Uncle Les Builds a Quad Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

[uncle les]

Suitably inspired I carved up a couple of Ospreys this arvo...  I'll report back when I've decided what era it'll be from.

 :)

[finsrin]

uncle les - Please continue.  Have my full attention on this build.

[uncle les]

uncle les - Please continue.  Have my full attention on this build.

 
OK, so I'd better not slack off then ..  3D printed airscrews affixed to the salvaged engine units

Undercoated with some more sanding to follow. The car-bog polyester filler fuselage between kit parts came up ok.

Can't dilly dally, I originally was going for a grey/white '60s USN scheme but will settle on a'70s USMC scheme as it will cover my surface indiscretions 

and whilst I wait for the paint to dry properly I'll rummage through the decal box for some stars n bars.  ( Although it's after midnight here so I really should go to bed as I have work in a few hours !! )


later... I might have to find some ducted fans for this...

[GTX_Admin]

This looks great!  I especially love the airscrews!

[Kerick]

You've got a "stubbyspray" in the works!!

[kitnut617]

Hmm! yes I do like that ---  :)

Got something similar in the works, only it will be Transall size with V-22 wings and nacelles --

[Rafael]

First off.- I love tilt-rotors-
Second.- Their giant windmill props make me nervous and worried about footprint, both on deck and flying through urban canyons. The span risk almost makes the no-tail-rotor lose advantage IMHO.

Uncle Les' Quad has what I'd like to see and what I've been wondering about and what I want to add for a future gunship and medium and heavy transports. And I pop this question, besides being a Whif: Do these props have enough lift power for twin/quad configurations? What about downwash on the wings? What about downwash on the ground?

Jeez, Uncle, this is a winner, my questions notwithstanding!

Rafa

[uncle les]

.... And I pop this question, besides being a Whif: Do these props have enough lift power for twin/quad configurations? What about downwash on the wings? What about downwash on the ground?

Jeez, Uncle, this is a winner, my questions notwithstanding!

Rafa

.. 
cheers..  but there's one thing that I'll have to ratify if only for my own satisfaction ..how does it all fold up for stowage ?   I'm thinking some giveaway panel lines and some transformerlike complex module folds.  I'll come up with something.
As for downwash etc - the wings are almost ornamental and as we have five blade screws all contrarotating in opposite corners the problems of unwanted downwash, cavitation and torque are solved in one neat little package... anyway.. beautiful plumage..   ( There...  I think I got away with that..    )
 

[elmayerle]

For stowage, two of the three blades on each V-22 nacelle fold a couple inches clear of the spinner.  A "folded and stowed" V-22 is quite an example of careful work.  I'm not sure you could stow a quad-rotor quite as much as a V-22, simply because you'd have two wings to rotate to above the fuselage instead of one and you'd need to make certain they clearly each other.

[uncle les]

For stowage, two of the three blades on each V-22 nacelle fold a couple inches clear of the spinner.  A "folded and stowed" V-22 is quite an example of careful work.  I'm not sure you could stow a quad-rotor quite as much as a V-22, simply because you'd have two wings to rotate to above the fuselage instead of one and you'd need to make certain they clearly each other.

Like I said.. lots of panel lines indicating a transformer folding rubics cube of an airframe/wing combination.
Either that or make like a Harrier's long-range wing extensions and provide an allen key and a meccano-esque instruction sheet.
 

[Diamondback]

Or maybe accept a more limited rotation arc and slightly wider bird, having the wings scissor until the aft LE almost but not quite butts up to the forward TE?

[elmayerle]

Actually, it's more likely to be nacelle back ends nestling against TE's or LE's than anything else.  After the rotors fold, the nacelle rotates down to aircraft mode.

[Gingie]

this is AMAZING! Very inspiring build you've got going on. Did you cast up a RTV master for the props & nosecone (hint, hint  :)

[Kerick]

this is AMAZING! Very inspiring build you've got going on. Did you cast up a RTV master for the props & nosecone (hint, hint  :)

He cheated and 3D printed them. Do the right thing and share with your friends!

