What if

The W-F Rotocrane in its various marks has been the RAF's main heavy lift 'helicopter' since the late 60s. Originally just a stripped down version of BEA's standard Rotodynes in its HC1 from, the Rotocrane was developed into a pure cargo carrying airframe, with most of the Rotodynes fuselage structure stripped away, but maintaining the revolutionary vertical lift capability combined with a 220 kt cruise speed in aeroplane mode, by far the highest for such aircraft worldwide.

Later marks offered increased wing span, higher powered Roll Royce Tyne engines and more sophisticated cargo handling fits. The latest versions, the HC4s, have 'all glass' cockpits together with a fully digital control system and enhanced defensive systems.

Without doubt the RAF's most famous Rotocrane is 18 Squadron's ZA718, named 'Bravo November' due to its heroic actions when it was coded as such during the 1982 Falklands War. 'Bravo November' was the only Rotocrane to escape the sinking of the MV Atlantic Conveyor on the 25th May 1982, and was the only heavy lift aircraft available to the British Forces during their liberation of the Islands. Subsequently having been upgraded twice and having served in many theatres of combat 'Bravo November' is assured of its place in the RAF's history and a place in the RAF Museum is guaranteed when it's retired.

=========================

The model consists of two Airfix Rotodynes, both suitably hacked about to remove most of their fuselages, and with stretched wings (WHAT a surprise.... ;D) The Tyne engines come from a Revell Transall C-160 and the twin booms (cue cheers from Tophe.... ;)) come from a Heller Noratlas, as does the landing gear.

The cargo depicted is an 00 gauge 40 ft Hi-Cube container from C-Rail that's been modified with a side access door.

The rotor system could come from many sources, but the current favourite are all six blades from a Chinook married to a hub from a Super Stallion.

Watch this space for pics, some maybe as soon as later this evening.  ;D

Fantastic!  Love this idea. 

-Dave

I can't wait to see this! Waiting impatiently for pictures.

Here's the first build pics.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/4720/OgoNdm.jpg)

The container fully assembled, it took at least an hour.....  ;D


(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/2028/uCH5GX.jpg)

The basic structure of the Rotocrane. It's not immediately obvious but the fuselage is lengthened forward of the pylon by around 3-4 window bays. And the tail's cut off totally of course.


(https://imageshack.com/a/img921/5898/IdRI6e.jpg)

A rough approximation on how it'll look when assembled (with luck....)

Looking good .

The Container reminds me of the RAF chapel one at the TAG museum.

This looks like fun! I'll be watching!  :thumbsup:

Looking good there, Kit. :thumbsup:

Holy hell I love the conex....    ;D ;D


To borrow a phrase, "Keep going!"  :mellow: :mellow:

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 10, 2018, 03:28:28 PM
Later marks offered increased wing span

This is like a PR19_Kit (designer) trademark! Good! :thumbsup:

Kit at the end if this build we need a pic of the leftover parts and a summary of what you plan to do with them.  There's at least one more whif to be had out of them?

Quote from: kitbasher on July 10, 2018, 11:32:34 PM

Kit at the end if this build we need a pic of the leftover parts and a summary of what you plan to do with them.  There's at least one more whif to be had out of them?

Yes Dave, I've been wondering about that myself.  ;D

The bits of Rotodyne fuselage left over make up a VERY short 'dyne, which has some possibilities for sure.  ;)

Uh, this sounds epic!  :thumbsup:

An interesting concept, Kit.  I note you have stated that you aren't going to use the 'dyne's tail.   What are you going to use instead?  The 'dyne appears dependent on having one...  ;)

Noooo Brian, I said I'd cut it off, I didn't say I wasn't going to put it back again somewhere else.  ;D ;)

Kit, how does that Sea-Can scale out when you're doing 1/72, is it a bit smaller ?

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 11, 2018, 12:17:32 AM
Noooo Brian, I said I'd cut it off, I didn't say I wasn't going to put it back again somewhere else.  ;D ;)

Ah.   A canard perhaps?  ;)

Quote from: kitnut617 on July 11, 2018, 02:47:45 AM

Kit, how does that Sea-Can scale out when you're doing 1/72, is it a bit smaller ?

Yes, a little bit smaller as it's 00 Gauge, which is 1/76 scale as opposed to 1/72. But I deliberately chose a Hi-cube container, which is 9'6" high as opposed to the 8' 6" of a standard one. It's a little pout of scale, but not that much.

Quote from: rickshaw on July 11, 2018, 03:31:21 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 11, 2018, 12:17:32 AM
Noooo Brian, I said I'd cut it off, I didn't say I wasn't going to put it back again somewhere else.  ;D ;)

Ah.   A canard perhaps?  ;)

Noooooooooooo............  ;D ;)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 11, 2018, 03:36:00 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on July 11, 2018, 03:31:21 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 11, 2018, 12:17:32 AM
Noooo Brian, I said I'd cut it off, I didn't say I wasn't going to put it back again somewhere else.  ;D ;)

Ah.   A canard perhaps?  ;)

Noooooooooooo............  ;D ;)

Coward!  You know it is screaming out for one with that longer nose...   ;)

Impressive project. Very curious to see what it will look like when complete.  :thumbsup:

Quote from: rickshaw on July 11, 2018, 04:39:52 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 11, 2018, 03:36:00 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on July 11, 2018, 03:31:21 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 11, 2018, 12:17:32 AM
Noooo Brian, I said I'd cut it off, I didn't say I wasn't going to put it back again somewhere else.  ;D ;)

Ah.   A canard perhaps?  ;)

Noooooooooooo............  ;D ;)

Coward!  You know it is screaming out for one with that longer nose...   ;)

But it won't look all that much longer when I've done it.  ;D ;)

Needs  to be in green with a big 2 on the tail. :thumbsup:

Quote from: Mossie on July 11, 2018, 09:45:37 AM

Needs  to be in green with a big 2 on the tail. :thumbsup:

It'll certainly be in green, yes. (and maybe black too........)

Not sure about the tail insignia yet, especially as the RW 'dyne's tail folded sideways so maybe you wouldn't see it.

Well I'll be darned, while searching for this thread I came across this thread by coolpo6307 some six years ago and he did almost exactly the same thing!  :o And I posted 2-3 comments on his thread so something of it must have stuck in my mind.

http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,35527.0.html (http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,35527.0.html)

Thanks for the inspiration all that while ago.  :thumbsup:

On my own build, the engines won't be as simple as I thought as the C-160 Tynes don't have any landing gear bays, but they do have a HUGE exhaust duct right where I want to put the wheels. I'll have to graft the front of the Tynes onto the rear of the Elands, and try and work out how to get the turbine exhaust out. Revell are never one to use two parts where seven will do, and the engine nacelles have ELEVEN separate parts! And that's not including a few little detail intakes etc. The Airfix nacelles have Five......

The Tyne props are 2 cm larger in dia. than the Eland props so some of the wing extension has had to be inboard of the engine nacelles, and I've done that on one of them so far. The outboard extensions will wait till that bit's dried.

I've also assembled the tail booms from the Noratlas, and they may need sawing down a tad as they look somewhat long to me, but that should be pretty straightforward.

More pics later, with luck.

I think the Noratlas bits were a big hint.

They will need some extra parking space on the Atlantic Conveyor and Hermes due to the spotting factor...and extra hearing protection!!!

Bring it on Kit!

Nah! I think they were a smokescreen.
He is obviously going to crosskit a Rotodyne and an H-54 Skycrane.

