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Avro 730 & OR.330E

Started by Mossie, August 15, 2010, 02:07:05 PM

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Mossie

Got talking about this at Elvington today.  The Avro 730 was the winner of a competition to select a high altitude mach 2.5+ recconisance aircraft.  As the competition progressed, a secondary bomber role was added.  OR.330 produced several designs comparable in performance & role to the A-12/SR-71 & predated that aircraft by a few years.

The pure recconisance version of the 730 had four engines of 20,750lb thrust (83,000lb total) plus two rocket motors.  The later recce plus bommber variant had eight engines of 14,000lb thrust (112,000lb total).  This was slower than the A-12/SR-71 that had 65,000lb in total, although the EE P.10 with 24 ramjets & two boost engines was capable of Mach 3.

One thing about the Avro 730 that is easy missed in three views is it's size, or more accurately, it's length (48.5m in final form).  The OR.330 aircraft were similar in size, except for the English Electric P.10 that was shorter (33.1m) because the EE team believed that advancing technology would reduce the size of the side scanning radar used.

Just to illustrate the size of the Avro 730, I've scaled plan views of contempary aircraft:


There's more info on the OR.330 contenders on Secret Projects:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,905.0.html
I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

Thorvic

So thats your next build ?........ ;D
Project Cancelled SIG Secretary, specialising in post war British RN warships, RN and RAF aircraft projects. Also USN and Russian warships

Martin H

a new scratch build padwan eh Geoff?
I always hope for the best.
Unfortunately,
experience has taught me to expect the worst.

Size (of the stash) matters.

IPMS (UK) What if? SIG Leader.
IPMS (UK) Project Cancelled SIG Member.

Mossie

Heh!  I should maybe start with something a tad smaller eh??? :drink:
I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

Thorvic

Quote from: Mossie on August 15, 2010, 03:34:23 PM
Heh!  I should maybe start with something a tad smaller eh??? :drink:

Avro 731 ? ;D
Project Cancelled SIG Secretary, specialising in post war British RN warships, RN and RAF aircraft projects. Also USN and Russian warships

The Wooksta!

#5
The Airfix 72nd Concorde could give you the fuselage and possibly the u/c.  I mentioned it to Melchett a while back.

It looks to be about the size of a Valkyrie and believe me, that is an utter swine to store and transport.
"It's basically a cure -  for not being an axe-wielding homicidal maniac. The potential market's enormous!"

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The Wooksta!

Quote from: Mossie on August 15, 2010, 03:34:23 PM
Heh!  I should maybe start with something a tad smaller eh??? :drink:

Jumping in at the deep end is sometimes the best way.  I did it with a Junkers Ju 488 V401 about 15 years ago and then made a second a few months later.  Could do a far better job now and I do have all the bits...  And witness the Atlantic.
"It's basically a cure -  for not being an axe-wielding homicidal maniac. The potential market's enormous!"

"Visit Scarfolk today!"
https://scarfolk.blogspot.com/

"Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!"

The Plan:
www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic

Mossie

Concorde might be a place to start.   Trouble is, Concorde has an egg-shaped cross section, while the 730 has a circular section with a pannier undeneath.  In profile, Concorde has constant section for most of it's length whereas the 730's varies over it's entire length.  Talking to Duncan, it would probably be a case of a total scratch build, determining the sections & then skinning them.  That wouldn't be too difficult, even without a cross-sectional diagram you could determine the sections from a plan view.

It wouldn't be easy, what ever route is taken.  The HP.100 might be easier to produce from a Concorde kit, you might even be able to adapt the wing, although a Valkyrie might be a better option for that.
I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

The Wooksta!

Rather than adapt a fuselage, just blow the plan up to 72nd and cut two outlines - top and side.  fill the centre with scrap - balsa, offcut sprue, resin plugs.  Cover with P38 and sand to shape.  If you get it right whilst it's curing (depending on the amount of catalyst used, it can be quite quick!) you can cut it like cheese. 

The benefit is than it can be sanded as smooth as glass and you can easily scribe panel lines.  It's also quite quick to cure, certainly faster than milliput which I've always detested.  Downside is that it stinks, so you'd have to go outside or use the garage or shed.
"It's basically a cure -  for not being an axe-wielding homicidal maniac. The potential market's enormous!"

"Visit Scarfolk today!"
https://scarfolk.blogspot.com/

"Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio!"

The Plan:
www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic

Mossie

Found this pic on Britmodeller of an Avro 730, Vulcan, 707 & Fairey Delta in 1/144, all by BigReg:
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17192&st=60

I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

Hobbes


kitnut617

Quote from: Hobbes on August 16, 2010, 09:06:55 AM
You're aware there is a kit of the 730?

http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/Avro730CatalogPage.htm

The first time I saw it was on Sharkit's website. Rene doesn't show it anymore though.
If I'm not building models, I'm out riding my dirtbike

Cobra

Guys, the AVRO 730 & the OR.330E are Both Cool Looking but, Don't They look like Something from 'Thunderbirds'?Dan

Mossie

Definately, designs such as the Avro 730 were a direct influence on Gerry Anderson & the design team at TV Century 21, that golden age of aviation design in the fifties & sixties where anything seemed possible.  Thunderbirds is particularly influenced, with technology, it's benefits & but also associated pitfalls being the main theme.  The Fireflash airliner in particular has a similar style to the 730, canard layout on a long slim fuselage.
I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

royabulgaf

I've pondered this myself.   As the 730 does have a circular cross section, I have given thought to using telescoping sections of PVC tubing.  I have used PVC for engine cowlings on a model, and it works quite well.  Also some millwork at the big box home improvement stores are made of some artificial product that is easy, almost too easy to carve.  I haven't found it in sizes to say, carve a 730 fuselage in 1/72. 
The Leng Plateau is lovely this time of year