[uncle les]

A quick trip through the US decal box yields some suitable USMC markings ( the side "MARINES" is obscured in these pics)
One more night of tinkering, weathering, toning, demasking etc should see this finished.

[Rafael]

Bravo, Uncle!!! 

Beautifully and masterfully crafted!. And since great minds think alike, I've come up with something along those lines, but bigger for my medium and heavies. I like my planes with empennages on them. I see you have twin surfaces, my faves, too. But I've run aground with their placement. Do your vertical surfaces rotate along with the wing assembly for stowing?.

All in all, a winner, you have there.

[uncle les]

...  But I've run aground with their placement. Do your vertical surfaces rotate along with the wing assembly for stowing?.

Thanks for the kind words Rafael.  I reckon the empennage in this case drops down as a whole section pivoting from underneath to clear the path of the swivelling rear wing section.   But to be honest...  I didn't really put as much thought into this part of the operation as I should have.  I just literally stuck two V22s together and hoped for the best !  It just didn't look right to me without a vertical tail or two.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

...  But I've run aground with their placement. Do your vertical surfaces rotate along with the wing assembly for stowing?.

Thanks for the kind words Rafael.  I reckon the empennage in this case drops down as a whole section pivoting from underneath to clear the path of the swivelling rear wing section.   But to be honest...  I didn't really put as much thought into this part of the operation as I should have.  I just literally stuck two V22s together and hoped for the best !  It just didn't look right to me without a vertical tail or two.

Some of the concept artwork for a Quad Tilt-Rotor Aircraft depicted an aircraft with no tail empennage whatsoever.  Something that might be possible I suspect with state of the art fly-by-wire systems and a good data processing system to control flight characteristics.  The original concept for the V-22 Osprey had it sporting a large V type tail which was very appealing to me. 

[LemonJello]

That is an amazing Quad Tilt Rotor, and it looks even better in Marine battle taxi colors/markings.  (I may have a bias toward Marine Aviation). 

All in all, a fantastic build. 

[Buzzbomb]

Masterful...
another "whip 'em out" Uncle Les work of art.

You are certainly burning through the ABS on that 3d Printer.
What is it like to glue/paint/sand/cut.. etc ?

[uncle les]

Methinks it's done !








Now, onto the next whim. 

[GTX_Admin]

 :)

[Volkodav]

Outstanding!

[elmayerle]

That's beautiful!!  Use two of the Italieri kits?

[kitnut617]

What everone else is saying --- can't add much more Les   :) :) :) :)   (I like [d'oh! wrong site])

[Logan Hartke]

That's gorgeous!  Well done!

Cheers,

Logan

[taiidantomcat]

  pure beauty 

[uncle les]

Thanks guys, yeah it turned out OK but now looking at it in retrospect I think I needed to make the prop diameter larger ( and make the props better as the 3D process is a bit rough).   Heck - I was in a hurry ( as usual..)  The mechanics of the wing movement also needed more of a logical approach for it to be engineeringly plausible, but I just wanted to mate two V22s in unholy wedlock so we gets what we gets !!!     We learn - move on.
As for which kits I used - I have/had two Hobbycraft and one Idea repop which were built before my 15yo daughter was born ( so there's an indication of how old the orginal kits are !! ) and over time have become damaged and were relegated to the spares facility in the hope that one day I'd do something with them.  That day came last Saturday after I trawled the tilt-rotor thread here on BTS and got the spark of inspiration.

[Volkodav]

What I have seen done with 3D printed prototypes is they are smothered in liquid cement to better bond the layers and then sanded.  You just need to factor extra material in for the sanding process.

[uncle les]

What I have seen done with 3D printed prototypes is they are smothered in liquid cement to better bond the layers and then sanded.  You just need to factor extra material in for the sanding process.

...and extra time.   I'm just too much in a rush !!   
I demand near-instant three dimensional scale modelling gratification from whichever medium chooses to get in my way !

