Boeing 314 Clipper (From Special Request Thread)

[pplace]

I've been tinkering around a bit here and there on the Boeing 314 Clipper.

Info about how this request came to be is here:
"One time special request" (http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19129)
and
"Vote for the special request" (http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19134) where the Boeing 314 Clipper requested by kmot came out the victor of the polls!

I've passed a couple e-mails along to kmot as I progressed with the model, and thought I would now share the progress on the forums. (I didn't want anyone to think I dropped the ball or went back on my deal!!hehe)

The first attachment is of the 3-view plans with the 27 fuse cross sections in place. That was time consuming feat in itself. (I was very disappointed in how the plans didn't exactly fit together.....a lot of fudging was needed)

The 3D modeling is certainly no where near finished, but the overall "look" is there. I will not be using the engine nacelles in these attachments....I just made them quickly to visualize the aircraft better.

I started adding some of the windows in the fuse.......I have many left to install yet. (So yes I do know there are several missing!)

I was curious to see how the model would look in G4 so I did a quick export to 3ds then into G4 so I could take it for a flight!! It's going to be fun!!

The model is set at 1/18th scale (with about a 101" w.s.)

[phrank]

Ooooooh, very nice there mister pplace.

That should make quite a few nice water trails. :)

[Norton]

Looking very nice!!

[Kmot]

Looking really good so far!! :)

[Wide Open]

That looks incredible! Can't wait to fly it. :D

[Blade Scraper]

Pretty cool.

[pilot07]

Suuuweet

[pplace]

Back at it a bit tonight.

Since I last posted I've added the rest of the windows in the fuse. And also finished up on the engine nacelles.

I added the cowl flaps and also modeled the intake scoops on top of the nacelles.

There are several small details I will still be adding to the aircraft, and I still need to cut the control surfaces free. It's slowly getting there though.

[Norton]

That is looking sweet! Great job.

[Recty]

Cant wait to fly it!

[Kmot]

Oh man!!!!!!! :D

[pplace]

I couldn't resist getting the clipper imported into G4 again (now that I have most of it modeled) I did this for a couple reasons:

1. I'm impatient!
2. So I could get a jump on setting up the flight physics
3. Checking to make sure the model looks fine visually in G4
4. It helps determine how I will set up or model any remaining items I have questions about.

For example:
In some pictures of the 314 it has a water rudder, and some it doesn't....so I wanted to test the effectiveness of adding a rudder.

I set one up in the editor the approx. size it would be.....with very little effect while taxing. So now I might not spend the time to model a visual one. Small things like that is what I like to check out.

The model is still a long ways away from being finished. I have yet to model / cut any of the control surfaces out (nor set up the pivots obviously)
I need to model the prop hubs, add the engine plates (to paste a picture of a radial on) and numerous other things.
There is no mapping for the CS (It's also a bit too shiny at the moment) and I think I will make the glass darker so it shows up more on the finished model.

Since I last posted pics I added some misc. items on the fuse (the mooring masts on the nose, and some radar / antennas above the cockpit, I also added the "foot holes" on the forward part of the fuse.

Here are some screen shots.....I took them at Lake Douglas (which I don't care to fly at, but I like taking snapshots at photo fields for a better / more realistic look. After I was finished I noticed I forgot to bump up my AA to make them a bit nicer.

[Kmot]

That looks so awesome!!!!

The water rudder on the real 314 was very small. I wonder if it did much good on the real plane? Maybe, while only taxiing in a calm harbor or something.

[pplace]

Kmot....I'm glad you are liking it so far!

I added the water rudder.....even if it isn't effective, it'll look cool!

Also is a close up of the nose.....it shows the "foot holes" for climbing onto the fuse, the mooring masts, along with the radar / antennas?? (What are the objects above the windshield?.....Air Speed Indicator? Etc, Etc??

[dhk79]

What are the objects above the windshield?.....Air Speed Indicator? Etc, Etc??They're known as pitot tubes (or pitot-static heads). They measure the difference between static & dynamic pressure and in this era of a bird were used mostly to measure airspeed.

[Blade Scraper]

Pplace any chance of this having lights(like a scale modernized version?)

[WingDude]

What's the point of putting lights on it, adding to the poly count, so you can fly at night once in a blue moon and at the same time making it not realistic.

[Blade Scraper]

What's the point of putting lights on it, adding to the poly count, so you can fly at night once in a blue moon and at the same time making it not realistic.
Well as you know all modern aircraft are required to have navigation,strobe,and landing lights wont hurt,and they won't need to be detaild therefor it will be scale at this modern day,we all have extra poly's ya know.

