Hi all,
As my build of the Airco DH.2 is drawing to a close, I thought I’d start planning on a future build.
The model is 1/32nd scale and 3D printed from Bjorn Carlson of ‘Flying Bear’ in Sweden.
Bjorn has concentrated his research and models on the ‘Thulin’ types designed by Enoch Thulin, of ‘AB Thulinverken’.
The ‘Flying Bear’ website currently has aircraft models of the Thulin N, NA, K, KA and float and ski versions of the N and K.
The ski conversion for the K will also fit the Fokker D.VII. In addition, there is a refuel cart, figure, Sopwith Pup upper wing section and ski conversion for the Albatros B.II.
I've not seen a build of Thulin aircraft so I’m looking to build the Thulin K, Serial No.D.3 of the Dutch Marine, 1917.
The following is based on the information Bjorn has on the ‘Flying Bear’ web site.
The Thulin K was a Swedish naval fighter aircraft, operated by both the Swedish and Dutch armed forces.
Enoch Thulin, of ‘AB Thulinverken’, designed the Thulin K in December 1916.
Sweden was not part of WW1 and neither the army nor the marine saw any reason to use anything but trainers and reconnaissance aircraft.
Nevertheless, the Army Flying Corps eventually saw a need for advanced training.
After initial flights in early 1917, the Swedish Army purchased two of the single seat K versions for the ‘Flygcompaniet’.
However, the design was in fact obsolete as a fighter, but thanks to its low weight and good manoeuvrability it became popular among its pilots.
Thulin himself broke the Swedish altitude record in it in 1919.
The time between order and delivery was extremely short, mainly because the type was basically a mix of earlier Thulin types, having Thulin B wings and Thulin D fuselage.
Tail surfaces were more rounded and the cowl was slightly changed. Two different set of wings were used.
It was a shoulder-wing monoplane of wooden construction employing wing warping for lateral control.
Powered by a 90 hp Thulin Gnôme derived rotary engine, it could be configured as a single seat or tandem seat aircraft.
Initially the Type K was not equipped with ailerons, but used wing warping instead, as also on the Thulin A, B and D as well as the Fokker Eindecker.
It also had a single elevator surface and no tailplane.
The army, however, modified their aircraft and installed balanced ailerons and balanced elevators with a tailplane.
Enoch Thulin soon followed their initiative.
The modification seems to have worked out fine on the army´s aircraft, however Thulin reported severe problems with aileron vibrations in high g dives.
It is a complete mystery why he continued with these manoeuvres.
The loss of his right aileron on a practice flight was the cause of the crash that killed Thulin in 1919.
However, the Type K was more successful as an export plane.
The Royal Netherlands Navy bought twelve K single seaters and three two seaters (KA or K1) between 1917 and 1918.
Both types were delivered without armament, but the Dutch Navy fitted theirs with machine guns firing through the propeller arc and also experimented with 20 mm Madson cannons.
The Dutch Marine ordered a squadron of Thulin K’s and armed them with two synchronized Madsen 8 mm guns.
They also performed tests with a 20 mm automatic cannon.
Should be an interesting subject to build - we'll see,
Mike
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
