1:72 Rotachute build

[Stew2000]

I'm not really too sure what to think about this.. but it sure is a mini challenge

[dr_gn]

Interesting - there's a German version at Duxford ("Wagtail") - always fascinated by how fragile and simple it looks.

[Stew2000]

I saw the one at Middle Wallop Flying Museum a few weeks ago. It's a fascinating thing.

[Eric Mc]

Was it ever tested?

[Stew2000]

Quite a few were made and tested.. Just didn't really take off. Pun intended
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafner_Rotachute

[dr_gn]

Stew2000 said:

Quite a few were made and tested.. Just didn't really take off. Pun intended
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafner_Rotachute

108mph? Screw that.

No mention of a US connection there, yet there are US markings on the model?

[Stew2000]

Not sure why, but it did come with British decals too.

[RichB]

Stew2000 said:

I'm not really too sure what to think about this.. but it sure is a mini challenge

Indeed, I saw your post on another thread another thread and thought that must be tiny... You need to get the Scammell or whatever the lorry is.

[Stew2000]

RichB said:

Indeed, I saw your post on another thread another thread and thought that must be tiny... You need to get the Scammell or whatever the lorry is.

With some vehicles and people it would make a good scene.. Just need to id that truck they used.

[Stew2000]

A shot of progress...

[dr_gn]

I've got some of those reverse action tweezers. Yep, that's small.

[Eric Mc]

Anyone who volunteered to sit in a real one of those needed their head examined.

[Stew2000]

Can't be that much different to a hang glider.. Just a bit faster on the way down

[RichB]

Any progress with the truck now you know it's a Fordson?

[Eric Mc]

Stew2000 said:

Can't be that much different to a hang glider.. Just a bit faster on the way down

They didn't have hang gliders back then so it would have been very much an unknown quantity for the pilot.

[RichB]

Eric, I'm surprised at you, they've obviously had gliders and of course hang gliders since long before the advent of powered flight!

[lufbramatt]

Truck in the Wiki pic I think is a Fordson WOT 1 as mentioned above, Matador Models do a resin one that could be adapted.

[Eric Mc]

RichB said:

Eric, I'm surprised at you, they've obviously had gliders and of course hang gliders since long before the advent of powered flight!

I was thinking of the more modern styles of hang gliders that appeared in the late 60s/early 70s - which had evolved out of proposed recovery systems for space capsules and not having any real link to the pioneers of the late 19th century.

[Stew2000]

I'll be ordering the truck next week, after I've been paid

[Stew2000]

I had this arrive earlier..
Just need to make an order with Matador models now and I'll have enough to build for many months.