Quote from: JayBee on July 11, 2018, 02:29:30 PM

Nah! I think they were a smokescreen.
He is obviously going to crosskit a Rotodyne and an H-54 Skycrane.

True to an extent, there's at least one part from the Skycrane that'll be on the Rotocrane.   ;)

Here's the port hybrid engine just positioned on the extended wing. As the standard 'dyne main gear is way aft in the nacelle I figured I could route the exhaust out of the side, like the Dart's exhaust on an F-27 but larger. It works OK, or it will do with a bit of PSR around the pipe itself anyway. The Tyne engine fits fairly well onto the Eland nacelle but it'll need some side 'cheeks' to fair it in properly.

The wing extension worked fine, but bizarrely when it's plugged into the fuselage it sweeps back about a degree. When I checked with the standard wings they do exactly the same! I'll file the wing mounts on the fuselage to straighten them up, it looks silly like that.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img921/1179/vkLKsL.jpg)


And here's the wing, engine, prop and tailboom assembly............  ;)

See, I said the tail would be at the rear, jut not in the normal position.  ;D  There's a fair amount of work to be done to fair the boom into the nacelle yet, but it doesn't look too bad.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img921/4076/NBMH1A.jpg)

Looking betterer & betterer, Kit! :thumbsup:

A twin-boom Rotodyne may be a winner! :thumbsup: :bow:

Very neat Kit

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.... ;))

(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/6151/u8DYgM.jpg)

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.

Intriguing design shaping up.  :mellow: :mellow: :mellow: 


This is going to be great!!!

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. 

A couple of P-38 Lightning tails pinned together? :unsure:

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. :wub: :thumbsup: ;D

1/48 Bronco tail?

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

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....  :o

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

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..........  :o

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

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)?

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.  :thumbsup:

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.  ;D ;)

(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/8201/NjKPPh.jpg)

Great project! Go on! :thumbsup:

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.  :banghead:

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?

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 16, 2018, 03:24:59 PM

Has anyone else ever tried this system before?

Not with models, but with accessories.  I use RE magnets (set up for ID badge holders) to affix stuff without having to go through the cloth-
(https://i.imgur.com/rrN84Ot.jpg)
To whit, a replica US Marshal's badge and ROTC rank insignia (set up as ST:TNG CDR pins)

(https://i.imgur.com/NBWT2Dw.jpg)
I just superglued regular steel washers on the backside.

I've worn them all day at cons and not had to worry about them

I don't much about anything but I do know that this sounds like a good idea. Imagine the glory of not having to mess with all that fiddly crap . .. .. .. .       ::::daydream bubble::::::   :wub:

Washers!  :banghead:

Why didn't I think of that? Thanks Scooter, that'd work well I think.  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I've got some magnets on order already, and I've got LOTS of washers of all sorts of sizes.  ;D

I checked various small feederliners, Islander, Skyvan, Twin Otter etc. to see if their wings would suit the tailplane for the Rotocrane, and amazingly they're all around the same wing chord! I've gone for the Twotter as I have plans for the other two anyway.

I've also sourced the bay window thing that the loadmaster needs.....  ;)

PSR is going apace, but I may vanish under a pile of sanded off Presto putty before long. The sink marks on the roof of the 'dyne are immense and I'm on the third lot of PSR for them now.  :banghead:

The seemingly never ending PSR continues on the fuselage and port wing, but the end is in sight, at least the pre-primer PSR anyway. Hopefully that one wing will be glued onto the fuselage this evening.

The teeny-weeny magnets that I ordered arrived today, and boy, are they SMALL! They're 3 mm dia and 2 mm thick, it's going to be a job to keep track of them later on. I drilled some holes in the top of the container and super-glued four of the magnets in place and it works a treat.  :thumbsup:

To prove it here's a pic of the container clamped onto one of my radiators.  ;D

(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/6807/mYn5aY.jpg)

I've found yet another largish helicopter kit that will provide some of the 'extras' I had in mind for this, but more of that further down the build route.

Radiator almost looks like the side of one of them things.    ;D ;D

Quote from: TheChronicOne on July 18, 2018, 01:33:05 PM

Radiator almost looks like the side of one of them things.    ;D ;D

That's quite possible. The guy who installed the central heating here didn't buy one radiator the same as any other, and the pipework looks like a fittings catalogue!  :banghead:

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 18, 2018, 01:59:42 PM

Quote from: TheChronicOne on July 18, 2018, 01:33:05 PM

Radiator almost looks like the side of one of them things.    ;D ;D

That's quite possible. The guy who installed the central heating here didn't buy one radiator the same as any other, and the pipework looks like a fittings catalogue!  :banghead:

;D     I know what you mean!!! I've come across similar situation looking at the plumbing in irrigation systems for lawn sprinklers. Sometimes it just seems like they're trying to use up old parts or something. Good for not wasting things but makes for some odd stuff sometimes that has the next person to work on them scratching their head in wonderment.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 16, 2018, 03:24:59 PM
.....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?

Kit, the modern magnets I used to mount the F-104's to the B-52 FICON mothership for my recent entry to the cold war GB work astonishingly well.  I experimented with thin steel sheet super glueed to the object being hung and finishing nails.  Both worked great- the F-104s hold onto the pylon firmly with 3 magnets (2 would have likely worked), but I can still pry the F-104s off for "launch" easily if I want to.

A few of these on your container will work very well.  Recommend a few strips of metal glued to your container (I used krazy glue) metal on the container, magnets glued to the Rotocrane belly. 

Trial Harrier.  You can see the three small magnets on the bottom of the pylon.  It would not shake off, but you can pull it off with a gentle tug. 

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/oOmBjH.jpg)     

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/AWXYTm.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/5au24c.jpg)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/weizUl.jpg)

Happy hanging!  -Dave

Quote from: sandiego89 on July 18, 2018, 03:09:21 PM

A few of these on your container will work very well.  Recommend a few strips of metal glued to your container (I used krazy glue) metal on the container, magnets glued to the Rotocrane belly. 

Too late Dave  ;D the magnets are glued into the top of the container now. I plan to glue some steel shim into the bottom of the fuselage later on.

The port wing is now glued in place.  :thumbsup:

The fuselage wing roots aren't that wonderful and the joint has already got its first dose of PSR. I've started on the fairing at the tail of the fuselage, just visible in the pic, and I've added cheek fairings on the engines/booms where the joints are too. That small white rectangle on the top of the wing is a blanking plug for the extra cooling outlet on the outer wing, and it was the very devil to fit, but it's in place now.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/2194/HOwhs8.jpg)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 18, 2018, 03:53:22 PM

Too late Dave  ;D the magnets are glued into the top of the container now. I plan to glue some steel shim into the bottom of the fuselage later on.

Ooops, I didn't scroll down far enough- glad you got the magnets figured out!  I can see them being quite handy for my future modelling uses- mother ships, stores, trucks to trailers, etc.  It is nice to be able to have flexibility in how to pose things  I have also found them very useful in the house for a few cabinet doors that like to swing open by themselves: glue a washer to the door with superglue- magnet glued to the opposite surface...   

Great thread guys !

Why do I always think up whiffs that need OODLES of PSR work?  :banghead: :banghead:

Trying to match the three parts of the boom on the Rotocrane is driving me nuts, I'm on the third level of PSR by now and I'm not sure there won't be a fourth.

