Siemens Schuckert SSW DDr1 scratch build

[pheonix]

Evening All,

 

The Seimens-Schuckert company produced a number of odd designs during the period 1914-1918, some of which were relatively successful. The DDr1 was a product of the "triplane craze" of 1917: the introduction of the Sopwith Ttriplane earlier that year had caused something of a sensation among pilots on account of the extreme agility of the type. It could easily out-turn all other types in service and although it was not particularly fast, in dogfights its pilots had a distinct advantage. Many companies tried to either design new types or modify existing ones which could replicate the success of the Sopwith. The Seimens Schuckert design was one of the less successful attempts, but it is interesting nonetheless because of a novel feature - it had two engines. 

 

 

The machine had a fairly conventional structure - a stubby nacelle which was covered in fabric with metal cowlings, and tubular booms supporting twin rudders and a single elevator at the rear. It was armed with two machine guns. The power was supplied by two Siemens-Halske Sh 1a 120 hp rotary engines, one mounted in the nose driving a two blade propellor, and one at the rear driving a four blade propellor. The engines were unusual because while the cylinders rotated in one direction, gearing caused the propellors to turn in the opposite direction.

 

 

The shape of the arircraft meant that it was quickly dubbed the "flying egg". the design was submitted for approval in the summer of 1917 and a prototype ordered which was ready for testing in November of that year.

 

 

The radical design proved to be too much: the machine lacked stability and the engines were difficult to control, with the result that the machine crashed on the first flight and was not rebuilt. A second design with more powerful engines was not proceeded with.

 

 

Spin models make one of these in resin in 1/48 scale but there are two problems with that for me. 1st it is in the wrong scale and 2nd I do not like resin kits, so it left me with no option but to scratch build one in the True Scale. The nacelle, spinner and cowlings were push moulded and the booms were florists wire. The wheels are discs cut from plastic card with rod for tyres, the engines are rod and card, and the remainder was made from plastic card. It is rigged with rolled copper wire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another oddball type to add to my growing collection!

 

Thanks for looking.

 

P

 

[JWM]

That is something tasty! - a true modelling

Congrats and regards

Jerzy-Wojtek

[swralph]

Abxolutely outstanding modelling P.😀

[cduckworth]

I thought I’d seen every WW1 triplane after my 55+ years in the hobby and reading everything I could get my hands on but this is a first.  If this was April 1st I’d accuse you of playing a trick on us.  Beautiful model of an unusual subject.  Where did you find the plans?

[Harold55]

This is an amazing accomplishment!  Looks great and now I am tempted to try and find that resin job in 1/48.  I greatly admire bi-planes in 1/72 but they are beyond my vision to rig at that scale (even with the head gear).

[S. Uehlinger]

Very Impressive Work!

[stevehed]

Brilliant. I'd have hated to fly it.

[Vinnie]

That is an incredible piece of modelling.

[Epeeman]

Another one of your masterpieces, Steve -

 

And what and unusual subject matter that I, like others have never heard of!   Looking at this aircraft I can understand why it crash on it's first first flight - it just looks so unbalanced and ungainly  ............

 

That said, this does not detract from your scratch building skills - very impressive work, mate!

 

Regards

 

Dave

[pheonix]

6 hours ago, cduckworth said:

I thought I’d seen every WW1 triplane after my 55+ years in the hobby and reading everything I could get my hands on but this is a first.  If this was April 1st I’d accuse you of playing a trick on us.  Beautiful model of an unusual subject.  Where did you find the plans?

There are plans in one of the Windscok magazines - cannot remember the reference in full as I do not have a copy. However I fond the ones that I worked to on the internet - just type in the name and then images and there are three photos of the original machine + drawings. The propellor dimensions are not given - I was told those by a fellow modeller who has the Spin Models kit.

[Toryu]

Excellent scratch-build and a masterpiece of rigging. You're a modeller in the true sense!

[ForestFan]

Spectacular!