Twin-Whirlwind & Catalina…

[K5054NZ]

And you will be making this FTB zwilling when? I demand to see it built! I love it! So cool!    

[Tophe]

You are very right, Zac, such a R.90 fuselage with 2 central engines driving counter-props in the nose reminds the Mustang FTB. So zwilling two 1/72 FTB kits (Unicraft models?) + adding canopies from two 1/144 P-38 kits (less than £2 each at http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=MC14410 ) could make a further hybrid of giant 4-engine plane... Thanks for making me dream I will build her...

[Tophe]

BV141Z-2 is starting to look like a BV P.163 Zwilling.

Sorry, I mixed: I thought you were referring to the P.166, illustrated in my "Supplement #1 to Forked Ghosts" and further changed in the topic http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...?showtopic=5092  (March 27 2005 entry).
But you were not referring to 166 but 163, so I went and found http://www.luft46.com/bv/bvp163.html . Thus, the P.163.01 becomes P.163.11 (P.163Z if ordered):

Thanks Evan!

[Tophe]

Of course, dear engineer, I realize the P.163.11 would be too fragile, and linked tailplanes would be required, even if the new part would be an extra part to manufacture...

The code is P.163.16 not .12 nor .22, because of secret-code handling in PhotoshopWaffe...  

[Tophe]

Nowadays, after many decades of improvement, observation aircraft are not asymmetric like the Bv 141, they are rather often twin-boom UAV. What is less known  (or wrong   ) is that the origin is still Blohm und Voss, 1943:
Observing over the battlefield was seen as very dangerous, almost lethal-for-sure , and the electronics permitted to consider the first observation-UAV (after the missile-V1) with camera aboard.
To increase further survivability, the speed was raised high using a second big engine, close (to avoid imbalance if one engine is in a jam) with intermeshing propellers.
The Bv 141Q was born... ^_^

Surprisingly, this is one more twin-boomer for my collection...
PS. The model basis was not mine but  a French modeller contest http://www.master194.com/concours/resultat..._concours_3.htm , the source picture being:  http://www.master194.com/concours/2_3.jpg

[Tophe]

The model basis was not mine but  a French modeller contest's http://www.master194.com/concours/resultat..._concours_3.htm , the source picture being:  http://www.master194.com/concours/2_3.jpg

Still with the same help, I may tell you the poorly known story of the Bv 141, the dialogue officials/designer:
- It cannot fly!
- yes it can, and it is the very best: no need of 2 engines, perfect side view...
- We want 2 engines, we want symmetry! We pay: we decide!
- and I obey... here is your Fw 141:

- nice lateral view, your favourite?
- Hey, are you a dishonest designer?
- no sir, I am a what-if modeller...

[Tophe]

On the Airwarfare forum, a James required data about
HE115 BV141 HE100D zwilling TA154 HE59
Smiling, I ask if there was a He 100D zwilling or a zwilling Ta 154... ^_^
And a visitor from Poland said the He 100Z would be beautiful plane. So...
My answer was "Thanks to HiPM model and http://www.squadron.com/old/he100/he100review.htm here is the He 100DZ (= He 113Z)" (Photopainted, I have no HiPM kit - yet...)

[Tophe]

From Wolfik's great topic ( http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...?showtopic=8769 ) presenting a Single-Float Spitfire model, here is a (Photopainted) Twin-Float Twin-Spitfire...

Note the good aerodynamics and hydrodynamics with 2 floats only (instead of 3 on the Single-(main-)Float version, and instead of 4 on a twin-"Twin-Float" Spitfire)...

[Tophe]

Thanks to http://turbolink.hp.infoseek.co.jp/y/fltsym-mseq.html here is a photograph of the Japanese 5-engined Heikel/Kawasaki He 111Z with the cheaper 4-engined Ki 111, and the more solid 3-engined Ki 111Kai...

[Tophe]

Thanks to http://www.militarymodels.com/results-cate...aft%26step%3D16 's models, here is the famous Twin-Mosquito, frightening twin-tail insect that brought fever over many countries in 1945...

[Tophe]

Discovering the Umbra MB.902 at http://www.tgplanes.com/Public/snitz/topic...p?TOPIC_ID=1023 I've been reminded that one of the P-38 preliminary drawings was designed like this, with central engines and tractor lateral propellers. Yes, but this was not a twin-boomer alas.
I answered: "Now, we may take it differently: the Soviet NIAI OSh, while being a twin-boomer, used a single central engine driving 2 propellers at the front of the booms, and a new P-38N, single-engine (P-38N-1) may be designed this way. Further, getting closer to the MB.902, a central double-engine may drive 2 sets of double-propellers (P-38N-2)..."

[NARSES2]

Thanks for the link Tophe that is one gorgeous looking aeroplane

Chris

[Tophe]

Someone said the maximum speed was surprisingly low (429mph) for the so clean Umbra twin-engine, maybe due to loss of power in the shafts. I nodded and answered:
About loss of power, have a look at this P-38N-3, a 3-engined plane so much more aerodynamic than a Ju-52/3m or SM.79 Sparviero: a single seater with 9,000hp, in a triplex tandem in-line engine (Griffon x3)... Though, the system is so simple and mechanically efficient that the max. speed is still 429mph (700km/h), less than a XP-58...  

[Brian da Basher]

Wow Tophe that's truly a wonder!

Brian da Basher

[Tophe]

And a B-17Z twin-plane ? Just confirm, someone

In the old topic "B-17 What-if, looking for ideas" ( http://www.whatifmodelers.com/forum//index...?showtopic=1602 ), I considered a B-17 Zwilling. Almost 3 years later, I have Photopainted it, still thanks to http://www.militarymodels.com/results-cate...tary%2BAircraft .