J7M1 Shinden Scratch Build Rocket Plane

[Daddyisabar]

Since Davey Jones passed I thought I would grab the last train to Scratchville and attempt my first Scratch Build, a J7W1 Shinden, the revolutionary Japanese fighter that only made a few test flights before the war ended. With so much junk in the trunk I am ditching the cartoonish look of my prior kitbashes and going for a more scale appearance with the Shinden. With a left over 2.6" tube and a TLP nosecone, 24 mm mount, squishy balsa, Baby Bertha nose cone, label paper, tongue depressor and poster board it was time to start cuttin' and gluin'. The wing is a single piece of papered balsa, the canard is a tongue depressor and both are epoxied on. The canopy was made thicker and I will shape it to give a more 3D look. I'm thinking the prop blade fins will need some popsicle stick reinforcement if it actually has a rocket like flight. Most likely too heavy for a D12 3 so will go with an F12, depends on nose weight which is still to come. Having a hard time mind simming where the CP will be and if all the asymmetrical fins and canards will keep it going straight up.

[Daddyisabar]

Shinden hanging out with bad company, Axis and agents of the Galactic Empire.

[Daddyisabar]

Shinden hanging out with good company, Allies, Care Bears and Ice Cream!

[jungmann1]

Awesome project! Have always loved the Shinden, have wanted an R/C version for years. Never thought of making a rocket plane. Might have to reconsider that, depending on how yours flies! Will definitely be keeping an eye on this. Good luck! John.

[Bravo52]

Having a hard time mind simming where the CP will be and if all the asymmetrical fins and canards will keep it going straight up.

Stick a motor in it and launch it. No need to sim... Chuck Yeager didn't need a Sim...as a mater of fact, Chuck Norris didn't have one either.

[Daddyisabar]

After this one goes to beauty school it will be time for the first flight, that is where the fear factor comes in. Should I :
A. Just walk up to the RSO with confidence,
B. Find a certified testing range with reinforced concrete bunkers,
C. Hide it in the basement as a Shelf Queen never to fly or to do any harm,
D. Rouge launch it with degenerate friends and lots of beer,
E. Not fly until I buy/learn ROCSIM and sim it to 100% chance of successful flight, or
F. Just build safe and sane 3FNC from now on.

[JPVegh]

Aewsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I build an "iffy" rocket that is a pain to calculate/sim I usually try to launch it away from other people for the first flight. But you could always launch from one of the far pads if the RSO is game to let you have a go. I'm not sure if I'd go with a long burning F12 motor in a rocket I have my doubts about, in fact I am sure that I would not use that motor. Maybe a D15 or an E28 but not a long burn until I was sure it will be stable.

Build some safe and sane 3fnc from now on? HA! As if you could.

[Daddyisabar]

An F12 might lead to a long walk if it goes airplane or worse yet a long land snake on dry grass. But I am also afraid of putting too much kick on the first launch given my funky shroud arrangement where I left a little gap on the back end. The D15’s are out of stock at Hobby Linc but maybe an E-18-4? I'm fairly sure it will have enough nose weight as I will put the CG approximately where the pilot seat is, making it a tad on the heavy side. But one thing is for sure, it will look marvelous and that is what really matters.

And I did build a 3FNC once - it is at the top of the good company photo, love the Storm Caster, the only rocket I can feel confident launching at any time!

[luke strawwalker]

That's cool... the Russians had a neat pusher fighter they were working on as well, with tail booms like a P-38 Lightning, with rocket assist... that'd make a cool project too... along with some of the Luft 46 stuff...

Looking forward to seeing her painted and see how she flies...

Later and KUTGW!! OL JR

[JPVegh]

An F12 might lead to a long walk if it goes airplane or worse yet a long land snake on dry grass. But I am also afraid of putting too much kick on the first launch given my funky shroud arrangement where I left a little gap on the back end. The D15’s are out of stock at Hobby Linc but maybe an E-18-4? I'm fairly sure it will have enough nose weight as I will put the CG approximately where the pilot seat is, making it a tad on the heavy side. But one thing is for sure, it will look marvelous and that is what really matters.

And I did build a 3FNC once - it is at the top of the good company photo, love the Storm Caster, the only rocket I can feel confident launching at any time!

Yeah gotta love that Stormcaster, it's a great rocket. I'd rather an E18 than the F12 for a first launch. The D12-3 has a max lift off weight of 14oz. is it heavier than that?

I think your rocket looks just like a Shinden. I like all of your warbirds but this one is more like a semi-scale than an interpretation. Nice job man!

[Daddyisabar]

I'm beginning to think this might even fly closer to scale.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]93991]

Or one of these? Someone done one before?

[NJRick]

very cool Daddy! you have made a great selection of the WW2 fighters....all of them are cool. what is your favorite fighter from the war? I like the Grumman Hellcat....something about a 19:1 kill ratio I guess

I'm beginning to think this might even fly closer to scale.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]93991]

Or one of these? Someone done one before?

[Chevis]

I vote for D. Although it is nine O'clock on Friday evening here.

I'd go for a short burn motor too. Awesome idea on the build.

