Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Ideas & Inspiration => Aero-space => Topic started by: GTX_Admin on April 21, 2012, 09:53:50 AM

Title: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 21, 2012, 09:53:50 AM
Hi folks,

A thread for your dedicated Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration.

To start with, I give you a good candidate for a scratch build. 

The XP-65 was to be powered by a RA24R Avon series engine.  Span was 7.3m, length was 14.3m.

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/XP-65%20etc/82a2d01f.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/XP-65%20etc/scan0010.jpg)

And the related XP-68 - this was also to be built of stainless steel.  It was to be powered by a RR Avon RA19R.  It also had provision for a search radar.  Armament was 2 30mm cannon + 1 missile on each wingtip + another semi-recessed under the fuselage.  It was to be Mach 2 capable and was largely seen as a competitor to the F-104

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/XP-65%20etc/52813092.jpg)

Regards,

Greg
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 21, 2012, 09:54:53 AM
Other interceptor proposals from CAC included:

The XP-46 - this was to be powered by an afterburning Avon RA-7R and was hoped to achieve 750 kts at 45000 ft.  it was to be armed with two 30mmm cannon:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/XP-46.jpg)

This was followed by a Rocket (probably using similar motors to the Bell X-1) powered interceptor, the XP-47.  It was to be armed with six 3inch Oerlikon or Mighty Mouse type rockets:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/XP-47.jpg)

Finally, there was the XP-62.  This was to be a four-engined light(?) interceptor poweed by for RR RB93 Soar jets with a thrust to weight ratio of 6.77:1.  Given the life of this engine at Mach 1+, it was expected that an engine change would be required after every 4 to 5 missions!  It was also planned to be armed with rockets:
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/XP-62.jpg)

Regards,

Greg
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 21, 2012, 09:59:33 AM
And who could forget the CAC CA.23 design for a twin Avon engined heavy interceptor:

Some Pics of the CA.23 (including mock-up pics):

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/scan0008.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/scan0005.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/scan0007.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CAC23/scan0006.jpg)

I actually have a few 1/72 kits of this.

Regards,

Greg
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: apophenia on April 21, 2012, 10:00:56 AM
Thanks Greg, those are very cool -- especially the four-jet XP-62!

Going further back there was Fred David's Aussie Zero proposal. I've no idea what the real concept looked like so I had just bashed features from the Reisen and Boomerang to come up with the 'CA-40'.  ;)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 21, 2012, 10:02:32 AM
I have always loved that one of yours!!! :)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: elmayerle on April 21, 2012, 10:18:53 AM
I keep thinking that the CA-23 would look stunning with a combined radar and inlet like the Lightning's; I can see that as a natural progression.  Going back a bit earlier, the various potential developments of the CA-15 offer room for options.  I wonder how the wings would look on a development analogous the the P.1040's evolution from the P.1035 "Jet Fury".
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 02, 2014, 02:36:04 AM
No mention yet of the CA-15…well, that will have to change:

First up some profiles by Damian:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CA-153SqnRAAFItaly45_zps19ef9a0c.png)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CA-155SqnRAAFBougainville45_zpsad31711f.png)

including this one which is a favourite of mine:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/CA-15Strega_zps20e3326a.png)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 02, 2014, 02:38:41 AM
Now these by Ronnie Olsthoorn:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/test080305_01_zps010c6445.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/new_ca-15_testrender_zpse998979a.jpg)

And finally this one which shows that the CA-15 was certainly more than just a P-51 derivative:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/P-51D_vs_CA-15_zpsda6da396.jpg)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: jcf on June 02, 2014, 05:29:02 AM
And finally this one which shows that the CA-15 was certainly more than just a P-51 derivative:

([url]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/P-51D_vs_CA-15_zpsda6da396.jpg[/url])


Yeah, it was a bloated, plus-size derivative.  ;D

Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: Silver Fox on June 02, 2014, 05:36:44 AM
That's what happens when you let Republic build Mustangs. :)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: elmayerle on June 02, 2014, 10:12:15 AM
Regarding the CA-15.   The prototype flew with a four-bladed prop and I can see the production version flying with a five-bladed prop on a more powerful production mark Griffon; and a racing version with contra-props.   The CA-15 clearly took a couple good ideas from the Mustang but clearly was a separate development.
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: kitnut617 on June 02, 2014, 09:09:47 PM
It's about the same size as a Martin Baker MB5 -- which surprisingly is nearer to a Tempest or P-47 for size.  I will have to get the resin CA-15 I have in the stash built -
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: Volkodav on June 03, 2014, 05:05:50 AM
Remembering that the original CA15 was designed around big radials and the Griffon redesign was driven by supply issues.  The original sketches looked like nothing else out there. I have a Stewart Wilson book on the Wirriway, Boomerang and CA 15 but its back home and I'm interstate for several weeks.
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: jcf on June 03, 2014, 08:15:12 AM
"Looked like nothing else out there"?

Dunno 'bout that, to my eye the R-2800 CA-15 kinda looks like a Curtiss YP-60E with a Mustang wing
and empennage.  ;)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Curtiss_XP-60E_061024-F-1234P-019.jpg)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: Rickshaw on June 03, 2014, 08:24:03 AM
If you stretch it, by about 10-15% it would look similar.  Personally, I liked more the proposal that looks like a Wyvern with a radial.
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 03, 2014, 04:33:39 PM
Remembering that the original CA15 was designed around big radials and the Griffon redesign was driven by supply issues.  The original sketches looked like nothing else out there. I have a Stewart Wilson book on the Wirriway, Boomerang and CA 15 but its back home and I'm interstate for several weeks.


Here you go:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/ca15/ca15comp.jpg)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: elmayerle on June 03, 2014, 08:05:21 PM
I keep thinking the radial-engine version would look good with a Centaurus and a five-bladed prop, as well as a racer version with a R4360.
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on June 04, 2014, 02:25:29 AM
A bit like this:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/ALT%20RAN%20FAA/CA-15Greg01.jpg)

From here (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=3420.0).
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 30, 2017, 06:30:45 AM
Interesting site on Ca-15:  https://www.facebook.com/CA15Kangaroo/ (https://www.facebook.com/CA15Kangaroo/)
And the Ca-4/11:  https://www.facebook.com/CAC-CA-4-and-CA-11-Page-1331001766922928/ (https://www.facebook.com/CAC-CA-4-and-CA-11-Page-1331001766922928/)

Photo from the latter:

(https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/15874911_1331009600255478_6526586189771149100_o.jpg?oh=d12305de7cc38dbb6ffacdc5066d8b4a&oe=5A3405D4)
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: ysi_maniac on April 20, 2020, 11:28:52 AM
Merlin Boomerang

(https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j340/ysi_maniac/Drawing/CA-13_reengined.jpg) (https://s1080.photobucket.com/user/ysi_maniac/media/Drawing/CA-13_reengined.jpg.html)

EDIT: Balanced fuselage variant added.
Title: Re: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 21, 2020, 02:29:03 AM
Nifty look