Here's the progress so far, with the third layer drying off.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/1043/Rr6K4G.jpg)

And I've got to do it all again for other side yet!  :o

Because your ambitions are far from simple, Kit, & you're too much of an engineer to do a half-baked job. :thumbsup:

Quote from: Old Wombat on July 19, 2018, 05:54:55 AM

Because your ambitions are far from simple, Kit, & you're too much of an engineer to do a half-baked job. :thumbsup:

Yes, you could be right there.  ;D

One day I'll do a relatively simple 'paint job' Whiff, maybe.........

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 19, 2018, 06:52:48 AM

One day I'll do a relatively simple 'paint job' Whiff, maybe.........

With standard wings? AYE RIGHT!  :wacko:

Quote from: JayBee on July 19, 2018, 07:44:18 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 19, 2018, 06:52:48 AM

One day I'll do a relatively simple 'paint job' Whiff, maybe.........

With standard wings? AYE RIGHT!  :wacko:

Hmmmmmm, maybe...........  ;)

Just about done with the major PSR work on the fuselage and port wing, the rear end is all sanded smooth and I've glued the under-nose gondola in place and PSR'd it to death by now. I also added a backwards facing seat for the loadmaster after filing away much of the floor re-inforcement. (That seat is the one single item I used from the Skycrane kit.  ;D) I've glued the nose landing gear doors in place and PSR'd them as well, as the Noratlas nose wheel will be a tad further aft.

In addition I've also PSR'd the Twin Otter wing trailing edges that'll be used for the 'crane's tailplane as it has many indentations and double slotted flaps, whereas I'll only need an 'elevator'.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/7113/i1SljU.jpg)

More time working on the nose today. I cut out the nose wheel bay and boxed it in, the same size as the Noratlas bay as I don't want to be cutting out new doors when there's a pair just sitting there.

I also cut a new door on the starboard side, slightly larger than the one on the port side as it'll have a rescue hoist mounted above it, and a larger door would make sense for getting the casualty aboard. Both doors will have Gatling cannons mounted in them, courtesy of an Italeri MH-47E kits that will donate many of it's little greebly bits too.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/2628/iOPoVh.jpg)

(https://imageshack.com/a/img922/939/lFwRlt.jpg)

I've started work on the starboard wing and that's going OK, but I've found that the cockpit transparency doesn't fit too well and will either need lots of filing on its edges or else some trim strips added around it.

Poor Kit, this is uneasy hard work with details and all. I hope the final result (like natural?) will make forget all these difficulties... ;)

It's fine Tophe, I like sorting out the details of an idea, it's the sheer drudgery of the PSR stage that drives me nuts. But I hope most of that is done now.

Ploughing through the build of the starboard side wing and engine/boom assembly, I plugged all the bits together to start work on the tailplane, only to find that the newly built starboard boom had no slot for the tailplane............  :o :o

It turned out I'd glued it in upside down so the slot was on the outside!  :banghead: :banghead:

No matter, after some filing and some 'structural PSR' there aren't ANY slots now and I'll drill and file a new one on the correct side.

Here it is with both wings and booms in place, but lots of work to do on the starboard boom yet.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/4417/pMBHfJ.jpg)

this is pretty good! :thumbsup:

I go away for a few weeks and look what happens...  :bow:

Coming along nicely Kit.  I can't wait to see it in one piece.
When i've used magnets on models i've glued them on both parts rather than use washers or a steel plate.  Just get them the correct way round...

Quote from: zenrat on July 26, 2018, 03:12:00 AM

When i've used magnets on models i've glued them on both parts rather than use washers or a steel plate.  Just get them the correct way round...

Yeah, I could tell a long and complicated tale about doing just that..................  :banghead: :banghead:

That's looking huge and epic.  :thumbsup:

I seem to have spent all day PSRing the starboard boom and other bits and pieces, and in the process the tail of the boom snapped clean off.   :banghead:

I superglued it back on and assembled the boom to the rest of the assembly, then sawed the tailplane to length and glued it in place and also added the upper and lower fins.

So now it's all one piece.  ;D

All I have to do is paint it, work out how the landing gear should fit, decide on a rotor system and stick it all together........

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/5759/qGYOP9.jpg)

(https://imageshack.com/a/img922/4647/vFhYlo.jpg)

That is outstanding  :thumbsup: I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this one will turn out!

Don't fall off the seat.  ;D

It's got a fair amount to go yet.

That's badass!!  This is going to be one hell of a contraption.  :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 26, 2018, 04:29:55 PM
(https://imageshack.com/a/img922/4647/vFhYlo.jpg)

Canted tail fins?  According to the book on the Rotodyne, the early effort to make the fin tops fold created instability in the flight regime when they unfolded back up vertical.  So then they were then fixed vertical.   

Indeed so, but during the Rotocrane's development it was found that the more powerful Tyne's larger props created quite a bit of outwash which was modified by the airflow over the booms which in turn generated unpredictable vortices around the vertical fins. This was found to be minimised by canting the upper part of the vertical fins.

[Any differences in the model can be explained by corresponding updates in the backstory.............. ;) ;D]

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 26, 2018, 10:27:37 PM
Indeed so, but during the Rotocrane's development it was found that the more powerful Tyne's larger props created quite a bit of outwash which was modified by the airflow over the booms which in turn generated unpredictable vortices around the vertical fins. This was found to be minimised by canting the upper part of the vertical fins.

[Any differences in the model can be explained by corresponding updates in the backstory.............. ;) ;D]

Ah, and excellent explanation, Kit. One I felt was lurking below the surface somewhere but just needed to be articulated.  ;)

that does look good Kit  :thumbsup:
and when painted im certain people will say they have seen them in the wild.  ;D

Kit, there's an interesting thread going on in the Secret projects Forum that is all about flying cranes --- there's a couple there that look quite a bit like this -----  ;)

Love where this is going though  :wub: :wub: :wub:

Quote from: Steel Penguin on July 27, 2018, 01:35:32 AM
that does look good Kit  :thumbsup:
and when painted im certain people will say they have seen them in the wild.  ;D

You mean you haven't?  I distinctly recall several flying in and out of Camp Speicher, aiding 40th Aviation BDE when I was there in '05.

Scooter, I have to say, err  not certain. ;D  my airframe recognition skills are rather scattergun, :unsure:
I can run idents on a great many things, but every so often I hit the problem, that im channelling a parallel me, and then well.....

people say AV8   and I double image the USMC harrier   and the Cyberpunk 2013 assault aerodyne   :o   ( where my rofl smiley?_)

Glad you're liking it, I've had the idea for some time, and the RAF 100 GB sparked me into actually doing it.

One problem occurred to me this morning, where am I going to put the RAF roundel? The only place would seem to be directly under the cockpit window as there's not enough free area anywhere else. Maybe tiny, Vampire style ones on the booms?

Speaking of booms, the last 1.5" of the starboard boom appears to be stricken with styrene rot.  :banghead:   The starboard canted fin just fell off under its own weight of this morning, taking a chunk of the boom's upper surface with it! The boom end's gone soft and floppy and the only thing holding it in place is the tailplane itself, which in turn is located by the port boom! I may have to cut it away and replace it with some sprue or summat.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 27, 2018, 09:20:29 AM
stricken with styrene rot.

Sounds disgusting! What causes it? And a ruddy shame as well! :banghead:

Quote from: Knightflyer on July 27, 2018, 09:23:47 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 27, 2018, 09:20:29 AM
stricken with styrene rot.

