Canopies assembled and test fitted. The XF5U-1's canopy was a simple job. The V-173's windshield needed careful sanding on its bottom edge to make the whole unit of three pieces fit tight to the wing/fuselage. The V-shaped locating ridge behind the pilot's seat was sanded off first.

Looking really good!!! 

Checked my old kit and it is the Sword version. Guess I've built enough Classic Airframes kits by now that I call every limited run model that brand... 

Gamera

Looking really good!!! 

 

Checked my old kit and it is the Sword version. Guess I've built enough Classic Airframes kits by now that I call every limited run model that brand... 

 

The Special Hobby V-173 Flying Pancake is labeled "Limited Edition."

Don Stauffer

 

 

Tom Hering

 

 

jeaton01

Look up Charles Zimmerman, the concept was his.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Zimmerman

 

 

 

 

The Flying Pancake was also known as "Zimmer's Skimmer." Here's something I just discovered yesterday: the plane that inspired Zimmerman, Cloyd Snyder's Arup S-2. It first flew in 1933, and was demonstrated around the country. (Zimmerman's V-173 flew from 1942 to 1947. The XF5U-1 never flew.) I'm no expert, but the S-2 appears to address the issue of tip vortices in its own way. Mr. Stauffer?

 

The Arup S-2 looks like something that Williams Bros. should produce a 1/48 kit of. It would look great next to their PCA-2 Autogiro.

 

 

 

 

Obviously there are no props at the tips to counter the vortices.  Winglets are the modern way to do it- the winglets are slightly canted outwards to create small vortices of their own to cancel the wing vortices.

If that tab-like thing on the tip were at a negative angle of attack, I could see how it might reduce wing vortices.  However, that view makes it look like the tabs are at a positive angle of attack, and hence strengthen the wing vortices. I assume those tabs take the place of ailerons.  I would think this low aspect flying wing would have very poor aero efficiency.  Looks like a lot of wing area, however, so landing and takeoff speeds may be quite low.

 

 

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2108093.html

Changing horses in midstream.

I originally planned to make the XF5U-1 a whiffer, and the Kitty Hawk kit provides parts and decals to do that. Then I decided that what I really wanted was a model of the plane that actually existed - prototype #2. But the kit doesn't give you this option, straight out of the box. You have to perform a few mods.

I removed the bomb racks I had already installed, and filled in the channels for the tail hook mechanism - located on top of the plane. The channels and covers for the tail hook mechanism don't appear in photos of the two prototypes (as far as I can tell), so it's likely the tail hook was never installed - though the Vought engineers had produced drawings of it.

The Kitty Hawk decal sheet doesn't provide tail markings for prototype #2 ("Navy, 33958, XF5U-1"). Propagteam used to offer a decal sheet for the KH kit, and it included the tail markings, but I'll be darned if I can find one anywhere. No luck, either, finding waterslide alphabets and numerals that will work (I've never had good results using dry transfers). And my graphics program doesn't have a typeface that's close enough (the "9s" and "5s" and "8s" are all way off) so I can't go the custom route. Hmmm ... interesting problem. Stay tuned.

Oh gee, good luck with your modifications. Looks cool so far. 

BTW: Have you checked the model railroad section of the hobby shop for the letters and numbers? You might also look in a regular craft store too. 

Gamera

Oh gee, good luck with your modifications. Looks cool so far. 

 

BTW: Have you checked the model railroad section of the hobby shop for the letters and numbers? You might also look in a regular craft store too. 

 

Here is another Arup with a different control configuration.

It sure looks like Amarillo to me, here's a jpg.  I can send you a dxf file as well.

jeaton01

Here is another Arup with a different control configuration.

 

 

jeaton01

It sure looks like Amarillo to me, here's a jpg.  I can send you a dxf file as well.

 

 

Sorry, guess I wasn't much help. Great to see that with John's help you're on the right track now though! 

