Italeri 119 1/72 He-111 Z-1 Zwilling German Glider

[eddiesolo]

This any good to anyone? Thought it unusual and not seen one made before.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Italeri-119-1-72-He-111-Z-1-Zwilling-German-Glider-Tug-Model-Kit-/171402307920?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_J N&hash=item27e85fa950

Si

[Alan 45]

That's an odd bird don't you think ? You could build that yourself if you wanted to ! But why would you want is maybe a more accurate question

[eddiesolo]

That's an odd bird don't you think ? You could build that yourself if you wanted to ! But why would you want is maybe a more accurate question

Now, now, you know that me and planes have to an injunction between us...we are not allowed to be within 5ft of each other

I like the looks and do not recall seeing on on here before, maybe someone will get it and build it.

Si

[Alan 45]

Now, now, you know that me and planes have to an injunction between us...we are not allowed to be within 5ft of each other I like the looks and do not recall seeing on on here before, maybe someone will get it and build it.

Si

This looks like one of those German fantasy projects zee Germans were always thinking about but never got past the drawing on the back of a fag packet stage lol, I suppose if you like the unusual it's right up your runway so yeah I suppose it would be a fun little thing to build

[eddiesolo]

It be real mate, helped in towing gliders IRC.

Si

[Alan 45]

No that's photo shop that is lol how big was the flaming glider

[eddiesolo]

[ATTACH]86163.IPB[/ATTACH]


See, told ya it is real.

Si

[Alan 45]

[ATTACH]86588[/ATTACH]See, told ya it is real.

Si

Ah no that bottom pick is a model :P

[eddiesolo]

Right, does this pic convince ya?

Si

[Alan 45]

Look I'm just going to put my fingers in my ears and hum very loudly because I'm not listening lol

[eddiesolo]

Look I'm just going to put my fingers in my ears and hum very loudly because I'm not listening lol

I give up...o_O

Si

[Alan 45]

Nah mate it's obviously true I just needed a laugh

[Guest]

Yep Germans made extremely weird stuff in the last year of the war. For example, the Bachem Natter, the Messeschmitt 262 (for that time it was an extraordinary aircraft), the Horten 229 (which if was in full scale production, could had won the war for Germany), the Me 163 komet and even tried designing UFOs! Another design consisted of a rocket powered aircraft which was powered into the stratosphere, and was glided to he US to drop radioactive particles on them, and fly back to Germany. All revolutionary designs, but thankfully, most did not make it off the drawing board.

John

[Dave W]

The Zwilling was built to tow the enormous Me323 'Gigant ' Glider.Thats another kit that Italeri used to do.Ive seen a diorama made of a Gigant hooked up to a Zwilling.It was huge.Took up a whole table.The Germans experimented with towing the glider with three Me110's.Must have been pretty hairy,Trying not to fly into each other!.

[stona]

The heavy glider concept was the brainchild of these two men.



Udet and Messerschmitt.

Here is an early sketch made by Messerschmitt for Udet to show how a heavy glider might be towed.



The problem with multiple aircraft towing, the so called 'Troika-Schlepp' was the danger of flying into each others tows. Messerschmitt's early concept was refined somewhat, but the danger remained.

This diagram for four Bf 110s making the tow shows the problem nicely. The numbers are the length of the tows in metres.



They managed to reduce the number of tugs to three using He 111s



Or Bf 110s



To get going the Me 321 was given rockets, making a RATO.



A single Ju 90 was also used but the ultimate tug was the He 111 'Zwilling'. It was created in 1941 and entered service in 1942. It could tow a fully loaded Me 321, though rockets were needed for take off.

Odd as it looks it really was an operational aircraft by 1942. At least twelve were built.



The He 111 Z was also capable of towing two Go 242 gliders at the same time. The Go 242 was much used by the Luftwaffe.

BTW the Me 321 was the unpowered glider, the Me 323 was the powered aircraft.

Cheers

Steve