Author Topic: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft  (Read 222659 times)

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« on: January 08, 2012, 06:08:00 AM »
A topic for all tilt-rotor aircraft

I was browsing Jose José Fernandes' latest update in his discussion topic and found myself wondering what a kit-bash between an OV-10 Bronco and the V-22 Osprey would look like.  Retain the booms but lose the engines.  The booms could then be devoted to the landing gear and fuel plus whatever avionics that could not be accommodated in the fuselage proper.  At the wing tips - mount the engines and rotor components from the V-22.  The only thing that I can see at this point that could be a problem is the rotor blade clearance with the tail.  Now I wish I had a 1/72nd scale Italeri V-22 Osprey kit in the stash to check fit with the Testors'/Italeri OV-10 Bronco. 
« Last Edit: December 20, 2014, 12:58:01 PM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2012, 07:47:20 AM »
Here's some:









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Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2012, 01:10:01 PM »
Well, since I now work for Bell, I can say that there were studies for an attack aircraft using Model 609 mechanicals and structure (I saw a rendering over a co-worker's desk).  Meanwhile, I'm more actively involved with developments and projects on the V-22. 

A couple thoughts, since the V-22 is replacing the CH-46 in USMC service, how about a V-22 in three-tone green splinter camouflage replacing the equivalent V-107-II in Swedish service or an OD V-22 with hinomarus doing the same in Japanese service.

Of course, if you're thinking bigger, there's always the Quad-Tilt-Rotor which could be modelled using a C-130 fuselage (alternatively, for grins, use an AN-12 fuselage to get the tailgunner position).

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2012, 01:32:57 PM »
Well, since I now work for Bell, I can say that there were studies for an attack aircraft using Model 609 mechanicals and structure (I saw a rendering over a co-worker's desk).  Meanwhile, I'm more actively involved with developments and projects on the V-22. 

A couple thoughts, since the V-22 is replacing the CH-46 in USMC service, how about a V-22 in three-tone green splinter camouflage replacing the equivalent V-107-II in Swedish service or an OD V-22 with hinomarus doing the same in Japanese service.

Of course, if you're thinking bigger, there's always the Quad-Tilt-Rotor which could be modelled using a C-130 fuselage (alternatively, for grins, use an AN-12 fuselage to get the tailgunner position).


Graeme Davidson did some nice profiles of the V-22 in various schemes for different nations.  One of which was the JASDF and the other was for Sweden in the splinter camouflage.  Since Graeme is not yet a member of this little group any of his work might still reside over on the other forum unless they suffered the recent purge in which case they are gone. 

See this link for some Tilt Rotor Madness or click on the image to view the thread :^)



I linked a number of screen shots that I had originally shared a long time ago on the other forum before going into exile and have since been dredged up to share here with the other members. 
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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2012, 03:26:57 PM »
Couldn't help myself:



And whilst the brain was switched off:



Regards,

Greg
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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2012, 03:27:58 PM »
Speaking of V-22 whiffs, anyone remember these:












Regards,

Greg
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Stargazer2006

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2012, 07:45:09 PM »
A few of my tilt-rotor whifs for your enjoyment... (I hope).



Grumman OV-1H Mohawk II



The Grumman OV-1H Mohawk II was the next logical step in the evolution of the reliable and flexible G-134 design. Featuring widened and shortened wings, it became the first operational tilt-rotor in the U.S. inventory when the Army took delivery of the first aircraft in June 1986. The G-134TR Mohawk II proved a valuable asset in difficult missions over Panama and Nicaragua, where the hostile environment made landing impossible to the original version. The Mohawk II was used for observation (OV-1H), as a rescue aircraft (HV-1H) and as an armed counter-insurgencency type (AV-1H). On top of the 110 new examples built by Grumman, most Mohawks remaining in the inventory were overhauled and brought up to "II" standard, bringing the total in operation up to 250. These versions, although externally similar to the new frames, presented a number of technical differences and were therefore designated with the use of the "J" suffix letter instead (OV-1J, HV-1J). There were no AV-1J conversions, as all 60 COIN aircraft were new from the factory. Finally, a small utility transport with deepened fuselage was produced in 12 examples (UV-1K). The last Mohawk II was retired from service in May 2003, making the G-134 family one of the most enduring designs in U.S. service.




