Author Topic: Heath Robinson Aerial Contraption (Read 2759 times)

idigbo · « **on:** January 09, 2012, 00:26:30 AM »

A good few years ago I built an Avicraft Panic biplane, very slightly modded but the finish made all the difference. The wings were painted in patchwork quilts, bedsheets, tarpaulins etc, the fuselage glassclothed but stained and grained underneath so it looked like varnished wood, bashed together and assembled using knotted string, bent nails etc etc. The tailplane was painted to look like an old lath and plaster wall, cracked up and showing the laths. The rudder was an outside bog door, the flap a scaffold plank, complete with the metal strap ends etc. Looked great until some to55er switched on and sent it to its end. Well, nearly its end, I repaired it and sold it to the instructor of the guy who switched on. It was then sold on and appeared on a club website down sarf with a description of how many hours it took the guy to do it all, along with his phone number so you could phone him and ask advice on doing similar. Needless to say, I phoned and asked his advice on sheer 'brass neckery'!!

Anyhoo, the time has come again that I need a Heath Robinson gadget in my shed. Enter a somewhat weary Flair Hannibal. The plan is to turn this model into a machine Heath Robinson would be proud of. The idea is that it'll be a 1/4 scale model of what could have been, just for ar5ing about with on wheels and floats, possibly towing a HR glider or two too. Heres a couple of preliminary sketches to give you the idea. All ideas welcome, not neccesarily used of course, but very welcome non the less. Finishes like this can easily be over done, too much, so only a few ideas will be incorporated. The pics are a bit crap, but some things on there already include the patchwork covering, lath and plaster, rivetted iron, broom holding up the rigging or a weather vane, essential for any keen aviator, understairs cupboard panels for the fin, barrel front end, palletwood floats, knotted string, barbed wire rigging etc...blah blah blah....

Ian.

Gaspin · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2012, 08:25:30 AM »

What about a very poorly repaired break to a major component; ie- broken wing panel or fuselage break, stuck back together with sticking plaster, nails or just tied with a piece of cloth.

Mudders · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2012, 08:30:40 AM »

Subscribed, I think it's an ace idea

I still think you should have a dub step sound system

bobt · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2012, 09:16:21 AM »

and a pilot with dreadlocks and a spliff!

stukno · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2012, 09:27:48 AM »

I once saw your Panic at a show somewhere and though it outstanding!

I look forward to seeing how you do the Hannibal (lovely model). What are the undercarriage struts going to be? Bamboo poles? Recycled fishing rods?

I like the upturned brush as a king post.

stu k

Norfolk'n'Good · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2012, 11:50:56 AM »

I think you have about covered all the ideas

I have been thinking for some time about building something cartoon scale myself inspired by Dick Darstedly.

NoNuFink · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2012, 20:30:18 PM »

I think this was a Heath Robinson design - A magazine page I saved years ago

idigbo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2012, 21:10:21 PM »

Twas indeed mate, with his typical style portly gent as driver

Aint seen that aerial gadget before

Saved, Cheers

Ian.

THEBOYBREWER · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2012, 23:12:00 PM »

ive seen one which has a ships cannon instead of the normal spandau which is rather neat perhaps wheel from an old cannon or cart = good old fashioned wooden spokes.

idigbo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2012, 23:15:04 PM »

Quote from: THEBOYBREWER on January 09, 2012, 23:12:00 PM

ive seen one which has a ships cannon instead of the normal spandau which is rather neat perhaps wheel from an old cannon or cart = good old fashioned wooden spokes.

This one is going to have a Canon of a different sort, more tea vicar?

?!!

Ian.

Jamie Duff · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2012, 07:50:40 AM »

Wheels from a pony cart

I wish I'd seen your original Ian - it sounds great. Love the concept sketches for the new one though

Pup Cam · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2012, 22:54:20 PM »

Here's your next one Ian ......

It appeared on the cover of Flight in December '68, a composite of a wide range of Handley Page aircraft and an advert for the Company.