Sounds disgusting! What causes it? And a ruddy shame as well! :banghead:

Dunno, but that Heller styrene is very weird, it's very brittle when you're trying to cut it, but it goes super soft if you apply too much cement.

I think the latter did for it in this case, and with hindsight I should have just used MekPak on it, not the Revell S type that I usually use.

Quote from: Steel Penguin on July 27, 2018, 05:51:39 AM
Scooter, I have to say, err  not certain. ;D  my airframe recognition skills are rather scattergun, :unsure:
I can run idents on a great many things, but every so often I hit the problem, that im channelling a parallel me, and then well.....

people say AV8   and I double image the USMC harrier   and the Cyberpunk 2013 assault aerodyne   :o   ( where my rofl smiley?_)

:wacko:

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 27, 2018, 09:20:29 AM
One problem occurred to me this morning, where am I going to put the RAF roundel? The only place would seem to be directly under the cockpit window as there's not enough free area anywhere else. Maybe tiny, Vampire style ones on the booms?

Assuming its a tactical rotodyne, small roundels on the booms would work splendidly.

Quote from: scooter on July 27, 2018, 03:17:15 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 27, 2018, 09:20:29 AM
One problem occurred to me this morning, where am I going to put the RAF roundel? The only place would seem to be directly under the cockpit window as there's not enough free area anywhere else. Maybe tiny, Vampire style ones on the booms?

Assuming its a tactical rotodyne, small roundels on the booms would work splendidly.

Yes, could be right there Scooter. It's meant to be a different time frame Chinook, so that would fit.

I've strengthened up the starboard boom by superglueing a 10 thou styrene strip along the damaged part, and then re-gluing the upper fin to that, and it seems to have worked. Much stronger now.

Next step is to paint the cockpit and the forward fuselage interior, which won't be easy...............

This is Really starting to Look Awesome Kit :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: looks kinda Gerry Anderson style to Me. Keep up the superb Work,My Friend :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: Dan

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 27, 2018, 09:42:28 AM

but it goes super soft if you apply too much cement.

I think the latter did for it in this case, and with hindsight I should have just used MekPak on it, not the Revell S type that I usually use.

I've had a similar thing happen with a couple of recent Airfix kits and Tamiya Extra Thin. It can prove a useful attribute once you know about it.

Quote from: scooter on July 27, 2018, 03:17:15 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 27, 2018, 09:20:29 AM
One problem occurred to me this morning, where am I going to put the RAF roundel? The only place would seem to be directly under the cockpit window as there's not enough free area anywhere else. Maybe tiny, Vampire style ones on the booms?

Assuming its a tactical rotodyne, small roundels on the booms would work splendidly.

Plus avoids the placement of that "target" underneath the pilot  ;)

Quote from: NARSES2 on July 28, 2018, 02:30:05 AM

Plus avoids the placement of that "target" underneath the pilot  ;)

GOOD thinking Chris.  :thumbsup:

I've heard that comment made about the roundel placement on Lightnings too. (That's REAL Lightnings, the ones with their engines on top of each other.....)

Sea Vixens as well. Pilots must have hated it - "shoot here"  ;D

Having finished off the last lot of PSR on that recalcitrant starboard upper fin, I started to think about applying a first primer coat, and put the model down on the table......

The lower starboard fin fell off!  :banghead: :banghead:

The styrene rot seems to have gone right through the boom, darn it. So I strengthened it with an overall coat of superglue, waited till it had hardened off and then superglued the fin back on. It's looking a lot better now, but that means I'll have to re-do the PSR on THAT fin now!  :banghead: :banghead:

Oh dear, the first coat of primer has shown that it needs LOTS more PSR before it's ready for any other paint.....  :banghead:

1st stage of the 2nd stage of the PSR........

It looks a lot better all one colour, but it does bring out the faults, lots of them. On the other hand the container looks terrific, but then I had very little to do with that of course.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/1812/ZGYKcL.jpg)

At that distance, it looks very good! :thumbsup:

what tophe said kit,  looking very good  :thumbsup:

Thanks, hopefully it'll look better in green.  ;)

That'll be after a LOT more PSR though, close up it looks terrible.  :banghead:

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 28, 2018, 03:38:43 PM
1st stage of the 2nd stage of the PSR........

It looks a lot better all one colour,

It is amazing how that coat of primer can turn an  :banghead: into a  :thumbsup: sometimes

Looks awesome to me!

The PSR's really done and dusted now, or as much as I'm prepared to do anyway, and the final primer coat's been applied.

I had a brain wave about the 'targets' for the magnets set into the container. I collected four small & short self-tapping screws and screwed them into the underside of the fuselage in the correct place to match the magnets.

Result!  ;D

(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/4453/TyM1GY.jpg)


And here's the container in position. Look, no hands!  ;D

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/1763/CBEqj5.jpg)

Verrry nice. And sexy on the dark red velvet!  :thumbsup: Remembers me of some famous glamour shot.

Velvet? That's the my duvet cover, it does make a good background though.  ;)

A red velvet duvet cover?  That would be rather heavy and hot...

;D

Quote from: zenrat on July 31, 2018, 05:13:35 AM

A red velvet duvet cover?  That would be rather heavy and hot...

;D

Nonononononono, it's red, yes, but not velvet. No idea what it is, just 'cloth' as far as I know...........  ;)

But is it that "rich crushed velour" that Chrysler used to have Khan Noonian Singh hawk back in the 70s? :wacko:

Quote from: scooter on July 31, 2018, 04:42:08 PM

But is it that "rich crushed velour" that Chrysler used to have Khan Noonian Singh hawk back in the 70s? :wacko:

Anything but! It just looks good as a background for pics.  ;D

Looks like ST:TOS Red Shirt uniform material to me.  You a secret Trek cosplayer Kit?
;D

Quote from: zenrat on August 01, 2018, 03:28:17 AM

Looks like ST:TOS Red Shirt uniform material to me.  You a secret Trek cosplayer Kit?
;D

Hehehe, not at all, but I have a couple of friends who are!  ;D

Quote from: zenrat on August 01, 2018, 03:28:17 AM
Looks like ST:TOS Red Shirt uniform material to me.  You a secret Trek cosplayer Kit?
;D

He's still alive.  If he is, it's not as a red shirt. :wacko:

My three RAF 100 GB builds will slow down a bit till the weekend's over. I've got a big railway event on at Crewe this weekend and the medics have just given me the OK to drive that far.  :thumbsup:

The organisers there sent me an email on Sunday asking would it be possible for me to give them a talk about tilt systems while I'm up there!  :o

While I can probably do the actual talking from my head, it'll take a while to build the illustrations into a suitable visual presentation.

Looks rather decadent to me  :angel: Mine's rather Scandinavian  :rolleyes:

Quote from: NARSES2 on August 01, 2018, 06:46:22 AM

Looks rather decadent to me  :angel: Mine's rather Scandinavian  :rolleyes:

You haven't seen the rest of it...............  ;)

 ;D ;D

I've been trying to build the Rotocrane's rotor, but as it has components from FOUR different kits, none of which are designed to fit each other of course, it's not that simple.

I wanted it to have BIG blades because it's a heavy lift chopper, so the largest around are those from a Chinook, and luckily I have a couple of them, one an Airfix HC2 and one an Italeri MH-47E. Actually they're the same basic kit, thank goodness, so the blades are matching shapes, but I need six blades going in the SAME direction, so I needed half of the blades from one kit and half from the other...... [No, I have NO idea what I'm going to do with the other bits....]

