RMI-11 'Sólyom', Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944

[Dizzyfugu]

A quickie I built last week, while waiting for decals for the F3D-3... WiP description comes later, until then you are invited to guess what went into this kitbash? NoBf 109 was "killed", though.  

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some background:
Under the Treaty of Trianon (1920), Hungary was forbidden from owning military aircraft. However, a secret air arm was gradually established under the cover of civilian flying clubs. During 1938, as a result of the Bled agreement, the existence of the Royal Hungarian Air Force (Hungarian: Magyar Királyi Honvéd Légierő (MKHL)), was made known. The army's aviation service was reorganized and expanded.

Late 1938 the army aviation was once again reorganized. Admiral Horthy, the head of state, ordered that the army aviation should become an independent service with effect of 01.09.1939. It subsequently participated in clashes with the newly established Slovak Republic and in the border confrontation with the Kingdom of Romania.

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


In 1940, the decision was made to unite the Air Force, the anti-aircraft forces, and the civilian air defense organizations under one central headquarters.  In April 1941, operations were conducted in support of the German invasion of Yugoslavia and, on 27 June 1941, Hungary declared war on the Soviet Union.
On 01.06.1941, the Air Defense Corps was established, and Lieutenant General Béla Rákosi became Commander of Army Aviation. In effect the Air Force had once again become part of the Army. In the summer of 1942, an air brigade was attached to the Luftwaffe's VIII. Fliegerkorps at the Eastern Front.

At that time, most of the Hungarian Air Force's fighter equipment was of German origin, consisting of types like Bf 109 F and G, Fw 190 A/F, Me 210. But some indigenous designs were under development, too, e. g. at the RMI, Repülo Muszaki Intézet, or Aviation Technical Institute. Its aircraft were primarily (but not exclusively) by László Varga, and as a result, RMI designs were often given the Varga name (in some cases, even when he was not the major designer). But the RMI designation was used in parallel, too.

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


One of the domestic developments was the RMI-11 'Sólyom' (= Falcon) fighter. This single engine aircraft drew heavily upon the Bf 109 design, but featured some changes and improvements like an inward-retracting landing gear or a bubble canopy. It also incorporated elements from the heavy RMI-8 fighter, a push/pull design with twin tail booms, but the RMI-8's sole prototype was destroyed by Allied air raids before a serious test program could be launched.

In contrast to the complex RMI-8 the RMI-11 was a small and light aircraft, a conventional but clean design, based on simple shapes for easy, modular production. Most of its structure was made from wood, saving sparse metal whenever possible. Empty weight was, for instance, about 200 kg less than a contemporary Bf- 109 G.

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The RMI-11 was driven by a liquid-cooled DB 605 inverted V12 engine, rated at 1.475 hp. Thanks to the low weight of the airframe, the machine achieved a high top speed and an exceptional high rate of climb.

Originally designed as a fast and agile interceptor in the early stages of WWII, the RMI was only armed with two 13mm MG 131 with 300 RPG and two 7.92 mm MG 17 in the outer wings. Two underwing hardpoints could carry up to 100 kg each.

The RMI-11 prototype made its maiden flight in late 1943 and after a basic but successful test program immediately ordered into production – in a hurry, though, and beginning March 1944, Allied bomber raids began on Hungary and progressively increased in intensity.

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Production of the RMI-11 gained only slowly momentum, due to material shortages, because the RMI-11was primarily of plywood bonded with a special phenolic resin adhesive that was supplied from German sources. Due to Allied bombing raids on the glue's original production sites the plywood glue had to be replaced by one that was not as strong, and was later found to react chemically, apparently in a corrosive manner, with the wood in RMI-11's structure. In November 1944, several RMI-11s crashed with wing and tail failures due to plywood delamination. This same problem also critically affected the German Focke Wulf Ta 154 and Heinkel He 162 programs.