IIRC you've already got the starboard upper wing!

Alan

CEEJAY · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2012, 12:59:09 PM »

Hi All

dunno if this needs a new thread or not, you tell me.

after some twiddling and fiddling on computers and machines i have a couple of samples to show the interested amongst you, i decided i like the idea of a HR inspired aircraft but not having the rescourses (cash) to buy a ready built i decide to make my own design based loosely around the dimensions of the aforementioned Hannibal, so here we have it, the wing section is unknown (CJP1

) its extrapolated from a DH9 file i allready had (thanks Andy) note the neat snap off build tags

, and the formers are to build the fuselage "box" that will house all the bits, engine,tank,RX,servo,s et al, my design other than that is still evolving on my roll of wallpaper, more anon till then, place yer orders here

here you see the firewall 9 mm birch ply with one of the rear and front formers that will eventually be where the le and te sit

and an acrylic wing rib test piece (i get that free balsa/lightply i have to buy) so a complete set / kit will be 24 ribs 3two formers and a fire wall, some wing tip cores perhaps!

first set of ribs will be cut next week, formers done wingtips in design studio, (my heed)

enjoy

Chris

Old Geezer · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2012, 13:34:31 PM »

How about your Driver smoking a Meershaum pipe and wearing a Deerstalker hat?
Following the idea of a cannon as armament, the so-called bowchaser and sternchaser from the days of sail were rather slimmer and more elegant (usually brass which also is prettier), rockets as per Guy Fawkes night mounted as underwing armament, could get a smile too.

half throttle · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2012, 13:55:46 PM »

I love the idea of the "co-pilot" sitting in the back working the rudder.

And there's got to be a pair of bloomers stitched into the fabric somewhere.

Norfolk'n'Good · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2012, 14:12:44 PM »

Co pilot should have the closed loop going into his hands and the arms moving via servo to make em actually work

half throttle · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2012, 15:30:38 PM »

Quote from: Norfolk'n'Good on January 19, 2012, 14:12:44 PM

Co pilot should have the closed loop going into his hands and the arms moving via servo to make em actually work

Ed Zachary

lithoplate · « **Reply #17 on:** January 22, 2012, 10:26:24 AM »

Quote from: CEEJAY on January 19, 2012, 12:59:09 PM

the wing section is unknown (CJP1 ) its extrapolated from a DH9 file i allready had (thanks Andy)

Not a problem mate, copy right fees as previously discussed.

Andy C

Mudders · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2012, 22:55:53 PM »

Is it built yet?

CEEJAY · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2012, 15:08:07 PM »

Here you go peeps

these will be off to redshaw towers soon, the first set of ribs for HR wing been busy with the laser cutter

need more but ran out of wood

top ones all 3mm balsa bottom one on its own 3mm lightply.
Chris

Cornish Pixie · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2012, 18:28:44 PM »

Nice one Chris. Watching all the way as I will be wanting one of these .

Si

Mudders · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2012, 18:01:31 PM »

Sooo, feeling the need to inject some 'fun' in my toy building time I picked up a Flair Hannibal and started playing. I fancied basing mine on the wacky races 'Slag Brothers' carved out of stone car, and so developed the 'Flair Cannibal'

Here is a piccy of captain caveman in the hot seat from a week or so ago...

The plan being to have a laugh and put it on floats, in-expensive is the name of the game so I am using stuff I have lying around.

Muds
PS I've heard all the jokes about the dinosaur bone...

Mudders · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2012, 18:17:47 PM »

Here we are now,

The undercrackers so far with floating bone axle,

A heath robinson knocked up steering tail skid which can be easily changed to a tail float

I made a curved top deck to match the cockpit (just made up as I went along)

The firewall has been modded to cram in a z38

and the cowl has been painted to look like stone

Cornish Pixie · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2012, 19:08:03 PM »

I'm liking it mate

Keep it coming

Si

bobt · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:04:38 PM »

Ha ha! I can see a team......