Why six blades? Because I think it needs more than the puny four on the normal 'dyne, so it uses the hub from an Airfix Super Jolly Green Giant, and the shaft and the tip jets from the two 'dyne kits that I used for the fuselage etc.

It's taking an age to build as gluing the blades to the hub takes 5-6 hrs or so each because they have to be really solid before I start on the next one. At this rate it's going to take all week, so no pics just yet.  :banghead:

You're a bleedin' masochist, mate! ;D

Quote from: Old Wombat on August 07, 2018, 07:07:53 PM
You're a bleedin' masochist, mate! ;D

;D ;D ;D ;D


I was gonna say.. . . ..   ;D

Quote from: Old Wombat on August 07, 2018, 07:07:53 PM

You're a bleedin' masochist, mate! ;D

I'm starting to think that should be spelt  I D I OT

3 blades on now........

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 08, 2018, 01:04:09 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on August 07, 2018, 07:07:53 PM

You're a bleedin' masochist, mate! ;D

I'm starting to think that should be spelt  I D I OT

3 blades on now........

You mean you're not going to follow this up with an eight-bladed interlinked contra-rotating Kamanesque version  :wacko:

Quote from: Knightflyer on August 08, 2018, 01:10:42 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 08, 2018, 01:04:09 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on August 07, 2018, 07:07:53 PM

You're a bleedin' masochist, mate! ;D

I'm starting to think that should be spelt  I D I OT

3 blades on now........

You mean you're not going to follow this up with an eight-bladed interlinked contra-rotating Kamanesque version  :wacko:

Well, maybe next week.....

I have got a complete spare rotor pylon of course.  ;) ;)

BIG problem with the rotor............  :banghead:

I've almost doubled the fixed wingspan (force of habit....) and the Chinook blades are quite a bit shorter than the 'dyne's normal blades, the rotor just doesn't look big enough. The 'dyne's standard rotor has very high aspect ratio blades and is MILES larger in diameter than the wing span.

I'm wondering if I should use the remaining six Chinook blades to graft an extension into the centre of the Rotocrane's blades. I might try one and see what it looks like..............

I vote for that option. Sounds like it should be relatively easy to do with some clamps and then a little sanding and now you get to use up those spares.  :mellow: :mellow:


Rotor blades of adequate length are definitely a must, I agree!

Quote from: TheChronicOne on August 08, 2018, 08:45:36 AM
I vote for that option. Sounds like it should be relatively easy to do with some clamps and then a little sanding and now you get to use up those spares.  :mellow: :mellow:


Rotor blades of adequate length are definitely a must, I agree!

Not forgetting the drill, bit & wire for strengthening the join(s). :wacko:

You can see exactly what I mean here with this comparison pic. The Chinook blade in the LH pic may have MASSIVE chord, but no span at all really, compared to the original 'dyne blades in the RH pic. That's the Revell 'dyne rotor in the RH pic BTW, so it's slightly undersized anyway.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/9746/tXAPYe.jpg)

As I've already glued the Airfix tip jets onto the Chinook blades I've glued the first extension into the centre of the blade, but hindsight tells me it would have been better to cut the tip jets off again, then glue on the extension and then re-glue the jets.

I've taken two of the blades off the hub (VERY carefully...) as I'm certain that they'll all need extending now, but the prototype extended blade has one superglued joint and one styrene glued joint. I'll see which one works best, but I'm not sure about the 'drill and wire' business yet as the blades are only 1.5 mm thick.

We'll see what works, or not..............

You're really flying by the seat o' your pants, now.  :mellow:

The superglued joint works a treat, the styrene one doesn't, so I'll do the rest of the blades with superglue and take the tip jets off first.

Ho hum, we're making SOME progress anyway.

Just a thought, Mil-10 blades come in a pack of five at 8.5 inches each.
I only have vacform Sanger parts for reference.

The new, longer blades are all done and dusted now, indeed its a veritable production line of blades here this evening!  :o

Weirdly the grey Airfix blades glued a lot better than the dark green Italeri blades, but I'll leave them all to set well hard for an hour or so before assembling at least some of them back onto the hub. They may need a tad PSRing beforehand though, my superglue sets VERY hard.

I don't think I've ever PSR'd a rotor blade before.  ;)

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/112/e98zfm.jpg)

The real Rotodyne's rotor blades have always struck me as a little odd.  The start about a quarter of their length out of the hub with a bladed structure, inboard of there, it is just a tubular structure.  Now, I'm sure they did for a reason but I really cannot think of one.  They could have shortened the blades by a quarter or they could have filled them in with more blade and hence increased lift.   I wonder if they did it because they couldn't get much lift out of the inner quarter because of the fuselage structure or is it just sheer bloody British mindedness which made them design them that way?   :banghead: :banghead:

Probably the former, in a round about way; there's a lot of body there in the Rotocrane and it's like the ol' helicopter lifting a piece of plywood problem, if the plywood is as wide as the rotors are round, the helicopter won't lift off because the lift generated also is pushing down on the sheet of plywood and they cancel out. I'd suspect that some of that lift being generated toward in the inside was pushing down on the fuselage as much as it was "pulling" up through the rotors. This may not be the reason why or may not be ALL of the reason why, but the science is good and is one possible explanation for it.

I'm confident in your abilities Kit.  It'll all work out fine in the end.

Carry on.


;D

The tubular bit on a 'dyne's blades are to get the compressed air out to the tip jets. Perhaps it needed to be cooled a tad before it got all the way out?

On the Rotocrane the air worked at higher pressure so the pipes didn't need to be so large in diameter......  ;)

[The backstory can always be changed to suit the model!  ;D]

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 09, 2018, 11:28:36 AM
The backstory can always be changed to suit the model!  ;D]

Isn't it always?  :rolleyes:

I reckon I'm going to have to take up Womblies idea of drilling and pinning the blades, three of them snapped while I was sanding them down.  :o

It'll have to be a VERY small drill.........  :unsure:

Quote from: rickshaw on August 08, 2018, 11:22:50 PM
The real Rotodyne's rotor blades have always struck me as a little odd.  The start about a quarter of their length out of the hub with a bladed structure, inboard of there, it is just a tubular structure.  Now, I'm sure they did for a reason but I really cannot think of one.  They could have shortened the blades by a quarter or they could have filled them in with more blade and hence increased lift.   I wonder if they did it because they couldn't get much lift out of the inner quarter because of the fuselage structure or is it just sheer bloody British mindedness which made them design them that way?   :banghead: :banghead:

I would say the wing and wide body would've interfered with the down wash just like on the V-22, maybe if the Rotordyne had large drooping sections like the V-22 wing has it might not have been such a problem.

All such aerodynamic foibles had been rendered extinct by the time the Rotocranes were built...........  ;D ;)

Airframe area under the rotary wing isn't as much of an issue with a tip-drive machine like the Rotodyne,
and the Z was going to have even more area under the rotor.

The Rotocrane has DOUBLE the wing area under the rotor, but it's a much bigger area rotor mind you.  ;D

Or it will be when/if I manage to build it..........

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 13, 2018, 09:14:40 AM
I reckon I'm going to have to take up Womblies idea of drilling and pinning the blades, three of them snapped while I was sanding them down.  :o

It'll have to be a VERY small drill.........  :unsure:

Or a channel (maybe two), which you can then fill with a volatile-based putty or liquid styrene once the wire is in place. ;)

I'll experiment with one of the broken ones and see what works best.

