fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 A build from 11 years ago> While some designers choose to do away with the fuselage and the tail and create a “flying wing”, others choose to eliminate the wings and create a lifting body. That was the choice of William Horton, from California and Vincent Burnelli, both of them shaped the fuselage as a wing section. The Horton design featured large “endplates” –apparently described as “sealers”- along the fuselage/airfoil to improve its efficiency. A number of control surfaces can be seen at its rear end: a central, finned elevator and two surfaces on the sides that look like elevons (elevator+ailerons). Two fins and rudders are integral with the endplates. It is of notice that the concept of lifting body in this case was linked to the “roadable” plane too, since it was suggested to develop such machine later on. The design can be also described as being of “negative aspect ratio”, since its span is less than its length, roughly a 0.5 to 1 ratio. And perhaps we should clear some recurrent confusion: William Horton was an American from California, while the Horten (with “e”) were brothers from the nazi Germany that later got a free-pass to Argentina for a while. The Horten Bros. designed a number of flying wings and William Horton, as said, worked on the concept of lifting bodies, creating first the plane which model is here depicted, and later a more futuristic-looking, twin-engine bigger machine also called the Horton Wingless. William Horton associated with Howard Hughes, a joint-venture that apparently didn’t work out very well due to the iron grip of Mr. Hughes. Unfortunately, Hughes stalled in every possible way the development and sales of the Wingless. Shame on you Howard. Nevertheless the prototype achieved some flight and its beautiful lines were preserved in a few images. Simple lines on a model don’t necessarily translate into simple construction. Once the planning and engineering started, it was obvious that once more simple design didn’t mean simple construction. One or two parts were modified spare bin sleepers, while wheels and prop –Hartzell on the original plane- were modified Aeroclub items. Only a bit of the interior can be seen in the available photos of the real plane, enough to see the bulk of the long Franklin 68A engine in the middle of the cockpit/cabin while the shaft protrudes ahead of the fuselage. The pilot seat seemed to be the located on the left. The part count was about a hundred when I judiciously stopped counting. Although undiscriminating fellow modelers whose visual education and taste leaves much to be desired dared to call this beauty a “flying toaster”, one thing can not be denied: imagination was for sure abundant in the blooming 50’s. 59 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 As always, an interesting model and lots of background information. You do some amazing work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 A rather stylish subject. Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 That is rather nice and the colour scheme is very attractive. I really like your exploded view of the parts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 A curiously interesting subject, expertly modeled. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 I like this a lot, but why did many of these designers go for minimum vertical stabilizer area? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 2 hours ago, John Aero said: I like this a lot, but why did many of these designers go for minimum vertical stabilizer area? John Hi John Would those "endplates" count towards that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Fascinating design and beautiful model! Apparently the next model was twin engined and had retractable stub wings, looking more like a futuristic American car than the original, clean design… Seems that Hughes was a real a****le… Kind regards, Joachim 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Another obscure subject beautifully modelled Moa. Love it! Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 3 hours ago, Spitfire31 said: Fascinating design and beautiful model! Apparently the next model was twin engined and had retractable stub wings, looking more like a futuristic American car than the original, clean design… Seems that Hughes was a real a****le… Kind regards, Joachim The thing is, Joachim, that I also have a file on that one...not an easy one by any means, though. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) Fantastic looking 'aircraft. Interesting story as well. Looks like something from Dan dare/ eagle comics. Edited February 2, 2019 by invidia 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 9 hours ago, Moa said: Hi John Would those "endplates" count towards that? Without the end plates I don't think that such a short wing would work. The end plates are to stop the high pressure lower air spilling to the top. Those deep side plates forwards of the C of G would make for some instability. In conventional aircraft such as the NF Meteors, when the nose was lengthened they had to compensate by increasing the fin area. I'm just musing as aerodynamics are not my field. The retractable stub wings suggest to me that there were roll problems probably at low speeds. As usual I'm awed by your modelling skills. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 10 hours ago, invidia said: Looks like something from Dan dare/ eagle comics. 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 The weird and wonderful are your forte Moa and you do them all justice, what is amazing is most if not all actually flew. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 A movie of the second Horton Wingless plane: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 William Horton lived until 1997 at least and was interviewed for TV, where he shared a story with a rather unbelievable cameo by Dick "The Nixster" Nixon: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted February 5, 2019 Author Share Posted February 5, 2019 31 minutes ago, Procopius said: William Horton lived until 1997 at least and was interviewed for TV, where he shared a story with a rather unbelievable cameo by Dick "The Nixster" Nixon: Hughes and Nixon, the same ethical and moral (lack of) principles, it seems. Poor Horton. Thanks for posting the link. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opus999 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 That is a fascinating aircraft. Fantastic job with the scratchbuild too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 How I missed this I am not sure, but I have been away. Just super again!! This model looks as though it may have presented some more challenges than others, but you still made a frist class job of it. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 On 2/1/2019 at 9:43 PM, Spitfire31 said: Fascinating design and beautiful model! Apparently the next model was twin engined and had retractable stub wings, looking more like a futuristic American car than the original, clean design… There is a Cessna T-50 Bobcat inside that thing, screaming to be let out. The identity of the unfortunate Bobcat has been lost to history, and the FAA's file on Horton's monstrosity (N39C) contains very little substantial information. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 31 minutes ago, Space Ranger said: Horton's monstrosity (N39C) Watch your mouth!, if you don't want a duel at siesta time (I don not like to get up at dawn)! I choose Airbrush, with no pressure-limiting valve. You will know what it is to have a mustache drawn on your face with Humbrol enamel! It will never dry! Retract you hasty words, of face the consequences! (on your...ahem... face). Offended of California 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallBlondJohn Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 14 hours ago, Moa said: Watch your mouth!, if you don't want a duel at siesta time (I don not like to get up at dawn)! I choose Airbrush, with no pressure-limiting valve. You will know what it is to have a mustache drawn on your face with Humbrol enamel! It will never dry! Retract you hasty words, of face the consequences! (on your...ahem... face). Offended of California This could get interesting. The last person to offend the Shaolin Modelling Monks got turned into an obscure French biplane ekranoplan. But at least he didn't upset our Martian... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 20 hours ago, Moa said: Watch your mouth!, if you don't want a duel at siesta time (I don not like to get up at dawn)! I choose Airbrush, with no pressure-limiting valve. You will know what it is to have a mustache drawn on your face with Humbrol enamel! It will never dry! Retract you hasty words, of face the consequences! (on your...ahem... face). Offended of California I already have a mustache. It's-a verra nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 7 hours ago, Space Ranger said: I already have a mustache. It's-a verra nice! We know, we have visited your profile and seen the photo: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aces High Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 This is a hilarious looking aircraft, I like it! Outstanding job of scratchbuilding there too, it's a fine model you've created. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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