Project: Caudron R.11 heavy fighter/bomber

[aleatorylamp]

Hello All!

Here is a new project taking shape, the Caudron R.11.
It was a rather interesting French twin-engined biplane bomber/heavy fighter that came out late in 1917, designed 3 years earlier to substitute the Caudron G.4.

It was designed in 1914 as as a night bomber, and when it came out it initially saw service as such, but its 265 lb bombload soon proved too modest for the time, although its performance was remarkable (120 mph at S.L. and 821 fpm initial RoC).
Nevertheless, the R.11 was switched to a bomber-escort role, and used extensively to protect Berguet 14 bomber formations, which it defended flying circles around them like a guard dog.

370 units were built. The R.11 was powered by two Hispano-Suiza 8Bda water-cooled V8 engines that delivered 220 Hp at 2100 RPM. It had 8.17 ft wooden 18.47 degree fixed-pitch props with a 0.75 reduction gear (1.34:1), running at 1556 RPM. Engine and propeller performance in the .air file comes quite close, which is rather pleasing.

This CFS2 model will have crew, machine-guns and underwing bombs included in the Dp file, and is coming along quite nicely. For the time being, the AF99 model is basically finished, but considerable work still needs to be done.

Martin Klein has kindly offered to re-work the model with Gmax, adding a virtual cockpit and high-resolution extended textures, which sounds very promising indeed!

Here are a few screenshots!
Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[Ravenna]

Coming along nicely Stephan. Thanks

 

[aleatorylamp]

Thanks Mike, it´s definitely an interesting project!

 

[The B24 Guy]

Very interesting looking AC.

Thanks,
B14Guy

 

[Captain Kurt]

That'll be a big project, I'll bet

 

[aleatorylamp]

Hello The B24 Guy, Hello Captain Kurt,

Thanks for your comments and the picture!

Further progress done: Dp file, panel for default and FSFS gauges and 2 custom RPM ones, and the SCASMed virtual cockpit view.

I had a bit of bother with SCASM, as it gave two strange blind-alley transformcalls, perhaps because of the high parts count. I just deleted the calls and it worked fine.

Then, being an open cockpit, after correcting the pilot´s view-point, the VC view forward and sideways were no problem. The aft VC view required placing a call to the rear gunner´s well and head in the virtual cockpit section, and that went OK too.

I was trying out defensive fire in combat mode, and as with other bombers, it requires Tailgunner2, which of course will not be a problem in CFS1.

Now I´m finalizing the camo textures, and in a few days the model will be ready to upload.

Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[aleatorylamp]

Hello All,
Here is an update on the current progress of the AF99 model
prior to Gmax conversion work, where some goodies will be added!
Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[aleatorylamp]

Caudron R.11 Progress

Hello Folks,

The Dp files are provisionally done. I put in the pilot, twin nose and dorsal Lewis MG´s and gunners, (the ventral one is still pending), as well as four underwing 30-kg bombs.

Here are some screenshots showing the crew, guns and bombs, and I still have to check if the uniform colours and helmets are correct. At least everything is nicely in the position. Also, the drum on the twin Lewis guns should be on top of the gun, not on the side, so I´ll have to see if I can find any forward- and rear-firing twin Lewis guns.

I also include some screenshots of the virtual cockpit views, which of course don´t show crew or guns.

Next steps will be a ventral trapdoor for the ventral gun, then the AF99-to-Gmax conversion,
and also a nice virtusl cockpit.

Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[gius]

Really a nice plane,
thanks Stephan!!!
Giuseppe

 

[aleatorylamp]

Hi Gius,
Glad you like it.
It looks quite promising indeed!
Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[aleatorylamp]

Corrected Lewis guns

Hi Folks,

I had meant to put in Lewis guns but put in Parabellums instead. Sorry about that!
Here are some screenshots, now with the correct guns.

The ventral gun is also in, but the opening has to be done with Gmax, because AF99
has just stopped compiling, so that is still to be done. Slowly but surely!

Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[arfyhun]

Aleatorylamp, don't know if you have it but I have come across a photograph of the prototype of your aeroplane. The trouble is I have tried to add it to this thread but to no avail.

Do you let me know how to do it?

Thanks in advance mate, Graham.

 

[aleatorylamp]

attach photos

Hello Graham,

When you write a message for the thread, underneath the window, there is an
option called "manage attachments". If you click on it, you get another window
where you can click on "add files", that will let you select an image or a file on
your computer and upload it.

You will see it appearing a small thumbnail in the rectangle beneath once it
uploads, and you click on "done", which returns you to the text window you
are writing your message on.

Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[Ravenna]

Looking good Stephan.

 

[arfyhun]

Thought I had it sorted Aleatorylamp but it's a webm pic and the kit rejects it.

I'll have to try and change the format.
Will post again soonest.

Graham.

 

[arfyhun]

Here we go again. Took a photo of the plane from my desktop and sent it back as a .jpg. Looks manky but I can't think off any other way. It isn't any help that the pic isn't the best to start with!

Here goes MKII..

Followed the instructions but as I write I can't see it!

Here is the write-up which came with the picture;

''Caudron R.11 prototype at Villacoublay airfield.

When you look at this picture you will see that it is pretty doctored as the stand which holds the tail high is crossed rather crudely away.

To the right there are in the original print hangars visible, which are also 'taken out'.

For some reason someone was busy to get parts of the picture out''.

I'll post what I have here and hope the photo follows on, so to speak...

Graham.

 

[aleatorylamp]

Hello Graham,

Interesting photo! All I knew about the origins of the R.11 was that a replacement for the Caudron G.4 was needed, to be used as a bomber,
and that there were a few different versions, the R.3, R.4 and R.6 before
the R.ll appeared.

Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[arfyhun]

My pleasure.

Graham.

 

[aleatorylamp]

Gmax model progress

Hello Folks,
Martin´s progress has been considerable with the Caudron R.11 Gmax conversion,
as well as the new extended bitmap textures. The model is already looking quite
impressive indeed! Thanks Martin!
Now for the Virtual Cockpit and a couple of other things.
Enjoy the screenshots!
Cheers,
Aleatorylamp

 

[Ravenna]

What a beautifully behaved aircraft.