Curtiss H-16 Large America Flying Boat

[aleatorylamp]

Hello Folks,

There is a flying boat that has attracted my attention for some time now,
of which there is no CFS1 model available.

It is the 1917 Curtiss H-16 Large America Flying boat, the last, largest
and most powerful of the "H" Series by Glenn Curtiss, and heavily armed.
It also appears to have also been the most produced version.

I found this aircraft´s design very attractive, ( dig the sponsons!), and
although it looked complicated, with bleeds threatening everywhere I gave
it a go to see what would happen.

Surprisingly, with appropriate glue sequencing, bleeds are few and only
occur where too many elements come together, i.e. the engines, for example,
so the model seems viable. Surprisingly the fins and wires on the top wing
are fine too.

The flight model has two Liberty 12A engines, developing 400 Hp at 1800 RPM,
with two 4-bladed, 20-degree pitch (perhaps 18.5? I wonder...) wooden propellers,
11.25 ft in diameter, giving the plane a top speed of 95 mph, and the .air file seems
to be behaving itself.

The model upto now is at a modest 106.5% parts count, but despite intense
scrimping and saving, components have maxed out, and there only 6 structures
are left. Something will have to be done, as wing-floats, crew-heads, MG´s
and the disappearing hull for water landings are as yet missing, so we shall see!

Here are a few screenshots for eye candy! No textures yet, though...
Update: I just now corrected the keel at the nose, renewed the screenshots,
and put in the gunner´s wells.

Cheers,
Aleatorylamp