[kitnut617]

Part of the Canadair CP-107 u/c set I've just bought includes some props for it.  I can feel that the surface of the blades is like some fine sand paper, but it's not very easy to see but you can see it in the photo.  Are all 3D Printers equal or are some better than others ?

[Volkodav]

Some are definitely better than others.  The one I am experienced with was a product of the late 90s, was big, expensive and used in an R&D lab used primarily for prototyping functional valves and mechanisms that could be tested at low pressure / loads to prove a concept.  There are now desk top 3D printers you can buy for a couple of grand that out perform this machine in every way. 

[uncle les]

Are all 3D Printers equal or are some better than others ?

I only have experience with my UP3D - which prints to 0.15mm res, so I can't speak for other brands.
I consider myself relatively a n00b in this field, my experience being mainly 30+ years in cottage-industry level low run resin production at non-commercial hobbyist standard.
I have already seen a difference between the finish on the same item printed  between different spools of ABS indicating the melting point has an impact.  More experimentation is required - the atomised acetate technique, the MEK bath,  rigourous sanding are all methods that can be employed to smooth out the surface, I'm still having way too much fun rendering and printing at this stage !!!

[Volkodav]

I would really love to get into it myself but priorities don't permit it at them moment.  Been interested in CAD/CAM for a couple of decades and have kept my CAD skills up to date until recently.  Really would like to give it a shot though and with the ever improving range of machines out there it may happen.

[finsrin]

Previously stated admiration is certainly deserved.  Am onboard with all of it :)
Opposite rotating props are icing on cake of this cool build

[elmayerle]

Thanks guys, yeah it turned out OK but now looking at it in retrospect I think I needed to make the prop diameter larger ( and make the props better as the 3D process is a bit rough).   Heck - I was in a hurry ( as usual..)  The mechanics of the wing movement also needed more of a logical approach for it to be engineeringly plausible, but I just wanted to mate two V22s in unholy wedlock so we gets what we gets !!!     We learn - move on.
As for which kits I used - I have/had two Hobbycraft and one Idea repop which were built before my 15yo daughter was born ( so there's an indication of how old the orginal kits are !! ) and over time have become damaged and were relegated to the spares facility in the hope that one day I'd do something with them.  That day came last Saturday after I trawled the tilt-rotor thread here on BTS and got the spark of inspiration.

Hmm, Hobbycraft must have done some updating of the molds at some point, the V-22 kit I have by them doesn't even have the IRS (Infra-Red Suppressor) on the back of the nacelles, while these nacelles clearly do have it.  Unfortunately, like all 1/72 kits except the new Hasegawa ones, the "elephant ear" scoop, on the upper outboard corner, just in front of the IRS is missing.

Still, a gorgeous piece of work and I speak as a designer on the V-22.

[uncle les]

Also of interest was that one of the three airframes I have had front lower windows as clear pieces ( the one I chose to use for this build) - the other two virtually identical kits have them represented as solid indentations ala Matchbox's HE111. 

Still, a gorgeous piece of work and I speak as a designer on the V-22.

That is indeed high praise - thanks.

Previously stated admiration is certainly deserved.  Am onboard with all of it :)
Opposite rotating props are icing on cake of this cool build

..and this pleases me that you noticed the pitch !! 

[finsrin]

Nice diorama would be Quad Tilt-Rotor, military Rotodyne
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=950.0
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1580.msg25017#msg25017
V-22, Harrier, Cobra, Appache with vehicles & troops.
oops,,, diorama got kinda large,,, down size as you like !

[ChernayaAkula]

<...>
Now, onto the next whim WIN. 

Fixed that or You! 

[uncle les]

<...>
Now, onto the next whim WIN. 

Fixed that for You! 

Nice..  thanks   :)

[uncle les]

Nice diorama would be Quad Tilt-Rotor, military Rotodyne
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=950.0
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1580.msg25017#msg25017
V-22, Harrier, Cobra, Appache with vehicles & troops.
oops,,, diorama got kinda large,,, down size as you like !

Oh great... you had to go and draw my attention to these..     now my right hemisphere is finding it hard to keep up with the left.