Vought V-498 Bluebird VTOL



Some may remember my Vought-Sikorsky Shrike (then again you may not... lol). Well, anyway, here is another take on the LTV XC-142 concept, the LTV V-498 Bluebird (which derived its name from Vought's very first aircraft). It was produced in small numbers for a few regional airlines in the U.S. and Canada, such as the now defunct New York Airways, seen here.




Bell-Boeing CV-22C Long Osprey



The Bell-Boeing CV-22C Osprey is a new transport variant for the US Navy. It can be seen here on take-off trials from USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) in June 2015. The tough part in this picture was not to create the CV-22C from the regular version... it was coming up with a complete picture of the aircraft-carrier's tower! I had to rework it from several pictures...




Boeing-Lear CV-24A Hummingbird



What if Bell/Boeing's V-22 had not been the first operational VTOL? What if Boeing had teamed up with Learjet instead to offer an heir to the old X-19 concept and make it work as a liaison/VIP transport? This is what the fake advertisement above is all about.




And finally a tilt-duct... Not quite what this topic is about, but since someone included a tilt-duct above, I may as well add mine here.


Boeing-Bell XV-16A PLR VTOL



Contrary to popular belief, The V-22 Osprey is not the first joint effort by Bell and Boeing. In 1976, Boeing Vertol teamed up with Bell's Helicopter Division on a proposal for the Army's PLR (Power Lift Rotorcraft) program. Designated XV-16A in the VTOL series, this clean-looking and able performer combined Boeing's experience with transport helicopters and Bell's expertise in VTOL, in this case capitalizing on the tilt-duct research that culminated in the highly successful X-22A prototype a decade before. The PLR program was canceled despite a successful two-year evaluation phase because it was found that its advantages did not outweigh the 35% increase in costs from operating it instead of a conventional Chinook.
« Last Edit: January 08, 2012, 07:50:49 PM by Stargazer2006 »

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2012, 10:49:50 PM »
This pic below came from the USMC website sometime ago.  I've got a project started to do this but then realized I had gone in the wrong direction so I'm going to start again.  I'm going elaborate on it though as I don't really think having the rear engines behind the front ones like this will be workable (in RW).  Considering that all the engines are interconnected and have shafts running here, there, and everywhere, my idea will be to have two larger engines either side of the fin in an arrangement very similar to the CH-53 instead of the four in the wingtip pods.

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2012, 12:09:31 AM »
I've got the kits somewhere in the stash here (still don't have everything sorted out from after my return) to cross the XV-22 with the Dash 8 for a civil tiltrotor.

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2012, 12:51:43 AM »
I've got the kits somewhere in the stash here (still don't have everything sorted out from after my return) to cross the XV-22 with the Dash 8 for a civil tiltrotor.

Mmmmm... Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offline finsrin

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2012, 04:31:36 AM »
Is great bunch of tilt rotor/jet concepts.  Thanks for posting - do like reviewing them.  I have a tilt jet bash on the list to build.  Thinking of doing it STOL using a 30 to 45 degree max tilt.
Bill

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2012, 06:42:43 AM »
I was browsing Jose Fern's latest update in his discussion topic and found myself wondering what a kit-bash between an OV-10 Bronco and the V-22 Osprey would look like.  Retain the booms but lose the engines.  The booms could then be devoted to the landing gear and fuel plus whatever avionics that could not be accommodated in the fuselage proper.  At the wing tips - mount the engines and rotor components from the V-22.  The only thing that I can see at this point that could be a problem is the rotor blade clearance with the tail.  Now I wish I had a 1/72nd scale Italeri V-22 Osprey kit in the stash to check fit with the Testors'/Italeri OV-10 Bronco.

You'd like want to do a scalarama with the nacelles from a 1/72 V-22 on a 1/48 OV-10.  The OV-10's engines are rated at no more than 1000-1100 shp max while the the V-22's engines are rated at some 6000 shp.   I could see replacing the OV-10's engines with fairings covering either extra fuel tankage or various equipment fits.  Note that if you do this one, you need to also take the section of the V-22 wing immediately inboard of the engine as there's a lot going on there and some of the wing/engine fairing rotates with the engine nacelles.