Think of it as just an extended high aspect ratio wing and I am sure you will find an answer.  :thumbsup:

Quote from: JayBee on August 14, 2018, 11:08:23 AM

Think of it as just an extended high aspect ratio wing and I am sure you will find an answer.  :thumbsup:

I did, and I didn't.....  :blink:

Try as I might I couldn't drill into the broken ends of the blades, they're just too thin and they're curved as well so the drill bit comes out of the side of the blade.  :banghead:

Current plans centre on cutting narrow slots along the blades for maybe 0.25 - 0.5 inch and supergluing fuse wire in the slot before gluing the bits together.

And then PSRing each joint of course!

This could take a while.

What I've done in the past is cut slots with my razor saw which are wide enough to slide some styrene card in vertically using a bit more than you need and as snuggly as possible. Once it's glued good, I then trim the card top & bottom to suit. 2mm card might be good for your blades Kit.

Hmm, that may be a better idea Robert, thanks.  :thumbsup:

I think in woodworking termology it's called a biscuit joint. Only it would be vertical instead of horizonally

A I find a 60° diagonal joint is best for gluing thin material end to end, it gives you more
gluing surface. Combined with Robert's spline method, it would be quite strong.

Having gathered together all the bits and pieces I reckon I'd need for this job, I find I've only got FIVE rotor blades......  :banghead: :banghead:

Where the devil has the sixth one gone?

I went back and checked the pic of them to see if I'd really made six, and I had.  :unsure:

Quote from: salt6 on August 16, 2018, 02:19:33 PM

Piano wire is stiffer than fuse wire.

Yeah, I think I'm aware of that........

But it depends on what's available in the right size at the time what I can use.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 16, 2018, 01:16:28 PM

Where the devil has the sixth one gone?

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 14, 2018, 09:15:05 AM
I'll experiment with one of the broken ones and see what works best.

Not this one is it ?

No, I've got 1/3 of that one, but the rest has vanished.

However I do have enough bits and pieces to probably make one complete blade, but it'll have 4 or 5 joints in it!  :o

Having got pretty frustrated at the lack of the sixth blade, I decided to add some greebles (thanks Fred  :thumbsup:) to the aircraft. I nicked all sorts of chaff dispensers, ECM and VOR aerials and an ASR winch nicked from various other helicopter kits and glued them on in random places so it looks a bit more military.

Of course of the middle of that I found the sixth blade!  :banghead: :banghead:

Blade repair tomorrow I guess.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 16, 2018, 04:50:57 PM
Having got pretty frustrated at the lack of the sixth blade, I decided to add some greebles (thanks Fred  :thumbsup:) to the aircraft. I nicked all sorts of chaff dispensers, ECM and VOR aerials and an ASR winch nicked from various other helicopter kits and glued them on in random places so it looks a bit more military.

Of course of the middle of that I found the sixth blade!  :banghead: :banghead:

Blade repair tomorrow I guess.

Ain't it always the way! ;D

I've fixed one blade with Robert's system now and it looks pretty good. Got to PSR it first but it's a lot stronger than my original butt joints.

I looked at doing the slots at an angle Jon, but the blades don't really have a wide enough chord, and I'm not confident of my ability to saw at the same angle on each blade really.  :banghead:

Actually I've just thought of a way to do that, clamp both halves of the blade together with one upside down, and then make one saw cut through both of them at the same time. Doh!  :banghead:

Quote from: kitnut617 on August 16, 2018, 10:56:18 AM
I think in woodworking termology it's called a biscuit joint. Only it would be vertical instead of horizonally

A biscuit joint uses biscuits, compressed oval pieces of wood that fit into a semicircular cutout
in each gluing face, this is cut with a special power tool called a plate or biscuit jointer.

The joint you describe is a spline joint, which does not require any specialized tools.

I've used both, personally speaking the requirement for a specialized tool, and the biscuits, makes
the biscuit joint nonsensical unless you're in a production setting. There are numerous other joints
that work as well, of course that requires learning to use regular tools appropriately and skillfully.
;D

I knew you'd figure out the stack-cut-n-flip.  :thumbsup:

The angled cut increases the apparent chord, thus more gluing area.

Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on August 18, 2018, 09:40:13 PM

Quote from: kitnut617 on August 16, 2018, 10:56:18 AM
I think in woodworking termology it's called a biscuit joint. Only it would be vertical instead of horizonally

A biscuit joint uses biscuits, compressed oval pieces of wood that fit into a semicircular cutout
in each gluing face, this is cut with a special power tool called a plate or biscuit jointer.

The joint you describe is a spline joint, which does not require any specialized tools.

I've used both, personally speaking the requirement for a specialized tool, and the biscuits, makes
the biscuit joint nonsensical unless you're in a production setting. There are numerous other joints
that work as well, of course that requires learning to use regular tools appropriately and skillfully.
;D

Cheers Jon   :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Mmmmnnn!  Biscuits!

Got all the greeblies on now, and added the rear bulkhead and the crane operator's observation blister AND started painting it too! It's green, all of it........

Oh yes, the canopy's in place now too. It's starting to look as it was intended.

Still working on the darn rotor blades though.  :banghead:

Here's the Rotocrane in all it's wonderful green-ness, and with its canopy and greeblies added too.

And also the rest of my RAF 100 GB fleet, the 'PR9' has had it's underside all painted up, two coats of Light Aircraft Grey and I've started on the Hemp uppers. The Venom T5 has got a nice coat of silver, but that showed up some PSR issues so it'll need at least another coat, and the Gnat CC2 is primered nicely, but I'm still looking for a decent piece of  close grained balsa to carve for the canopy mould.

It certainly shows how HUGE the 'PR9' is and how tiny the Gnat is too.  :o

(https://imageshack.com/a/img921/2197/pFAF5I.jpg)

Oh yes, I forgot to mention I've got a fifth build on the go too, but I'll wait until it's done before posting anything about it.  ;D ;)

That one's almost at the decal stage now, and I only started it on Thursday evening......  ;)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 22, 2018, 09:05:06 AM
Oh yes, I forgot to mention I've got a fifth build on the go too, but I'll wait until it's done before posting anything about it.  ;D ;)

That one's almost at the decal stage now, and I only started it on Thursday evening......  ;)

Would that be the Hunter FGA.9 you bragged about? ;)

Quote from: nighthunter on August 22, 2018, 10:02:49 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 22, 2018, 09:05:06 AM
Oh yes, I forgot to mention I've got a fifth build on the go too, but I'll wait until it's done before posting anything about it.  ;D ;)

That one's almost at the decal stage now, and I only started it on Thursday evening......  ;)

Would that be the Hunter FGA.9 you bragged about? ;)

Nooooo, I only bought that today, the fifth model has been in my stock for a few years now. It's somewhat 'radical'.......  ;)

Painting up the Rotocrane's canopy is a bit of a nightmare. It has got DOZENS of separate panels so there's twice that number of panel joints.

I was originally going to paint them after priming, but it's not that easy so I may go the painted tape route instead.

Actually it turned out that painting the canopy was easier than trying to get the painted tape to stay put over the double curvature of the Rotocrane's canopy, and that bit's done and dusted now.

I've put two coats of Klear all over it, and may start the decals later on.

Work on the rotor blades continues, but slowly.

Oh yes, the container is painted now too, a shade lighter than the overall Dark Green if the airframe.