Gamera

Sorry, guess I wasn't much help. Great to see that with John's help you're on the right track now though! 

 

Here's what needs to be done to turn the Kitty Hawk kit into prototype #2.

1. Don't use the tailhook, bombs, bomb racks, and armor glass provided in the kit.

2. Fill in the channels for the tailhook mechanism. (I did this with sheet styrene, but if I were to do it again, I'd use epoxy putty - though the added weight might make it necessary to use the metal landing gear set from Scale Aircraft Conversions).

3. Pose the exhaust flaps for engine cooling air (parts D15, D17, D24, D26) in the open position - the way they're most often seen in photos.

4. Replace the kit's thick, ribbed, landing gear canisters (parts C27) with thinner, plain, styrene rod.

5. Make a square headrest for the pilot's seat.

6. Make wheel bulges for the outer main gear doors.

7. Remove the ribbing on the rudders.

8. Fill in the six gun ports.

9. Use just one national insignia decal - on the upper port side.

10. Place the decals representing taped-on walk/work panels OVER the national insignia. (The kit instructions and box art show the panels UNDER the insignia!)

11. Place the oval logo decals on the front side of the port propeller, and the back side of the starboard propeller.

12. Create custom decals for the vertical fin and rudder markings, as well as the propeller tracking diamonds.

Canopies painted. Three methods were used.

The V-173's canopy was done with a combination of masking/spraying and decal stripes. Paint is Testors 1214 and 1114 Gloss Yellow. The decal stripes are Print Scale CAMO-035. The yellow of the decals doesn't quite match the Testors paint, but I'm happy with the overall result.

The XF5U-1's canopy was hand painted with Model Master FS15042 Dark Sea Blue, and then cleaned up with a sharpened wood toothpick.

Both canopies were dipped in Future.

Gear for XF5U-1 prototype #2. The kit's brake fluid reservoirs have been replaced with styrene rod - detailed with decal stripes.

Headrest added. Onward to the propellers for both planes!

Since I'm building the XF5U-1 as the plane that actually existed, prototype #2 (BuNo 33958), I'm thinking I might include the feature in the photos below (it doesn't appear in all photos of prototype #2). I haven't been able to find any information about it, or any clearer photos, but my guess is that it's a pair of inverted extinguishers, plumbed to the engine compartments for fire supression during tests. Does anyone think this is a possibility? Has anyone seen something similar on other test aircraft of the period?

I have no idea what those fixtures might be.  As to the cylinders on the landing gear, usually a reservoir for the brake sysytem will be before the pistons that actuate the brakes.  I would bet those cylinders are related to the oleo struts instead.

Very nice paintwork on everything.

Nice work on the canopy masking/painting!

Both are very nice, the yellow one is a knockout.

Thanks John! I like your guess about the landing gear cylinders.

Thanks Greg!

Sharp work on the landing gear and those canopies turned out great! Fantastic job on masking and painting them! 

Thanks Gamera! Actually, I did very little masking, and only on the yellow one. I'm kind of allergic to masking, but I think I'll have to get used to it if I'm going to build aircraft models. A skill that must be mastered.

Ah ok, however you did them they look perfect! Wish I could brush paint that well. 

Gamera

Ah ok, however you did them they look perfect! Wish I could brush paint that well. 

 

https://youtu.be/RH7qlFr7iVg

Woodgrained all the prop blades today.

First coat is a dark yellow acrylic. Second coat is a thinned, burnt umber artist's oil paint - brushed on, then streaked with the cut edge of a sponge (packaging foam). I'll let these dry for a week, then apply a clear gloss coat, tinted to make the blades a little deeper and redder in color. After that, I'll paint cuffs, stripes, and tips. Then apply decals.

Looks like beautiful lacquered wood!

Nice!

Thanks Chad!

Thanks John!

Primer is down on the V-173. Gunze Sangyo Mr. White Base 1000. A few minor flaws in seams were revealed, but that's par for the course.