The use of radial engines in small airframes tends to create
very cartoon-like shapes of an undeniable appeal.
Some of these stumpy, chubby, cute little bugs are well
known (like the Gee-Bee racers or the Polikarpov I-15) while others are more
obscure subjects. If this type of design was a monoplane (like the Bristol Type
72 Racer or the Polikarpov I-16), then the effect was even more notorious; but
if on top of that we have a “flying wing” example, then the resulting
aesthetics are just as fun as they are attractive.
The BOK-5 was a Russian design proposal originated –as the
designation states- at the Bureau of Experimental Aircraft (Buro Osovikh
Konstruktsii) and the project was led by V. A. Chizhevsky. It had a Mikulin
M-11 as its power plant and a span of less than 10 meters. It had metal
structure and the flying surfaces were mostly fabric-covered.
After initial flights and some adjustments the plane
revealed itself as a very good machine, but notwithstanding its virtues didn’t
go into production.
The Scupley-made fuselage master fitted comfortably in the
Mattel Vac-U-Form plate and promptly I had my two fuselage half-shells. The
interior was furnished according to references and then the wing was fabricated
out of styrene sheet and rod as per photos. A sort of Townend ring was created
laminating styrene sheet on a metal tube–see also the images to follow the
simple procedure- and an “Engine ‘n Things” Mikulin was retrieved from deep
hibernation in the spares bin. This particular engine is not the best one I
have seen from this manufacturer, being the back side well detailed and the
front side marred by the area of the cylinders enclosed by the pushrods, which
was a pool of resin. Some pinholes –or potholes- further enhanced the overall
results.
Wing and fuselage were mated, but no eggs were laid. Details
on the fuselage were added and then the under-hanging control surfaces for the
wing. Wheels came from Aeroclub and landing gear structure was a combination of
assorted bits. Last details were the home-made wooden prop and a number (14) of
photoetched control horns, which amused my ears with the “ping” sound they made
every time they jumped to hyperspace from the tweezers.
Finishing presented a dilemma. The original color was
apparently either white or light grey, but I think that aluminum is a
possibility as well. Some color reported as red –which will make sense being
this a Russian plane- was applied to the nose ring, leading edges and to some
trim lines on the upper fuselage. But for the annual parade a very original and
psychedelic scheme was applied, a la Kalinin K-12 “Zhar Ptitsa”.
This artistic scheme is represented in different ways by
several sources. The usual heavily retouched Russian photos duplicated with
hectographic gelatin in the cold basement of a Buro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hectograph)
did not help. That made me lean towards the original scheme.
Few decals for this one: only the concentric circles for the
wheels and the BOK triangular logo for the rudder
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