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2012, 12:58:46 PM »
I was browsing Jose Fern's latest update in his discussion topic and found myself wondering what a kit-bash between an OV-10 Bronco and the V-22 Osprey would look like.  Retain the booms but lose the engines.  The booms could then be devoted to the landing gear and fuel plus whatever avionics that could not be accommodated in the fuselage proper.  At the wing tips - mount the engines and rotor components from the V-22.  The only thing that I can see at this point that could be a problem is the rotor blade clearance with the tail.  Now I wish I had a 1/72nd scale Italeri V-22 Osprey kit in the stash to check fit with the Testors'/Italeri OV-10 Bronco.

You'd like want to do a scalarama with the nacelles from a 1/72 V-22 on a 1/48 OV-10.  The OV-10's engines are rated at no more than 1000-1100 shp max while the the V-22's engines are rated at some 6000 shp.   I could see replacing the OV-10's engines with fairings covering either extra fuel tankage or various equipment fits.  Note that if you do this one, you need to also take the section of the V-22 wing immediately inboard of the engine as there's a lot going on there and some of the wing/engine fairing rotates with the engine nacelles.

That was my intention.  1/48th scale Testor's OV-10 Bronco mated up with a 1/72nd scale Italeri V-22 :^)

As much as I like the idea of "More Power" for the Bronco it would be a challenge to do so with the 48th scale V-22 parts since the blades would conflict in their arcs over the center of the fuselage.  The smaller diameter rotors on the 72nd scale V-22 might work a bit better for what I have in mind.  Just need to find the 1/72nd scale V-22 kit in order to do the check-fit. 
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Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2012, 08:35:25 AM »
Don't forget that the V-22 is rather larger than the OV-10.  That almost makes such a mixing necessary.  I note that there is one 1/72 V-22 on eBay right now, but it's not cheap at all.

Offline LemonJello

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #14 on: January 11, 2012, 11:25:17 AM »
As some of you know, I've done a couple of tilt-rotor creations: a 1/48 "spectre" type gunship and a kitbash of a 1/48 OV-1 Mohawk and a 1/72 V-22 into an escort for the vanilla V-22. 

I've got at least 4 more of the 1/48 Ospreys, only one of which will be done up as a USMC battle taxi.  I have plans to work one up as a US Coast Guard rescue bird with a hoist (or two), inflatable life raft canisters and even a zodiac on the tail ramp ready to deploy. And I love the Canadian SAR profile in yellow with the red stripes down the sides, so that's a definite possibility at some point.   I've seen a suggestion somewhere to make one as a heavy lift bird like the sky crane.

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #15 on: January 11, 2012, 05:04:04 PM »
As some of you know, I've done a couple of tilt-rotor creations: a 1/48 "spectre" type gunship and a kitbash of a 1/48 OV-1 Mohawk and a 1/72 V-22 into an escort for the vanilla V-22. 

I've got at least 4 more of the 1/48 Ospreys, only one of which will be done up as a USMC battle taxi.  I have plans to work one up as a US Coast Guard rescue bird with a hoist (or two), inflatable life raft canisters and even a zodiac on the tail ramp ready to deploy. And I love the Canadian SAR profile in yellow with the red stripes down the sides, so that's a definite possibility at some point.   I've seen a suggestion somewhere to make one as a heavy lift bird like the sky crane.

Don't be shy, please share the images of your Ospreys here on the forum as soon as you can. 

I would love to find a 1/48th scale Zodiac.  Have you found a source for one of these or are you going for something smaller in scale like 1/72nd? 

What about a VV-22 As "Marine One"? 
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Stargazer2006

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2012, 06:01:53 PM »
What about a VV-22 As "Marine One"?

I'm all for this project. That one would truly look awesome!!!

Offline LemonJello

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2012, 08:34:45 PM »
Don't be shy, please share the images of your Ospreys here on the forum as soon as you can. 

