Fokker T. XI (geschakeld) - Dutch zveno project

[63cpe]

And another brainfart.... As I bought too much Fokker D-21's (in the same batch as the 18x Boeing p-12's) I can handle, I started thinking.

Maybe do a Zveno (coupled) with 3x D-21's. This requires a 4 engined carrierplane...Oh, this needs to be a Fokker-ish kinda design as well. I took a close look at the Fokker T V bomber and the four engined Fokker XXXVI. This got me figuring about a sectioned B-24 (cut in length and take out 1 cm in height, glue it all back again.
Than you'll end up with this:

IMG_20220123_220419020 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Given the Fokker XXXVI and T V 4x Wright cyclones seemed to be "the norm" together with a B-17 kinda wing (thick chord and planform). Ah, presto: got one from a derelict Airfix B-17. Only need to take the engines off.
The modeller who build it originally managed to glue the props fixed and the nacelles incorrect on the seats. wings are also misaligned so some heavy PSR is needed to correct it all. Besides I think the engines need to get closer to the leading edge. So, off go the engines!

IMG_20220123_220440804 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

While working on the engines I think they're a little too big in diameter for passable R1820's. Mmm..not sure what to do about this (there are plenty Dakota nacelles in the parts bin)
I plan to put the wings about half way on the fuselage. I tried them low on the fuselage, but this gives it a Wellington-kinda look. Half way on the fuselage also lowers the angle of the fuselage to the ground and comes in handy for loading the D-21 on cradles on it's wings. It'll be a taildragger.

Meanwhile a rummage in the canopies bin was started to source a suiteable canopy and nosecone (I don't like the flat nose of the T V). Given the role as carrier plane, no turret seems to be necessary. So I think a more streamlined nosecone was found. A Siebel S-204 A nosecone was separated from the canopy (it's a one piece affair in the Smer kit). Nosecone fits pretty good on the forward fuselage it's got at the moment. The canopy sets the pilot more forward than the B-24 and that's OK as most big Fokker designs had the cockpit close to the extreme nose.

Also found a glass cone of an FW-189 to serve as  tail gunner position. The side gunners positions will be opened as is a belly gun position (just an opening hatch).

Also plan to use (restyled) early Halifax tailplanes.

Anyway, it isn't finished yet...

David aka 63cpe

[Wardukw]

I think what mental twisted idea of a plane your building here is nuts mate..so in other words beautiful idea Dave 
The moment I started to read this you had my interest   
You could cheat with the engine nacelles and just the Wright ones and mod em sligthly but the C47 used the same engines as the B17 so either way your good to go bud 
This is gonna be straight up cool .

[NARSES2]

Oh I do like the idea of this and admire your abilities to think "outside the box" 

[63cpe]

Well over 120 ago I posted the last pictures of this project. Meanwhile it applied for the shelf of doom several times, but pushed on  and now its not a collection of several parts any longer and starts to look like what was envisioned.

First the carrier plane ( Fokker T. XI or T.11, the fools number in the Netherlands):
PXL_20230802_221334744 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

and with canopy in place:
PXL_20230802_221414990 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Canopy and nosecone are borrowed from a Siebel 204A

PXL_20230802_221315310 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Wings are attached as are the tailplanes. Fitting the wings was a superglue orgie. I managed to spill supa superglue on the floor and almost got one shoe glued to the floor..
The engine mounts/nacelles to the wings are narrowed down B-17 nacelles as the original airfix ones are way to big for the 4x Bloch 210 engines. It took several months to PSR the narrowed down mounts/ stumps and make them representable. Problem was the plastic of the wings got thinner by the sanding and more flexible, flexing the brittle putty cracking the nacelles. This meant superglueing the nacelles and PSR-ing again to shape.

So, how to make it into an Zveno? This is how I plan to put the D.21's on the carrier:
PXL_20230802_221913659 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Now remember this is only a first test . The D.21's will be put on struts over the wings and fuselage.  So the end result should look less cluttered. The fighter on the fuselage will be put  a tad higher to keep clear of the outer wings of the Fighters over the wings.

PXL_20230802_221851964 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

Just like the Vakhmistrov Zveno in Russia in the 1920-ies and 30-ies , the D.21 fighters were placed in position by using wooden ramps and ropes to haul them onto the wing.

Planned colors are the chocolade brown colorscheme for the D.21 and T XI carrier including orange doritos and orange tailplanes. Hope to get it finished for the ESM 2023 in November this year.

Tada,
David aka 63CPE

[NARSES2]

I do like that  , but then I've a soft spot for most things Dutch.

[Wardukw]

It's big and multi engined ..instant like 👍 ☺️

[Pellson]

Amazing craftsmanship! 

[PR19_Kit]

GULP!

[Old Wombat]

Woh!

That T.XI/T.11 is looking wonderful (without the fighters) and, as much as I like the D.21s, I can't help but think that they & the framework are going to spoil the lines (& aerodynamics) of a very nice aircraft.



By the way, is that a scratch, forward of the wings, under the cockpit, in the first two photo's or a crack in the plastic?

[zenrat]

 

[63cpe]

Thank you all for the comments.

That scratch forward of the wing, below the cockpit is a closed seam between the upper half and lower half of the fuselage. It's a remainder of the sectioning the fuselage.

David aka 63CPE

[loupgarou]

Crazy idea!
May I suggest you put it in service with KNIL ? At least that could justify the need for long range. In Nederland home country the usual enemy is so near, that a range-extender for fighters is not necessary. Or you could imagine support missions from a dutch government allied with spanish republicans against the fascists.

[zenrat]

Crazy idea!
May I suggest you put it in service with KNIL ? At least that could justify the need for long range. In Nederland home country the usual enemy is so near, that a range-extender for fighters is not necessary. Or you could imagine support missions from a dutch government allied with spanish republicans against the fascists.

Appropriate 'cause you'd hear "K'nil! look at that!"
 

[Old Wombat]

Crazy idea!
May I suggest you put it in service with KNIL ? At least that could justify the need for long range. In Nederland home country the usual enemy is so near, that a range-extender for fighters is not necessary. Or you could imagine support missions from a dutch government allied with spanish republicans against the fascists.

Appropriate 'cause you'd hear "K'nil! look at that!"
 

Well, in Kiwiland you would, here it'd be "Kennel, look at that!"     

[Wardukw]

Crazy idea!
May I suggest you put it in service with KNIL ? At least that could justify the need for long range. In Nederland home country the usual enemy is so near, that a range-extender for fighters is not necessary. Or you could imagine support missions from a dutch government allied with spanish republicans against the fascists.

Appropriate 'cause you'd hear "K'nil! look at that!"
 

I think you'll find a much more appropriate definition would be "Bro ..check that out"