Late in 1944 all efforts were redirected towards countering the advancing Red Army. Soon it was clear that the type needed long range cannons with higher caliber in order to encounter heavy Allied bombers, so plans were made to add heavier German armament. This was realized through an extra pair of MG 151/20 20 mm cannons with 150 RPG, which were added in fairings under the wings instead of the original bomb hardpoints (which were hardly ever used in service at all). During the same refit, the rather ineffective MG 17s were deleted, saving weight and leaving more room inside of the wings for the MG 131s' ammunition supply (now with 400 RPG).

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


At that time only about 60 production aircraft had been completed and modified, and production was halted due to the severe structural problems. These machines were nevertheless thrown into service, with repairs and upgrades done at the Hungarian airfields – but the glue problem was a constant operational danger.

Still, all these efforts were to no avail: All fighting in Hungary ended on 16 April 1945, and all RMI-11's were scrapped after hostilities ended.

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



General characteristics
   Crew: 1
   Length: 8.82 m (28 ft 10 ½ in)
   Wingspan: 10.58 m (34 ft 8 in)
   Height: 4.10 m (13 ft 5 in)
   Wing area: 16.82 m² (181.00 ft²)
   Empty weight: 1,964 kg (4,330 lb)
   Loaded weight: 2,200 kg (4,840 lb)
   Max. take-off weight: 2,395 kg (5,280 lb)
 
Powerplant:
   1× Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 liquid-cooled inverted V12, 1,475 PS (1,085 kW)

Performance:
   Maximum speed: 640 km/h (398 mph) at 6,300 m (20,669 ft)
   Cruise speed: 590 km/h (365 mph) at 6.000 m (19.680 ft)
   Range: 850 km (528 mi)
   Service ceiling: 12.000 m (39.370 ft)
   Rate of climb: 17.0 m/s (3.345 ft/min)
   Wing loading: 196 kg/m² (40 lb/ft²)
   Power/mass: 344 W/kg (0.21 hp/lb)

Armament:
   2× 13mm MG 131 (.51 in) machine guns in the wings,400 RPG, plus 2× 20mm MG 151/20 (.51 in) machine cannons, 150 RPG, in external underwing fairings.With the cannons deleted up to 8× 15 kg (33 lb) or 2× 50, 100, or 150 kg (110, 220, or 330 lb) bombs under the wings



1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 RMI-11 'Sólyom', aircraft W-210 of 101.Vadaszezred, 1.Osztalyszazad "Red Pumas" of Hungarian Air Force, based at Veszprem, Summer 1944 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Knightflyer]

Very nice. It looks good.....Is that a P-51 tail there? ?

[Dizzyfugu]

No! 

Next?

[Knightflyer]

No! 

Next?

Mmmm...could be a long day!  The shape from the side looked that way ....but from above are the tail-planes from a P-40 ? ?

[Dizzyfugu]

No! 

Anyone else? There are three major ingredients - two for the fuselage, one for the wings... 

[Tophe]

Interesting bird   (but I do not know the answer to the source question)
[the engine seems a Merlin]

[Captain Canada]

Nice one ! I like the colours around the tail.

[Dizzyfugu]

[the engine seems a Merlin]

No! 

Many thanks, anyway! 

[Army of One]

Tail plane n rear fuselage from an early soviet jet.....? The one with the underdlung engine.....yak 15 or something the name eludes me at mo......

[Dizzyfugu]

Hmmm, no. But the early jet fighter idea is NOT bad at all! 

[loupgarou]

Nose and maybe undercarriage from a series-5 italian fighter? Like Macchi MC-205 ?

[Dizzyfugu]

Hmmm, direction is good, but not the way/combination/body parts you mentioned. But there's some major Italian heritage. 

[rickshaw]

Interesting.  I'd say it was perhaps a MiG-3 or an early Lavochkin?

[Dizzyfugu]

No, neither. Nothing Russian at all, at least in the major ingredients  

There's a little bit Russian, but no major part.

[NARSES2]

Well whatever's in there it's a lovely looking aeroplane and I love Hungarian markings so it scores on all points for me