Author Topic: Boeing CV-230 Herculean  (Read 26542 times)

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #25 on: April 16, 2012, 12:16:06 PM »
I would have cut down the props just because V-22 props still have ground clearance fully lowered which I have seen for both repair and ceremonial purposes as above.  Having said that I think your solution is far more elegant and will add to its looks in a big way  :)
In that particular stopped condition the prop-rotors have ground clearance but not when they are turning.

Offline kitnut617

  • Measures the actual aircraft before modelling it...we have the photographic evidence.
  • Holding Pattern
  • *
  • I'd rather be dirtbike riding...
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #26 on: April 16, 2012, 08:54:30 PM »
This looks so good  :-*

Having just watched avatar I was going to suggest contra rotating props cut down at the tips, but the herc wing will be interesting
Well, the contra-proprotor concept is under study but strictly at the wind tunnel level at the moment.

With more powereful engines maybe ? ----  licence built TP400's  (11,060 shp versus 6150 shp)

Offline taiidantomcat

  • Plastic Origamist...and not too shabby with the painting either!
  • Full Member
  • Stylishly late...because he was reading comics
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #27 on: April 16, 2012, 09:54:26 PM »
I would have cut down the props just because V-22 props still have ground clearance fully lowered which I have seen for both repair and ceremonial purposes as above.  Having said that I think your solution is far more elegant and will add to its looks in a big way  :)
In that particular stopped condition the prop-rotors have ground clearance but not when they are turning.

I know  ;)
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #28 on: April 21, 2012, 01:40:52 AM »
Now that the 74 Meatbox has finished, I could turn my attention back to the Herc. This time I needed to think about the tail section layout so out come the masking tape and a helpful amount of blue-tac.

Option one is simply to keep the tail as it is. A bit boring, but easy on the eye and keeps the look of the original C-130.



Option two needs a healthy amount of surgery to create a T-tail look. As much as I`d love the tail mainplanes to cross at the top, it just wouldn`t look right so they wil need to be lowed like so.....



Of course, if anyone has an A-400 tail section they want to donate...... ;D

Option three is relatively easy to do with few complications and I have to admit, I quite like this one myself. I think it gives a modern up to date look about it.



As always, I`m always open to other suggestions.
Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #29 on: April 21, 2012, 02:09:40 AM »
Three tail configuration has class.   :) :) :)

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

  • Unaffiliated Independent Subversive...and the last person to go for a trip on a Mexicana dH Comet 4
  • Global Moderator
  • His stash is able to be seen from space...
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #30 on: April 21, 2012, 02:29:39 AM »
The ESCI/AMT-Ertl C-130 kit has a separate tail that makes modifications much easier for a project such as yours.  Not sure if the old Airfix C-130 is molded that way or not but that may be another kit to check on. 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline kitnut617

  • Measures the actual aircraft before modelling it...we have the photographic evidence.
  • Holding Pattern
  • *
  • I'd rather be dirtbike riding...
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #31 on: April 21, 2012, 03:18:10 AM »
Not sure if the old Airfix C-130 is molded that way or not but that may be another kit to check on.

It doesn't Jeff, I know 'cause I cut the tail off the one I had, (for my advanced rotordyne project)

And now I've seen what end fins look like of a C-130, I've got a good idea how it will look too.

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #32 on: April 21, 2012, 08:48:14 AM »
I like the triple-tail. myself.  The V-22 has the H-tail for stability reasons and this would work for similar reasons.

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #33 on: April 22, 2012, 07:14:56 PM »
Going for option 3 which is the one I preferred and which most of members on various forums preferred too. A few people have mentioned shortening/trimming or losing the main tailfin of the Herc. I think it best it stays where and as it is. One, simply because of the build issues it may cause, and two, because I want to keep the look of a Herc as this is meant to be a future replacement for the existing C-130.

Also, it didn`t look too bad on the Shuttle`s 747........ ;)

Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #34 on: April 23, 2012, 09:34:05 PM »
Quick update. The fins have now been glued in place which seemed to take forever and a day. Need to tidy them up a bit, but as the `dry fit` shows below, they don`t look too shabby.



Most of the internal structure is now in place and my next job will be to seal the fuselage halfs together making sure there is enough ballast at the front end.
Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline taiidantomcat

  • Plastic Origamist...and not too shabby with the painting either!
  • Full Member
  • Stylishly late...because he was reading comics
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #35 on: April 23, 2012, 10:32:44 PM »
Great choice!!  :)
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #36 on: April 23, 2012, 11:07:42 PM »
Excellent work modifying the tail!

Brian da Basher

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #37 on: April 24, 2012, 03:31:22 AM »
Damn fine work!
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #38 on: April 24, 2012, 04:12:48 AM »
Thanks chaps. Another quickie update.

Ballast applied...., (added far to much, but I`m wasn`t sure where the CofG will be once the rotors go on. Better safe than sorry).

Bet you didn`t realise that the pilot/co-pilot had a Lazyboy 2000 fitted either...... ;D



..... and then sealed the whole thing.



