZK-3 was abandoned. All known documentation related to the aircraft was subsequently lost in the chaos that followed the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

That couldn't POSSIBLY be more bizarre if it tried! 

An amazing machine and an amazing model too. 

Don't forget to post it in the 'Finished Entries' section though.

Oh, you did, probably while I was writing the reminder. 

Quote from: PR19_Kit on Today at 03:02:46 AMThat couldn't POSSIBLY be more bizarre if it tried! 

An amazing machine and an amazing model too. 

Don't forget to post it in the 'Finished Entries' section though.

Oh, you did, probably while I was writing the reminder. 

Thank you very much! I aim to be different and I absolutely love how strange this is! I only bought this kit while I was waiting for my Saint-Chamond to get delivered. But this is probably one of my favourite ever builds! 

Hahaha, well thank you for the gentle reminder anyway 😄

      

 

That's a stunner   

Quote from: NARSES2 on Today at 05:39:21 AMThat's a stunner   

Thanks! 😁 The question now is how highly does it score as a bad idea? 

I bet this was not much of a putty monster. Nice bad idea, if that makes sence 

Gondor