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First scratchbuild- Fa 330 gyro-kite.

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  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: A Computer in Adrian, (SE) Michigan.
First scratchbuild- Fa 330 gyro-kite.
Posted by Lucien Harpress on Friday, December 28, 2007 9:48 PM
Now, I'm normally an aircraft guy, but for my first scratchbuild, I couldn't resist building this rotary-winged gem.  It's a build I started quite some time ago, painted a while later, and just now finished up.  A 1/72 Fa 330 gyro-kite. 

 

This particular aircraft had no motor- it was towed behind German U-boats in an effort to extend the sightlines of the low-sitting sub, and the forward motion of the submarine made the rotor auto-rotate, and generate lift. 

The problem came when a danger was spotted and the U-boat needed to crash dive.  The Fa 330 was immediately cut loose and the sub dived, leaving the pilot to either be picked up later by friendly forces, picked up sooner by the enemy, or picked up somewhere in between by sharks.

This was an about 80% serious scratchbuild, just to see if I could do it.  It ain't perfect, but it's good enough from where I'm sitting.

Comments and critisicms are welcome!

That which does not kill you makes you stranger...
-The Joker
  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by namrednef on Friday, December 28, 2007 10:09 PM

I don't know whether to laugh or cry...........!

 I could almost believe this....but I've done a lot of reading.......this one got by me.

 I may be proven wrong.....but I'm not buying the storyEight Ball [8]

 Nice use of time and scrap though

 (signed)

 HeloFleigerUnterzeebootKorpsOberLeutnantNamrednef (I think) 

 Still....a nice post 

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: A Computer in Adrian, (SE) Michigan.
Posted by Lucien Harpress on Friday, December 28, 2007 10:34 PM

Nope.  Not a fabrication, but a completely real gyro kite:

http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites/Fa-330/intro.html

Here's a pic of a real one at the Dayton USAF Museum:

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet_media.asp?fsID=475 

That which does not kill you makes you stranger...
-The Joker
  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by namrednef on Saturday, December 29, 2007 7:23 AM

I have been educated! Thank you. I'll slink away now Banged Head [banghead]

 Still.....your imagination and talent are to be envied

 

Nam 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
Posted by Cobrahistorian on Saturday, December 29, 2007 9:51 AM

Great job on a really obscure aircraft!  I took several shots of the one at the Udvar Hazy center and was considering doing the same at some point.  What scale's it in?

 

Jon 

"1-6 is in hot"
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: A Computer in Adrian, (SE) Michigan.
Posted by Lucien Harpress on Saturday, December 29, 2007 4:30 PM

1/72.  The rotor diameter is around three or four inches, I think, perhaps a touch larger.

A kit exists of it in the same scale, but at least half of it is photoetch.  Besides, it's wasn't too complicated a build to cut my teeth on, as it were.

That which does not kill you makes you stranger...
-The Joker
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
Posted by Cobrahistorian on Saturday, December 29, 2007 8:50 PM

Ok Mike, you are a sick sick man.  I was gonna do mine in 48th and even that is enough to make one go blind!

 

Jon 

"1-6 is in hot"
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: A Computer in Adrian, (SE) Michigan.
Posted by Lucien Harpress on Saturday, December 29, 2007 10:16 PM
Big Smile [:D]
That which does not kill you makes you stranger...
-The Joker
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