Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Frank3k on October 15, 2023, 09:04:43 AM
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I think almost every modeler has a copy of the BI-1 rocket fighter. It was made by several Eastern European companies and eventually made its way into the West. Scalemates lists my copy as made by Modelist (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/modelist-3101-bi-1--146076):
(https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/0/7/6/146076-11185-pristine.jpg)
It is a bad kit. I have two copies; both are flashy and one had a short shot fuselage half. Not that it mattered; the fit and flash is very poor. The kits have rattled around my junk kit box for almost 30 years.
I saw a kit of the OKB Chelomey 16Kha "Priboy" (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/brengun-brp48001-okb-chelomey-16kha-priboy-missile--1012641), a twin pulsejet Russian knockoff of the V-1:
(https://reviews.ipmsusa.org/sites/default/files/reviews/okb-chelomey-16kha-priboy-soviet-air-launched-missile/brp48001_27.jpg)
It looked like an interesting design. While letting Felix visit the model closet, I saw a kit of the Me328; the Huma version came with two pulse engines... so after some thinking, I remembered that I had two Argus pulsejets from the Huma He280 kit.
I thought that combining the two Argus engines (with longer exhaust pipes) and the BI-1 would be easy... I was wrong. The engine modification was no problem, but the BI-1 was just such a bad kit. I struggled throughout the build and painting and decided to just finish it before it ended flying into a wall.
The paint job is awful. The engines decided to wobble out of place. The number is the year and month I finished this POS:
(https://i.imgur.com/lHm0swe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SuSdzUZ.jpg)
I added a better seat, instrument panel and control stick... but why?
(https://i.imgur.com/nhMFfpQ.jpg)
Thanks for reading; I'm just glad it's done.
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Good on you Frank for "taking another one for the team." I can say with all sincerity that I have never had either of those two models used for this kit bash and consider myself fortunate in not ever wanting either one in my own stash. While your pain and suffering are recognized the end result looks good and certainly much better than anything I could have attempted from those two kits.
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Obviously made at OKB Gulag! ;)
At least you tried! :smiley:
And it ain't that bad. 8)
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I feel a whole lot less bad about not proceeding with my history of Rocket Fighters builds...I had one of these, (possibly two. It has been awhile since I disposed of them.) and a VP productions vac that I was going to try and do as a cut away based on the drawings in Green's Rocket Fighter. That did not go well, either.
Neat concept, anyhow.
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Thanks for commiserating! The best parts of this build were the Huma bits (engines, main wheels) and the scratchbuilt twin rudders. The rest was just a slog. I guess I had to pay the modelling gods back for the great time I had with the Border Models T-55 kit.
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The engines decided to wobble out of place.
No, no,no . . . 'In order to compensate for the severe vibration characteristic of pulsejets, the engines were fitted on flexible mountings. When not running, these mounts caused the engines to assume a characteristic, sagging, position' . . . ;)
It certainly looks like a good job to me, I'd be happy with it . . . :smiley:
cheers,
Robin.
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:smiley:
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In real life, the Me328 flew a few times with pulsejets. The un-synchronized firings and the incredible vibration may have caused in-flight breakups and definitely caused damage to the airframes.
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Really neato :smiley:
Nice thing is in world of styrene engineering those un-synchronized firings don't happen or simply are not an issue.
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The tail end would be going something like this:
(https://media.tenor.com/8_BwEh3t4NwAAAAM/cats-wiggle.gif)
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Great job Frank, it must have been satisfying to get it done.
I think almost every modeler has a copy of the BI-1 rocket fighter.
I don't but all donations are welcome.
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The tail end would be going something like this:
(https://media.tenor.com/8_BwEh3t4NwAAAAM/cats-wiggle.gif)
The retraction of the front landing gear before launch is quite impressive! ;D
I think almost every modeler has a copy of the BI-1 rocket fighter.
I don't but all donations are welcome.
I've got one somewhere in the Wombat Stash, Zac, that I have no clue what to do with. Give me a few days & I'll send it over the ditch. :smiley:
I have an address for you but it's from 2017, if it's changed since then drop me a PM.
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I've got one somewhere in the Wombat Stash, Zac, that I have no clue what to do with. Give me a few days & I'll send it over the ditch. :smiley:
I have an address for you but it's from 2017, if it's changed since then drop me a PM.
You're far too kind! I did move three months ago, PM inbound.
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I have one of these in my drawer of doom, it was nearly finished then I lost the canopy and lost all intrest . Shame because I invested a lot of time getting it to look right.
I wouldn't beat herself up too much Frank it still looks good.
Mog
>^-.-^<
P.s. Love that cat animation :smiley: :smiley: