What if

General Modelling Forum => General Modeling topics => The Idea Bank => Topic started by: Beermonster58 on August 25, 2023, 01:22:10 AM

Title: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Beermonster58 on August 25, 2023, 01:22:10 AM
I've got an old Airfix B-29 which will eventually appear as the FW-300 "Mjolnir" (Thor's Hammer). The FW-300 was an actual proposal for an intercontinental bomber  but, it never left the drawing board. Fuselage looks not unlike the B-29  (it was also to be pressurised)  but, I'm thinking maybe twin fins and, a tail dragger . I'll retain the twin bomb bays and remote control defensive armament though.

I've started on my Avro Manchester iteration using the Revell Lancaster and, inboard engines from the old Eastern Express / FROG Shackleton.. The engine nacelles are actually not a bad fit on the Lancaster. I'm keeping the contra props though because they look uber cool! ;D . I'm aware that the Manchester had a 90ft wingspan as opposed to 102 ft . The Lancaster kit has handy panel lines near the wing tips and, I figure if I remove those sections and, the sections where the outboard engines fit, that'll do it! Obviously, all mods done according to the TLAR (That Looks About Right) charts! 
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Wardukw on August 25, 2023, 02:46:57 AM
This sounds very cool 😎 👌
Ive got some books on German wiffies ..well design proposals for their bomber fleets and I was surprised at how many of them looked like copies of the B-29 to the point where even the first 2 gun turrets are in the same place.
Here's a few more which look very B-29ish.
Fw 261...Me 364 ..Me P 1075 and the Me P1085 .
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Beermonster58 on August 26, 2023, 12:58:17 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 25, 2023, 02:46:57 AMThis sounds very cool 😎 👌
Ive got some books on German wiffies ..well design proposals for their bomber fleets and I was surprised at how many of them looked like copies of the B-29 to the point where even the first 2 gun turrets are in the same place.
Here's a few more which look very B-29ish.
Fw 261...Me 364 ..Me P 1075 and the Me P1085 .
:thumbsup:  Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually not surprised there are similarities. It's often the case if designers work to a certain set of specs then their results will appear broadly similar.
  <_<
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Wardukw on August 26, 2023, 03:29:32 AM
Quote from: Beermonster58 on August 26, 2023, 12:58:17 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 25, 2023, 02:46:57 AMThis sounds very cool 😎 👌
Ive got some books on German wiffies ..well design proposals for their bomber fleets and I was surprised at how many of them looked like copies of the B-29 to the point where even the first 2 gun turrets are in the same place.
Here's a few more which look very B-29ish.
Fw 261...Me 364 ..Me P 1075 and the Me P1085 .
:thumbsup:  Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually not surprised there are similarities. It's often the case if designers work to a certain set of specs then their results will appear broadly similar.
  <_<
The going that got me with these designs is how much they look like a 29..and I mean copied it ..the glazing in the cockpit even looks the same ..it's ture what ya said matey for sure but this is something else..like stolen info sort of something.
It's fecking weird but it's also has benefits..as your finding out  ;D
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Beermonster58 on August 27, 2023, 02:15:10 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 26, 2023, 03:29:32 AM
Quote from: Beermonster58 on August 26, 2023, 12:58:17 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 25, 2023, 02:46:57 AMThis sounds very cool 😎 👌
Ive got some books on German wiffies ..well design proposals for their bomber fleets and I was surprised at how many of them looked like copies of the B-29 to the point where even the first 2 gun turrets are in the same place.
Here's a few more which look very B-29ish.
Fw 261...Me 364 ..Me P 1075 and the Me P1085 .
:thumbsup:  Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually not surprised there are similarities. It's often the case if designers work to a certain set of specs then their results will appear broadly similar.
  <_<
The going that got me with these designs is how much they look like a 29..and I mean copied it ..the glazing in the cockpit even looks the same ..it's ture what ya said matey for sure but this is something else..like stolen info sort of something.
It's fecking weird but it's also has benefits..as your finding out  ;D
:thumbsup:  I think myself that  the similarities are mere coincidence but, I don't think it really matters. I did like the twin boom design but, I reckon that's a bit beyond my capability! ;D 
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: zenrat on August 27, 2023, 05:37:47 AM
They all copied the Tu.4 didn't they?   ;)
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Scotaidh on August 27, 2023, 08:00:29 AM
"Form follows function" - there are only so many ways to answer the same question with the technology extent at any given time.
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Wardukw on August 27, 2023, 12:08:24 PM
Quote from: Beermonster58 on August 27, 2023, 02:15:10 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 26, 2023, 03:29:32 AM
Quote from: Beermonster58 on August 26, 2023, 12:58:17 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 25, 2023, 02:46:57 AMThis sounds very cool 😎 👌
Ive got some books on German wiffies ..well design proposals for their bomber fleets and I was surprised at how many of them looked like copies of the B-29 to the point where even the first 2 gun turrets are in the same place.
Here's a few more which look very B-29ish.
Fw 261...Me 364 ..Me P 1075 and the Me P1085 .
:thumbsup:  Thanks for the heads up. I'm actually not surprised there are similarities. It's often the case if designers work to a certain set of specs then their results will appear broadly similar.
  <_<
The going that got me with these designs is how much they look like a 29..and I mean copied it ..the glazing in the cockpit even looks the same ..it's ture what ya said matey for sure but this is something else..like stolen info sort of something.
It's fecking weird but it's also has benefits..as your finding out  ;D
:thumbsup:  I think myself that  the similarities are mere coincidence but, I don't think it really matters. I did like the twin boom design but, I reckon that's a bit beyond my capability! ;D 
Ahhh the Fw 261 ...Ive looked at that myself so much to the point I was considering hunting down a 72nd B-29 of all things but the more I looked at it the more I went ...nope ;D
The fuselage would be the easiest part..I'd have to scratch build the rest  :o
Yeah mate that's a bit above my ability aswell 😊
Honestly though there's that part of me which would love to give one a blast ..a wiff version  :wacko:
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: jcf on August 27, 2023, 02:28:32 PM
If ya need a pressurized fuselage for long-range, high-altitude operations using period technology
you're going to end up with a cylindrical fuselage.
:wacko:

p.s. if going from a single-tail to a twin-tail using a B-29 make sure the two tails are large enough,
I've seen a couple of different similar conversions and in both cases the new fins/rudders are too
small. Control in yaw would be lacking.
 
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: kerick on August 30, 2023, 12:20:51 PM
Make sure you put a canopy that looks like a Ju 88 or something. Tradition is strong in German culture!
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Beermonster58 on August 30, 2023, 08:40:40 PM
Quote from: jcf on August 27, 2023, 02:28:32 PMIf ya need a pressurized fuselage for long-range, high-altitude operations using period technology
you're going to end up with a cylindrical fuselage.
:wacko:

p.s. if going from a single-tail to a twin-tail using a B-29 make sure the two tails are large enough,
I've seen a couple of different similar conversions and in both cases the new fins/rudders are too
small. Control in yaw would be lacking.
 
That's a reasonable point.  :thumbsup:  I've got a pair of tail fins salvaged from an old FROG Shackleton. If they don't work out, I have a couple of alternatives that should do nicely. I've got several assorted spare wings that can be cut/ trimmed to shape
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Rick Lowe on August 31, 2023, 01:20:09 AM
Quote from: Wardukw on August 27, 2023, 12:08:24 PMAhhh the Fw 261 ...Ive looked at that myself so much to the point I was considering hunting down a 72nd B-29 of all things but the more I looked at it the more I went ...nope ;D
The fuselage would be the easiest part..I'd have to scratch build the rest  :o
Yeah mate that's a bit above my ability aswell 😊
Honestly though there's that part of me which would love to give one a blast ..a wiff version  :wacko:

Hmmm... the booms are basically cylindrical until they start to taper.
What about using some plastic tube (from a 'something-on-a-stick' toy - pitchfork? scythe?) and the tapered part from the fuselage or booms of something else?
Or a large drop tank...

Just a thought...

I do like the side-by-side chin turrets, though.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: FW-300 Mjolnir
Post by: Beermonster58 on September 03, 2023, 01:34:10 AM
Update - I've gotten hold of a couple of Italeri German Weapon sets. Got some nice ,seriously big bombs there! Something to stuff inside the bomb bay at least. I was surprised to find these are actually resin, not I M styrene.