The Rotocrane's all painted and it's got most of its decals on now, even if some of them aren't matching colours!

(https://imageshack.com/a/img922/9994/AgdYoo.jpg)

Very neat

Looks legitimate

Nice! :thumbsup:

I've got the Noratlas landing gear installed into the Rotocrane now,, and it wasn't all that easy, but at least it's the correct height as the container needs to be clear of the ground of course. I've also got most of the rest of the decals in place, so it's just the wheels, door guns and a few odd and ends and it'll be done too.

A couple of evenings maybe?

Stupidly I've forgotten all about the rotor.  :banghead:

But as it spends some of its time as a helicopter it's a good idea that it has one, so I dived back in to PSRing the blades once more.

Time seems to have matured the superglue somewhat because I managed not to break any of them again, and now they're all glued together on my bit of ply marked out at 60 deg. intervals to get them correctly aligned.

When they're set I'll add the various bit and pieces on the hub and try it place on the Rotocrane's monster pylon.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img922/4248/hJhtvK.jpg)

I wasn't intending to post any more pics of the Rotocrane until it was finished, but I had to test fit the rotor this morning now that it's dried, and the thing looked SO crazy I just had to take a pic, even though the rotor's not painted and it hasn't any wheels yet etc.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img921/3558/FMbG1f.jpg)

When I first test fitted it last night the tip jets rested on the wing tips and the fins, so there was obviously too much 'droop' in the blades. As the glue was still drying I had a brain wave and turned the rotor upside down to dry and this morning it's just right.  :thumbsup:

 :wub:

WoW!  :thumbsup:

Lookin' good, there, mate!   :thumbsup:

Kit, that look amazing!  it is absolutely a thing from a future we should of had.  :thumbsup:

Woh! :o

:thumbsup:

Now I know it's 1/72 but in that photo it looks 1/144 or even 1/200 for some reason to me - obviously a very deep shag pile ?  :angel:

Certainly suits the scheme.

Kit --- that looks terrific   :wub: :wub: :wub:

Now I've got an idea what a project I've been planning for quite a few years will look like (only I'm using 1/32 scale CH-47 blades)

Awesome Job :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Looks like it could Come from an Episode of thunderbirds! Keep up the Superb Work,Kit! Dan

Brilliant

I've been watching this build with great interest. A brilliant idea flawlessly done!

Thanks very much, but I'm not so sure about the 'flawless' bit. The joints between the various parts aren't as good as they look in the pics, luckily the rotor is SO big that no-one will be able to get close enough to see the faults.  ;D ;)

Just finished painting the landing gear, the wheels and doors should go on this evening.

Wot they said.  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I assume you've sanded all the rivets off?
I'd love to keep them when I build mine but I think with what i've got planned i'd end up having to add a lot back on top of the completed PSR.

Quote from: zenrat on September 04, 2018, 03:37:06 AM

I assume you've sanded all the rivets off?

You bet I did, the later production HC4s were all composite anyway so they didn't have any rivets...............  ;D ;)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on September 04, 2018, 12:37:13 PM

Quote from: zenrat on September 04, 2018, 03:37:06 AM

I assume you've sanded all the rivets off?

You bet I did, the later production HC4s were all composite anyway so they didn't have any rivets...............  ;D ;)

Construction method of the Fairey/zenrat Superdyne has yet to be determined (but a large proportion of it may well be putty).

Quote from: zenrat on September 05, 2018, 03:56:35 AM

Construction method of the Fairey/zenrat Superdyne has yet to be determined (but a large proportion of it may well be putty).

I'm enthusiastic about the Superdyne concept, bring it on!  :thumbsup: ;D ;)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on September 05, 2018, 04:16:26 AM

Quote from: zenrat on September 05, 2018, 03:56:35 AM

Construction method of the Fairey/zenrat Superdyne has yet to be determined (but a large proportion of it may well be putty).

I'm enthusiastic about the Superdyne concept, bring it on!  :thumbsup: ;D ;)

I am planning to build it for the up coming Alt.Flight (Helicoptors, Ornithoptors, Ekranoplans, Autogiros, Flying Carpets, Hovercraft, Flying Cars, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) GB.  I think I have all the major parts now.

Painting the rotor is a real pain, it's matt black on the bottom and satin dark green on top, and no matter how careful I am the top paint keeps getting on the bottom and vice versa.  :banghead:

I'm on the third attempt now, using a small brush and being VERY careful. Then I need to add the main gear doors and paint them up, then satin varnish the whole thing and it's done.

Oh yes, the container's all painted and varnished now and looks pretty good. I thought I'd need to print up some decals for the info on the ends, but looking at real Army containers through the fence at Ashchurch the other day showed me that they don't have any, they're just matt green all over.  :thumbsup:

Wooow, great job Kit! What a magnoficent beast!
David als 63cpe

Almost there now, all the parts are assembled and in position and painted. Just a few small details to sort out, like painting the prop tips and adding the door guns.

Unfortunately my previously prepared door guns, from an MH-47E kit, seem to have gone missing, but they were very small. I may need a Plan B here............  :banghead:

Good thing I have a number of Plan Bs to hand......  :banghead:

Plan A was to use lengths of red 2 mm wide decal to make the red-white-red prop tips, having masked and painted the white tips. But that didn't work because the C-160 props are slightly tapered at the tops and the decal stripes went on all crooked.

So Plan B was to mask them up again  :banghead: and paint the red bits, which is what I did and they're drying now.

That really is the last bit to do as all the rest is done. <sigh>

OK, it's finished at last. The red paint dried pretty quickly, thank goodness.

(https://imageshack.com/a/img923/2194/sJvzn4.jpg)

The usual 3/4 front view, the little black marks on the wings and 'fuselage' are the fueling points.


(https://imageshack.com/a/img924/7282/x73NlU.jpg)

Rear view showing the container door latches and the walkways.


(https://imageshack.com/a/img922/1186/W1eCIx.jpg)

Underside showing the loadmaster's window (It's half a Meteor NF14 canopy  ;D) and the self tappers for the container's magnets to latch onto.


(https://imageshack.com/a/img921/93/ILdCsb.jpg)

Just the nose, showing the rescue hoist over the starboard hatch etc. I haven't managed to find the door guns yet, but their mounts are already in place on the lower hatches.

My God, it's glorious!!! 


:bow: :bow: :bow: :drink: :drink: :cheers: :party:


How in the hell did this turn out BETTER than I expected?!

Dude, this is good stuff!!!!  Fantastic!!!  :wub: :wub:

Wow, absolutely fabulous!
What a great idea and excellent execution!

TomZ

I'm sure I've seen pictures of that on Airliners.net, kicking up dust in Afghanistan.  Great execution kit, looks fantastic!

 :bow: :bow: :bow:
:wub: :wub: :wub:

Cool as.
Fantastic job Kit.
:thumbsup:

Cor!   :wub: :wub: :wub:

That has come out fantastic Kit  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Quote from: kitnut617 on September 27, 2018, 03:37:19 AM
Cor!   :wub: :wub: :wub:

That has come out fantastic Kit  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

x2 !   :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I appreciate the logistical problems, but that has to go to Telford Kit.

Great work mate  :bow:

Quote from: NARSES2 on September 27, 2018, 06:31:38 AM
I appreciate the logistical problems, but that has to go to Telford Kit.

Great work mate  :bow:

Thanks gentlemen, I'm glad you like it.

