Nils Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 (edited) An idea I've had for years, but never finished off, a triptychon of the great looking but troublesome four engined bomber He-177, Greif (Griffon) with the Fritz-X 400 robot bomb. Designed for Heinkel He-177 began in 1936 (about 35 years after the Wright flyer) way ahead of it's time. During it's development, many new innovations were implemented, such as coupled power plants (2 x DB605 paired on one propeller to a DB610) but they really became the plane's achilles heel. Numerous planes were lost due to catching fire in flight, due to overheating. These three images shows Heinkel Greif's carrying and dropping Fritz-X radio guided bombs or an early type of cruise missiles. The first robot bomb to sink a battleship, when Do-215's sunk the italian battle ship Roma' off Sicilly.. Take off Flying out Release the Fritz-X Edited February 6, 2019 by Nils corrected heading 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Superb. I do like the 177. Incidentally is that swastika reversed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 <Incidentally is that swastika reversed?> Dam, lol, you’re right 😊 well in that case it’s not a swastika, but a cartoon rotating fan.. hehe I’ll righten it soon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Excellent work again Nils, I especially like the take off painting, very atmospheric! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 Cheers mate, the take off was originally created some time ago, but this is a new edited version. (Cartoon fan is now mirrored now to blow the right (??) way ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc72 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 Your images look gorgeous. Just one point: I think the Fritz-X was a pure glide bomb with no rocket booster or propulsion (unlike the smaller HS-293). So your last image is a bit misleading. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 Doc, I thank you for your constructive feedback, and you’re absolutely right. The Fritz had a flare in the rear, but as you say, it was a pure glider. Thanks to your post, I went googling the theme some more and have got a lot of great new ideas 😊 I’ll reduce the flare for the Fritz for now, but a more thorought rework is necessary. Perhaps switching to Hs-293’s would be the result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share Posted February 6, 2019 I have reduced the rocket flame on the third image to a flare to aid the bomber directing the bomb to it's target. Now, one can discuss the release altitude indicated here as minimum altitude for drop was 4000m (12000ft) but that goes under artistic liberty Here's one more shot of a Greif in a different paint scheme also delivering a Fritz bomb 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard502 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 The Fritz X was a gided free falling bomb, not a glider. The excerpt below is from Wikipedia: "Unlike the Hs 293, which was deployed against merchant ships and light escorting warships, Fritz X was intended to be used against armoured ships such as heavy cruisers and battleships. The minimum release height was 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) and a release height of 5,500 metres (18,000 ft) was preferred assuming adequate visibility. The Fritz X had to be released at least 5 kilometres (3 mi) from the target." Great artwork! Richard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 The He177 did use the Hs293 to attack Allied convoys. More info here: https://boxartden.com/reference/gallery/index.php/Modeling-References/Aircraft-Profiles/Germany/World-War-Two/Heinkel-He177-Greif-234/He177-Heinkel-Greif-234-_Page_08-960 Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 Thanks chaps I honestly don’t understand why Heinkel never followed up the four separate engines versions instead of the expensive, troublesome coupled V12’s version, after all the troubles it caused them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Nils said: Thanks chaps I honestly don’t understand why Heinkel never followed up the four separate engines versions instead of the expensive, troublesome coupled V12’s version, after all the troubles it caused them. They did, but by that time there was a higher need of defensive fighter and the RLM didn't go for it. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 No not really, it was in fact only two prototypes completed by the french after the war, used as motherships for the french jet programme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 49 minutes ago, Nils said: No not really, it was in fact only two prototypes completed by the french after the war, used as motherships for the french jet programme Ah! You're talking the He274, not the He177B. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nils Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 Yes the twin tailed 274. Opposed to the french AAS001’s the 177B came to nothing to my knowlewdge, apart from what you mention above. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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