Piston Perfection

AeroplaneDriver · October 05, 2007, 09:31:17 PM

Quote?HERESY?[/u][/size]

Suprised nobody's done it though, damnation doesn't normally stop us.....

Didn't stop me!!!!

Good grief!!

It's like seeing Cheri Blair's head on Billie Piper's body

anthonyp · October 06, 2007, 05:53:02 AM

And we have a winner!

The masses have spoken, and the Piston Perfection GB will begin soon!

Hobbes, I sent you a PM with some info I need. When you get that back to me, I'll go ahead and set up the GB.

anthonyp · October 06, 2007, 07:16:53 AM

Blatantly stealing Lee's description of the GB, as well as the rules.

Moving this thread to the new forum so Hobbes can get the rules and any other other pre-build threads set up!

dy031101 · October 06, 2007, 09:32:02 AM

If I had the skills and the time to scratch build an aircraft, I'd probably have picked a prop-driven plane from Raiden Fighters II (although the forward-swept wing Chaser from the first Raiden Fighters is sexier than the Chaser 2000 from RF II).

'cause I just can't get that game off my mind.

Quote1. No jets, rockets or turboprobs.

QuotePiston means that - piston power. No mixed power. As I said, RATOG would be allowed as technically it's a store and dropped after takeoff. No propellor turbines either, as that's just a jet engine with a prop on the front and therefore cheating.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the emphasis of turboprops placed upon fuel economy rather than raw output?

Spey_Phantom · October 06, 2007, 10:18:04 AM

well, i just got a sea fury, so that has a piston engine, so i guess im joining in with that B)
i still have an old Blackburn Skua's engine here, that can be handy to ^_^

kitnut617 · October 06, 2007, 11:46:37 AM

It's a pity this couldn't start a little later as I would like to do this one too. I'm tied up with my CG/CSAR build at the moment, but if I get it finished soon enough I'll do a DH Hornet upgrade for this.

Robert

Daryl J. · October 06, 2007, 12:46:44 PM

Traditional thinking puts western aircraft engines into the fore; what about the East? Griffons on a Ki-46 would look most odd. How about land-based....say the '48 Panhead Harley engine or the Hemi 426?

Actually, rather than search out a Hemi 'Cuda kit or some Chopper, there's both a Ki-46 and a Fine Molds Reppu (Sam) in house.

There might even be a Shinden buried deep in the basement.

I'll genuinely think about hopping aboard; things are still a bit nutty around here time-wise due to the twins and they have to come first.

Daryl J.

lenny100 · October 06, 2007, 02:58:58 PM

i think my spitfire22/tsr2 will be up for this

elmayerle · October 07, 2007, 07:38:58 PM

QuoteTraditional thinking puts western aircraft engines into the fore; what about the East? Griffons on a Ki-46 would look most odd. How about land-based....say the '48 Panhead Harley engine or the Hemi 426?

Actually, rather than search out a Hemi 'Cuda kit or some Chopper, there's both a Ki-46 and a Fine Molds Reppu (Sam) in house. There might even be a Shinded buried deep in the basement.

I'll genuinely think about hopping aboard; things are still a bit nutty around here time-wise due to the twins and they have to come first.

Griffon- or Merlin-powered Ki-61 or Ki-84?

AeroplaneDriver · October 07, 2007, 10:29:15 PM

QuoteBesides, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the emphasis of turboprops placed upon fuel economy rather than raw output?

Fuel economy as well as reliability of a turboprop are light years ahead of big WWII era pistons, but they also have the pistons beat by a wide margin on power to weight ratios.

Fore example the PW150 in the Bombardier Q400 (Dash 8-400) puts out 5,000+ shp and weighs about 1,500lb while the 1,700 hp Merlin weighs about 1,600lb.

That same Merlin in race form will put out power comparable to the turboprop at a comparable weight, but it's lifespan is measured in hours rather than the thousands and thousands of hours that the PW150 will happily run between overhauls.

Of course none of this takes into account that the sound of a Q400 at takeoff is a low droning hum while a Spitfire or Mustang at takeoff power sends shivers down your spine.

Daryl J. · October 08, 2007, 10:13:17 AM

QuoteIt would be equivalent to using a washing machine motor in a Formula 1 car.

ie: Rather than 'The Fast and the Furious' we'd have to have 'The Slow and the Determined'.

I suppose a Spitfire Mk.1 with a single blade, counter balanced prop would fit this description.

