Has anyone done a HL-10 Lifting body?
- Thread starter DarkHelmet
- Start date
feek61
Sr Member
Got the photos from Slave1pilot and they are very detailed. The plan is to make the most accurate model of the HL-10 (which should not be hard since the few that have been made have been lite on the details) even down to the correct screws and rivets. Right now it's looking like it will be 1/12 scale so it will be big. Will update as things progress.
slave1pilot
Sr Member
Glad the pics were good enough
I still haven't seen them lol
I still haven't seen them lol
Cool to see this thread still active. Lots of great info!
Last one. And some X-24A for good measure (love that ship!)
Thanks muchly up-ship.com: The Unwanted Blog » drawings
Beware, these are drawings for wind tunnel models, some variations evident in the final product but at least they're a bit more detailed and dimensioned, I think...yes?
Thanks muchly up-ship.com: The Unwanted Blog » drawings
Beware, these are drawings for wind tunnel models, some variations evident in the final product but at least they're a bit more detailed and dimensioned, I think...yes?
feek61
Sr Member
Nice, yes those for the most part appear to be the wind tunnel model but are great reference. Thank you for posting them. No worries about this becoming a reality; we are working on this project to be the final word on the subject . . . down to the correct panels, rivets, etc.
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feek61
Sr Member
Things are progressing nicely on the HL-10 plans. Hopefully they will be completed in the next few days and I must say they are very detailed. I have NEVER seen anything near the accuracy of this. The kit resulting from these will be nice.
To carry on with our lifting body photos; here is a really cool photo of the M2-F2 crash. It's interesting because this is the only photo I've seen that is in the direction of the crash landing path.
Here is another rarely seen crash photo:
Here is some really cool vintage artwork of both the HL-10 and the M2-F2:
A great rare photo of the HL-10 in the hangar:
And on the lakebed:
This subject is such a great shape; I love it. As you can see this thing will look different from any direction you look at it. A very interesting shape indeed.
To carry on with our lifting body photos; here is a really cool photo of the M2-F2 crash. It's interesting because this is the only photo I've seen that is in the direction of the crash landing path.
Here is another rarely seen crash photo:
Here is some really cool vintage artwork of both the HL-10 and the M2-F2:
A great rare photo of the HL-10 in the hangar:
And on the lakebed:
This subject is such a great shape; I love it. As you can see this thing will look different from any direction you look at it. A very interesting shape indeed.
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feek61
Sr Member
Plans for the most part are done. Here are a few more photos to keep the dream alive:
Inspection from the chase plane to ensure all control surfaces are in the correct position:
Another great front shot from the front before take off:
A really rare view of the HL-10 under construction:
Inspection from the chase plane to ensure all control surfaces are in the correct position:
Another great front shot from the front before take off:
A really rare view of the HL-10 under construction:
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feek61
Sr Member
Thanks!
Working on getting an actual kit out right now so now plans will not be forth-coming for a bit. I can assure you (the 3 or 4 of us that are interested) that this will be as close in accuracy as you can get without owning the real thing! Just found some new footage today; will post some clips tomorrow
Working on getting an actual kit out right now so now plans will not be forth-coming for a bit. I can assure you (the 3 or 4 of us that are interested) that this will be as close in accuracy as you can get without owning the real thing! Just found some new footage today; will post some clips tomorrow
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feek61
Sr Member
This is great footage from the second drop test (the first after the fibreglass glove was installed). Although similar to the familiar footage in the Six Million Dollar Man; this was an unpowered glide flight. Notice the yarn tufts on the tail and the camera mounted on the vertical stabilizer. The last photo is from footage taken from behind. You can clearly see the tail mounted camera photographing the yarn in order to determine the air-flow.
JMChladek
Sr Member
Yup, first flight with the little leading edge tuft added to the outboard tails (the wind tunnel models don't have that unless they modified and tested after the unexpected results from flight #1). That is also where the HL-10 got its white paintjob around the tails as well.
