1/72 Moskalyev Cam 23 by Mikr Mir

[georgeusa]

This is the 1/72 Moskalyev Cam 23 by Mikr Mir. The WIP thread is here http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234963754-moskalyev-cam-23-finished/. This is a prototype aircraft that was used to develop a very crude type of terrain following system. Some inventive soul that knew nothing about flying decided on a novel way to create a terrain hugging aircraft. Here is a picture of the box art depicting it in the terrain following mode.

So, the idea is have the tail wheel do double duty as a tail wheel and as the means to determine the terrain below the plane. The tail wheel would be extended down the length of the aircraft and through a series of levers would automatically control the elevators up and down as the tail wheel rolled on the ground beneath the aircraft. Three immediate concerns should have hit the designer in the face: 1. Hopefully the terrain the plane is to follow does not have any dips or peaks higher or lower than the length of the plane; 2. The assumption is the plane will only fly where there are no obstacles that stick out of the ground, like fences, trees, bushes, buildings; and 3. Having a pilot fly for any length of time about 20 feet off of the ground without crashing seems a bit demanding of the pilot. Luckily for the Russians, this plane never went into production. Perhaps the designer of the plane was a German trying to help the war effort!

The kit is a fairly straight forward, short run kit. There is very little flash and the parts fit together semi-okay. I gave up on using the plastic parts to create the tail wheel assembly as it fits to the nose and just used wire instead. The detail on the little engine cylinders was fantastic. But, there was not any reference to an exhaust system or parts. Again, some wire was used to simulate (poorly) the exhaust pipes for each cylinder. It is a very small plane and the parts are delicate. I really didn’t have any problem with this kit and enjoyed it greatly. If you have an interest in very weird aircraft, I would recommend this kit in a heartbeat.

And here it is home with some other Russian buddies.

As always, all comments welcome.

[Natter]

A really off-beat model - but what a totally barking idea; mechanical terrain following!

[Darby]

That looks like a crop sprayer!

[Nigel Heath]

Ha, found it. You know I like weird stuff and this is right up there.

[georgeusa]

So, how would you react if you were the test pilot and they suggested all you have to do is keep the little wheel on the ground and it will follow the terrain and fly itself?

[depressed lemur]

Wow, just - Wow!

[Smudge]

I saw this kit on ebay and thought it looked 'kind a funky' as they say in the US (don't they?). I never did get it and now I wish I had.

I think maybe some kind of stand to mount it on, would help display the crazy concept of the terrain-following wheel. But stands can look a bit naff sometimes, so it's a difficult choice.

Anyway, nice work, looks very good posed with it's Soviet comrades.

[goon]

That's fascinating. I've never heard of that type or that concept of terrain following.

(Would look good with the TF probe as the stand I think.)