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P.23a-1e "Rastus"

41.4k MrVaultech  3.5 years ago
Auto Credit Based on MrVaultech's P.23a-1e

Ostpreußen Airforce/Royal Navy P.23a-1e "Rastus"
"So it's bad" - Some Critic
A large and versatile seaplane designed for patrolling the Baltic Sea and the various lagoons present in Ostpreußen.

•Pre-1945 Design
The origins of the P.23a-1e can be found in 1942, when one of the eight He 119 prototypes -the third prototype which had floats fitted instead of landing gear- was transferred from Rostock to Königsberg at request of Lord Rastus Lazzari, the Maltese heir of Ostpreußen at the time.
He personally found the airfame of great interest, and used personal funds to purchase the aircraft from Heinkel, as it was to be scrapped before he intervened.
After being extensively studied and basic plans were being made to produce a domestic copy, the aircraft was left in a port and sidelined due to the turning state of the Second World War, eventually the aircraft being used for Lord Lazzari's mode of escape to neutral Sweden during the Soviet offensive into Ostpreußen 1945.

•1945-1954 Design
After the war was ended, the He 119 V3 was more-or-less confiscated by the Swedish military until 1953, when Ostpreußen was finally united after being a number of occupied states for eight years.

With the Ostpreußen Airforce having been all but shattered by the Soviet's during the war, and plans for creating a domestic copy of the He 119 virtually scrapped, it was decided to covertly develope a successor to the He 119.
Work officially started late 1954 behind backs of Soviet supervisors, as part of early attempts to remilitarize Ostpreußen by Prinz Flygplanstillverkare. Designs specified a elongated and widened fuselage to allow greater comfort for the crew, while also reducing crew from 3 to 2, allowing more room in the cockpit to observe surroundings with fewer obstructions.
Primary airfoils were to remain inverted gull, though the profile was slightly thinned alongside a complete redesign. Tail planes were drastically redesigned, allowing greater stability at all speeds and greater yaw power to the pilot.
Originally the DB 606 was also going to be used, but considering production of the engine completely ceased, and the significant lack of available components even when they were, the British Rolls-Royce Griffin 85 was intended instead.
It was briefly considered mounting defensive and offensive armaments to the design, but was dropped after concerns on sourcing weapons under Soviet supervision.
Lastly, a total of 2,895 liters (765 gallons) of fuel was positioned behind the centrally-placed engine and in the floats, allowing for great possible flight times by default.

•1954-1972 Design
With the design finalized come early 1955, a prototype was built in Königsberg by the newly reformed Prinz Flygplanstillverkare. The first aircraft, P.23-1e V1, was outfitted with a heavily modified Soviet M-105PF, as the license deal for the Rolls-Royce Griffin engine hadn't finalized.
Regardless of this, the V1 was testflown by then King of Ostpreußen, Sebastian Olsson, from Königsberg to Stockholm. After landing and refueling for a return trip to Königsberg, it was noted by King Olsson that he had more than respectable visibility of the Baltic's, and found flying it quite relaxing after given proper trim.
With favorable opinions on the aircraft and exceptional performance, the P.23 aircraft was pressed into Ostpreußen service, though, due to restrictions on military equipment it was as a "generalist seaplane for the Coast Guard".

Any actual production of the newly designated P.23a-1e began in late 1960 after restrictions were lightened on Ostpreußen to allow a self-defense force, with a batch of 60 aircraft being built by both Rheinmetall-Ost and Prinz Flygplanstillverkare. This was followed by the addition of a radar dome on the right wing to assist with recon duties and identifying ships/aircraft.

•Current Airframe
The currently shown version was the last to be completely unarmed, as the War of Kurisches Haff saw significant use of the P.23 around the Lithuanian and Ostpreußen coasts and around the Baltic Sea, and an urge to have any form of weapon mounted. The later P.23b-1e had not only a forward-facing gun mounted, but also a central external mounting for a bomb or torpedo.

•General Stats (Imperial)
2,250hp engine (Domestic Variant of Griffin 85)
150mph takeoff speed
230mph Top speed
220mph cruise speed (80% Throttle @ ~4,000ft)

•Controls
[Average Aircraft Flight Controls]
VTOL - Flaps
AG8 - Activate Nav Lights


Note from Staffel
Not gonna lie, one of my favorite planes built so far. Was fun to design, the glass added some definition to my favorite cockpit type, and I've actually gone and added a pretty mostly complete cockpit that's pretty usable.
Now to start work on the second, armed version I mentioned in that forum a few days ago, I can get about expanding on OstP lore and making paint schemes and stuff!
Also finally got that mod by Gestour's working, so yay

General Characteristics

  • Predecessor P.23a-1e
  • Successors 3 airplane(s) +7 bonus
  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 54.2ft (16.5m)
  • Length 55.3ft (16.9m)
  • Height 19.8ft (6.0m)
  • Empty Weight 13,576lbs (6,158kg)
  • Loaded Weight 18,707lbs (8,485kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.213
  • Wing Loading 25.1lbs/ft2 (122.5kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 745.5ft2 (69.3m2)
  • Drag Points 7561

Parts

  • Number of Parts 627
  • Control Surfaces 7
  • Performance Cost 1,907
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  • Profile image
    41.4k MrVaultech

    Rastus got Front Page yesterday (26 Sept 2020), so neato achievement!

