Fly Bachem 349 "Natter"

[stona]

Interesting stuff there Steve. Surprising that there were no shortage of volunteers after Sieber's incident.

Hi Joe,Willy Fiedler was an SS officer attached to the "Natter" project under Waffen-SS General Wollf (it was an SS project). He claimed in his post war interrogation that whilst earlier working on the manned V-1 project (Fi 103R),which was to have been a suicide attack,he had more than 1,000 volunteers from within the SS.

At least theoretically flying the "Natter" was not a one way ticket,though the escape procedure was risky. Zubert managed it a few times,though from gliding flights.

This was what was supposed to happen.

Looks good on paper!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

close range interceptor it could`ve been,and scarey as hell,i all went wrong last thing that went through your mind would be your ass lol

mobear

[Guest]

Looks good on paper!

But as always murphys' law comes into play

Interesting stuff Steve, i like the idea of the simple dio, shouldn't take away from the aircraft which is, after-all, the main item.

I take it the pilots the only figure to be included? .... decent 1/32 figures of the period are a bit scarce i would imagine.

[stona]

But as always murphys' law comes into play Interesting stuff Steve, i like the idea of the simple dio, shouldn't take away from the aircraft which is, after-all, the main item.

I take it the pilots the only figure to be included? .... decent 1/32 figures of the period are a bit scarce i would imagine.

The best laid plans etc. It would have been a risky undertaking. It was a sign of German desperation. Most of the aircraft was to be reused and it was made almost entirely of wood and,importantly,didn't need glue presses required for other wooden aircraft parts.

There are no figures in the kit. I've liberated a 1/32 pilot from my spares box. He's the smallest decent one I have (oh yes,they do vary....a lot) but even he may have to lose his feet to fit!

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

I've managed to build the rather simple cockpit. It was simple on the original!

I've also built my own tail end using the reisin piece,including casting block,from the kit. The rocket outlet has been modified and substantialy strengthened with some tubing which will eventually serve as a socket for the acrylic stand. The Blu-Tac is temporary

When Gagarin sat on top of his Vostock rocket preparing for launch I wonder if he knew that a vertical rocket powered launch had been made 16 years earlier by this man.

He didn't receive world acclaim. He got his rank back,having been court martialled for something we don't know today. Fellow members on the Natter project say he didn't tell them what he had done and that they didn't ask. He also got two weeks leave during which he got engaged. He's almost a forgotten figure in what would become the space race and that seems a shame.

My own little Lothar Sieber will be taking his place in his cockpit as soon as I work out how much leg he will have to lose!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

bit like a firework,lite touch paper run away woosh,then they put a stick in it and said this way left this way right red button fire,if you can see the object as wooosh past it lol,still really nice the work you put into the build and the research.

mobear

[michaelm]

This is a really great thread Steve, thanks.

I find this late war aviation fascinating, there was mad scramble post war to get this technology among other things ( the Russians were desperate for German nuclear research too). As I'm sure your all too aware this German rocketry is the progenitor of the Saturn 5 system which took man to the moon.

Really enjoying this, M

[Guest]

Nice interior job ... simple but neat and tidy all the same.

I'd definilty NOT want to achieve mach 1 sitting on a slatted bench with only a couple of "pads" as back rests.

[stona]

I'd definilty NOT want to achieve mach 1 sitting on a slatted bench with only a couple of "pads" as back rests.

Indeed. There is a bit of disparity between the kit headrest and the one apparently fitted on Sieber's aircraft. I have a translation of the report on his flight and it says that the canopy flew off when the aircraft rolled,shortly after launch,due to Sieber being pressed against it. When the canopy was torn off the headrest went with it, with disastrous results.

According to fellow test pilot Hans Zubert, the development program was not ready to make a manned,powered,flight in February 1945 when pressure was put on Bachem by the SS (who were financing the affair). It was this that led to Sieber's ill fated and ill judged attempt on 1st March.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Always a treat to have the back ground info to go with a subject,thanks for taking the time to add it Steve. Office is coming along nicely.

[stona]

I've got Lothar on board and strapped in with a double amputation at the ankle!

I've also zipped up the fuselage. The fit of the kit is not fantastic but then it's a relatively limited run by a small company. Plenty of dry fitting and a few swipes with the wet 'n' dry sort most of it out.

I've started work on the wings and tail assembly. The kit has options for several versions but no information on which is what so you'll have to do your research! The tail assembly was changed considerably during development. There were also a couple of variations to the booster rockets.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

looking good,i see youve hid his face is this because you told him what happens next?lol

mobear

[stona]

looking good,i see youve hid his face is this because you told him what happens next?lolmobear

Very good Ole,but no

I was trying to show his shoulder straps,though not very well!

Maybe I should repaint his face with a very pale complexion. I'd be ashen faced sitting on top of that firework.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

double amputation at the ankle!

it would have been better if that was all that happened .... poor bloke.

builds looking good

[mossiepilot]

The build is coming along great Steve, and the info about the pilot and his ill fated flight makes it all the more interesting.

Looking forward to more.

Tony.