[WingDude]

I don't see clippers flying today, do you?

[pplace]

They're known as pitot tubes (or pitot-static heads). They measure the difference between static & dynamic pressure and in this era of a bird were used mostly to measure airspeed.

Thanks, I was thinking on the right track then.....the fact that there were two of them was making me wonder about being an air speed indicator.

[dhk79]

Two were commonly used mostly because they were prone to clogging (or icing over). Modern planes use different methods now, but often still have a single pitot tube for use as a back-up.

[Kmot]

Doug is correct. Pitot tubes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitot_tube

[pplace]

I've now got all the control surfaces cut on the aircraft.

Kmot did some fantastic research and noticed that on the bottom of the fuse sponsons are a set of "flaps" after a discussion between e-mails we decided they were probably engaged during taxiing the full scale.

So I will set them on a "conditional switch" (an empty toggle) and on the click of the switch they will then work in conjunction with the rudders. For example while taxiing on the water if you want to turn left you will input normal left rudder stick, at the same time the left sponson "flap" will lower into the water. This will cause drag and should force the aircraft to turn better. Once airborne you will flip the toggle switch to make the sponson flaps inoperable. Should work!!!

Also since there isn't the option for many details on this aircraft I decided I wanted the "boost tabs" on the control surfaces to be functional (at least visually) After a bit of thinking and tinkering around in the editor I was able to achieve the look I was after. Attached are two close up shots of the rudder boost tab. There are also boost tabs on the elevators and ailerons.

As a side note there has been no mapping or CS done on the aircraft....thus why it looks rather blah.

[Kmot]

pplace: Sent you an e-mail. :)

[pplace]

Kmot,

Got your e-mail (didn't have a chance to view and study the link though)

I did assume they were trim tabs on the full scale 314, but there is no way (or enough switches or knobs on the interlink) to control them individually (Rudder, Elevator and Aileron. You can't trim the rudder.....without trimming the elevator and ailerons. So I figured at least to make them visually operational I would make them as "boost tabs"

I did not realize that boost tabs work in the opposite direction as the main surface? (Again I didn't look through the link you sent me yet) This seems odd and counter productive to me? But I've been wrong before.....just ask my wife!haha If so that will take a click of the mouse and I can have the "boost tabs" on the model working opposite of the main surface.

I think for the sake of "realistic" people won't mind if they are used as boost tabs instead of trim tabs? If so....they can make them inoperable when they download the finished EA.

[dhk79]

From what I gleam from your response to Kmot, he is correct. Boost and/or trim tabs are counter intuitive, in that they move in the opposite direction you would anticipate from the desired effect. Aerodynamically tabs have little actual effect on the aircraft, what they really do is position the control surface which does have an effect.

[pplace]

Okay I just got home for lunch and read through his link about boost tabs. Interesting...(I don't claim to be an aircraft guy.....only know my stuff about cars!hehe)

I fixed the boost tabs to work opposite of the main control surfaces now. Even if they are "trim tabs" this will just be a nice little visual touch.

dhk79 I also sent you a pm with an editor question.

[pplace]

Well it's been quite a while since I've posted (or really even had a chance to work on the 314 clipper project)

Kmot asked to recreate the "California Clipper" NC 18602

I have had a little bit of time to start laying out the major components of the C.S. This includes the black bottom and orange stripe (at the water line) the Orange on the top of the wings, the American Flags on the nose and some lettering here and there.

I haven't begun to do any panel lines or minor details on the CS yet. I mainly like to get the large visual objects in place first.

I still have to model and import the prop hubs, place the radial engine "photos" in the nacelles and possibly make a couple walls or floors inside the fuse, so you can't just look through one window and out the other.

I haven't decided if I should increase the "shine" or "reflection" of the aluminum or not? That's an easy fix if I decide to or not.

It's getting there.....but no estimate on completion date yet.

[jeffpn]

nice bird, pplace, when do you think it will be done??? :D :D :D

[pplace]

Thanks! Shooting for May of 2010!haha

[Kmot]

Dude!!! :cool:

[josh0987]

Thanks! Shooting for May of 2010!hahaWhat a shame... 2012 is the end of the Mayan calender (end of earth as they say) That means I'll only have 2 years to enjoy such a aircraft!

[pplace]

Available on swaps

[Kmot]

Too awesome for anything less than superlative words! Thank you pplace! :)

[Blade Scraper]

Very nice! I'm almost done with my GS Varient! :D

[Kmot]

Check out this scale model of the Clipper:

http://www.vimeo.com/6787098

[pplace]

Pretty cool find there Kmot, thanks for posting it here.