Gallaudet D-5B of USMC, 1918

[Acree]

Title and pic say it all!  Enjoy!

Chuck

[finsrin]

Sweet - whatta design :)
Like to see it in styrene.

[jcf]

Sweet - whatta design :)
Like see it in styrene.

Here's a 3-view Bill, so knock yerself out. 

[Tophe]

Great enjoyment, thanks!

[finsrin]

No not me
This requires someone with genuine model building skills.
I fuss around - redo - redo - redo - until I had enough and call it "OK"

[GTX_Admin]

Hmmmm...I like!

[Brian da Basher]

The Marines are certainly tough enough to brave flying something with a prop in the middle!

What an inspired concept! Somehow using U.S. markings makes it seem even more plausable!

Brian da Basher

[Acree]

Well, the Gallaudet was an American design.  The predecessor of the D-5 was the D-4 which actually saw Great War service with the US Navy, so the Marines seemed the obvious choice to fly the land plane successor.

I am considering an attempt to do the D-5 in plastic, but I am a bit reluctant as I have never scratch-built an entire plane before.

[Dr. YoKai]

I am considering an attempt to do the D-5 in plastic, but I am a bit reluctant as I have never scratch-built an entire plane before.

mused Acree  Its an ambitious project, but you won't lack for good advice and encouragement around here. A  modern 1/700 sub might be a good palce to start for the fuselage...
I'll do some looking and see if I can't come up with a more specific suggestion.

[Buzzbomb]

Well looking forward to see this.

This sort of design is so odd they look interesting.
I would image a very short queue of Aircrew willing to fly it

[jcf]

I would image a very short queue of Aircrew willing to fly it

... or not.

http://www.airminded.net/gud4/gud4.html

From reports there was nothing particularly exotic about the D-4's flight characteristics,
so by extension it's doubtful that the D-5, if built would have been anything that unusal
for a pilot of the period. The Aircos, Gunbuses and others of the period were pushers
with the prop buried amongst a forest of struts, so the prop position wouldn't have been
anything strange.

[taiidantomcat]

That looks great, I love hat old school Marine National Symbol as well (should get that one tattooed!) 

[Buzzbomb]

I would image a very short queue of Aircrew willing to fly it

... or not.

http://www.airminded.net/gud4/gud4.html

From reports there was nothing particularly exotic about the D-4's flight characteristics,
so by extension it's doubtful that the D-5, if built would have been anything that unusal
for a pilot of the period. The Aircos, Gunbuses and others of the period were pushers
with the prop buried amongst a forest of struts, so the prop position wouldn't have been
anything strange.

Fair enough.. but a production run of 2 does not bode that well for the practicalities of the design.
Plus the Dh-2 and gunbuses did not have a gunner behind the airscrew. Though I seem to recall some other wacky WW1 design that had a similar concept.

[raafif]

the prop was placed there to prevent arguments between the gunner & pilot -- shooting at each other would bring the plane down, undoing both their careers

[Acree]

Anybody know where I can get a 1/48 Liberty engine at a reasonable price (in or shipped to the US)? 

[GTX_Admin]

Try here maybe:  http://www.planet.eon.net/~engthg/

[Acree]

Thanks!  They do have one, and I am in the process of ordering.  I guess I'm in to try scratchbuilding the D-5

[Acree]

Well, here are my first-ever WIP pics.  This is my first attempt at total scratchbuilding.  The pics show the rear fuselage and horizontal tail assembly of the Gallaudet D-5, with upper deck covering in place.  The second pic shows the vertical tail/rudder/tailskid assembly.  The latter is going into paint (it already has a coat of flat white). 

Everything seen so far is made of styrene sheet and rod.  The prop hub is also complete, but I am awaiting the prop blades in the mail (along with the Liberty engine). 

I have no idea what I am doing, but I am having fun (the most important thing in modelling).  I MAY get finished by November!

Enjoy!

[GTX_Admin]

Looking good

[Dr. YoKai]

 Yes indeed!

[Acree]

Basic construction of the rear fuselage is complete, just details left of this section.  The third pic shows the observer's seat that still needs to be installed.  Working on the gun ring while simultaneously figuring out the forward fuselage.  The major portion is complete, but I am looking for an appropriately shaped plastic bobble to use for the nose section. 

While there are a lot of problems, I am fairly happy with my results considering its my first scratch build (and probably my last for a while (lol)).  Enjoy the pics, more soon!

[arkon]

Very good looking👍

[Acree]

Tonight I finished the observer's Lewis gun and mount.  Still needs paint, but I am SOOO happy with how it turned out that I had to share.  The second pic is the Liberty engine all painted and ready for a little weathering.  Can someone suggest a good way to put a light black wash on it?  I don't want to ruin the paintwork, and I have never used washes before.  Thanks!

[Acree]

Here are a few shots of the current situation on the Gallaudet:

Th three sections of the fuselage are together, though I had some unexpected difficulties with alignment (the tail section drooped dramatically because the front bulkhead was angled).  I had to break them apart and repair that, so significant touch up is required.  The pilot's office needs detailing, along with the engine.  The wings and undercarriage are the main portions still to be done.  The wings are coming along, as you can see in the last pic. 

Still think I might make it by Nov 11! 

Chuck

[GTX_Admin]

Looking good.