Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on December 24, 2011, 05:15:55 AM
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A while back, my friend Jeff Fontaine sent me a 1/32 drop tank. I had a few ideas for it, and here's what I came up with. These pics were taken before paint & decals.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep_prog04.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep_prog03.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep_prog02.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep_prog01.jpg)
The gondola is cut from a 1/350 sub. Engines & props are from the classic Glencoe U.S. Navy blimp kit. The fins and rudders were cut from plastic cardstock.
Brian da Basher
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Loving it!!! :in-love:
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And now the backstory:
The U.S. Navy had never forgotten being caught flat-footed by W.W. I, especially when it came to airships which had proven their worth for sub-spotting and reconnaissance. While war surplus lighter-than-air craft met most of their training needs in the 1920s, as the decade drew to a close, the Navy was in dire need of new training airships.
A competition was held and the winner was a design by Prof. D. Ridge-Ibble. The new airship had a revolutionary frame of geoducksic construction made from the new wondermaterial, quackinium which was incredibly light, yet strong and very water-resistant. The Navy set about building a fleet of new training airships at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia.
The first of the new fleet, No. 4 pictured here, was christened by Zeppo Marx on July 4th, 1929. By the time FDR took office in 1933, these training airships were a common sight along the coasts of the U.S. and at airshows and county fairs.
The Navy had hoped to phase out the training airships but W.W. II put these plans on hold and the training airships offered their last valuable service on anti-sub patrols until replaced by blimps in 1943.
Sadly, nothing remains of these slender, graceful airships save this desk model which was found in an estate sale of Prof. D. Ridge-Ibble's property after his passing in 1970. Still, to those who flew them, they will never be forgotten.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep01.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep02.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep03.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep04.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep05.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Drop-Tank%20Zep/drop-tank_zep06.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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:in-love:
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I would never have imagined the 600 gallon centerline drop tank from a 1/32nd scale F-4 Phantom could ever be used for anything but a drop tank until now. Great work Brian! Looking forward to seeing your next airship project soon.
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First off ... Hee hee hee :D and 2: Frikken brilliant :in-love: :want: BTW the loverly Laurie got me an original lighted Goodyear Blimp at the thrift store ... want it ?
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This is exactly the sort of sheer creativity I expect from the man who can build an entire biplane model from bread-bag clips! Very innovative. So, do you consider this 1:350 scale or something entirely different? :)
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You know, I really didn't think about the scale., but I guess 1/350 would be close. Not sure if an airship with such a narrow envelope would actually fly though.
Be careful Ron, or I'll take you up on that. First you should see if you can tweak the sign on your blimp to read "Welcome to Texas, pour yourself a Pearl."
It's great to be building models again. You guys have really inspired me!
Brian da Basher
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Brilliant!!!
That is most certainly the most unusual and unique whatif I've ever seen. :)
Cheers
John
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I love that blimp, Brian! I think 1/700 would work better - the old Navy K-class blimps would be about 8" long in 1/350 and they were plumper... they had bigger gas bags.... wait, that doesn't sound right, either.
Your blimp looks like it could really fly fast (for a blimp).
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I would never have imagined the 600 gallon centerline drop tank from a 1/32nd scale F-4 Phantom could ever be used for anything but a drop tank until now. Great work Brian! Looking forward to seeing your next airship project soon.
Ya need to get out more. :D
(http://saltfever.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/speed-week-2010-228.jpg)
(http://saltfever.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/speed-week-2009-124.jpg)
http://saltfever.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/belly-tank-lakesters-at-bonneville/ (http://saltfever.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/belly-tank-lakesters-at-bonneville/)
... and Über-tool Jesse James actually made an ugly lakester out of an F-4 tank.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009765 (http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009765)
:tagger:
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I would never have imagined the 600 gallon centerline drop tank from a 1/32nd scale F-4 Phantom could ever be used for anything but a drop tank until now. Great work Brian! Looking forward to seeing your next airship project soon.
Ya need to get out more. :D
[url]http://saltfever.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/belly-tank-lakesters-at-bonneville/[/url] ([url]http://saltfever.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/belly-tank-lakesters-at-bonneville/[/url])
... and Über-tool Jesse James actually made an ugly lakester out of an F-4 tank.
[url]http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009765[/url] ([url]http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009765[/url])
:tagger:
I did try this week to do just that. Actually made it over to see Uncle Emil "the enabler" at Skyway and on the way back stopped in to see the Colonel at Discount Models in Tacoma/University Place since Tuesday was his day to slave away behind the counter. After that, it was hurry up and stay at home. Too many crazy people on the road this time of year.
The first image you posted of "Danny Boy II" is also a former F-4 fuel tank. The tell tale little finlets on the tail are the giveaway on its heritage.
The second image is definitely a classic Salt Flats Racer with that tear drop shape tank/car body.
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Speaking of F-4 drop tanks...
Malliga MAL-04 created by Horst Josef Malliga (see photo below). It has an 8 cylinder piston engine of 300 hp and it is hoped it will make 700 km/h!
(http://www.aircraftmodeler.net/Airpower2011/ZW2011-43.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/1f256c0679.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/0c38ec4a86.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/a2c06a5901.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/eaf529e3db.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/8d28cd73b0.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/2144af1c8c.jpg)
(http://[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/2144af1c8c.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/cf0b976258.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/89d41e5d28.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/01736565.jpg)
Regards,
Greg
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Speaking of F-4 drop tanks...
Malliga MAL-04 created by Horst Josef Malliga (see photo below). It has an 8 cylinder piston engine of 300 hp and it is hoped it will make 700 km/h!
Sweet!
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I get light headed when I see great ideas like this.
:)
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Gee Brian,,, after seeing what others have built and now drop tanks transformed into high Mach (for a blimp) blimps maybe the glue and paint fumes in my shop aint that thick after all. Will try closing the other window.
Bill :)
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It's possible those fumes have affected me too...
Actually, that's the only plausible explanation.
:dizzy:
Brian da Basher
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Da Basher pondered thus
Not sure if an airship with such a narrow envelope would actually fly though.
it'd better-I was planning on doing something similar with the bomb/fuel tank from the old Mongram 1/48 B-58...
Thing about this-pointier envelopes tend to be a feature of very early airships and airship designs...so it would slide into
a steam-punk groove with hardly a ripple...
Great work, Brian!
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I was planning on doing something similar with the bomb/fuel tank from the old Mongram 1/48 B-58...
Most excellent choice my friend!
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Da Basher pondered thusNot sure if an airship with such a narrow envelope would actually fly though.
it'd better-I was planning on doing something similar with the bomb/fuel tank from the old Mongram 1/48 B-58...
Thing about this-pointier envelopes tend to be a feature of very early airships and airship designs...so it would slide into
a steam-punk groove with hardly a ripple...
Great work, Brian!
The point-ier envelope is something I really liked too and I can't wait to see your steam-punk airship, Doc YoKai!
Brian da Basher
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Hmm...Drop Tanks....
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so if I was to take an aircraft auxilliary fuel container, put tracks and a turret on it, and show it being hoicked out the back of a C-130...
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does it then qualify as a drop tank!?! ;D
Hat, Coat...?
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The Schütte-Lanz SLI had very "drop-tank like" proportions.
(http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~s-c/airships/s-l_1_2.jpg)
(http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~s-c/airships/s-l_1_3.jpg)
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Your research voodoo has me truly humbled, Mr Jcf! Schutte-Lanz is very well known, but I don't think I've ever seen an S.L. 1 before. Thank you!
Brian da Basher
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Total BdB! :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*