Bristol Type 147 Bludgeon

[KiwiZac]

The Bristol Type 147 was the Bristol Aeroplane Company's answer to a Ministry of Defence specification calling for an army co-operation aircraft featuring defensive armament and the ability to land in confined spaces. The design team assigned to the Type 147 project was headed by Ramon de la Cierva, younger brother of the legendary Autogiro pioneer Juan. Known to all as "Ron", de la Cierva's autogyro (Cierva and licensees were the only firms legally entitled to use the name Autogiro) was based on the fuselage of the Bristol Bulldog biplane fighter – a known quantity in heavy demand for both the RAF and air forces abroad – modified to include a rear observer's position, a new cut-down vertical stabiliser and rudder, new horizontal tail surfaces, and a three-bladed freewheeling main rotor. Coupled with a Bristol Jupiter VII radial engine developing 375hp on takeoff, the first Type 147 prototype took to the air at Filton on June 5 1936.
The RAF was impressed enough to order five examples for trials. Now named the Bristol Bludgeon Mk.I these machines were armed with two forward-firing .303 Vickers guns (fired by the pilot, mounted exactly as in the Bulldog) as well as a further Vickers facing rearward for the observer. Provision was also made for up to four 20lb bombs carried between the landing gear struts, however this was soon dismissed as unnecessary. Pilots were ecstatic with the sprightly performance of the 'gyro, with takeoff runs of less than 15yd reported. Landings could be made with zero roll, which was a major bonus with the RAF. An order was placed for 15 Bludgeon Mk.Is to populate the new 363 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron.
Interestingly, another four Bludgeons were produced at this time and exported to Spain to serve in the Civil War with the Republican forces there. Their fate is unknown.
363's success in the short-lived Munich Emergency of November 1937 soon saw another three squadrons of Bludgeons produced, this time the Mk.II with greater fuel capacity and dual guns for the observer. The aircraft of 873 Sqn were at one point deployed to the emirate of Khemed to assist the forces of Kalish-Ezab in that nation's civil war, the first British forces permanently garrisoned there.
By 1943 the Bludgeons began to be replaced by newer observation autogyros and were retired to a training role. Thankfully several examples remain, including one maintained in flying trim by Sir Richard Shuttleworth, and another on display with the Imperial Armed Forces Memorial in London.

....and the model is well underway 

[KiwiZac]

Trying to work on my profile skills, here's a bastardized Bulldog one to give you a rough idea of the new cockpit and empennage. U/C legs are a work in progress, they will NOT appear as below on the final model.

[The Rat]

Nice concept. Keep the updates rolling in! 

[KiwiZac]

Aloha my rodent friend! Just for you, the improved (final?) profile of the Bludgeon:



Painting is well underway (allover silver with full rudder fin flash) and getting ready to fit rotors......butt-joining long pieces of styrene to a tiny hub, oh god am I screwed 

[buzzbomb]

I like it.. see where you are coming from but really, really need to see some plastic here

Stub wings at all for some MG's/ordnance perhaps ??

[KiwiZac]

Fine! Hope this will suffice for now Stupid camera's playing up, so this sneaky lil webcam shot will have to serve!


I was thinking about wings, but I couldn't really figure out a way to attach without lots more struts....and having to scratch the U/C legs and rotor mast meant lots of strut anyway!

[The Rat]

Hope this will suffice for now

Nope, totally unworthy of the model I'm afraid. You are hereby directed to beg, borrow, or possibly steal*, a better camera at once.


*You must know by now that suitable alibis can be arranged by some of our more rabid members? 

[Ed S]

Looks good so far.  I await better photos.  How is the rotor assembly going?


Ed

[sequoiaranger]

I like this!

An "Me-109" autogiro was on my list of whiffs before I sold off my big collection. Autogiros are intriguing flying machines, but I guess they were so limited in what they could do (and lift), that "Bird Dog" type planes took over observation work.

Still, I would love to be flying over "Nuh Zillin" in one!

[JayBee]

Zac, what a limp wristed excuse about the camera. Beg, Borrow, or Steal one!
This is just too good not to show the world, so come on laddie get it done.


Jim

[RotorheadTX]

Zac, that's a howl!! I've got bits-n-pieces of a Bulldog boxed up somewhere that are/were also destined to become an autogyro! Great job!

(For the love of Pete go steal a better camera!) 

[KiwiZac]

I tried using my dad's digital SLR, took two fantastic photos that would blow your collective mind, connected it to the PC as normal and wham! Nothing! Tried on the folks' computer, it said there were no photos! Bah!

I will endeavour to get more pics today.

Ed, the rotor head is a 1:72 Fw190 prop hub with the blades just superglued on as I don't have any wire thin enough to act as reinforcing.....will attach blades very soon.

[KiwiZac]

For all of you, witness the greatness that is the Bludgeon - now minus blurries!

[buzzbomb]

Great !!

As a tip to secure the blades, it is something I tried when if folded some rotor blades on a KA-29.
Use a saw to cut a slot in both the head and blade and insert a plastic card tab. When dry just file/sound back to the section you need
This will give a much stronger joint

[The Rat]

Lookin' real beauty Zac!