Mudders · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:09:10 PM »

Yep, Team Crappy Races

Mudders · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:10:11 PM »

Quote from: Cornish Pixie on February 12, 2012, 19:08:03 PM

I'm liking it mate
Keep it coming

Si

You stated one yet Si

C'mom!

Cornish Pixie · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:25:41 PM »

Quote from: Mudders on February 12, 2012, 20:10:11 PM

You stated one yet Si C'mom!

I will , two little projects to get done

and I will be on it . Can,t wait mate. Going to be ace fun

Si

Pup Cam · « **Reply #28 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:32:38 PM »

Quote from: Mudders on February 12, 2012, 20:09:10 PM

Yep, Team Crappy Races

Rule 1 - Must be decorated in the colours of ~~an ace~~ a well known cartoon character
Rule 2 - No stickers, all markings must be painted on
Rule 3 - Leather cockpit edging for all open cockpits
Rule 4 - Must have at least three working, humourous features (eg bolder dropping)
Rule 5 .............

Alan

bobt · « **Reply #29 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:34:35 PM »

Mudders · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:42:25 PM »

Quote from: Pup Cam on February 12, 2012, 20:32:38 PM

Rule 1 - Must be decorated in the colours of ~~an ace~~ a well known cartoon character
Rule 2 - No stickers, all markings must be painted on
Rule 3 - Leather cockpit edging for all open cockpits
Rule 4 - Must have at least three working, humourous features (eg bolder dropping)
Rule 5 .............

Alan

Step aside Tappin, there's a new rule makin bad mo fo in town

Muds

Cornish Pixie · « **Reply #31 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:43:43 PM »

Quote from: Pup Cam on February 12, 2012, 20:32:38 PM

Rule 1 - Must be decorated in the colours of ~~an ace~~ a well known cartoon character
Rule 2 - No stickers, all markings must be painted on
Rule 3 - Leather cockpit edging for all open cockpits
Rule 4 - Must have at least three working, humourous features (eg bolder dropping)
Rule 5 .............

Alan

Love it mate . Its going to be fun

si

CEEJAY · « **Reply #32 on:** February 22, 2012, 16:49:40 PM »

rule 2 should be all markings to be sewn on

chris

Pup Cam · « **Reply #33 on:** February 22, 2012, 23:46:17 PM »

Rule 5 - There is no Rule 5
Rule 6 - ~~No po.....~~ sorry! I was thinking of MP for a minute
Rule 7 - Wheels must be an irregular shape or the axle must be eccentric to the tyre

Mudders · « **Reply #34 on:** February 26, 2012, 21:50:07 PM »

She's all covered, nearly ready to 'go to paint'

idigbo · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2012, 21:54:34 PM »

Simply ridiculous, love the vines!!

Ian.

Cornish Pixie · « **Reply #36 on:** February 26, 2012, 22:05:44 PM »

Thats ace mate .
And where might it be going to paint

Mudders · « **Reply #37 on:** February 26, 2012, 22:06:42 PM »

Quote from: Cornish Pixie on February 26, 2012, 22:05:44 PM

Thats ace mate .
And where might it be going to paint

My 'Paint Shop' located at Cruttington Mc smallynadgers Towers

Cornish Pixie · « **Reply #38 on:** February 26, 2012, 22:08:06 PM »

Quote from: Mudders on February 26, 2012, 22:06:42 PM

My 'Paint Shop' located at Cruttington Mc smallynadgers Towers

Love that

Si

CEEJAY · « **Reply #39 on:** February 29, 2012, 10:42:21 AM »

good morning fellow HR fans

after seeing Matts progress it made me extract my digit on my OD HR project, so here we are

progress so far

after cutting a set of ribs, pic 1, i set about making a simple wing jig,pic 2, pencil in spar lines, rib spacing stick a few bits of stick down and get ready with notes written on board as i go so i dont forget wot i,m doing or lose them.

chris

Author Topic: Heath Robinson Aerial Contraption (Read 2759 times)

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