Continuing to plink away on this one. The first set of illustrations show the whole setup; the second set shows a further refinement with the ramjet innards in place.
Feb 022012
Jan 312012
Most of the 3D solid models I’ve made, I’ve made for clients or employers. Every now and then, though, I’ve made a few on spec or just for giggles. One such is the Convair Super Hustler. It’s nowhere near done, but it at least looks like a Super Hustler. When done, I hope to translate it into physical form, either as a kit or as a finished display model.
The booster stage will of course be modeled as well. The B-58 Hustler carrier aircraft is available in 1/144, 1/72 and 1/48 scales… but damn, the Super Hustler would be impressive at 1/18 scale!
Jan 302012
Another display model, this time showing a three-engined design with a 727-style tail engine and Upper Surface Blown engines above the wings. This would have been quieter on the ground and would have required a shorter runway. But as the 727 discovered, re-engining to a higher bypass engine would have been troublesome in the tail.
Jan 182012
Now in production, and in a Man’s Scale… 1/72, not the original 1/96 scale.
XSL-01 Moon Rocket
Jan 152012
In the early-mid 1970’s, Boeing was looking towards a new generation of wide-body jetliner to replace their older planes such as the 707 and 727. Initially designated “7X7,” it eventually became the 767. Along the way, a wide range of unusual layouts were studied, a number of which were built… at least as display models.
This concept called for four turbofan engines mounted above the wing. This would add two features:
1) It would be quieter, since some of the noise from the exhaust would be shielded from the ground by the wings (though potentially louder in the cabin)
2) The Upper Surface Blowing configuration creates additional lift at low speed due to the Coanda Effect.
On the other hand, having the exhaust scraping directly along the wing surface would create additional stresses as well as reducing thrust at high speed. Additionally, a configuration like this would be difficult to re-engine later with higher bypass engines.
Jan 132012
VSP is a CAD program used by NASA for rapid preliminary design. Until recently it was available to the public on a limited basis… had to sign licensing forms, no further redistribution… and no release to non-US nationals.
OpenVSP is a parametric aircraft geometry tool. OpenVSP allows the user to create a 3D model of an aircraft defined by common engineering parameters.
It’s now been released for general consumption. I’ve not used it, but it’s reportedly very easy to learn and use, and is designed for preliminary conceptual aircraft design. I’m told that it does well at creating watertight meshes, and outputs in a Rhino format.
OpenVSP
An AIAA paper describing VSP is here: Aircraft Conceptual Design Using Vehicle Sketch Pad
Sadly, I don’t see a big fat collection of actual NASA-produced conceptual aircraft designs for downloading, but I suppose some of them will make it out at some point.
www.openvsp.org
Jan 112012
Sadly, it’s not *my* review (anybody care to donate a kit?), but someone has obtained a Dragon 1/72 Saturn V kit and reviewed it HERE. A number of photos are posted HERE.
It appears both impressive… and a bit plain, with some shortcuts taken in a few areas. There’s probably a market for decals and add-on kits. The F-1 engines could certainly use updating… the engines were covered with insulation in real life, and looked very different (see HERE).
Jan 012012
Back in October I pointed out that Revell had re-released the old Renwall 1/32 scale Atomic Cannon kit.
It’s already discontinued.
So, if you didn’t get one… you’re not getting one. Except offa ebay for a *slight* increase in cost…
Dec 292011
A photo of another Vought ADAM concept model, this being a subsonic VTOL airliner. It is here shown in USAF markings.
Dec 242011
A Vought photo showing a range of display models of single seat fighter/ground attack types. While the designs are roughly similar, subtle changes can be seen from iteration to iteration. Note, for example, how the distinct separate inlets gradually transform into integrated inlets.