No probs Chris, it's surely going to be there, along with XH131 and the STAND as well.  ;D

Really nice, Kit, a great job.   :thumbsup:

we need a jaw dropping emoti con, for this Kit
its magic, seriously magic  :thumbsup:

and like others have alluded to , im certain ive seen, and heard, these flying down the RAF flight path I used to live under.

Super Awesome,Kit :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: i Almost Started humming the Thunderbirds theme as i saw it! Keep up the Superb work :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: Dan

I've been watching this one all long and it has turned out fantastic! Great imagination here! I can just see one of these out there in RW

It's alreet, I s'pose...

 ;D ;D ;D

I know everyone's already said it, but that's wicked, awesome, and stupendous!  The detachable container too cool. :thumbsup:

Quote from: Steel Penguin on September 27, 2018, 11:55:54 AM
we need a jaw dropping emoti con, for this Kit

This will have to do   ;D ;D ;D

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvillage.photos%2Fimages%2Fuser%2F8f3973c9-3f0e-4b54-80e2-017121c0bf9f%2Fae2c2000-b511-48c6-a639-5029b3ae4781.jpg&hash=31a372d996377dc60b786ceb7dc5a1bec38333ec)

This is (literally) great!  :thumbsup:

Lovely build, I esp. like the standard container as payload, very neat.  ;D

Kitnut
I prefer
" Im sorry, I cant hear you over how awesome that is"

Quote from: Steel Penguin on September 28, 2018, 10:33:48 AM

Kitnut
I prefer
" Im sorry, I cant hear you over how awesome that is"

Oh very good.  ;D ;)

Of course by the time the RAF had adopted the Rotocrane as its standard vertical heavy lift aircraft the tip jet noise issues had been solved.

Yeah, right...........  ;)

I do believe that the official response would have been along the lines of  :
"That's the sound of freedom old chap".

 :o   sorry Kit, I hadn't even realised id done that one   :banghead:
it is just a phrase I use when I don't want to go excessively on the superlatives, but think that it is seriously impressive.  :thumbsup:
and I do think it is that good.

Could've sworn I'd commented on this one, but apparently not... (this is an increasingly common experience for me...)... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Anyway, very, very very nice job Kit: that's my kind of crazy  :wacko: :thumbsup:

Random observation: have you noticed how much the Rotodyne cockpit section actually resembles the Noratlas?

Quote from: Weaver on October 20, 2018, 06:28:01 AM

Random observation: have you noticed how much the Rotodyne cockpit section actually resembles the Noratlas?

Actually no, but now that you mention it, it certainly does. How odd. Now you've got me wondering if I should replace the nose with the Noratlas one, but I may leave that until I build the later, even larger HC6...............  ;) ;) ;)

Sadly, I took it to my local club the other night and had to do a crash stop on the M4 avoiding some gawp truck driver who was trying to turn left from the right hand lane (!) and the Rotocrane's carry box slid onto the floor of the car and one of the main wheel legs has broken. It'll need some alloy tubing and mucho superglue to repair I reckon.  :banghead:

Leave it as it is and put it on a base with a fire truck and a couple of Land Rovers round it!  I am much looking forward to the HC6 when it appears.

Quote from: Rheged on October 20, 2018, 10:00:33 AM

Leave it as it is and put it on a base with a fire truck and a couple of Land Rovers round it! 

That's not a bad idea actually, with the container detached and jammed under the fuselage, hmmmmmm........

And I have a catalogue of 1/72 fire engines and stuff from the recent show I did in S Wales too.

Quote from: Rheged on October 20, 2018, 10:00:33 AM

I am much looking forward to the HC6 when it appears.

So am I, when I can generate the idea as to how it should look.  ;D

I'd need a few more 'dyne kits first though, and a LOT more Chinook rotor blades too.

Who did those aftermarket Chinook blades anyway, I can't remember?

Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 20, 2018, 10:05:22 AM

So am I, when I can generate the idea as to how it should look.  ;D

How about like this Kit

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvillage.photos%2Fimages%2Fuser%2F8f3973c9-3f0e-4b54-80e2-017121c0bf9f%2F0ab66ce9-878f-411a-ac39-b7b919f91b07.jpg&hash=4a381239748c5ed3421859424f9e48e65ea3da98)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 20, 2018, 10:05:22 AM

I'd need a few more 'dyne kits first though, and a LOT more Chinook rotor blades too.

Who did those aftermarket Chinook blades anyway, I can't remember?

And Whirlybird did/does Chinook blade replacement sets, got one in the stash somewhere.

Quote from: kitnut617 on October 20, 2018, 11:15:27 AM

How about like this Kit

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvillage.photos%2Fimages%2Fuser%2F8f3973c9-3f0e-4b54-80e2-017121c0bf9f%2F0ab66ce9-878f-411a-ac39-b7b919f91b07.jpg&hash=4a381239748c5ed3421859424f9e48e65ea3da98)

That's a bit too ugly, even for me Robert.  :o

Quote from: kitnut617 on October 20, 2018, 11:15:27 AM

And Whirlybird did/does Chinook blade replacement sets, got one in the stash somewhere.

Indeed they do, thanks for the tip. £8.50 a set for the new composite type blades. I can pick some up at Telford with luck.  :thumbsup:

Well I wasn't thinking 'exactly' like that, more along the lines of something like it but using Rotodyne parts. I've got these 1/32 CH-47 front fuselage clear vacuform bits which I can't for the life of me remember why I got them and I thought they could work for something like this.

There was a guy from the St Athan Club at the S Wales show at the weekend who'd build the 1/32 Chinook. It's HUGE!

The rotor blades must have a chord of over an inch! A most impressive model though.

Quote from: Tophe on July 11, 2018, 07:09:48 PM
A twin-boom Rotodyne may be a winner! :thumbsup: :bow:

Belated congratulations! I forgot to come back with cheers for the final result. Hurrah for this twin-boomer!

Wow ! Just wow ! Love it. Absolutely love it. I need to go on the hunt for one of these kits again. Can you imagine the sight and sound of these babies in operation ? You'd set up camp at the aerodrome and never leave !

Great stuff * click * save

:cheers:

While packing boxes for the Avon Show tomorrow I found the Rotocrane was missing a rotor blade.  :banghead:

With a rotor THAT big it's only too obvious so an immediate repair was called for, so out came the fuse wire, superglue and very small drills..............

NOT such a good idea as even a 1 mm drill was too large for the rotor blade's main shaft. Instead I glued a stub of fuse wire into the rotor hub and cut a narrow slot along a short length of the blade, then mashed it all together with more and more superglue.

A dash of paint should see it OK for the morning.  :thumbsup:

That greatly resembles the USN and JMSDF QH-50 drone!  I have a kit of one to build someday.

Quote from: kitnut617 on October 20, 2018, 11:15:27 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 20, 2018, 10:05:22 AMSo am I, when I can generate the idea as to how it should look.  ;D

How about like this Kit

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvillage.photos%2Fimages%2Fuser%2F8f3973c9-3f0e-4b54-80e2-017121c0bf9f%2F0ab66ce9-878f-411a-ac39-b7b919f91b07.jpg&hash=4a381239748c5ed3421859424f9e48e65ea3da98)

Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 20, 2018, 10:05:22 AMI'd need a few more 'dyne kits first though, and a LOT more Chinook rotor blades too.

Who did those aftermarket Chinook blades anyway, I can't remember?

And Whirlybird did/does Chinook blade replacement sets, got one in the stash somewhere.