Some advice needed on a future scratch build project.

[chrisonord]

Ok then, I have been kicking this idea around the saw dust for a while now, and I have been slowly accumulating bits I will need to build a large transport aircraft for my SHADO builds. I was thinking of using a length of 3 or 4 inch diameter plastic tube for the main fuselage, and building the cockpit end and tail/ load ramp onto the tube, along with the wings, wheel pods etc. I want to make this pretty futuristic but also use some recognisable bits from current aircraft.I want it to have a big swept, possibly delta type wing, as it will be either super sonic or hi sub sonic. I want to build it as 1/72nd scale, but will try and incorporate some 1/48th scale SR-71 engine and wing bits into it.I have never done anything like this before so all information would be helpful.
Cheers,
Chris.

[sandiego89]

Wow, tough compromise between a tube transport and high speed.  C-141 fuselage might be a good donor candidate- perhaps try it it in 1/144 first.  1/72 gets big quick.  SHADO always seem too fat for for real high speed flight.  I would avoid a delta wing- poor lift and shape for a transport, and you can't have true flaps needed for reasonable approach speeds.  Perhaps a crescent wing like a Victor or a Soviet Bison, or a concorde shape would be much better than a pure delta. I think a C-141 with a higher speed crescent wing would be quite cool.  Either way think you will need a horizontal stabilizer. B-36 or any modern slim airliner like a 757 or scarebus might be a good fuselage candidate also. 
 

[Cobra]

if you're Inclined, You may want to get or see if You have a Vulcan and Use the wings from that along with maybe a Fuselage from Either a C-141, C-17,or C-5 Galaxy for your SHADO Transport. you may also want to Consider using Either a Large Tail like from a C-130 or a Twin Tail like some Soviet Transports for you Plane. Hope this Helps.

[chrisonord]

Thankyou for the ideas gents much appreciated.
I want to build the aircraft as 1/72nd scale as I have some vehicles I want to have driving out of it and these are 1/72nd scale. I have a pair of 1/72nd scale B-52 wings that might be used on this build, but I will probably cut these down a bit also.
Cheers,
Chris.

[Daryl J.]

Make sure the tube is compatible with your other materials.  I'm unaware of styrene tubing with that size diameter.   

[puddingwrestler]

PVC plumbing pipe can be used, you need super glue or two-part epoxy to join it to itself or anything else however. Or PVA or Hot Glue I guess...

[Thorvic]

Chris

I have a vacfrom Il-76 in the loft that might serve as a suitable basis, as its a damn sight easier to use than PVC drain pipes especially if you after opening her up. To Century 21 it just change the shape of the nose and tail and do somenthing about the engines.

Cheers

Geoff

[chrisonord]

Cheers for the offer Thorvic, that will do nicely 
Let me know what you want for it and I can sort the exchange out.
Cheers,
Chris.

[jcf]

How about a double-delta with the forward section VG?
Something similar to the Fokker-Republic D.24 Alliance, but with a more Draken like plan-form.
http://www.dutch-aviation.nl/index5/Military/index5-1%20D24.html
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,303.0.html


The VG forward section would give your machine a very Payen-eque appearance. 

[chrisonord]

Very nice idea Jon, that would be a fair old project to make into 72nd scale transport plane, but it would look damn cool though.
Cheers,
Chris.