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1/6 Westland Whirlwind


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A quick overview of the repair and strengthening of the wing in January and February.

 

I repaired the broken spar and added a second one. Another one from spruce was placed aft for less torsion. I've had a balsa spar in front of the flaps to keep it light behind the center of gravity, but obviously that wasn't enough for a failed landing. I also increased spar strength on the outer wings to keep overall strength comparable. In the end I was really quick with placing new spars.

 

Lots of Yorshire tea and a bottle of Somerset cider surely helps 😉 

 

Timo

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Edited by Timo Starkloff
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  • 4 weeks later...

After the repairs I did five short flights to check if everythings ok and to get myself used to a proper landing pattern. Three weeks later the weather hasn't improved but today I chose an hour without rain (just plenty of wind at low temperatures) to make another testflight. First time up in the air with spinners and the looks are improved considerably!

The Whirlwind flew steady despite wind gusts. The improved rudder linkage and reduced control throws helped and I think the spinners reduced turbulence, too.

 

Flight #10 was a great satisfaction since I'm getting used to the model and if flying in strong wind is no problem, I can look forward to spring and summer 🙂

 

Timo

 

 

 

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On 06/03/2023 at 21:19, Timo Starkloff said:

A proper mug and a present from my wife last Christmas 🙂

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My workmates bought me that mug years ago - still my favourite  and still use it for breakfast only on days when I'm going flying. Just need to have a Beaufort to complete the set - I always thought it was a strange choice to put on that mug - surely a Mosquito or Beaufighter would have been a more obvious choice. 🙂 

 

Your Whirlwind looks superb Timo - very impressive.😎

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  • 1 month later...

No colours yet, but I'm counting flights. Actually it's around 35 and already there were two special ones. A nice Sunday morning formation with two great Fw 190s from friends with whom I have flown aircombat contests before (no dogfight in that case). Another formation with the Me 110 from another friend was flown on a Saturday eveneing with great clouds as background and a warm light, unfortunately no pictures of the models in flight.

 

The Whirlwind is doing fine. I'm getting used to it, started training some basic aerobatic maneuvers and try to improve start and landing. There's plenty of power so I have to adjust the start procedure for not lifting up after 20 meters...

 

But a friend took some great pictures of the flying Whirlwind. One is remarkably similar to an RAF one from the 1940s, although at a different angle 🙂

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/whirlwind/whirlwind-6/

 

Timo

 

 

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  • 2 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Still no paint applied, but now close to sixty flights and nearly all of the minor issues solved. The Whirlwind is now an easy flying every day model 🙂

With the wide speed range, long flight duration and stable flying characteristics it's especially great for formation flights with all kind of other models.

 

Timo

 

 

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22 hours ago, Timo Starkloff said:

Still no paint applied, but now close to sixty flights and nearly all of the minor issues solved. The Whirlwind is now an easy flying every day model 🙂

With the wide speed range, long flight duration and stable flying characteristics it's especially great for formation flights with all kind of other models.

 

Timo

 

 

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Hi Timo,

I think all your projects are truly amazing and this Wirlwind is no exception,an absolutely gorgeous work of art! I really would love to see all of your designs from the simplist to the most complicated printed as plans in RCM&E for others to enjoy in time. So how about it good Sir?

Keep up the good work. 

Many Thanks And Kind Regards 

 

Steve😎👌👍

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