Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on January 19, 2012, 04:09:16 AM
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The airship frenzy took hold in Germany just before World War I. One of the great innovators of that age is all but forgotten today. Baron Bernhardt von Blimpen was a former Lt. Col. in the Untergrund Uhlans who retired to Ulm. There he became fascinated by aerodynamics. The Baron Bernhardt von Blimpen was a blunt man and so his approach to aerodynamics was blunt as well. After seeing Count von Zeppelin's L 4 1/2 "Zinkenzee" crash on Lake Constance due to a hydrogen leak, the Baron knew he could do better.
The First World War greatly accelerated airship development and gave the Baron von Blimpen the break he needed for his unique design to take flight. His BL (Blimpen Luftschiffe) 1 & 2 were paper projects only but unfortunately, were eaten by his dog, Schweinhund. The Baron's BL3 made it past the dog only to be accidentally used to sop up spilled coffee at the Idflieg R&D bureau. Fortunately, the BL4 was much more successful. The generals at Idflieg were impressed with the BL4's enormous bomb bay and how the gondola was done away with, flight stations being enclosed inside the envelope itself. Armed with four auto-cannon turrets in dorsal and ventral positions and window-mounted light machine guns, the airship seemed well set to meet any opposition. Its eight engines provided a top speed of 106 m.p.h. and a long range. Accepted immediately after trials in May, 1917, the BL4 was immediately assigned a mission to bomb Great Britain.
Continued...
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen03.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen02.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen04.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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Now known as the Von Blimpen Großbritannien Bombenangriffluftschiff, the BL4 left Germany on the night of May 20, 1917 with the Baron himself in command. The mission started according to plan, but just off the coast of Ol' Blighty, the Von Blimpen Großbritannien Bombenangriffluftschiff was set upon by flocks of seagulls whose insistent pecking caused the ship to leak precious hydrogen. All ballast was tossed overboard with little result so finally the Baron ordered "Bombs Away!" and the great ship's cavernous bomb bay opened and the bombs dropped offshore not far from Clacton-on-Sea.
The BL4 made it safely back home, but deflated completely upon landing and the airship never flew again. However, jettisoning the bombs near Clacton-on-Sea caused one of the greatest fish kills ever and the Kaiser awarded the Baron and crew of the BL4 the Fachmännischer Fischmörder Order of Merit. The Baron died in his sleep on Nov. 10, 1918 and all that remains of his legacy are this desk model of his Von Blimpen Großbritannien Bombenangriffluftschiff and numerous fakes of the Fachmännischer Fischmörder Order of Merit which features a leaping fish being menaced by an airship.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen07.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen05.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen06.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen08.jpg)
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Has a distinct Sperm Whale look.
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Has a distinct Sperm Whale look.
I'll bet a good Harpooning would have a similar effect. :o Looks Great BDB!!! Really like the look. :)
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This project has been in the planning stages for a while, but only took about two weeks to build. The base kit is the Hobby Boss Song Class sub kit which should look like this:
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/HB82001_2.jpg)
Oops.
I added the teeny-weeny engines and props from two Revell Hindenburg kits and new fins and rudders cut from card stock. The gun turrets were left-over from a 1/144 B-29 kit and decals were from my spares except for the crosses which were from a sheet for a 1/72 Fokker D.VII.
Here's some final shots of the Von Blimpen Großbritannien Bombenangriffluftschiff BL4 as she flies off into the mists of forgotten almost-history.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen09.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen10.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Von%20Blimpen%20BL4/VonBlimpen11.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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Splendid build, Brian! I like the blunt nosed Cachalot look.
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Hard to believe that used to be a submarine model. Certainly does have the looks of a Sperm Whale at first glance.
With all of those engines getting donated from a pair of Hindenburg kits I now wonder what you have in store for the Zeppelin kits.
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Has a distinct Sperm Whale look.
I'll bet a good Harpooning would have a similar effect. :o Looks Great BDB!!! Really like the look. :)
Nice stuff, revenge of the sea gulls. Maybe Sea Shepard should look into thise to haunt the Japanese whaling fleet ;)
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That's a whale of a blimp, Brian! It looks suitably huge and menacing
...just off the coast of Ol' Blighty, the Von Blimpen Großbritannien Bombenangriffluftschiff was set upon by flocks of seagulls...
this video is the first thing that came to mind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Pq0xYr3L4#ws)
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That is wonderful BdB!! :-*
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Wow! Great and truly hilarious backstory, incredibly lateral useage of a model, fantastic paint job, believable design, and a fitting end to the story that explains why it's not been heard of by the rest of the world. I give it 9 out of 10! Not only does it look like a Sperm whale, it looks like the Sperm whale from "Hitchikers Guide". Awesome to the awesomemost!
