****DONE: 1/72 Flettner Fl-282 B-0 Kriegsmarine ship "Drache" - MTO Group Build

[imalko]

Thanks for link DB, some good stuff there. When I saw that there were two blades I figured they must have been counter rotating, just was surprised to see they were on two separate shafts. Well, if they had been on a single shaft that would be way ahead of its time, I guess...

[Wurger]

Wonder which type of engine did it use? (Must admit I don't know much about German helicopters.)

This machine was powered by BMW 314E engine of 160HP with rotor reduction ratio 1:12.

Does anyone have a photo or drawning of the second seat?

DBII

Source unknown...

[imalko]

[DBII]

COOL, What is worse, strapped down without a canopy or sitting backwards in the tail? It is one step away from an utra light. We could sell rides at airshows.


DBI

[Wurger]

Did Wright brothers fly sitting in hermetic cockpi? The first steps are never easy.

Source unknown......

[DBII]

True, the early pilots had a huge pair...It must have been exciting to fly this off of a ship.

DBII

[Wurger]

I think it was.....

[vikingBerserker]

Excellent pics guys, THANKS!!!

[Wurger]

[Micdrow]

Excellent pics guys, THANKS!!!

Your welcome!!!

[vikingBerserker]

From The Luftwaffe Profile Series No 6 - Flettner FL 282

How to tell if it's a 1 vs 2 seater are the fuel tanks. In order to accommodate the 2nd person, the fuel tanks were removed from the body and replaced with 2 cylindrical fuel tanks on either side of the cockpit.

To take off, the motor was ran at full power while the aircraft was tethered. The tether was then released causing it to leap upward (jump take-off).

In event the engine failed, the craft automatically switched to auto rotation so the pilot could escape.

The seat had an area to the pilots parachute would fit in.

The Fl 282U was designed to be carried by large U-Boats (trials on U-617).

It took up very little space, 10 could fit into the same space required by a conventional shipboard aircraft.

To land - especially in rough weather, a rope would be dropped from a height of 10 meters. The rope was passed through a pulley and pulled taught by hand, which would allow the helicopter to match the up and down movement of the ship.

During a test with a convey, one was able to make out all 12 U-Boats underwater sent to intercept it. This was easier in the MTO due to the water being clearer.

Experimental weapons included Vemag 2 vertical magazines for 5kg anti-sub bombs.

"A mock combat between the Fl 282 (Flettner company pilot Fuisting) and a FW 190 (pilot Ltn. Eisenlohr of E.Kdo.25) tool place at Schewidnitz on 22/6/44, in order to investigate the chances of a fighter hitting the helicopter. At present the evaluation of the film and the pilot reports have not yet arrived. At heights above 100m the fighter was able to get the helicopter in it's sights briefly. Near the ground, especially in difficult terrain, the fighter has little chance against a helicopter." pg 6

I'll try to scan some of the more interesting pics and post.

[kgambit]

Can't wait to see this one finished. Great Choice VB!

[vikingBerserker]

Finally off to a start.

The kit had a lot of flash and it appears the 2 dies were off as most of the parts are not aligned properly.

The gear box pieces were painted and the glued together. Approx 17mm wide, the pieces were off by approx 3mm (1.5mm on each side). This resulted in having to sand both sides until they were even.



Both gearbox and engine completed.

[Wurger]

Nice small pieces. Good start..

[Wayne Little]

hope the alignment issue doesn't cause too much hassle VB....