Westland-Fairey Rotocrane HC4

PR19_Kit · July 12, 2018, 03:40:19 PM

I seem to have spent most of the evening filing styrene. Trying to get the Noratlas boom to fit the rear of the Rotodyne engine nacelle wasn't all that easy, especially getting it lined up laterally and vertically, but I managed it in the end.

I also filed off the fuselage wing roots until the wings were no longer swept, and plugging the whole lot together produced what you can see below. if I do the same on the other side it should be symmetrical. (sorry Tophe....

)

My plans to use both 'dyne's tailplanes to fill the gap between the booms has gone out of the window, not the least because I only have tailplanes from ONE of the 'dynes! The gap between the booms is longer than two tailplanes anyway due to the increased inboard wingspan due to the larger Tyne props. So it looks like I'll be looking around for a parallel wing-tailplane to fit the gap.

TheChronicOne · July 12, 2018, 04:19:09 PM

Intriguing design shaping up.

This is going to be great!!!

sandiego89 · July 12, 2018, 06:37:50 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 12, 2018, 03:40:19 PM
So it looks like I'll be looking around for a parallel wing-tailplane to fit the gap.

Maybe Defender wing(s)? Straight and similar shape. Bronco might work also, but theres not much wing to start with.

Old Wombat · July 12, 2018, 07:21:38 PM

A couple of P-38 Lightning tails pinned together?

Tophe · July 12, 2018, 07:24:17 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 12, 2018, 03:40:19 PM
if I do the same on the other side it should be symmetrical. (sorry Tophe.... )

I love asymmetric aircraft, yes, but I love also (symmetrical) twin-boomers... And I love your project, I swear I do.

nighthunter · July 13, 2018, 04:19:51 AM

1/48 Bronco tail?

Thorvic · July 13, 2018, 04:38:04 AM

Have you done the booms upside down so that the tail fins point down to the ground, rather than up to the sky ?

PR19_Kit · July 13, 2018, 05:57:02 AM

I think a Bronco may well feature in my search for a tailplane, yes.

Quote from: Thorvic on July 13, 2018, 04:38:04 AM

Have you done the booms upside down so that the tail fins point down to the ground, rather than up to the sky ?

The boom is the 'right' way up for the Noratlas, with a little fin on the bottom, and it has a big one, with a very long dorsal fin on the top normally. But I'm going to have some version of the original 'dyne fin, with the angled out top section, and most of it downwards eventually.

That's when I can figure which parts of the kit are for the tailplane and which are for the fins....

kitbasher · July 13, 2018, 10:49:30 AM

you seen this month's 'Aeroplane' Rotodyne article, Kit?

PR19_Kit · July 13, 2018, 11:00:42 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on July 13, 2018, 10:49:30 AM

you seen this month's 'Aeroplane' Rotodyne article, Kit?

The July issue, yes, but they didn't mention any of the Rotocrane versions for some reason..........

I may find the August one tomorrow, perhaps it's in there as a Part II?

kitbasher · July 15, 2018, 02:12:12 AM

Reading said article prompts this question, Kit. Have you got enough leftovers to make a Rotodyne without the rotor? A sort of an alternative to the Caribou (at least in timeline terms)?

PR19_Kit · July 15, 2018, 05:35:16 AM

Quote from: kitbasher on July 15, 2018, 02:12:12 AM

Reading said article prompts this question, Kit. Have you got enough leftovers to make a Rotodyne without the rotor? A sort of an alternative to the Caribou (at least in timeline terms)?

Almost, I'd need to scratchbuild a pair of fins, and it'd have a shorter fuselage. But I could use some bits from two of the slightly smaller scale Revell kits that I have.

Good thinking there Dave.

PR19_Kit · July 15, 2018, 08:01:30 AM

Here's a lash-up side view drawing of what I intend the Rotocrane to look like. The 'photo' landing gear is from the Noratlas, as are the booms of course. The under nose 'gondola' is only there to ensure the short nose wheel of the Noratlas actually fits, but the backstory will say that it's to position the loadmaster nearer to the action.

Tophe · July 15, 2018, 08:13:33 AM

Great project! Go on!

PR19_Kit · July 16, 2018, 03:24:59 PM

Not much visible progress on the Rotocrane over the last few days. As the Airfix 'dyne kit is second only to the FROG Shackleton in the number of rivets that are moulded all over it, I've spent some time sanding them all off.

There's also a serious number of sink marks on the roof and floor so they've all been PSR'd a couple of times, but they may need another session yet.

With a previous Skycrane build I kept on snapping off the plastic hooks and eyes that Revell moulded in to attach the big pod, and eventually remade them out of fuse wire. I don't want to go that route with the Rotocrane, they're still a tad fragile, and I'm thinking of using modern day high strength magnets set into the underside of the fuselage with shim steel plates glued to the top of the container.

Has anyone else ever tried this system before?