Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Vertical Takeoff GB => Topic started by: Acree on June 22, 2015, 02:51:07 PM
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I needed a US Air-to-Ground weapons kit and found one on eBay bundled with a 1/72 Heller A-7D Corsair II. I didn't particularly WANT the Corsair, but the price for both was very reasonable, so I bought the Weapons set and thought of the Corsair as a free gift to the spares bin. But then, as I worked on the Gambado I started playing around with ideas for a VTOL Corsair. So, this will be my project. I am going on vacation (holidays to you Europeans) for the next week and a half so expect no progress til at least July 4.
Here's the plan: A-7 with rotating wingtip jet pods mounted at its wing-fold joint (inspired by the VJ-101 photo posted in the Upward Inspiration thread (here: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/543/18645531582_f0b1df063c_b.jpg (http://farm1.staticflickr.com/543/18645531582_f0b1df063c_b.jpg)). A deflecting nozzle for the main engine, and ducted bleed air to nose mounted nozzles for control and balance.
So far I have mostly completed the wingtip engines using the original J-57 inlets from my B-66 plus ChaptStick tubes and other parts from the spares bin.
The plan is for this to be an experimental testbed rather than an operational aircraft - but I may change my mind about that.
Thoughts?
Best regards,
Chuck
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Interesting multi-engined VTOL...
As far as I am concerned, I prefer prototypes than operationnal killers, but feel free to chose your own way. ;)
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Well, I have decided to press on with this idea, and have actually made good progress. I hope to post some pics in the next day or so. I am revising the backstory to be a VTOL proof-of-concept development using an F-8 airframe, HEAVILY modified. Most everything is done, and the main components are in the paint shop. A couple more trips to the spray booth , then final assembly, decals, details, and touch up. I'm actually quite pleased at how things have turned out - I can't wait to show you.
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Here is the first pic - of the completed but unmounted wingtip engine nacelles. The front intakes are leftovers from a 1/72 Italeri B-66. Everything else is from scratch (sheet styrene and Chapstick tubes) except the ventral tube (of unknown purpose) which came from a spares-box missile.
More pics later...
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This should be interesting :D
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Now you have piqued my interest.
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In 1955, the US National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA - predecessor to NASA), issued a request for proposals for an experimental vertical takeoff research aircraft. The aircraft was to be capable of conventional as well as vertical takeoff and landing without physical modification, and was required to achieve supersonic speeds in level flight. Ideally, the aircraft should be able to be developed into a combat fighter aircraft (although this was not a requirement). The winning proposal came from Chance Vought Aircraft, and a single prototype was ordered in fiscal year 1956.
Vought's design was based on the airframe of their brand new F-8 Crusader fighter. Vertical flight was achieved by two rotating wingtip nacelles each containing a non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney J-57P-10 developing 12,100 pounds of thrust. A third J-57P-10 occupied the position of the F-8s original engine, but included a rotating exhaust nozzle that deflected the thrust 90 degrees downward for vertical takeoff, or directly back for conventional flight. Balance and control was maintained by using engine bleed air for downward thrust through a series of four nozzles at the nose of the aircraft: these nozzles were fed through externally mounted tubes along the fuselage side. This was an expedient measure that prevented a major redesign of the F-8's fuselage internals. Dubbed V-900 by Vought, the aircraft was delivered to the NACA Ames research laboratory in February, 1958 (and was, incidentally, the last aircraft to carry NACA titles before NACA became NASA).
The model was originally a 1/72 Heller A-7. Wingtip nacelles were scratch built (the front portion came from a Testor's B-66), and mounted on at the A-7's wingfold joint. Other tidbits came from the spares bin. NACA decals came from a "FunDekals" F-106 set, except the national insignia, which came from the B-66.
I HATE silver paint - the silver paint in question was a leftover rattle can of Testor's chrome. Got too close and it ran and made a horrible mess - fixed as best I could (almost binned the whole thing). Also, the canopy (which I very carefully masked for painting) got ruined I presume by CA fumes (the whole thing looked beautifully clear before I masked it and glued it on.
Anyway, I am somewhat happy with how it turned out. I await your comments or suggestions for improvement.
Chuck
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Pics of the V-900 in VTOL mode:
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Looking time period correct.
Looking JP4 thirsty.
Looking good :)
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You're right about the fuel!! I was planning to put two bags under the wings, but it turned out I did not have two matching ones! So, I left them off figuring, ultra-short duration research flights first!
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Well done!
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Thats a cracker Acree!!
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That's so cool Chuck. Bravo Zulu.
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nice model!
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Very cool looking conversion, love the colors and markings.
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That's great: it looks like just the sort of thing that got tested for real. 8) :)
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Thanks, gents for all your kind comments.
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really good.. certainly does have that.." I wonder what this would look like, lets build it" feel of the era