Luft 47 Henschell Canard

[pattern14]

This is actually the second version of this plane, as the first one was entirely experimental. The Luft 46 site showed some good 3-d drawings of the Henschell P75 and P87, both projected canards. Both were pushers; the former had a ventral fin and tapered leading edge, while the latter had swept wings and tip fins. Sorry I don't know how to post pictures from websites Not having any experience at all with canards, it was lots of research and trial and error. I eventually settled on the P87 as a basis. The original sweep of the wings and fins seemed OK, but when I recut the angle to 40 degrees, it improved markedly. Likewise with angling the wingtip fins back accordingly. I could not find any actual reference to what the correct sweep was supposed to be, hence the Luft "47" tag, as it seemed logical that the engineers would have tried varying sweep anyway. The first flights with the 40 degree sweep were very promising, and there was a noticeable improvement in stability (plus it looked better). Everything with canards is obviously back to front, and never having even seen one , let alone built or flown, was a bit hit and miss. The initial flight was with elevon only, and the front horizontal stab was adjusted in increments until she flew level at medium speed, and the elevon reflex was reduced accordingly. Strangely enough the wind backed off enough (to about 15 knots) so I could make these changes without having it blown all over the sky. The COG took a little sorting, as I have to move the battery back to leave room for an internal elevator servo, but this is the norm with projects like this. All in all very promising though. Currently making the proper fuse for it now, as the original looks like it was shaped with a chainsaw. Some pics later on today, cheers...

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi Michael
Outstanding
Those are some of my favorite aircraft
Cant wait to see more
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[pattern14]

Hey Hank Thanks for putting up those pics; I would be there all day trying to figure out how to do it. The Pic of the P 87 looks different to the one that I have in my reference book, in lots of little ways. It would be great to stay true to scale but when the plane flies so much better with some "adjustments", it's hard to go back. If I give it a good luftwaffe splinter camoflage job, maybe it won't look so obvious. Cheers

[baz49exe]

Hi Michael, another excellent and very different choice, can't wait to see it fly.
I've looked at this design as well and even downloaded the three views a while ago. I guess this will follow the Me 163 and BV 215 pattern, eventually your great building, development and flying thread will convince me to give it a go as well. Thanks for all the detailed development information which you take the time and trouble to post.

[pattern14]

Hi Barrry, thanks for the encouragement. It already seems that this build has gone off on a total tangent; as you may recall, I started on this one quite some time ago, with the P75 version. While I use a ventral fin on nearly all of my pushers ( for hand and prop protection primarily), the size required for stability made it rather impractical. The wingtip vertical stabs of the P87 were much more practical, and the added small ventral fin simply made it better. Likewise, the distance between flying surfaces were reduced, and the front horizontal stab was too big when in scale as well. I reduced the size of the elevator to stop it pogo-ing around the sky. Full length ailerons instead of the usual configuration means it snap rolls brilliantly instead of the lazy flip flop of the standard set up. It already out rolls the Lippisch I think I'll have to leave the scale configuration to someone else now. As I explained to Hank, it's hard to go back when your mods make it so much better. The Luft 47 tag seems a little more appropriate. It was not my intention to build something this aerobatic, but now I am obligated to see it through. One very intriguing design, cheers

[pattern14]

Just a couple of first shots. As most of my experimentals are initially made from scrap EPP, they all look pretty rough. When I get through cutting and modding, plus the inevitable crashes (), I really haven't lost anything. Cutting up brand new blocks of expensive EPP is for the finished product, although I tend to crash them a lot too........The local real estate agent gives me the coreflute for free, so all is good. Hope to get more done this week, cheers

[baz49exe]

You're making rapid progress Michael.
I'm looking forward to the first flight reports- the idea of a rough test model is a very good one. I only build one ( no test models) but just like you I fly it in its rough white foam finish before adding any detail at all. Luckily they have all flown eventually and I haven't had to scrap one yet but it will happen. I don't think that every three view transferred to model size will fly well. There is a disaster awaiting ahead for sure.

