MS Modelle Sikorsky S-21 Le Grand

[Petestein]

Beautiful model. no doubt. One question, can the rear section of the fuselage which seems to be a structure of longerons and cross pieces, be left uncovered or the model would be too weak. I don't particularly like the spaces covered. For such a detailed model, I think the spaces should be left opened. What is your opinion?

[wireandpaper]

Photographic evidence shows the rear fuselage covered.

Example

[Petestein]

Well, this is not exactly a photograph. Anyway, thanks

[wireandpaper]

About this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikors...ky-LeGrand.jpg

in this you barely see the fuselage, but serves as scale with the dignitaries in the foreground:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikors...(Le_Grand).jpg

in flight:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...t_stretch).jpg



ps Does it looks that this is one of my favorite? Is the pilot seated?

[Abir Merlin]

Very impressive model.

[eatcrow2]

Love seeing these old classics come to life. Beautiful modeling!

[papermodelfan]

To Petestein: According to this description, the rear part of the fuselage was covered in plywood from the beginning, even in the twin engined version that was the beginning. : https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sikorsky_Russky_Vityaz


The "front porch" included room for a machine gun in the bomber version.


This model has seats for pilot and co-pilot. Not sure they stood up. However, the same may not be true of the next in line, the S-22, Ilya Muromets. Improbably, there is a 1:1 replica, in a Russian air museum. Maybe this is the one where the pilot stands, like a helmsman of an old sailing ship. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sikorsky_Ilya_Muromets

[wireandpaper]

I found a picture of the Tsar visiting Sikorsky in William Green book.
He mentions a door to the balcony.
As for the helm, it makes more sense the seat, I may be confused or even having recall bias, may be from Miyasaki.

[Kleiner]

Great model of interesting machine, very impressive work!

About pilot seats, both Grand and Ilya Murometz had seats for crew. Here's photo of Murometz's cockpit where you can notice seat back:

http://airwar.ru/image/idop/bww1/im/im-18.jpg

I can't find any photo of Grand's interior (i suppose that there is no such photos at all, at least in web), but here's an article from "Flight" magazine (taken from flyingmachines.ru site):

"Flight, May 3, 1917.

THE "TOTALLY ENCLOSED" AEROPLANE.

On looking back it appears that for the year 1913 Russia held the lead as regards the construction of "totally enclosed" aeroplanes, at any rate as far as actual flying of this type is concerned. No other country, during that period, actually witnessed successful flights on an aerial "Limousine." There can be little doubt, however, that in other countries machines were in preparation, although they did not take the air until the following year. In the case of the Sikorsky "Grand," the "enclosed" feature was, perhaps, to a large extent incidental, being the logical result of the other characteristics of the machine, which was of very large dimensions. When the machine first made its appearance there were those who ventured to prophesy that it would never fly, but as soon as everything was in readiness Mons. Sikorsky soon convinced his critics of their mistake. The "Grand" flew, and flew very well indeed.
Our illustration, which shows only a short part of the very long body, gives a good idea of the cabin portion that forms the most interesting feature, in connection with this article, of the machine. This cabin, which extended from the rear of the wings to some distance in front of the leading edge, was divided into three compartments. In the front one were two seats, one on each side of the cabin, in front of which were the dual controls. Normally the controls on the left were the main ones, and in front of them were mounted all the various instruments. Between the two seats was an open space leading to a door opening out on to the open part of the body in the extreme nose. From here observations could be made with ease, as the position was so far forward as to be well clear of all obstructions. For use at night a searchlight was placed right out in the bow, where it would not dazzle the pilot but would illuminate the landing ground.
The central portion of the cabin was set aside for the accommodation of passengers. As was to be expected in a machine so elaborately equipped, the passengers were not asked to squeeze into seats of the ordinary bucket type. Chairs, well upholstered and not fixed to the floor, were placed alongside the windows. Communication between passengers' and pilot's cabins was by means of a glass door, and thus any passenger could walk through the pilot's compartment out on the open front portion of the body, where a more unobstructed view was obtainable. From illustrations of the "Grand," the doors leading out into the open appear to be, instead of sliding, of the swinging pattern, so that opening them against the pressure of the air may have been attended with some difficulty.
To the rear of the passengers' compartment was a partition, with a door leading to the aft cabin, which was divided into two, one part of it being set aside for housing spare parts, while the other contained a sofa on which those weary of the journey might lie down and have a rest. It is stated that the cabin walls so reduced the noise of the engines, that conversation could be carried on quite comfortably inside the cabin.
In general arrangement the Sikorsky "Grand" was characterized by a very long and shallow body above which, the cabin portion extended a considerable distance. A monoplane tail and four vertical rudders constituted the tail units. In front the body rested on the lower main plane, which further supported the four Argus motors of 100 h.p. each that supplied the power. At first these four motors were mounted in pairs, one pair on each side of the body, the front one driving a tractor screw and the rear one a propeller. Later a different arrangement was tried by which the four engines were all placed on the leading edge, two each side, and each driving a tractor screw. Later again the two outer engines were removed altogether, and the machine flew quite well with the remaining two. After having done a considerable amount of flying and established a world's record for passenger carrying - 1 hour 54 minutes with pilot and seven passengers - the "Grand" came to an untimely end through a machine flying overhead shedding its engine, which crashed through the wings of the "Grand."