KAMOV A7 – 3A

In May 1931 a moscav’s airport held a presentation for the sowiet government of autogiro KASKR II, designed by a young constructor Kamova and Skrzyńskiego. The show of aeroplane flights made an impression on soviet military and soon after, the constructors receieved an instruction to continuate the production of further versions of the machine. Because the main advantages of the autogiro is the possibility of  short starts and landings, the construction brought out huge interest to the military artillery, where the autogiro was seen as the fire coordinator. Even though in CAGI where worked Nikolai Ijicz Kamov there were plans to only lead research on the autogiro, Kamov persuaded by the military authority desided to construct for his new project the version of a fighter. The militaries demands were specific and similar to the aeroplane recognized in those Times (R-3 and R-5). That meant that A-7(that was the code of CAGI’s project) should have a lifting capacity of 750 kg (2-2,5 times more than the earlier autogiro), be able to transfer smaller bombs, be equipped with a camera as well as a radio station, its armament should be consisted of 3 machine guns: two in the shotters position and one in the front synchronized with the propellers. A-7 became the first armed autogiro so you can say that it is the ancestor of modern fighters. Because of the unknown technology of navigating the impeller in the earlier years, Kamov projected A-7 as a „winged autogiro”. Navigating it was similar to navigating a classic aeroplane. All of the control surfaces where made as an air-gap improving the navigating effectiveness At low speed. One other thought was brought out, the under-carriage with its front wheel, not used now a days even in aeroplanes, this solution abled to lower the vibration of the impeller during the start and shorten the runway.
Aircraft A-7 was propelled by  radial engine M-22 cooling air, by a Townend ring. The impeller had three rotor blades, each one was made from a steel pipes, plywood and wood, the thatch of the back parts of the rotor blades were made from canvas. During the start the impeller was propelled by the help of a transmission through the autogiro’s engine, during the flight the propulsion of the impeller was set off and the impeller rotated with the speed of about 200 rotates/minute. The body of A-7 had 3 sections: engine, pilot’s cabins and shooter’s cabin. The body had a steel construction with duralumin thatch. The wings of A-7 were made from wood with a canvas thatch. The wings ends as well as the rotor blades could have been folder during transport.
 On 18 August 1935 pilot K. K. Popov demonstrated a machine on a aeroplane parade in Tuszyno.
Because A-7 brought huge interest, the constructors decided to show more fully the advantages of this construction. In 1938 A-7 served for „recognizing ice” in Arctic, in 1941 the fuselage was used to spray insect exterminant in Tyran-Hen mountains fighting with insect plauge. In both roles the machine was explended.
But the main use of  machine A-7 was primarily military. In years 1939-1940 A-7 passed a combat christening in Finland, where it was used to coordinate artillery fire. Later in 1941 it supported the artillery in a battle near Elnei, but the small speed and not possible escort from the soviet fighters made A-7 an easy loot for Germains. That is why in 1942 Autogiro worked in night operations: supporting military groups and supplying guerrilla’s with cargo.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Crew…………………2 people

Height………………..3,88m

Span………………….10,4 m

Self mass……………..1553 kg

Total mass……………2390 kg

Max speed……………218 km/h

Min speed…………….46 km/h

Ceiling………………..4760 m

Time of flight…………2,5 h

Arms:………………….1km 7,62 mm

         …………………...6 rackets RS-82

         ……………………4 bombs FAB-100

The publishing house thanks Mr. Vladimir Vodolazkiy for helping in finding information on the Kamov A-7 project.

         THE CONSTRUCTIONS DESCRIPTION

 GENERAL COMMENTS :

Before gluing get familiar with with the main plan of the model and the assembly drawing. We use a rule of matching pieces together „on dry”, try on twice-then glue. Places not printed, cut curbs, scratches etc. paint with watercolours or other suitable colours. Ready model can be painted with colourless matt varnish. Pieces needing proper profile or rolling into tight pipes can be wetned before profiling. Before using this method, first excersize on piece sof cardboard. With better practise you can accieve great results.