Chevis

[hornet driver]

I'm watching with great intrest! JNUK has a build going on at the scale site. The profiles are very similar. I have a similar project as a BG getting ready to come of the boards. Looking forward to seeing your boost phase info.BTW--the other stuff you do is way out of the norm and way-way cool. Here is what I'm thinking of -------good luck!---H

[sodmeister]

The Kyusho J7W Shinden is a great looking bird ,no doubt.I built the Tamiya 1/48 plastic model (don`t have a pic) and it`s a great looking plane.The USA had several similar aircraft in thier hangers at that time.....it was a grand time for aircraft design.

Paul t

[Daddyisabar]

:

I vote for D. Although it is nine O'clock on Friday evening here.

I'd go for a short burn motor too. Awesome idea on the build.

Chevis

[Daddyisabar]

I'm watching with great intrest! JNUK has a build going on at the scale site. The profiles are very similar. I have a similar project as a BG getting ready to come of the boards. Looking forward to seeing your boost phase info.BTW--the other stuff you do is way out of the norm and way-way cool. Here is what I'm thinking of -------good luck!---H

Thanks - looking forward to all these cool rockets!

[Daddyisabar]

very cool Daddy! you have made a great selection of the WW2 fighters....all of them are cool. what is your favorite fighter from the war? I like the Grumman Hellcat....something about a 19:1 kill ratio I guess

That is a tough question. I always though the P-38 was the most beautiful - the only fighter in production from the first day of the war until the last. Best paint job - P-40 flying tiger. Most versatile - the Butcher Bird Fw 190. Best carrier fighter F6F Hellcat. Best all around – the P-51, Most interesting piece of ca-ca – the ME 163.

[Daddyisabar]

9.25 OZ. on the food scale loaded with nose weight taking the CG to the pilot's seat. With all that drag do I dare first flight on a D12-3?

[JNUK]

Daddyisabar, it is incredibly cool build. Thank you for sharing details.

Hornet driver was very kind to mention the model I have been developing. The profile is indeed very similar to yours. Details are here

[NJRick]

that looks FANTASTIC!!

9.25 OZ. on the food scale loaded with nose weight taking the CG to the pilot's seat. With all that drag do I dare first flight on a D12-3?

[NJRick]

You know you are right...I had never considered that...but the P-38 was the only american fighter in production from the beginning of the war until the end...Kelly Johnson designed a beauty with her too...it is gorgeous. I like the P-40 shark mouth...I agree...its iconic...a P-40 doesn't look like a P-40 without the mouth...some of the P-47 schemes were cool too...the ones that were on Gabreski's plane at the end of the war....kinda a grey green camo with the invasion stripes...and the mid to late war tri-color blue schemes on the US navy planers were cool too...just endless paint schemes to choose from.....truthfully...all of those birds from all sides were just classics...I love them all...and I like the nick names too....the Avenger was called the Turkey, the Helldiver was called the Beast, the B-26 the Widow-maker etc...LOL.... and the Me-163 was an interesting plane.....don't think I would want to be the pilot..it either flew or it exploded....you have done a great job with these!! just awesome work....maybe you could make my all time fav...the B-17?

That is a tough question. I always though the P-38 was the most beautiful - the only fighter in production from the first day of the war until the last. Best paint job - P-40 flying tiger. Most versatile - the Butcher Bird Fw 190. Best carrier fighter F6F Hellcat. Best all around – the P-51, Most interesting piece of ca-ca – the ME 163.

[gdjsky01]

Well played!!!! That is one bitchin' bird... Draggy I would imagine. A D15-4 (maybe a D12-3). Or an E28-4.



Jeff

[gdjsky01]

Guessin with ROCKSIM at 2.6er with 9oz dry and a CD 1.25 gets you 250' on D12-3 with an optimal delay of 2.75, so a pretty low velocity deployment.

E28-4 about 600 ft with pretty low velocity deployment
If the CD is way off, obviously these could be more severe.

Put in a strong harness and let 'er rip.

[hornet driver]

WOW! I did'nt pay attention in class---That's big and beefy---very cool!!!---H

[JNUK]

Canard Center of Gravity Calculator and Canard Center of Gravity Calculator 2 - it may be of some help

[Daddyisabar]

WOW! I did'nt pay attention in class---That's big and beefy---very cool!!!---H

If yer flyin' in Colorado er Texas ya better have some beef in that there rocket.

[Daddyisabar]

Canard Center of Gravity Calculator and Canard Center of Gravity Calculator 2 - it may be of some help

Thanks! You are going to make a rocket scientist out of me yet. My mind sims just keep calling for more fin action - not like the kind you find in the seedy parts of Helsinki - hopefully the shrouds will act as ring fins and the prop fins, tiny canards, thick canopy fin and enlarged vertical tail surfaces will be enough to overcome that big main wing taking control once the angle of attack starts to change as the thrust curve tapers off. This one is built the old fashioned way, the 400 BC way; if you think and talk about it long enough you will find the answer because that perfect form of the rocket flying Shinden does exist. Pressing the button now seems the only logical thing to do, but darn you rocket science, I'm just a country boy flier, not a miracle worker.

[Scotty Dog]

Not sure what to say here...
One of the coolest scratchers Ive seen.
I really hope you can find another train to Scratchville,seems to be a good place for you.

[JNUK]

I'm watching with great intrest! JNUK has a build going on at the scale site. The profiles are very similar. I have a similar project as a BG getting ready to come of the boards. Looking forward to seeing your boost phase info.BTW--the other stuff you do is way out of the norm and way-way cool. Here is what I'm thinking of -------good luck!---H

Some further development - Link