Daimler Benz DB-306 Jäger

[TomZ]

Daimler Benz DB-306 Jäger



The Daimler Benz DB 609 engine development began in September 1942, and it was to be an in-line, 16 cylinder injection-type aircraft engine. It was to develop 2700 horsepower, although this could be increased in later version to 3400 horsepower.



In order to promote their new engine, Daimler Benz also proposed a fighter to utilize the engine. This was a very unusual design with the engine sitting in the conventional spot in the front but driving two contra rotating propellers that were located mid fuselage.



The first prototypes of the engine ran in 1944 and much to their own surprise, Daimler Benz was ordered to build 4 prototypes of their fighter design which was designated DB-306. The first prototype DB-306 flew in 1946 and although piston engine aircraft were gradually phased out in favour of the new jet powered designs, still 48 DB-306As were ordered.



The location of the propellers caused a lot of accidents where the aircraft went into a too large nose-up position during take-off or landing, damaging the propellers. Also the efficiency of the propeller was below expectations and performance did not meet the requirement. In the end the bad performance and the accidents caused the model to be phased out rather quickly.





Model: Unicraft 1/72

TomZ

[PR19_Kit]

MAGIC!

I LOVE 'prop in the middle' designs. 

Do the props rotate Tom?

[TomZ]

Do the props rotate Tom?

Funny man! Your next question will probably be if they are motorized.....

The rings where the propellers are mounted are integral to the fuselage.
It took around two hours of fitting and sanding and filing to get the fuselage halves to line up. More or less.....

TomZ

[Scotaidh]

I would never fly such a thing - court-martial me first.  No way to bail out without turning myself into sausage ... No Thank You!

[PR19_Kit]

Funny man! Your next question will probably be if they are motorized.....

The rings where the propellers are mounted are integral to the fuselage.
It took around two hours of fitting and sanding and filing to get the fuselage halves to line up. More or less.....

I wondered because they do on my Bv 148, but it was MIND bogglingly difficult to get it all to work, and I thought you may have come up with a better answer. 

[comrade harps]

Kind of like an aerial tadpole, with its long rear fuselage and tiny tail.

I like it. 

[NARSES2]

Another stunner Tom, and the fact it's a Unicraft kit makes it a double stunner     

Must admit I rather like mid-prop designs 

[zenrat]

I presume you mean V, H, X, or W 16 when you say inline 16.  16 cylinders in one line would make for a very long crankshaft.

Excellent build although unlike Chris and Kit I don't see what advantage such a design would bring.

[NARSES2]

Excellent build although unlike Chris and Kit I don't see what advantage such a design would bring.

Not sure you'd get any advantage from it, but it just looks cool 

[zenrat]

To me it looks wrong because my brain says "engine where propeller is" meaning the CoG would be further back and it should tail sit.

[PR19_Kit]

To me it looks wrong because my brain says "engine where propeller is" meaning the CoG would be further back and it should tail sit.

For my Bv 148 it was the logical solution, and the engine is right ON the CG for that.

[chrisonord]

That is cool, and extra kudos for tackling a Unicraft kit and winning.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

An excellently - built model of a mad design! Strangely attractive.

[Hotte]

Top work 

Hotte

[NARSES2]

To me it looks wrong because my brain says "engine where propeller is" meaning the CoG would be further back and it should tail sit.

Ah that's where I have an advantage given that I have absolutely no knowledge about engines or most things automotive whatsoever