EVR Firebolt - pusher prop "DieselPunk"-style plane

[EchoVictor]

Hey all,

been away for a while with that whole crazy "life" thing going on, and haven't really built a rocket in a couple years. Part of the absence was time/family commitments, but another large part of it was because I felt tapped out.

I think I now have a good idea of what "writer's block" must be like, because I feel like I had "designer's block". Those of you that know me are aware that I love to make designs that are wayyyy beyond 3FNC. For the past couple of years, I just haven't been able to come up with anything cool-looking like I used to. I'd sit down with a pad of paper and sketch, but nothing ever worked for me.

So, recently, my wife and I got tablets (NOT Apples!), and have been playing with them. One app that she's really gotten into is Pinterest, where you can look at a bunch of collected pictures about any topic under the sun. I started poking around on there, looking at aircraft and spaceships, just kind of meandering around.

One "theme" I stumbled upon that really struck my fancy is "DieselPunk". It's the same idea behind SteamPunk, but instead of being Victorian-era design influenced, it's more like WWII-style and influence. If you start looking at DieselPunk aircraft, you see a lot of designs that look science-fictiony, but could have possibly been made using old WWII tech. A great couple of examples of planes that fit this mold are the Japanese Shinden and the German Flying Wing from Raiders of The Lost Ark.

Anyways, after looking at a lot of this stuff recently, last weekend it felt like a **** light bulb went off. I literally woke up with this idea of a pusher-prop plane in my head, and I knew I had to build it. Down to the basement, and up with the tools and parts, and I got started building. Normally I do a detailed layout before I build, but this one was totally free-form. Just hold up some tubes, cut out some shapes in paper to check proportions, and start building.

So here she is, my first design in over 2+ years.....the EVR Firebolt

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140304_203742_zpsafae429b.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140304_203834_zps2e79dc0b.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140304_203903_zpsdb096f7f.jpg

General idea is to go for a P-51 Mustang style paint/decal scheme. Thinking about maybe touching the nose and tails with some blue, and maybe some black/white invasion stripes on the wings.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
EV

[Rocketflyer]

WHOA! That is wicked cool, Ev. :D

[tbzep]

That's as fresh a design as I've seen in a while. :cool:

Two Browning .50BMG's and two 20mm HS.404 M2's in the nose? :cool: :cool:

What's mounted in the wings? 40mm Bofors?



.

[ghrocketman]

Looks great.

[Les]

Nice!

[Bill]

General idea is to go for a P-51 Mustang style paint/decal scheme. Thinking about maybe touching the nose and tails with some blue, and maybe some black/white invasion stripes on the wings.

Thoughts?


Actually, it has a bit of a Corsair thing going.


Bill

[EchoVictor]

That's as fresh a design as I've seen in a while. :cool:

Two Browning .50BMG's and two 20mm HS.404 M2's in the nose? :cool: :cool:

What's mounted in the wings? 40mm Bofors?
.
Well, seeing as all four nose guns are the same diameter toothpicks, I'd say they're all .50 cals. The wings would then be the 20mm and 40mm...

Actually, it has a bit of a Corsair thing going.


Bill

Yeah, once I had it all together I realized that the wings were VERY Corsair-looking. Thus, my desire to stay away from a blue-over-blue color scheme. This is the look of the P-51 that I'm going for;

http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium-5/p-51d-mustang-the-hawk-eye-owan-stu-shepherd.jpg

Later,
EV

[tbzep]

Well, seeing as all four nose guns are the same diameter toothpicks, I'd say they're all .50 cals. The wings would then be the 20mm and 40mm...


I guess it's my imagination. The two outer ones look a little bigger to me in the head on shot. They do look the same in the other shots, though.

[dlazarus6660]

Awesome Eric! Just awesome.

[jetlag]

Well, seeing as all four nose guns are the same diameter toothpicks, I'd say they're all .50 cals. The wings would then be the 20mm and 40mm...



Yeah, once I had it all together I realized that the wings were VERY Corsair-looking. Thus, my desire to stay away from a blue-over-blue color scheme. This is the look of the P-51 that I'm going for;

http://fineartamerica.com/images-medium-5/p-51d-mustang-the-hawk-eye-owan-stu-shepherd.jpg

Later,
EV


The Germans called them "the Blue Nosed *******s of Bodney." 352nd Fighter Group.

Great choice for a color scheme.
Fantastic original design; I love it!

Allen

[CPMcGraw]

Welcome back, EV!

I feel your pain, too. It's been at least four years since I built something, almost as long since I've touched RockSim.

You certainly still have the gift.

[EchoVictor]

Well, sat down last night to do some painting (and watch Lidstrom's jersey retirement ceremony - GO WINGS!). Here's how she's looking with some color;

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140307_070314_zps262bfaf6.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140307_070340_zps08c292e2.jpg

Still debating with myself if I want to use straight US WWII P-51 decals, or if I want to custom make my own set.

Later,
EV

P.S. I've also started work on a "villain" companion design to go against this "hero" Firebolt...

[naoto]

OOoh... really nice!

Y'know... if you'd had a vertical fin between the "V" tail, the tail assembly would be vaguely reminiscent of the XF-85...


Hrm... I wonder if these could be adapted as flyable model rockets:
http://lighthousezen.seesaa.net/article/226835429.html
http://lighthousezen.seesaa.net/article/67364725.html

[tbzep]

That plane is way ahead of its time. That rear mounted R-3350 Duplex Cyclone is nothing but trouble without a nose full of air flow to cool it. You're already having to feather the prop and dead stick the landing. Don't worry, it won't be long before a good turboprop gets developed. :D

[naoto]

Hrm... How about a sort of backwards F4U Corsair?
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/amraam/diary/200909150000/

[Daddyisabar]

It would also look good in a late War Japanese or Luftwaffe paint scheme.

[Daddyisabar]

For display you can cut off the tip of a nose cone and glue it to a spent motor casing for a prop spinner. That is what I did on my Shinden to make it look less like a rocket and more like an airplane. Pusher planes make great model rockets!

[PaulK]

Awesome design Eric, glad to see you back at it. Let us know how it flies!

[EchoVictor]

Thanks to an old stash of special paper from Sirius Rocketry, we have.....custom decals!

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140318_212049_zpsbf135d3e.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140318_212114_zps0514bf13.jpg

I decided that since this is a somewhat WWII-inspired aesthetic, I'd add a little nose art...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Rocket%20Stuff/20140318_212130_zps41bc1ecc.jpg

Thoughts?

Later,
EV

[Daddyisabar]

Very cool. Kind of a P-38 front end, the body of a late model P-47, Corsair wings, JU 87 37mm anti tank cannons, P-51 canopy with a Shinden pusher prop. What are you going to fly it on? A C6-3 or an AT composite D? Nose weight, or is there enough junk in the trunk to bring the CP down? Use the biggest chute you can if there is any hard landing surfaces around because those pusher prop fins love to pop off. The ones on my Shinden always seem to find a way to break no matter what angle it lands at. Are you going to independently launch or try to get it by a club RSO?