I would love to find a 1/48th scale Zodiac.  Have you found a source for one of these or are you going for something smaller in scale like 1/72nd? 

What about a VV-22 As "Marine One"?

Photos will go up tonight for everyone's viewing pleasure.

I'll have to check my laptop at home, but I think I found a 1/48 zodiac from a small AM company, otherwise I might take a shot at scratching one and maybe casting a couple copies?

Ooohhh! A VV-22 would be another possibility - I have the decals from both my CH-46 and CH-53 that are for HMX-1. Add it to the idea list!

So far:
USCG (HV-22?? What would the correct rescue/SAR designator be?)
Canadian SAR
HMX-1

Stargazer2006

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2012, 09:38:19 PM »
USCG (HV-22?? What would the correct rescue/SAR designator be?)

The official designation of the SAR version was to be HV-22A before it was cancelled, so I guess HV-22C (or whatever suffix) would be okay. This being said, let's keep in mind that the USCG's tendency is to make use of non-standard designations (probably to reflect the fact that the Coast Guard is not a branch of the military in peace time, but a civilian agency). Designations like HV-911 use the manufacturer's number as a designator, MH-68A is (almost) standard, while C-143A and HC-144A take over from the old pre-1962 system. The planned Agusta-Bell BA609 (now the AW609, an Agusta Westland product) for the Coast Guard has been designated the HV-609. A USCG Osprey could also therefore be an HV-901.

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #19 on: January 11, 2012, 09:44:12 PM »
What about a VV-22 As "Marine One"?

I'm all for this project. That one would truly look awesome!!!

It was studied, but I'm not at all certain I can share that info (company proprietary info and such).  There are a few interesting "tweaks" to that version.

Offline LemonJello

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2012, 01:34:02 AM »
It was studied, but I'm not at all certain I can share that info (company proprietary info and such).  There are a few interesting "tweaks" to that version.


I know, I know! It has one of those cool POTUS-only escape pods like Harrison Ford had in Air Force One or the president had in Escape from New York!!!

It would be a cool white-top, though.

Edited to add:
As promised, here are my two completed tilt rotors:

The AV-22 Spectre




I think I called this an AV-1?





I have a few more angles of each, if anyone wants to see something, let me know.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2012, 07:52:07 AM by LemonJello »

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #21 on: January 13, 2012, 11:56:30 AM »
LemonJello, just a thought for the HMX-1 VV-22, the CH-53E and, I suspect, the CH-46s, had black tops because they were support aircraft rather than direct transports.  A couple quick and obvious comments on the Vv-22 proposal, it had more windows and the rear ramp was replaced by a set of steps that still closed up the same.  The really tricky bit was modifying the exhausts so that they wouldn't kick up dust and offend powerful persons and there were some "interesting" approaches considered there.

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #22 on: January 13, 2012, 03:51:33 PM »
I'm kind of surprised that we have seen any Chinese tilt rotors yet.
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Offline LemonJello

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #23 on: January 14, 2012, 02:43:22 AM »
LemonJello, just a thought for the HMX-1 VV-22, the CH-53E and, I suspect, the CH-46s, had black tops because they were support aircraft rather than direct transports.  A couple quick and obvious comments on the Vv-22 proposal, it had more windows and the rear ramp was replaced by a set of steps that still closed up the same.  The really tricky bit was modifying the exhausts so that they wouldn't kick up dust and offend powerful persons and there were some "interesting" approaches considered there.

The downwash is pretty bad, compared to other platforms that I've seen/ridden on.  How "interesting" were those approaches?

When I build my VV-22, it'll be a white-top, just because those are cooler. I could see adding windows, would they be larger? But if I go that route I'll tint them since I don't know if I want to spruce up the interior to VIP standards.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2012, 02:46:24 AM by LemonJello »

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
« Reply #24 on: January 14, 2012, 12:34:23 PM »
The windows were the same size, just more of them, and the interior was definitely VIP but not overdone.  The "interesting approaches" on the exhausts were different ways of deflecting them outboard, away from the aircraft instead of straight down at the ground.  One such was a diverter system not unlike what Boeing used on the X-32B.