Evening All,
I have completed this one at last- my first ever attempt at a base for one of my models. This is based on contemporary photographs of the Zeppelin hangar at Seemoos Hafen, Lindau, Lake Constance where giant flying boats were built and test flown under the direction of Claudius Dornier. The turntable rotates because I mounted a small motor underneath it: the battery and switch are concealed in the rear of the display under the hangar floor. The scene depicts the launch of the Rs II in May 1917 after the engines had been fitted with cowlings. All of the features in the diorama are based on what I could see in contemporary photographs, right down to the figures of Claudius Dornier (dark suit) engineer Durr and the sailor standing by the winch shed. The furniture and boxes, etc were also present when the photographs were taken. The civilian figures are from Dart Castings and the naval figure from W D Models. The blank section on the side of the diorama base contains a copy of an original photograph and the following text:
Zeppelin Lindau (Dornier) Rs II, Seemoos, Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance, April 1917
The Zeppelin Lindau (Dornier) Rs II (Reisenfleugzueg: giant aeroplane) is rolled out of the hangar at Seemoos for the next series of test flights after the engines have been enclosed in cowlings to try to stop them from running too cold, and to protect the valves from wind shear. Claudius Dornier (in dark grey suit), and Oberingenieur Durr watch as the machine sits on the turntable and is photographed. One of the men from the works waits by the shed to operate the winch which will let the flying boat run slowly down the slipway which had been built so that flying boats could be launched and retrieved from Lake Constance.
The first of Dornier’s designs was a biplane which was wrecked in a storm before it could fly. The second was a monoplane with three Maybach engines buried in the hull driving pusher propellors via transmission shafts which started trials in May 1916. On a flight trial in July of that year the transmission shaft of the centre engine broke, severely damaging the tail boom so it was decided to rebuild the aircraft. In November 1916 the aircraft appeared from the hangar with a new hull, four engines mounted in tandem above the hull and redesigned stub wings. Originally the engines were uncovered. The model represents the aircraft as it appeared in April 1917 after engine covers had been installed. A month later the biplane elevator at the rear was replaced by simpler fins and rudders. In August 1917 the aircraft was badly damaged again during a long test flight when one of the engines backfired and shattered a propellor. A third design was close to completion by this time so this aircraft was broken up and the parts used for systematic testing, the results being applied to the design and calculation of new R planes.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
