UD-4L Cheyenne Dropship

Librarian · September 10, 2015, 06:00:05 AM

A project I'm working towards is my own version of this impressive machine but in 1/48th. Here comes the dumb question:

I've googled etc but cannot find anything to explain how this machine can hover as the only lift engines I've been able to find are the four rather small 'Harrier' nozzles at the rear. Where is the lift power coming from at the front, or is this sci-fi and therefore a question I shouldn't be asking?

Vorcha · September 10, 2015, 06:34:42 AM

That's a question I've been asking myself too. The conclusion I came to is this: James Cameron and the props-builders hadn't any clue. I watched the making-of of "Aliens" and in one sentence Cameron clearly says:
"We wanted it to look like a mixture of a F-4 Phantom and a Cobra gunship."

So I guess you should make your own version with a feasable means of propulsion.

I wanted to make one myself some time ago, but had no free time, but while thinking about the propulsion, I made this rough plan:

Captain Canada · September 10, 2015, 06:46:12 AM

Anti gravity ? But you prob hit it right on the head, somat most pundits wouldn't question so they just didn't bother

sandiego89 · September 10, 2015, 07:03:33 AM

Agree. Most (all?) sci-fi V/STOL aircraft/spacehips lack the proper type of thrust for VTOL flight physics as we know them (I don't count anti-gravity...yet). The Osprey like tiltrotor in Avatar was one of the better ones, but the fans still looked smallish. The big mother ship- no way. Don't knock yourself out trying to make it realistic, just enjoy the kit and quietly ignore the physics.

As the Harrier and rotor craft show us, moving large volumes of air at relatively lower velocities is the way to go. Yes you can get the same thrust from high velocity rockets and jets, but it is the "wrong" type of thrust for practical applications, with attrocious noise, fuel consumption, ground errosion etc.

Librarian · September 10, 2015, 07:08:40 AM

Thanks all. Always bugged me....I built four of the Halcyon models (one for me and three for friends) years ago and the lack of forward lift devices always bugged me. I have my plans.......

.

jcf · September 10, 2015, 11:40:10 AM

Lippisch-style cascade vanes in the area forward of the moving 'wing-mounted' weapon pods.
Problem: only exposed when pods are in firing position.

http://www.laesieworks.com/ifo/lib/VTOL.html

Angled ducts that are closed off by the main landing gear 'plates'.
Problem: only exposed when gear is down.

PR19_Kit · September 10, 2015, 01:17:42 PM

I thought it was all done by Claudia?

jcf · September 10, 2015, 02:07:38 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on September 10, 2015, 01:17:42 PM
I thought it was all done by Claudia?

Why, yes, it is all done by me. Thanks for remembering.

Rick Lowe · September 10, 2015, 11:13:31 PM

It's all done with the McGuffin Industries Handwavium Device(tm)

And thanks for the Claudia shot, I'd forgotten quite how lovely she is.

Cheers

NARSES2 · September 11, 2015, 12:59:56 AM

I've no idea what the heck you are all talking about. Claudia's quite reasonable however

zenrat · September 11, 2015, 01:28:57 AM

Seems she forgot to put her underwear on. She'll catch a chill.

IIRC isn't there a hole in the underside of the Halcyon Dropship towards the front that could be a nozzle/outlet?
I have built one AND I have the Colonial Marines technical manual but neither are to hand at the moment.

Librarian · September 11, 2015, 09:16:07 AM

Not a clue who she is but I'd be interested to hear from anyone else who's attempted a dropship in the past. I'm leaning towards the base kits being a 1/35 UH-60L and (some?) 1/48 A-10s, the latter's nose/forward fuselage grafted on to the main body of the former....plenty of room for payload bay, engines etc. Long term project probably with lashings of plasticard etc. Maybe a 1/35 Hind

.

Weaver · September 11, 2015, 10:42:11 AM

Quote from: Librarian on September 11, 2015, 09:16:07 AM
Not a clue who she is ...

Commander Ivanova from Babylon 5.

One of my favorite clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOHqe0vokU

Captain Canada · September 11, 2015, 11:27:59 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on September 11, 2015, 12:59:56 AM
I've no idea what the heck you are all talking about. Claudia's quite reasonable however

Agreed. Beautiful woman...those eyes are lovely !

Gondor · September 11, 2015, 12:26:22 PM

Quote from: Weaver on September 11, 2015, 10:42:11 AM
Quote from: Librarian on September 11, 2015, 09:16:07 AM
Not a clue who she is ...

Commander Ivanova from Babylon 5.

One of my favorite clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOHqe0vokU

Love that clip. Never did see all of Babylon 5 though I did enjoy all of what I saw. Her method of "exchanging genetic material" during one episode was quite interesting.

Gondor