[CHELLIE]

Hi Michael neet project, Subscribed To Post Pics from a web site, Right click on the picture and click on copy, then on the post you want to see it on, point the curser where you want the pic at, Right click and click on Paste, most pics can be transfered this way. Hope that helps, Chellie

[pattern14]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

Hi Michael neet project, Subscribed To Post Pics from a web site, Right click on the picture and click on copy, then on the post you want to see it on, point the curser where you want the pic at, Right click and click on Paste, most pics can be transfered this way. Hope that helps, Chellie

Thanks for that Chellie. Sometimes the instructions for computer usage are written in fluent Swaheli. I actually failed Introductory Computers at Uni years ago, and they made me start off with an Abacus

[pattern14]

Originally Posted by baz49exe

You're making rapid progress Michael.
I'm looking forward to the first flight reports- the idea of a rough test model is a very good one. I only build one ( no test models) but just like you I fly it in its rough white foam finish before adding any detail at all. Luckily they have all flown eventually and I haven't had to scrap one yet but it will happen. I don't think that every three view transferred to model size will fly well. There is a disaster awaiting ahead for sure.

Hey Barry; at least I know this one flies, so it will be a case of dragging it out of a tree instead of digging it out of the ground, or fishing it out of the Dam

[pattern14]

Having to work 3 late shifts in a row means more progress than anticipated. I get home about 11 pm, and still wide awake from the hectic shift, so it takes a couple of hours to wind down sometimes. The weather is atrocious right now, with gale force winds, trees coming down, torrential rain, and debris all over the narrow roads where I live. Looking out of my work shop window at 2 o'clock in the morning makes me glad to be inside. So on with the project...The foam on this one is remarkably easy to shape and sand, so I'll have to buy more of the same stock. Some EPP just rips and tears chunks out, but this latest block is just perfect Shaped the nose and engine mount, rounded off all the edges, and cut out a coreflute hatch for the nose. More of a cover really, as it won't need to be opened unless there is a need to change something ( or I break something) Mounted the front servo ahead of the stabiliser, cut out the rx tray, and test fitted the wiring. When I get home tonight, I'll mount the 1500kv outrunner, the 25 amp ESC, and then work out the best place for the battery. Going ahead much faster than first thought......maybe even a maiden by the weekend, if the snow holds off long enough

[baz49exe]

Great progress Michael but rather you than me. I have never worked night shifts and my metabolism shuts down totally at 12am. If I'm around after that I feel ill never mind actually trying to build something LOL.
Funnily your winter weather sounds just like the summer weather which we are at present getting. Unbelievable!
Glad you found some good quality foam.
I discovered another way of shaping foam today. Our local tool shop sells wax shaping tools in sets with various shaped ends. I needed to slot the foam to take the reinforcing bar for the wing bolt and used one of these tools heated in a gas flame to cut the groove:- perfect result. I need to check out the other shaped tools now to see what they will do.

[pattern14]

Hi Barry, sounds like your innovative way of doing things is alive and well.. You'll also be pleased to know that I read your thread on making canopies with plastic bottles and a heat gun, and decided to give it a go. I managed to buy a brand new heat gun for a great price at "Agfest" Tasmania's largest annual event ( never seen so many tractors). The place that I bought my solar panel for my charging system for 1/2 price was almost next door to the Makita power tool outlet. Works really well; I reckon you could blow dry one of those long haired highland cattle with it After about six attempts with different bottles, blistering my thumb and trying to set fire to everything, I got the idea and pulled off some plausable canopies. I used my last remaining Komet canopy as a mold, poured in automotive body filler and inserted a metal tentpeg as a handle. The shape came out perfect (I was amazed), complete with framing lines and all. With a little cutting and trimming, the canopy for this one turned quite well. So thanks heaps for the advice. I'll get some photo's tomorrow, as I have a day off, cheers...

[baz49exe]

Micheal that is fantastic news, so you now have a never ending supply of Komet canopies.
I did the same thing with my first GWS models canopies by pouring moulding plaster into them and producing a plug before fitting them to the models.
I've got a box full of cowl, radiator, canopy and rocker blister moulds now which can reproduce any damaged part in minutes. Many can be modified for other builds as well like the Airacobra canopy mould made a good BV 215 canopy when the plastic was trimmed to shape.
At the moment I've found a glass marble which is the perfect profile for the observation dome on the Wellington. Next step is to work out how to shrink plastic around it. I might have to knock up a vacuum jig for this one.LOL

[pattern14]

The weather settled down long enough to try a few flights this morning, with a gentle 10-15 knot northerly. It took a couple of goes to get the COG where it should be, as I still have the battery mounted externally until I find the right spot. I really want to avoid using ballast to keep the AUW down. She actually flew quite well, with an effortless handlaunch. Using a basic outrunner and spare parts ESC provided plenty of power, so I might just keep them on while it works, and replace them when they die. Not overly happy with the front elevator setup, so I'll see what else I can come up with. She has a great glide, much better than I expected, and lands very gracefully I don't expect designs like this to be superior to other proven airframes like the Komet, but it still flies very well, and cuts a unique profile in the sky. Now on to the finishing touches.........