Everytime I see shots of that seperation sequence from the pylon camera (be it the one used or others) I start hearing the dialog in my head
"We have seperation.... I've had a blowout, damper three....." You know the rest.
BTW, the comment "Coming forward with the sidestick" sounds like Scott Crossfield from an X-15 drop test. Anyone know if it was or not?
Everytime I see shots of that seperation sequence from the pylon camera (be it the one used or others) I start hearing the dialog in my head
"We have seperation.... I've had a blowout, damper three....." You know the rest.
BTW, the comment "Coming forward with the sidestick" sounds like Scott Crossfield from an X-15 drop test. Anyone know if it was or not?
PHArchivist
Master Member
Not sure...
But I can offer this:
NONE of the dialogue in the opening credit sequence was taken from an actual episode; not even from the pilot episode showing the crash.
As I'm sure you know, the credit sequence was assembled later, put together with creative skills not unlike that which would be employed for a film trailer.
Majors did dub in his lines (and in my opinion did a damn good job), but the rest was taken from actual flights.
There is a special feature on the opening credit sequence found in the first season set of DVDs. Also, additional images and Oscar Goldman dialogue was added for season two, extending the sequence.
PHArchivist
Master Member
By the way, what does that mean, "Coming forward with the side stick."? Does that indicate a throttle up?
feek61
Sr Member
Can't be sure really what they are referring to but the M2-F3 actually did have side stick controllers for the CAS system installed (which was different from the SAS system). It was similar to the side stick in the X-15 that under high G's the pilot would not have to reach up for the center stick but be able to use the same control functions from side stick controllers. The M2-F3 system was for a different purpose and much more rudimentary (but still a side stick); it really was not a very effective control system and was not used other then testing for evaluation on the last flights. The HL-10 did not have the CAS system installed and no side stick.
On another note working on the cockpit details for the model. It's coming along very well. I was able to find a ton of photos I took back in 1976 as reference and on most cockpit indicators I can read the dials so it should be pretty accurate. Here is the front panel so far (yes I still have a lot to do).
It's interesting because there really is very little front panel. The gages that you see on top are all just that; stuck on top of the panel. There is no backing whatsoever on them. Even the rocket engine indicator lights were added after the angle of attack gage and covers a portion of it. The cockpit instruments were definitly a work in progress and was continually changed. This version will be the XLR-11 version which included the mach meter and engine indicators. Keep in mind that this thing was really open because the pilot basically had to look over the front panel through the acrylic nose to see to land the thing. Interestingly is that the shape of the front nose created a lensing effect distorting the view such that the pilot was actually lower to the ground then he realized. Kind of scary to hit ground before you are ready!!!!! The lifting bodies gear deployed in about 2 seconds using a pressurized nitrogen system. It's a good thing! lol
On another note working on the cockpit details for the model. It's coming along very well. I was able to find a ton of photos I took back in 1976 as reference and on most cockpit indicators I can read the dials so it should be pretty accurate. Here is the front panel so far (yes I still have a lot to do).
It's interesting because there really is very little front panel. The gages that you see on top are all just that; stuck on top of the panel. There is no backing whatsoever on them. Even the rocket engine indicator lights were added after the angle of attack gage and covers a portion of it. The cockpit instruments were definitly a work in progress and was continually changed. This version will be the XLR-11 version which included the mach meter and engine indicators. Keep in mind that this thing was really open because the pilot basically had to look over the front panel through the acrylic nose to see to land the thing. Interestingly is that the shape of the front nose created a lensing effect distorting the view such that the pilot was actually lower to the ground then he realized. Kind of scary to hit ground before you are ready!!!!! The lifting bodies gear deployed in about 2 seconds using a pressurized nitrogen system. It's a good thing! lol
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JMChladek
Sr Member
I believe the comment about the side stick was Crossfield's as he tested it on one of the X-15 tests as part of the goal for that flight. As I recall, its calibration wasn't quite right and the aircraft porposed a bit on approach and landing. It may have been the flight where he broke the X-15 in half.
Nice work on the instrument panel there.
Nice work on the instrument panel there.
