Blohm und Voss BV 40

[NARSES2]

From what I remember from reading about them the idea was to tow them to a height above approaching bombers and ahead of the formation to do one or two head on diving passes after release...

Absolutely.

[JayBee]

Well my mind has been made up and the third one will be Russian.

Here are the three pilots.





Nearest the camera is "Ivan".
Ivan is an assumed name for the sake of this narrative as Russia never gave the pilots name. Nor in fact have they ever admitted to having test flown the aircraft.

Next we have the American pilot. Charles Beaver. He was a real gung ho test pilot and as his name might suggest he was a real "eager beaver". Known as Chuck he is best known by his nickname of "Eager Chuck".

Lastly we have Eric "Winkle" Brown.

[PR19_Kit]

They look more like an Olympic swimming match team just leaping into the pool! 

[NARSES2]

They look more like an Olympic swimming match team just leaping into the pool! 

Exactly what I was thinking Kit 

[JayBee]

OK now for the builds, and enough of the smarmy comments please, one would expect professional test pilots to do things in perfect unison.

So here we go for the build(s).
First the WK/Warlord series kits, and I am doing the two of them at the same time.
These are destined to be the American and Russian test examples.
These date from the late 1990's and do show it in ways. Have a look at the sprue gates!!!


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/6286/GZRecz.jpg


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/2865/csix7n.jpg


No, do not ask me what the extra blobby bit is sticking out from the tail is, your guess is as good as minOK here we go for the build(s).
First the WK/Warlord series kits, and I am doing the two of them at the same time.
These are destined to be the American and Russian test examples.
These date from the late 1990's and do show it in ways. Have a look at the sprue gates!!!








No, do not ask me what the extra blobby bit is sticking out from the tail is, your guess is as good as mine !

[Scotaidh]

I believe that "blobby bit" is the anchor attachment point, used with the bungee launch system.  The glider is hooked to the bungee, and a spring-loaded clamp is placed over the blob.  This clamp is attached to a winch cable, which is used by the winch to draw the glider backwards until the bungee is at the desired tension.  When the pilot signals that he's ready, the winch operator releases the clamp, and Voila! the glider is launched by the bungee.

No?

[JayBee]

Erm! No!

First we visit the fuselage.
Nice and simple, detail not bad, and they fit together.
One observation at this stage is that the surface of the plastic feels slightly rough, almost like very fine sandpaper. It certainly does not show in the photos.

[JayBee]

Then the wings are dry fitted, and fitted is maybe not the correct term to use, but just to cheer up certain members on here I have placed them side by side as if they were a "Zwilling".





My answer is "Not a snowballs hope in Hell, will I do that!"

[Tophe]

Wonderful zwilling (in dreams...)

[JayBee]

.... and of course there was the "Bergahorn" proposal, which would have given both pilots a tremendous field of fire.





Bergahorn is the German name.
French  -  Sycomore
English  -  Sycamore
American English  -  Plane tree.

[Tophe]

Wonderfully asymmetric!

[PR19_Kit]

........ which would have given both pilots a tremendous field of fire.

As well as the most APPALLING glide ratio!