Oh, and it's German too! Double points!
Alvis 3.1
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BdB,
Your creativity and originality never cease to amaze. :icon_alabanza:
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... and Sub-Lieutenant Ahab, RNAS would forever regret that eighth pint of scrumpie which
left him unable to pilot his Aerial Harpoon Torpedo equipped Shorts 184 against the Hun.
;)
Great piece of work Brian.
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... and Sub-Lieutenant Ahab, RNAS would forever regret that eighth pint of scrumpie which
left him unable to pilot his Aerial Harpoon Torpedo equipped Shorts 184 against the Hun.
Sounds to me like this would have been an ideal mission for the Farley Fruitbat.
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Simply brilliant Brian! Are we going to be seeing any Hindenburg-shaped, gas-filled submarines in future?
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Your hilarious backstories are one of the highlights of the site and of course the build is beyond cool. Love the shape.
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That's an excellent job Brian - nice one! ;D
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Impressive!
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Certainly looks the part and a great story to boot.
Regards,
John
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Transforming a submarine into an airship is so crazy it is very delicious, thanks! and congratulations, both for the ideas and for the ability to make it just right!
Well it is not like a "normal" airship is, but our mind finds the answer immediately: that is besause it is so huge, something new had to be invented at that time! Success, designer and manufacturer as well!
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I love the idea and construction: good work!
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Quite a whif, there, Brian!
How immoderate for a moderator!
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After all the comments above whatz left to say. Totally rad and way cool !
You have a guestimate scale for this whale of a blimp ?
Bill
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Brian will be receiving a package containing more submarine hulls in the next few days so this trend can be continued :^)
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Jeffry, this is encouraging craziness... but I clap my hands too! ;)
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Mr Fontaine's generosity is a model (hehehe) to follow. However, when I try to retaliate, he never needs any spats. :(
I've got two more projects on the go right now, both upside down sub kits. I hope to have something posted in a few days.
Brian da Basher
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he never needs any spats. :(
you mean you actually consider giving them up :icon_surprised:
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Brian has a surplus of spats thanks to my Mattel Vacuum-Forming Machine and the small supply of plastic sheet that came with the thing. I discovered that the shiny metallic colors do not form well but the regular color plastic worked just fine and Brian probably has enough 1/72nd scale spats on hand for a squadrons worth of of projects.
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I actually have some big (1/32?) spats in the top secret spat stash. Sometimes on Friday nights I like to take them out and imagine them on 747s.
Mmmmmm spats!
Brian da Basher
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I actually have some big (1/32?) spats in the Top Secret Spat Stash. Sometimes on Friday nights I like to take them out and imagine them on 747s.
Mmmmmm spats!
Brian da Basher
Why do I have this mental image of Brian sitting somewhere stroking some spats and saying "My precious..." :icon_surprised:
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I actually have some big (1/32?) spats in the top secret spat stash. Sometimes on Friday nights I like to take them out and imagine them on 747s.
This would be very wonderful to see someday a Boeing 747 airliner with big spats... Thank you so much to make us dream :D
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What I am picking up on is a 747 with wings and tail shaved off. Fuselage turned upside down made into a blimp and if you want; add spats.
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Turning fuselage upside down is one of Brian's special talents, I swear (I have the proof at home, a 1/72 Heinkel 219 he gave me, turned 180 degrees into a 1/144 airliner...) :-*
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Turning fuselage upside down is one of Brian's special talents, I swear (I have the proof at home, a 1/72 Heinkel 219 he gave me, turned 180 degrees into a 1/144 airliner...) :-*
That was the famous Tophe Four-motor. It was such a treat to build something in your honor, mon ami!
Brian da Basher
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And it does look French -- you could imagine René Couzinet coming up with the 'Tophe'. :-*
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Why do you say "imagine"? This is true! With photographic proof this plane exists! ;)
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And it does look French -- you could imagine René Couzinet coming up with the 'Tophe'. :-*
Uh oh looks like you're on to me. Here's a few more views.
Brian da Basher