Old MB.152 (Smer\Heller)

Alex K
Taking, once again, my seat to watch this...

Duster_d
I had not understood before why artists draw "Blochs" "crookedly", but it turns out that they themselves are not quite straight 🙂

Slackbladder
I can only think this is to offset the propwash hitting the vertical tail fin in order to allow the aircraft to fly straight. Most modern training aircraft now have the tail fin offset to counteract the corkscrewing air of the propeller hitting it, lessening the pressure required on the pedals to keep the aircraft straight with a lot of right rudder.

Duster_d
Slackbladder, yes, you're right. The engine is offset from the longitudinal axis so that the aircraft is not pulled to the right by torque. Modeling is a constant source of new knowledge for me, and it's great!

Dave Flitton
I'm glad you caught that! I would have never known.

Lost_Erik
Looking good!

J35J
Little late but taking a seat!

Thomas Kolb
Duster_d, but it works only at a certain power range. Normally the increased left turning tendency with large power changes, e.g. during take off or when performing a go-around, due to prop wash (and the p-factor) is counteracted with applying right rudder pedal. Mounting the prop shaft with such an extreme angle to me seems more like a sign of trying to fix to a flawed aerodynamic design. But man, your French camo paint job looks perfect!

Nicolas
I missed this one so far. Joining.
Nearly all single engine prop planes have eigher the engine build in with an angle or an asymetric / angled profile at the vertical stabilizer. As Thomas said it works just at one power seting and speed (normaly for cruise speed and cruise power), so at every other setting you have to use the peddals or the rudder trim. I also noticed that some french planes get it to the extreme with the angle of the engine like your Bloch ore the Morane Rally series.

Guy Rump
Looking good, following. 👍

Duster_d
OK, regarding the displacement of the engine from the longitudinal axis of this "Bloch", yes, the displacement by 2.5 degrees did not help much, and the designers had to redo the tail anyway.

Alex K
It's a shame you are (once again!) let down by bad-quality decals... really pity... :/

Duster_d
I will finish the project "as is". If it is possible to find better quality decals for the "Bloch", then I will remove the old decals, and repaint the model where necessary.

Alex K
i) I do have the Smer kit from a more recent edition (this one: Bloch MB 152 (Směr 0840, 1:72) ), I won't need the decals, I could send them to you if you wish. They seem less off-set (although not perfect), but of course I don't know how they will behave. ii) There seems to be a replacement set available: Bloch MB.152-C1 Smer #160 (APC Decals APCR72025, 1:72) I guess these could be really better - but of course this will have some cost...

Duster_d
Alex K, the first option would suit me. But I need to find out a way to offset your postage. Because of the sanctions, it doesn't look as easy as it used to be, direct transfers don't work from Russia.

Alex K
I was thinking of the same thing... - EDIT: I mean if there are still regular postal services, so that I can stick the decals in an envelop and send them over. I guess I'll find out. (I didn't understand your reply at first - if you mean "money transfers", there is no need for that, seriously...)

Duster_d
Alex, yes, I meant money transfers so that I could offset your postage costs for stamps and an envelope. Postal communication between countries works as before, I think.

Alex K
Don't worry about money, I don't think sending a letter would ruin me... PM to arrange things.