Daryl J.

ysi_maniac · October 08, 2007, 10:43:53 AM

Two ideas:

1 Napier Sabre powered Dora: chin radiator moved back a la P-51.

2 Griffon powered Dewoitine D-520.

Measuring styrene at the moment ... B)

Daryl J. · October 08, 2007, 10:55:21 AM

OK....if things work out time wise this is it:

Idea #1: The Macchis of Marrakesh. N. Africa circa 1954 and the rather famous Gibralter Emergency. Mercenary pilots from WW.II seeking stick time went to work for the US to augment American unofficial dirty business. Financed entirely by secret American funds, men and aircraft converged on N. Africa in the early fifties. Aircraft were brought up to first rate condition or better but showed there wear and tear from their oft-needed trade. All serial numbers were removed from everything, clothing tags removed as well, and no ID carried by pilots. Each aircraft had it's own individual markings resulting in paint schemes as vivid and individualistic as those of WW-1. The Macchi 205V became a favorite mount especially with it's tuned, balanced and blueprinted DB-605DX engine good for a reliable 2100 hp. Although less powerful in raw performance, it's long-term reliability resulted in much 'on site time' being accrued over the years. The Macchi 202's also served with distinction, especially with their long range tanks rendering the craft useful to dash back to Italy and the south of France to replenish the very limited stocks of fine Port, Bordeaux, and Shiraz.

As to what is the Gibralter Emergency of 1954, I have no idea

....it still needs to be invented.

Hopefully something comes out that pokes fun at us Yanks.

Additional available aircraft: Seafire 47, Griffon Hurricane, (don't kill me for this one) Bf-109Kx for a recon. role, SM-79 swinging 3 3350's, etc. American machines specifically avoided due to the ''non-involvement'' by our people. Japanese aircraft also excluded because of distance.

Macchi colors: Natural metal nose section, overall very light sand with oxidisation/stain, chocolate & leather interior, possible bold black/white tail empennage. Repropped with 109K-4 blades. Simple colors used to show off those fabulous Italian lines.

Based on the real story of the secret B-29 squadron known as "The fuzzy bunny Squadron" which was based in Kadena, Okinawa in the early-to-mid 1950's. The aircraft were specially equipped and specially crewed for missions yet released. The machines were all black. No serial numbers were anywhere. No ID on anyone. No clothing tags. No knowledge even of their existance. When one would be lost (supposedly deep in mainland China), the report would be ''Lost on a routine training mission over the Sea of Japan." Dad was there but to this day talks little about it because it was highly classified. So, rather than Kadena, why not Morocco and Marrakesh sounds better with 'Macchi' so there. And rather than B-29's, why not less expensive, smaller machines and a motley mercenary maintenance unit.

Idea #2: The US decided it needed more information than it was getting in the Korean conflict so it leased a number of Seafire FR.47's with contraprops and equipped the USMC with them for a period of time. Overall GSB/USMC marks. Served 1951 late through the spring of 1953 and were land based. Engine hop-ups to follow.

Idea #3: B-29 with corncobs, no insignia, camouflaged, and used for missions of mystery. Does anyone know a source of B-50 engines/cowlings in 1/48?

Idea #4: He-219 used for column strafing Vietnam. SEA green/green/tan/grey.

As always, feel free to use any of this in any variation for yourself.

Daryl J.

Mossie · October 08, 2007, 11:08:35 AM

QuoteTwo ideas:

1 Napier Sabre powered Dora: chin radiator moved back a la P-51.

2 Griffon powered Dewoitine D-520.

Measuring styrene at the moment ... B)

Carlos, the Boulton Paul P.103 looked very much like a Fw-190A with British engines & had a wing similar to the Tempest. The P.103A was powered by a Griffon, the P.103B by Taurus, this version looking very similar to the Butcher-Bird. It was designed to be a naval aircraft & could be fitted with RATO packs for take off. Not the Dora or a Napier Sabre, but very interesting none-the-less.

Daryl J. · October 08, 2007, 06:12:57 PM

Great input, Wooksta, thank-you. In order to make this work, we'd have to add some additional untrue presumptions such as the European melting pot was very inefficient. Or, in order to jump start destroyed economies, production of said aircraft were continued for a time from melted wartime airframes, some of which were slated for export. Another: the Brits weren't so hard on their Seafires, had plenty of them, and the Yanks weren't so hell-bent on having the latest, greatest, and most expensive option. I do rather enjoy the parallel existance of the what-if world blending the slightly possible with the impossible mixed in rather transparantly with some realities. Why DB-605's? Simply I like the sound of that engine as I do the P-51 Merlin.

Thanks again!

Daryl J.