Author Topic: The Helldiver is ready for Battle... (Read 3445 times)

wwwarbird · « **on:** May 21, 2010, 08:36:17 PM »

Well folks, the Helldiver is done.

When I started this project, my idea was to intentionally build the airplane so that would end up looking like it was designed in the 50's or 60's. So much so that I nearly did it with an upright engine to look the part even more. Only at the end of the drawing stage did I decide to flip the engine over. It actually worked out pretty cool that way though because now the "scale" chin scoop will actually be functional.
I wasn't looking for a modern type model in this one, just a fun fly semi-scaler that would stunt. Overall I'm pretty happy with it except for some reason during the latter finishing stages everything really pulled down so the wood grain is more noticable than I would have liked. A little odd because the entire model is covered with medium silkspan. Oh well, we'll try and get it better next time.
RTF weight as shown is exactly 40 ounces, that part I'm really happy with.

Anyway, here's a bunch of pics to see what you think...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:38:34 PM »

3/4 top rear view...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:40:44 PM »

The other side...

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:42:51 PM »

Wow Wayne!!!

I want to live in Wayne's World!!!

Waynes World, Party on!

wwwarbird · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:43:45 PM »

Cowl detail. Ace machinist Tony Kubes made the custom shorty muffler for me...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:46:09 PM »

A look at the tail...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:49:28 PM »

Top view. I wish now that the "Fancy Pants" wing that I started with had been one bay longer on each end because it would have looked more scale overall...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:53:11 PM »

The belly...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:55:04 PM »

Another angle...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:57:04 PM »

Underside of the cowl...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2010, 09:02:03 PM »

Another angle from the top. The nose art that I added nicknaming it "THE BEAST" comes from what the WWII pilots called the Helldiver who considered it big, fat, and slow...

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2010, 10:46:17 PM »

WOW! What a neat model. Nice finish and pretty durn scale too. And 40 ozs..........NICE!

wwwarbird · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2010, 10:47:20 PM »

From the handle...

Wayne J. Buran · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2010, 04:57:33 AM »

Very, very nice and it will present in the air nicely. Thanks for the pics.
Wayne

John Stiles · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2010, 05:20:42 AM »

Man what a super great job you did right there! If it was mine, I'd be torn between flying it and saving it as a museum piece!

Dan Labine · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2010, 05:54:06 AM »

WOW!!!!

Joe Gilbert · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2010, 08:21:06 AM »

Very cool it looks great it will be a blast to fly the Beast.

mike hartung · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2010, 09:14:11 AM »

Really GREAT. She looks like she is allready for a mission. Wish I had that kind of skill.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2010, 09:49:52 AM »

That is awesome and I hope she flies as well as she looks. From where I sit I did not see any wood grain. Also if she serves your purpose you have no complaints. You have way more patience than I do. Just don't ding it on that first flight.

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2010, 10:21:25 AM »

A good friend of mine built a profile version back in the mid nineties. He had the same eye you do for those odd planes that no one thought of for stunt machines. His flew pretty good. Impressed the heck out of us anyway! Love your rendition....thanks for sharing!

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2010, 11:34:19 AM »

That REALLY turned out nice. wayt to go wwwarbird!

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2010, 01:25:29 PM »

Wayne,
The Axis powers have been alerted,, they are now gathering forces to complete there secret weapon to combat this blatant preperation you have completed, The stunt circles are not safe from the dive bombing menace. A 109 shortly will be joining forces to rid the stunt circles of this dastardly development,,,,,,

She looks real good Wayne, looking forward to hearing the flight reports,,

Scott Hartford · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2010, 02:58:58 PM »

Very impressive!

Will Hinton · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2010, 03:24:03 PM »

One of the nicest semi-scale stunters ever! Wonderful job!
Will

Kim Mortimore · « **Reply #24 on:** May 23, 2010, 09:00:34 AM »

Wayne,

What's the engine?

Thanks,

Bryan Higgins · « **Reply #25 on:** May 23, 2010, 01:44:06 PM »

I've been following your Helldiver Build here and i have to say it has turned out
fantastic. Of course alot of your planes are very nice. But this one being built
from scratch and a warbird that is not built to much really got my interest.

You did a neat fuse build up i hope she fly's well because i would like to do
somthing like this myself.

Bryan

Michael Boucher · « **Reply #26 on:** May 23, 2010, 03:51:42 PM »

Fantastic changing one thing to another job. I really liked how it turned out.

Harleyman · « **Reply #27 on:** May 23, 2010, 07:45:47 PM »

Looks great Wayne. You'd never know it was a Kit at one time; total custom job.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #28 on:** May 23, 2010, 07:49:50 PM »

Thanks for the great comments guys, I truly respect all of them

.

Mark,
It must be noted that "Willey Aircraft Works" has many other designs in the planning stages as we know that the evil Axis powers will never rest. Look for many more new and better weapons to be added to Allied "Air Arsenal" in the future.

Kim,
It's got a brand new OS .35FP in it. A lot more info and pictures of the build can be found in my other posts here on Stunthangar. In the Open Forum look back a few pages for "Scratchbuilt Curtiss Helldiver" and "Painting the Helldiver". In the building techniques section look for "Anatomy of the Helldiver".