My new little project, a Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet, 61'' wingspan. It will be FAST

This thread in German

Some basic info on the Me-163 Komet rocket interceptor can be found here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_163

The original Me-163B had a wingspan of 9.33m, which makes the model roughly 1:6.1 scale.

Most likely the paint scheme will be "yellow 15" kept at Raf Cosford.

The model itself is the so-called "Flyboy Models" or "BH Models" 0.60-size Me-163, 1540 mm (61'') wingspan,

and is made by CY Model : http://www.cymodel.com

http://www.cymodel.com/Cn/pro_view.asp?id=26

http://www.jfchobby.com/en/html/Prod...106&SortID=192

http://www.texasrcplanes.com/me163.html

http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id...0&pid=E3715233

http://www.topd.ch/RC-Modellbau/JFC/...-von-000481253

http://www.aeromodelismoserpa.com/me...tf-p-9840.html

http://www.hebu-shop.ch/product_info...6e75280af25d03

http://www.austars-model.com/dispdet...12061052272283


Edit : Me-163 short video March 2012:

Me-163 Komet 60-inch RC (FlyBoys) (2 min 5 sec)

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Turbine ?

Cool pics

I just got this one too:
http://www.cloudmodels.com/komet.html

Going to use the HET 2700 kv inrunner with a 4.7 x 4.7 prop on 3s then if all goes to plan a 4s.

Good link here for you of the HET ME 262

222mph ME163 with two motors comes apart in the air. (8 min 15 sec)

Enjoy

The Me-163 model actually looks quite a bit better than I expected

This is the Flyboys Me-163 which I got from texasrcplanes at a very reasonable price (four day ups delivery).

Here are some pictures, the kit looks pretty awesome for the price!!

The glasswork (polyester resin as usual) is very good and light, given the size of the fuse; the wings are ultralight.

The paint matches perfectly between fuse and wings. The decals are quite nice and not cheesy at all.

The canopy seems good quality, pre-painted with frame and latch pre-installed.

Will post more pics as I get along with the build. For now, I am pretty enthusiastic.

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http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7134453/tm.htm

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1089760

Found a couple of links which may be helpful for all of us. Looks like a good kit Herb

That's pretty neat Herb. Looks like it uses wheels instead of the skid?
I bought a semi kit a few months ago for a 163 but it's going to take quite a lot of work to get it looking like this.

Hi Steve,

Yes it is a neat kit, better than I expected. You would like it !!! How big is yours, pics ?

And yes I'd seen a few threads on RCU and RCG but it seems very few ended up actually flying ... and when they did it was with some sort of massive oversized pattern prop

Mine most likely will have a droppable scale (or semi-scale) two-wheel dolly. I am over the bungee thing for good

There are some really nice threads on the Me-163 (rather unusual subject) over in the German forum, it took me a while to find them because they call it the Kraft-Ei. Mostly they are turbine and BIG

http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showt...sbauer-Richter

http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showt...t-Kraftei-quot

http://www.rc-network.de/forum/showt...n-AS-Composite

Me 163 B1a M 1:5 Sunshine Modellbau (5 min 41 sec)

ME163-Flugtag Harsewinkel 2011 (7 min 4 sec)

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I have been looking at the airframe trying to estimate the maximum speed it can take without the wing disintegrating (the wings are quite light, built up balsa with a hefty spar).

Since it's not a composite wing I'd say the max speed for this airframe is conservatively in the 130-140mph range.

If I use 140mph as a guide then I think I need a pitch speed that's slightly higher than that, how does 150mph sound?

http://www.ecalc.ch/motorcalc.htm

In the example below I focus on an 8S 4000 setup with a 12x12 prop at 12k rpm giving ca. 2.2kW.

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I weighted the empty airframe (with wing joiner, canopy etc.) with no linkages or electronics.

It's 64.3 oz = 4.02 lbs = 1.826 kg which is pretty light.

The specs are

wingspan = 154 cm = 60.6 ''

length = 102 cm = 40.1 ''

wing area = 47.5 dm2 = 736.4 in2

The original had a wingspan of 9.33m and a length of 5.92 m with a wing area of 18.50 m2.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_163

So the gives as a scale for this Me-163 Komet about 6.06 : 1 which is very close to my AW Me-262 (6.2:1 scale).

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The hardware package contains a number of useful items, and some that are a bit less useful ...

The kit suggests a fixed gear setup, where they widened the stance a bit for stability reasons.

The wheels are pretty big and should be usable. The landing gear itself looks a bit odd from a semi-scale perspective but I'm sure it's pretty functional.

The green plastic spinner looks a bit hideous, but at least they made an effort to include something.

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Here's an electric one :

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Gummiseilstart Modell ME 163 RC Model (1 min 8 sec)

I have this plane and have flown it several times. Mines running a 500kv motor on 5s 5000 with a 13x10 apc prop. I did droppable dolly as well since the real plane did that.

First thing....it requires a lot of thrust to break ground, but once it does, it'll shoot up quite quick like.
Also....Id recommend putting up reflex on the elevons. About 5mm above the neutral point of the trailing edge of the wing. You will need it.

I also put an estes C size rocket motor in the tail with the arming function powered by a battle switch run off a 9v battery.

Very nice, and a cool picture too !

Yes these flying wings need reflex, otherwise the fly strange. The CG seems well established though at ca. 6.25 '' = 156mm.

I agree that an Me-163 flying with those wheels hanging down seems silly

I test-fitted the (fixed) landing gear, it works ok looks pretty solid, and has quite a wide stance.

I will have to modify the whole thing so that it can be dropped off after takeoff.

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The rudder setup on the other hand is very straightforward. The rear access hatch makes everything very easy.

Nevertheless the rudder pushrod, which is made out of some cheap wood, looks a bit thin and will be replaced by something stiffer.

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