Focke Achgelis FA-223, Czechoslovak Police Air Force - finished model
Comments
Alec KBeautiful model and an interesting story of its use. Great job all around 👍
Slavo HazuchaFollowing the build was a very cool experience - and it looks fab in the final pictures - well lit & photographed - all the details coming to life again... Top work, hope it was as much fun building as it was following... 🙂👍🏻
+ a lot of space in the vitrine, so let them come!
Ludvík Kružík@Spanjaard
Thank you for your interest!
@Slavo
I'm glad you liked my model building so much. ... and yes, taking pictures of the models was fun. Since it was cloudy today and there wasn't much daylight to take pictures, I used a photographic fluorescent lamp (with light color close to daylight) to light the models and I directed the light using a photographic umbrella with a silver inner side.
Erik LeijdensMasterpiece. Great attention to detail! I'll take my hat off for you.
Ludvík Kružík@Erik and @Lothar29
Thank you very much for your kind contributions. They make me very happy 🙂
Ludvík KružíkMany thanks to Robert for providing the article with supporting documentation and to Jens and Michael for their efficient help in finding documentation for the rotor heads. Without their help, my model would not have looked nearly as good.
Nathan DempseyIt was a pleasure to observe this build and such a great finish. Well done!
Robert PodkońskiNemáš zač, Ludviku, byl to přece český časopis 😉 Vždy k službám 🙂
Ludvík Kružík@Nathan
Thank you for your kindness and I look forward to meeting you in my future projects.
@Robert
I will be happy to return your help if possible.
Robert PodkońskiLudviku, when I will visit Czech Republic next time, perhaps I will go to Brno and we will go together for a beer or two - and that will be enough for me 😉 Of course, I wholeheartedly invite you to visit my hometown 🙂
Ludvík KružíkRobert, it would be a pleasure to meet you. 😉
Thank you, Michael! I was intrigued by Drache from the first moment I saw his kit. And when I found out he flew in Czechoslovakia, it was a done deal. Such an interesting machine should not be missing in my collection.
Ludvík KružíkDaniel, thank you! That helicopter is so special, it deserves special care.
bughunterI can only sign the comments of all the mates here: wonderful model and thank you for the nice build report!
Ludvík KružíkFrank, thank you very much. A compliment from you is doubly gratifying. 🙂
Album info
I present to you my "DRAGON". My original idea was to build a model from a box. However, this took a backseat the moment I studied the photographs. I decided to fill in the missing details in the interior and exterior and opened the doors on the side of the fuselage.
The biggest problems I had was balancing the model. Since the landing gear is located very far forward and the ballast space is minimal, it was necessary to come up with something that would not be visible in the cabins and yet be functional.
A more detailed description of the kit, all the modifications and the whole build is here: Focke Achgelis FA-223, WIP | Album by KLuK (1:48).
For my model I chose the red-silver color of the OK-BZX air traffic control machine. Tradition has it that this machine was the first helicopter used to control automobile traffic.
"The Police Air Force was given the task of cooperating in air traffic control. Our new helicopter seemed to be the most suitable for this task. The trials that took place before the flight were disappointing. Not perhaps because the technical characteristics of the helicopter or for other reasons were not suitable for the task. On the contrary, all the tests proved that the helicopter was the most suitable means of controlling large urban traffic. However, it was the novelty of this means that prevented its use. During pre-flight tests, it was found that the helicopter, instead of helping to control traffic, brought traffic to a complete standstill. When car drivers spotted something in the sky that had no wings, standing in the air, backing up and moving sideways, they stopped their cars and watched the unprecedented spectacle curiously. The same was true for pedestrians. Those who were in a hurry then walked by following the sky with their eyes and bumping into each other. Throughout the trials, with a helicopter patrolling over the intersection, the intersection was full of pedestrians and vehicles. That's why the Storch aircraft was used and it worked very well."
