pheonix Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 Evening All, This was my contribution to the Flying Boats GB which will run out on 7th January 2018: the build thread can be found there if you are interested. I am posting these photos her plus some notes on the type as it is generally little known: I did not know about this type until I came across it by chance about 15 months ago. It is completely scratch built from wood, brass rod, plastic sheet, rod and strip, and is rigged with rolled copper wire. I apologise for the backgrounds but the weather and light are very poor at the moment. I will take more pictures in better light when I have completed the base for this model: this will be my next project. Any comments would be welcome. Claudius Dornier had joined the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin (Zeppelin Airship Works) in 1910 where he worked on a number of technical problems associated with airships. He was transferred to Zeppelin’s private design bureau in Friedrichshafen to work on an 80,000 cubic metre steel airship capable of flying across the Atlantic in 1913. Following the outbreak of European war in August 1914, Zeppelin established the VGO-Staaken venture to build giant wooden bombers, but Zeppelin was convinced that the future for aircraft was in all metal construction, so Dornier was sent to an old airship shed at Seems near Friederichshafen on Lake Constance to design a giant flying boat. This became known as the Rs I and was the first all-metal aircraft to be built. It was a huge biplane with a 143 ft (43.5m) wingspan which carried out extensive taxiing trials on the lake in late 1915 but was wrecked in a storm in December of that year before it could fly. While the Rs I was undergoing trials, Dornier and his team were working on a second project which was of a totally different design. This had a very broad hull which gave it inherent stability, with a high mounted wing with a broad low aspect ratio, open tail boom and unusual biplane elevator. Small wings were fitted to the rear of the hull to support floats, but the latter were found to be unnecessary and were never fitted. It was built from duraluminium and steel and covered in sheet duraluminium on the hull and fabric on the flying surfaces. It was powered by three engines buried in the hull driving pusher propellors via drive shafts. It made its maiden flight from Lake Constance on 30 June 1916. In mid - July an accident occurred which caused the aircraft to land on the water. On attempting to take off the middle propellor transmission shaft broke which severely damaged the tail boom. It was decided to completely rebuild the aircraft and work was completed in early November 1916. The hull was redesigned with the step moved further back but more importantly a fourth engine had been added and all had been moved to a position between the hull and the wing. They were mounted uncowled in tandem pairs and drove tractor and pusher propellors - a feature which was to be used by Dornier on his flying boats until 1945. The wing was lowered and balance horns were added to the ailerons. The massive V struts which supported the wing were altered so that they now attached to the hull sides and the boom attachment to the hull was changed so that the rear propellors had clearance. The biplane elevator was retained, but the stub wings were reshaped to have rounded tips and a decreased chord. Materials shortages and poor quality fuel retarded testing, with constant problems being experienced with the engines. The engines were found to be too cold so very neat cowlings were fitted, following which the radiators were found to be too small as the engines overheated. In May 1917 during landing practice, the machine came down hard on the water and the central boom of the tail broke. The pilot did not notice and tried to take foo, with the result that the sagging tail dragged the aircraft back on to the water and the whole unit broke away and sank to the bottom of the lake. In July the machine reappeared with a new tail unit this time with a simpler pair of fins and rudders and single elevator. Flight trials resumed and it was shown that it could take off and climb on 3 engines. It was also found that the pusher engines were more efficient when working alone than were the tractor engines. It reached a level speed of 128kph over the lake. In August it was carrying out a 6 hour trial flight prior to being sent to Norderney seaplane base for trials by the Navy when number 4 engine backfired violently. No 1 propellor disintegrated as a consequence, so both engines were shut down and the aircraft was put back down on the lake. The damage was found to be extensive and is was decided that it would have been uneconomical to rebuild it as the Rs III was near completion. Instead the airframe was broken up and the parts used for further tests and experiments. Dornier and his team learned many valuable lessons from this prototype. The broad inherently stable hull, tandem mounted engines, all-metal construction, high wing with low aspect ratio, all became characteristic features of later designs, but above all reliability and flexibility were to be hallmarks of the Dornier company. Here is an Avro biplaneis next to the completed model to give an idea of size, (the biplane is scratch built too): And because you cannot see everything from a distance, here are some close ups: A happy 2018 to one and all. Thanks for looking. P 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 A great result. I truly admire your skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 That is impressive. You've done some amazing work with the strut arrangements and a fine job of the rigging. All in all, it's a fantastic looking model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 thats a fantastic looking build, and a great history lesson as well, had never heard of this plane before now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 (edited) That's pretty impressive! Edited December 28, 2017 by jeaton01 Can't spell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael51 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 A remarkable effort. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ModellerUK Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 That is incredible and with it being scratch built it still looks better than some of mine OOb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Truly fantastic result of a really unusual subject matter - very skilled work, Pheonix! I agree with ModellerUK - better than what I could also achieve from an OOB build of a kit ............... Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorby Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Now that's what I call modelling! Stunning result and a very interesting history of an aircraft I knew nothing about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 I remember when this was just a block of wood and can only marvel at the aircraft that has now emerged. One of the finest build threads I've seen on this forum. Bravo Phoenix! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 This is modelling at its best! A well told and fascinating story, with a beautifully scratch built model to accompany it. I just love it! Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuro Nezumi Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Very steampunk! I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Did I say Beyond excellence and all handmade ... I enjoyed the build thread too👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Top !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 Amazing. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 I Agree with all of the comments above. Great work! 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amblypygid Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Tremendous build, and also rather wonderful to see so many members of the Dornier seaplane family emerging from the group build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 In the words of the great Eddie Cochran "She's somethin' else". Superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Top Notch P. Very impressive. The tail unit is a work of art itself. Regards, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Absolutely incredible, simply stunning modelmaking! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 My apologies for not responding sooner but I have been away for a New Year break visiting family. Thanks to all of you for the very kind and supportive remarks - they are truly much appreciated. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Real modelling at its very best. Inspirational stuff. BM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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