BI-1 Missile

[Robomog]

Hi All

You know I finished one of these recently........



Which left me one of these........



Without a canopy and a nice set of ramjets which I am setting aside for a possible future project.

It came close to going into the Draw of Possibilities, ..................then the brain cells collided.

What if the Russians got the rocket plane to work reliably and started production, then....

What if the factory gets overrun by the Germans including a large number of stored  aircraft,  and........

What if the Germans decide that the aircraft is still too dangerous to fly safely (this is before the Me163 and before Germany became exceedingly  desperate for wonder weapons) , also.......

What if some clever guy suggests turning them into unguided missiles by removing the cockpit, undercarriage and weaponry,  then adding a warhead, stabilising Gyro and some rudimentary timers and cutoffs like the V1. But........

What if they decide it needs to be mobile to reduce the chances of it getting destroyed on the ground.

A very tenuous string of events which I'm sure is fatally flawed but this is the basis for this build.

Here's the starting point......



The topdecking has been cut back level with the canopy line and filled with sprue sections and fillered over.



I've acquired a half track and 88mm gun trailer from my old 1970 something stash with the intention of adapting the trailer as the launcher.

The half track has been cut down to the floor line,  I intend to build this back up as an armoured command cab.

That's the story so far, more when it happens

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Buzzbomb]

Great combo.
Using the 88mm Flak carriage is a terrific idea

[apophenia]

Great combo.
Using the 88mm Flak carriage is a terrific idea

Completely concur. And looking good, 'Mog 

[Frank3k]

For such a small and simple kit, it's really difficult to build. You're off to a good start!

[Old Wombat]

 

[Robomog]

Thanks guys,

Got some more time at the bench and started creating the launch rail





This in turn threw up a problem with the missile, I originally designed it to have a single large booster ( a la F104) but unfortunately this would be below the launch rail and would foul the supports so I have switched to two boosters either side, underneath the tail.



The tractor is also throwing up some problems in that I intended it to allow the crew to stand up inside but that makes it incredibly tall. I think I will compromise, they will have to crouch much like a personnel carrier.



The picture shows the tractor with Arthur Brain, but he is 1/72 so a bit big for a 00 or 1/87 scale vehicle. Even if I compare it with a proper size figure it's still too high.

Thinks: is this post in the wrong thread as there are more vehicles than aircraft 

More when it happens

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Jeffry Fontaine]

If you need to justify where this should go, remember that all of the ground support vehicles are to support the aircraft/missile. 

Very innovative on the launcher rail. 

[raafif]

There is a precedent for tall ˝-tracks.

[Robomog]

Thanks guys, I think I've come up with a compromise, more of that soon

In the mean time here's the first mockup of the launcher.





It will probably change a some point but it looks like it will work at the moment

Thanks for looking.........


Mog
>^-.-^<

[finsrin]

Makes for a fine missile conversion.  You are making progress 

[Old Wombat]

If you do an unarmoured cab on the launch vehicle it may be tall but it shouldn't be too top heavy.

Although the idea of a battery of three or four launcher-only half-tracks & a command-&-control half-track appeals to me.

[Dr. YoKai]

Hmmm. I am intrigued by the project, but the pictures don't seem to be showing up for me.

[Robomog]

They look OK from my end, anybody else having trouble ?

Mog
>^-.-^<

[GTX_Admin]

Good here

[apophenia]

And looking good here as well, 'Mog 

[Old Wombat]

Tady je vše dobré!

[Robomog]

Hi all

Hope the picture problem has resolved it self.

The missile is virtually complete and is in the paint shop for its final coat of primer.

I've done some work on the launcher but still have to resolve some problems with the hydraulic ram.

More on those later........

The command half track has made some progress, I have fabricated all the sides now and cut out observation ports and windscreens. They will all have shutters to protect the crew if something goes wrong with the launch. I will model some open and others shut.



There will be little detail inside. Mostly around the cab, the seat has been cut down so there is  just the drivers position with a bulkhead behined it and an open doorway for access to the back.

More when it happens............

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all more progress

The Launcher is now assembled and working, I was having trouble with the hydraulic ram, initially I wanted it to push at an angle using the gun stanchion as a base, but this proved unworkable and I had to have it vertical.

The next problem was how to connect it to the launch ramp. I wanted it to raise and lower rather than be fixed. 



In the end I used a small piece of rod and tube to make a moving joint that was glued (very carefully) to some spacers

The end of the ram was then glued  to the tube joint ( again very carefully) when the launch rail mechanism was assembled.



After leaving things for 24 hours it worked !


Up


Down

There are probably more elegant methods of carrying this out but it works for me. I need to trim and cap the main pivot and also devise a way of painting the assembly without fouling the moving parts.

I have also done some more work on the tractor unit. The sides are on now and moving onto the roof.





More soon........

Thanks for looking


Mog
>^-.-^<

[finsrin]

You are good launcher and vehicle designer & builder. 
Please proceed.

[Robomog]

Thanks mate 

Onwards and upwards and after much deliberation I have come up with a solution for the main roof.

Essentially I'm going to bevel it in a little to hold a flat roof then set into the roof an observation turret.

Here's a rough mockup.





The turret has only been placed in position I will sit a lot lower than shown.

The cab roof will be flat with a shallow storage cage above. I'm currently sourcing some Jerry cans, tools, box's and tarpaulins to detail it with.

I have just noticed that there has been a classic reaction between the flexible tracks and the wheels (this truck has been in the loft a looooong time). I'll try and tidy it up as best i can, but I hope you'll forgive me a bit of  rough construction.

The missile is nearly finished, it has its top and bottom coat on.





I'll probably put some camouflage stripes on as well, once that is done all I need to do is attach the boosters to finish off.

It will carry no markings.

More when it happens..........

Mog
>^-.-^<

[finsrin]

All looks good 

[Frank3k]

Nice! It looks missile-y and not at all like the craptacular original kit.

[Old Wombat]

Looks like a rocket-powered V-1.

[Robomog]

Thanks chaps 

Frank3k :- yer not wrong ! Craptacular just about sums it up. I had to do almost as much work getting the bits to fit as doing all the alterations and PSR 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Frank3k]

Having built two of these, I know what you had to go through and your result is fantastic.