are there any ekranoplan kits out there? I would love to build one of those things
Revell has a 1/144th kit of that one with the turboprop on the tail.
If you don’t mind me asking, WHAT prey tell is an Ekranoplan[?]
they were like a new generation hovercraft, but took loads of power to get to the “hover” part. it more or less FLIES but is better described as a water skimmer. Russia went nuts over this and armed one of them to the teeth
is it still in production? I cant find it anywhere.
I found a couple on evilbay last year, around twenty bucks or so. It really is a nice kit.
Build up:
Jeebus,
An Ekranoplan is the generic Russian name for the type of craft that uses the WIG, ir Wing In Ground Effect principle to lift a planing hulled craft off of the surface of the water.
Essentially, it’s a flying boat whose wings aren’t designed for conventional flight - but it uses the high pressure"cushion" developed beneath the wings to lift the hull off of the surface of the water.
They’re as ugly as sin, but way cool.
lol “ugly as sin” [:D]
are there any of them that were successful?
Oh hell yes!
Check out the Caspian Sea Monster or the KM attack ekranoplan.
Jinithith2,
The basic design of Ekranoplan water craft is immensely successful - there are literally dozens of different designs, and the higher powered designs could carry a huge load - many at speeds in excess of 300 mph.
Sounds like a serious winner to me.
They were, however, somewhat limited in their application - unlike hovercraft, they really don’t travel over hard ground, but some were designed for beach landings - and you can’t really project power with one (like an aircraft carrier).
They pretty much turn into an odd shaped water craft when they slow, then come to rest for loading/unloading - somewhat ungainly - and not as flexible or multi tasked weapons platform as a hovercraft.
I still think they’re as ugly as sin, but they’re cool.
The A90 Orlyonok was done in 1/144 scale by Revell Germany, kit 04609. That is the only kit I know of, and is not in their catalog right now. There is one problem that the ekranoplans have and that is just like a supertanker the bigger they are the harder they are to stop and turn. My best reference, and it is pretty good, for the ekranoplans in Bill Gunston’s Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft.
John