    Pinned 3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Personally, despite the floats not coming out how I originally wanted, I'm pretty alright with how they are now. Not the best, but definitely still work.
    And yeah, I predominantly make AFVs over ships and aircraft as of recent, and try to link as many of what I finished onto prior mentioned forum post.
    And hey, if you do upload something eventually, do be sure to mention me so I can get a look at it!
    @DragonAerotech

    +1 3.3 years ago
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    @MrVaultech Agreed, there's something more that needs to be done with the top and the posterior side of the float to make it look right. I haven't gotten it figured out quite yet either but thought'd be better than the banana boat. I'm guilty of more than a few of these and I'm nowhere near your skill/talent level for this game. While I was hunting that recoiling cannon you teased (which I did find, BTW) I saw that you had quite a few AFVs with that mod in place. I used to upload a fair amount too but I seem to have more fun just tinkering around. If I build anything relevant to post someday I'll put it up - it's just been a long time.

    3.3 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Oh, right, rotating 45°.
    Yeah, I tried that, but it didn't look terribly amazing so I made it like you see now.
    And have messed with Tracks 2 quite a bit, even back when it was on mobile, just not very much if anything gets uploaded.
    @DragonAerotech

    3.3 years ago
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    @MrVaultech An XML modding tool would easily make the parts I was talking about. It's just a matter of rotating them 45 degrees so that you get a sharp edge down on the water. Even now I'm not sure it's the best approach as I've been toying with other ideas since. I've got like six projects underway ... I noticed you have some wheeled armored vehicles out nowadays. Have you thought to try out Tracks 2? My son is gaga for creations that use that mod but says that all the settings for it are a little overwhelming. I haven't tried out any for myself yet though.

    3.3 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Glad you've enjoyed it so much! And to be honest, not the biggest fan of using other peoples styff usually, but wouldn't hurt to look at those floats when I get the time.
    @DragonAerotech

    3.3 years ago
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    Not bad at all, you certainly haven't lost your edge after all of these years! The only gripe I can find has nothing to do with your build but rather a glitch with the new transparent canopies. You know, flying in cockpit view and despite flying over the sea you see a mountain range looming in front of you? LOL
    Check out TheOwlAce's little float fighter they did around the same time. The fuselage assembly on her might make for a good basis for more realistic floats? I know I saved a section of it as a subassembly for that purpose! XD

    3.4 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Thanks! And glad to hear someone actually read this giant descriptions!
    @CDRxavier

    +1 3.4 years ago
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    5,285 CDRxavier

    lol the getaway plane for Lord Lazzari
    somewhat weird, but hey it's cool

    3.4 years ago
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    6,443 Flewey

    @MrVaultech Yeah, I noticed that. Really cool build.

    +1 3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Thanks! And yes, there is a shaft running down the center of the cockpit, you can see it while flying if you go into cockpit view.
    @MajorSix

    3.5 years ago
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    6,443 Flewey

    @MrVaultech This is a really good and cool build. Just one thing: how are there propellers on a glass nose? Or is there like an engine shaft going though the cockpit?

    3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Thancc!
    @JettStorm

    3.5 years ago
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    3,012 JettStorm

    Holy wow

    3.5 years ago
  • Profile image
    41.4k MrVaultech

    Likely going to be a manual one, can't really say I have a figure enough on FT to try homing ones.
    @banbantheman

    3.5 years ago
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    @MrVaultech a manual one or a homing one?

    3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Thanks! And yes, I'm planning to add turret to a successor alongside a bunch of other various additions.
    @banbantheman

    3.5 years ago
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    very beautiful. but, i feel like you could add some turrets. still, good work

    3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    I know! I recall someone saying so in the forums, but I'm fine settling with what we have rn.
    @MDDJB

    3.5 years ago
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    15.0k MDDJB

    A very nice transparent cabin! I think we may need glass hollow parts.

    3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Thank you!
    @GCPrototypes

    +1 3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Thanks!
    @NAD

    3.5 years ago
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    7,895 GCPrototypes

    WOW! This is awesome!

    3.5 years ago
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    12.0k dINE

    Very good looking glass nose, well done!

    3.5 years ago
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    41.4k MrVaultech

    Aight, mentioning @Ryn176 from the teaser forum

    3.5 years ago
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