Fairey Rotodyne

[Ratch]

It might be retractable, like the Gannet's 😉

I suppose the C of G would have something to do with positioning too 🧐

[Ratch]

I scratched some small blade antennas and probe copying the best pictures I could find. 

I’m not altogether sure whether they are accurate, but I think they just add a little bit to the build, and I can call it done.

[Ratch]

The Rotodyne featured a tip-jet-powered rotor that burned a mixture of fuel and compressed air bled from two wing-mounted Napier Eland turboprops. The rotor was driven for vertical takeoffs, landings and hovering, as well as low-speed translational flight, but autorotated during cruise flight with all engine power applied to two propellers. One prototype was built. Although the Rotodyne was a promising concept and successful in trials, intended for commercial and military uses, the programme was eventually cancelled. The termination has been attributed to the type failing to attract any commercial orders; this was in part due to concerns over the high levels of rotor tip jet noise generated in flight. Politics had also played a role in the lack of orders. The project was government funded, which ultimately doomed the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:

I have tackled this build a little differently from my usual method of working and have generally enjoyed the experience. The kit itself is typical of many 50s and 60s kits being abundant with working features. Modellers who remember these realise that they were crude and not accurate for scale models. But these were different times when kits were toys that boys made themselves. We would throw them together as fast as possible, then fly them around the room with appropriate noises. We took our enjoyment from building and playing with them. They were not made to sit on a shelf in most cases, or indeed, in cases.

I have tried to have the features ‘working’, but in all honesty, they would be better fixed in position. This is a model of its time. That is not to sneer at it, but if the modeller accepts that, great pleasure can be taken from building an old favourite, and maybe making a better fist of it than we did all those years ago.

[modeling maniac]

Love the bren carrier trying to fit in the back

[peebeep]

1 hour ago, Ratch said:

Although the Rotodyne was a promising concept and successful in trials, intended for commercial and military uses, the programme was eventually cancelled. The termination has been attributed to the type failing to attract any commercial orders; this was in part due to concerns over the high levels of rotor tip jet noise generated in flight. Politics had also played a role in the lack of orders. The project was government funded, which ultimately doomed the project.

I've read in a couple of places that the tip jet noise was a red herring thrown in by interested parties who wanted to kill the project and that the Rotodyne was no noisier than you would expect from a helicopter of similar size. It was at the time when the aerospace industry in the UK was being 'rationalised' and different companies were being given different portfolios and Westland had been given a nudge and a wink that they would have an exclusive on rotary winged aircraft if they gave up their fixed wing ambitions. 

[Ratch]

It's a pity Westland didn't take the concept up then Paul 😪

[peebeep]

Westland acquired Fairey in 1960 and allowed development to continue until government funding dried up. By that time Westland was already heavily involved in other helicopter projects, mostly licence building Sikorsky designs.

[J-346856]

It look great! The sag on the rotors is really effective. 

[Matthias Muth]

Very nice build, it's a pleasure to see it.

Matthias

aka modelldoc

[Marto]

Would be forward of the nose or protruding form the tail like many aircraft eg AEW Nimrod. Due to the main rotor interacting with magnetic waves, they would never locate it above the fuselage. Check out the Sikorsky HR2S-1W for inspiration:

 

 

Edited May 22 by Marto

[Dominic Thomas]

Sorry for the hijack of the post Ratch, but this AEW route is interesting. 
Given the ‘what if’ needs to be a product of the time, the swivel arm would not have been an option. 
Front & rear radomes could well be an option (as per the Nimrod 4). 
I still think British industry would make a dorsal radome work, especially as there was limited ventral clearance. That said, the modelling of a dorsal radome would be easier. It’s ’what if’ after all ….

[Ratch]

No worries Dom, the build is complete 😎

[Dominic Thomas]

The build may be completed but the interest generated is on going. 

[S2000]

Regarding the noise, on a few occasions the machine flew low over my school having taken off from the nearby Fairey factory (Haynes, Middlesex), the noise was no “red herring”. Its screech was sufficient to cause the teachers to stop talking. But then most other aircraft were piston engined props, so I suppose compared to them it was noisy.

[peebeep]

2 hours ago, S2000 said:

the noise was no “red herring”

From a BBC article:

Quote

The noise issue came to the fore again, and has been cited as the reason for the cancellation of the project. Although there was no denying the Rotodyne was noisy, its critics largely ignored the facts. Development had continued throughout, and Fairey had reduced the decibel level to 96 db at a distance of 600ft. At the time of cancellation, further modifications were in hand that would have reduced it further into the 80s db. Coupled with this, techniques were developed, involving vertical take-off and steep approaches during landings, which reduced the noise footprint while the rotor was under power. In fact, once in forward flight, the Rotodyne was quieter than contemporary jet aircraft or helicopters.

As a comparison the daytime limit for Heathrow is 94 db, but technologies have changed an awful lot since 1960.

[john redman]

This looks like it could have been a pretty useful troop transport although perhaps the lack of range could have been an issue?

[Nerazzurri]

On 21/05/2024 at 10:24, Sailorman said:

So many kits to build and not enough time!

This!

@Ratch nice job bending the blades, I wouldn't have thought to do this 👍