It all looks a bit rough and ready at the moment but thats purely cosmetics. The hard part is about to begin...., attaching the wings/rotors.
Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
  • Patterns? What patterns?
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #39 on: April 24, 2012, 04:53:45 AM »
That is looking good ... love the tail!
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #40 on: April 24, 2012, 05:38:01 AM »
Enjoying following the build.  All is looking good.  Watching for more posts.

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #41 on: April 26, 2012, 06:37:08 AM »
Todays update.

With the weather proving less than idea for spraying, I changed tact and started working on the rotors and the problem of how I could create a wing spar that would hold the winglets and engines in place.

Warning! It`s going to be a `Blue Peter` moment.

First the blades and here`s where I`m at. All pretty simple stuff straight from the destrutions.



Next I had to work out what I could use to hold the winglets in place while providing support for the engines and wings. I also needed something light.

Thats when I remembered I had a wire hanger in my wardrobe. SWMBO is in the process of upgrading all our hangers to the plastic type so I grabbed it while I could.



Now the hanger would not fit through the fuselage sections so I had to make some round holes spaces in the existing opening.



A quick test to see if all was ok.....





..... it was, so I cut and sealed the wire at the other end and now both wings sit nicely in place.



At the moment, as already mentioned, they do just sit there in place and when the times comes I`ll have to put something on top of the `wire spar` to lift them so that they are level with the top of the fuselage.

You will be glad to hear that tonight`s `Blue Peter` moment has now finished.
Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #42 on: April 27, 2012, 03:42:57 AM »
Brilliant!!!

It's good to know wire coat hangers have other uses besides being bent into display stands.

Brian da Basher

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #43 on: April 28, 2012, 07:16:45 AM »
Brilliant!!!

It's good to know wire coat hangers have other uses besides being bent into display stands.

Brian da Basher


Cheers Brian.

Spent the last 48 hours just doing the little mundane jobs on the kit which mainly involved filling some gaps. The fuslage join at the top seemed to have a slight `trench`, so I had a go at correcting that as well.

This is how it started off....,



.... and this is how it ended up with the sprayed tails fins dry fitted for effect.



Also finished decalling the rotors, so engine building will be next.



Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline LemonJello

  • MARPAT Master
  • Member number 100...WooHoo!!!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #44 on: April 28, 2012, 08:16:37 PM »
I think you've got a stunner on your hands. This project is coming along quite nicely. 

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #45 on: April 29, 2012, 06:02:18 AM »
If you're really feeling masochistic on painting and finishing the prop-rotors, the V-22 has a light in the tip of each blade to help folk see them and keep from walking or driving into them at night.

Offline tc2324

  • Just slightly on the edge of madness......!
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #46 on: April 29, 2012, 11:59:48 PM »
If you're really feeling masochistic on painting and finishing the prop-rotors, the V-22 has a light in the tip of each blade to help folk see them and keep from walking or driving into them at night.


The kit has been giving me a few minor headaches already and I`m just not feeling masochistic enough to go there.....  ;D


Been a little busy trying to work out this winglet issue, so that the reason for lack of updates.

I needed the wing and fuselage to meet and be level. Unfortunately the wire was not as helpful as it should have been, which led to a number of strange frames, (of which one is seen below), being thrown away. It seems that the more you bend the wire, the less easy it is to reshape it.



So I stepped back and had a rethink. If I couldn`t easily bend the wire to the way I wanted it, then I needed to reposition where the wire went through the fuselage. A quick look and I made the gaps I needed which raised the height of where the wire went though.



A few dry fits later and the wire was put through and held in place with some tac. This will be removed at a later date until something more solid can be put in place.



And then on to the `money shot`. Wings were glued on level and then the whole airframe was turned upside down so that everything remained level.

A little time later I took this shot of how it looks now.........



.............. but it will continue to dry for at least 24 hours before I even go near it with filler.

Tonight, providing I have time, I`ll start on the engines.

That is all.   ;)

Whiffing is for Life...., not just for Christmas!!!

Offline GTX_Admin

  • Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
  • Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
  • Whiffing Demi-God!
    • Beyond the Sprues
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #47 on: April 30, 2012, 02:45:39 AM »
If you're really feeling masochistic on painting and finishing the prop-rotors, the V-22 has a light in the tip of each blade to help folk see them and keep from walking or driving into them at night.


So that would explain photos such as this:

All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Sentinel Chicken

  • Guest
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #48 on: April 30, 2012, 03:07:46 AM »
This should be an interesting build. You might want to consider adding nacelle mounted sails (a winglet variation) outboard of the engines. NAVAIR is looking at adding them to the Osprey to extend the range. No pics, but here's a link to the AWST article: http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_04_16_2012_p26-446895.xml

Offline taiidantomcat

  • Plastic Origamist...and not too shabby with the painting either!
  • Full Member
  • Stylishly late...because he was reading comics
Re: Boeing CV-230 Herculean
« Reply #49 on: April 30, 2012, 07:09:18 AM »
Great work! I know how that "hold your breath/hope this all works" phase can be!! Great cutting and planning seems to be paying off  :)
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

-David Fincher