What-if: Focke-Wulf Ta183 Huckebein

[draken35]

I'm starting a new build, that will be a funny one:


Why funny? Because that kit is far from excellence. I will have lot of work to obtain something valuable out of that basic stuff - But it's a nice challenge!

First step: sanding!

The parts of the kit are ruguous. Sanding is not a luxe; it's really necessity. As you can see on the photo, the first wing (above) is the original one; the second wing is the result obtained after sanding, first with 600 then with 1000 sanding paper...

[No.1]

Maybe this drawings could be of some help. Did anybody know what's happen with prototype of this fighter? Long time ago I hear that Soviet capture it, completed and tested but not sure is this really happen.

[Second Air Force]

I seem to remember that also, No.1. My recollection is that this little airplane was the "father" or basis of the design that eventually led to the MiG-15. I can't recall if the Soviets actually flew the Ta-183 or simply studied it in depth.

Draken, I've worked on some kits like this and they are fun? We'll enjoy your resurrection of this plastic!

[No.1]

Story of captivity is strange, as I know plat is over run by British troops? Anyway it have great influence in post war jet fighters design.

[draken35]

AFAIK, the Huckebein falled into Soviet hands and is really the "direct ancestor" of MiG-15.

F-86 Sabre was the son of Messesrschmit P1101...

Anyway, I'm really thinking about that build as a fun one because I wish to see what I can really do with a more than basic kit...

[Nico Braas]

This plane was more or less realized after the war by Kurt Tank in Argentina as the Pulqui II.
The Pulqui II was much closer in resemblence of the original Ta-183 design than other types like the MiG-15.
Post war publications even mentioned a 'MiG-19' that looked very strongly like the Ta 1-83 but this was in fact 'designed' by Russian Aviation Experts in the West!

[No.1]

La-15 look more like Ta 183, then MiG-15, just my opinion.

[draken35]

Air intake is ameliorated, with the help of an empty ink cartridge and an old jerk




Hole is made in the half fuselage, to introduce that element


Hope there will be no problem with the cockpit floor... To be verified in the next few days!

[No.1]

Good idea for intake

[draken35]

Thank you!

[Akinator98]

Really interesting new project!

[draken35]

Thank you Akinator!

Well, sanding of all the parts is still in progress, after no less than 4 sessions and the use of Mr Surfacer 500 to correct some defaults... In the meantime I considered my air intake and was not totally satisfied because there were some problems of fitting with the cockpit floor - And detailing was not good enough for my mad brain!

So: I recuperated a second empty ink cartridge and dismounted the jerk


I made a hole in the rear of the cartridge


...And positioned what remains of the jerk into the hole


What happens:


But I have not glued my new part yet; before that I will paint it and before painting: DETAILING 


As I have said, kit is far from excellence. I give me the challenge to obtain a very good result when finished

[draken35]

Some progress on that kit...

To the left, the original part of the kit and to the right: the scratchbuilded one


Another modification, with PE parts from my spare box (PE for Horten Go 229)


The original seat end the one made with PE


Some evergreen


Resin carrots are sometimes useful: I will make lateral consoles with that


The result, with on the drawing the original parts




And finally, miliput to mask wings holes, that are visible from the cockpit

[No.1]

You really did great update on subject!!!

[draken35]

Thank you!