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by pattern14

The weather settled down long enough to try a few flights this morning, with a gentle 10-15 knot northerly. It took a couple of goes to get the COG where it should be, as I still have the battery mounted externally until I find the right spot. I really want to avoid using ballast to keep the AUW down. She actually flew quite well, with an effortless handlaunch. Using a basic outrunner and spare parts ESC provided plenty of power, so I might just keep them on while it works, and replace them when they die. Not overly happy with the front elevator setup, so I'll see what else I can come up with. She has a great glide, much better than I expected, and lands very gracefully I don't expect designs like this to be superior to other proven airframes like the Komet, but it still flies very well, and cuts a unique profile in the sky. Now on to the finishing touches.........

Glad your plane flew well for you, i dont think you need the front elevators, here is my 2 cents worth, remove the control surface from the front elevator, and just use elevons, leave the front winglet in place so its static, take care and have fun, Chellie

[pattern14]

Hi Chellie I actually tried that with the prototype, and it flew well, but would not loop or fly well inverted. The static front elevator was set up to get the stability factor first, as the FE needs to be angled positively in relation to the wing to prevent nose droop ( there must be a more aerodynamic term for that) It flies much better with the active FE. She has full length ailerons as well, as these were originally elevons, but increasing the throw to make them more responsive vertically made the plane very twitchy laterallyThis whole canard thing will be a work in progress, as it is a new concept to me, and I'll quietly make changes over time. The biggest problem I face is trying not to land in the fresh cow crap that liberally adorns the paddock next door. It gets in between the layers of tape and won't come out......guess it will cure my nail biting when flying the Me 262

[baz49exe]

Great work Michael! I can't wait to see how this canard setup works out as I've had my eye on the type ever since I saw one flying at our field. It just makes a really different shape in the air.
It must have something going for it if the Eurofighter Typhoon is anything to go by.

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by pattern14

Hi Chellie I actually tried that with the prototype, and it flew well, but would not loop or fly well inverted. The static front elevator was set up to get the stability factor first, as the FE needs to be angled positively in relation to the wing to prevent nose droop ( there must be a more aerodynamic term for that) It flies much better with the active FE. She has full length ailerons as well, as these were originally elevons, but increasing the throw to make them more responsive vertically made the plane very twitchy laterallyThis whole canard thing will be a work in progress, as it is a new concept to me, and I'll quietly make changes over time. The biggest problem I face is trying not to land in the fresh cow crap that liberally adorns the paddock next door. It gets in between the layers of tape and won't come out......guess it will cure my nail biting when flying the Me 262

Now thats funny Here is an idea, maybe you can make the front elevator full functioning, meaning that the entire elevator will move like a jet elevator, and use a push pull linkage, Just my 2 cents worth, Take care and have fun, Chellie



push pull on my f16 thrust vectoring foamy f16

[pattern14]

Thanks for the suggestion Chellie; I'll give that one a go as one of my mods I rearranged the servo linkage and mounting and then widened the elevator surface, and tried again. She flew out of my hand and proved very responsive without being twitchy. This bird flies inverted as well as any plane I can think of, and i suspect that it is a lot of little things working together, as opposed to one overriding factor. Great glide and soaring ability with the power off too. The only down side is that has the same sensitivity to wind as my conventional tail planes, and gets blown around in anything over 15-20 knots. The ulta light weight may be a factor, but I suspect it is an inherent design issue. You can't have everything Still, it makes a great fairweather plane, and can fly slow and fast equally with ease. The unusual layout has its own appeal anyway. I'll have to get on to giving it a finishing covering soon, before the bovine brown becomes permanent. I had to wear rubber gloves to pick it up on the last flight, and it is starting to attract flies

[pattern14]

Finally got around to covering this one, and making the canopy fit properly. The vertical stabs took a few go's to get right, but seem OK now. The colour scheme was one I saw on a luft 46 site some time back, but I was not able to locate it again, so had to rely on memory. The black and white splinter effect was used on U-boats and some surface vessels too. So thats about it for now; this one flies remarkably well for such a quirky design. It's way too vulnerable for a combat plane, and is not very happy in winds over 20 knots, but as a fair weather flier with a difference it is great. The weather has been pretty wild lately, with record snow and 70 knot winds wreaking havoc, so test flights have been pretty hairy Looking forward to putting it through its paces when winter calms down a bit.........