  MARKS

Scissors…………….cut

            ……………..roll tightly

            ……………..fold in half and glue

            ……………..fold in half and glue in the inside cardboard with

                                   specific thickness

The build of the model begin with the skeleton from pieces A1-A13. Next make the cabin’s equipment. Piece 1 after cutting and forming glue only with piece 1 (th next side glue only when the equipment is glued inside). To piece 1 glue from  pieces 2-12 as in the drawing. After gluing inside all of the pieces, glue the second side of piece 1 bad the entire piece inside the ready skeleton.The skeleton finish up with details from pieces A-14 - A-17 with is presented in the drawing. Over the ready skeleton glue a thatch. Before gluing the thatch, over the proper frame glue proper plywood situated by the pieces. Don’t resign from the plywoods because later on there can be a problem with matching elements of the skeleton. Gluing begin with element nr. 13. Next continuate gluing over the skeleton pieces 14, 15, 15a, 16, 17 and 18. The next segment piece 19 make in this way: from the front to this segment glue inside frame A18 glued as in drawing and the ready segment glue to the front of the earlier made piece of body. From the back glue segment 20 made similar to segment 19 with the difference that segment 20 doesn’t have in its back part a slip of paper because it is connected with the stabilizer with method „on two frames” that is why frame A19 glue equally to the back edge of piece 20. The next stage to the build of the model is making the stabilizer. From pieces A20-A29 install the stabilizer’s skeleton. Over the ready skeleton glue pieces 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27(remembering about the plywood). Element 27a after proper forming glue from the back to piece 27. Join the ready stabilizer to the body. Before gluing both parts polish up its surface. After assembling the stabilizer begin with making the rudder. Its skeleton glue from pieces A30-A33 as well as wire S5. Wire S5 assemble during gluing piece A33. Fix the wire with the help of A30b and A30c, making enough space for the wire to turn. Over the ready skeleton glue piece 28a. From the top and the bottom to piece 28a glue piece 28b and 28c. From the back to the rudder glue the trimming tab made from piece 28d. The ready rudder pinch into the „pocket” of the stabilizer only after making the stabilizer fin and the elevator. From pieces A34 and A35 make two skeletons of the tails plane (the left and right) which you should glue from the front to piece A27.Over the skeletons glue pieces 29aL and 29aP. Pieces 29a must be profiled as it is show in their section. Piece 29c glue to the stabilizer on the marked spaces. From pieces A36 and wire S6 make the skeleton of the tail plane. Wire S6 fix similarly as the rudder. Pieces A36 can be glued together in the middle with the help of a strip of paper. Over the ready skeleton glue pieces 29dL and 29dP. Both of the pieces join together in the middle by the help of a strip of paper (glued from the inside). Complete the rudder with piece 29e glued from the back. The ready rudder attach to the stabilizer fin. Now it is possibile to attach the stabilizer fin to the tail plane. From pieces A37a and A37b glue the skeleton sof the stabilizers. Over the ready made glue piece 30a in which from the back part glue piece 30b and the entire piece glue to the stabilizer where it is marked. Gluing over the skeleton piece 30a look at the right profile of the section. The bulge part should be directed to the symmetry axis of the model. From piece 30c make a profile of the stabilizers joinings. The next stage is to make the angel struts needed for stiffening the construction. First on the marked spacer on the stabilizer glue the fixtures piece 30d (tail plane) and piece 30e (stabilizer fin and stabilizors). First make the diagonal angel strut from pieces 30f  glued on wires S7. The ready angel struts can be fixe in two ways. The first possibility is to bore holes  from 0.6-0.7 mm in the angel struts to let the wire come through, but immobilizing it by simply gluing it. The secondo possibility is to bore holes in the stabilizers but shortening the patterns from all sides by a section anticipated to the dip in the holes. That way made angel struts can be glued to the fixtures only with hard fast-drying glue. Similarly fix the angel struts made from piece 30g and from patterns S8. As in the drawing glue frame A38 fixing on it pockets needed to fix the under-carriage as well as the turret impeller. The ready frame glue to piece 31 and the entire part glue to the body. Next make other segments 32 and 33.  In these segments put a balast for the ready model to Rest on the front wheels. From pieces 34 a-d and wire S9 glue the body of the engine. When ready, glue it in the marked place to angel strut A40. From pieces 35 a-e make 9 cylinders which you glue to spaces  marked on piece 34c. The cylinder can be done the harder way as well. That way you should leave pieces 35a and 35b and use pieces c1- c13. After gluing all of the cylinders to the engines body make two other segments of the body from pieces 36 and 37.  As in pattern S10 make the immitation of value lifters. In piece 36 bore holes in which you push the bottom parts of the lifters, glue the top parts of the lifter to the value rocker piece 35e. From piece 38a-c make a set of pipes which join each cylinder. Piece 38a and b should be tightened and nextly cut with a razor blade as in the drawing. The 8 ready sets made from pieces 38a-c glue between the cylinders as shown in the drawing of the engine. From pieces 39 a-e make two sets ( left and right) of the exhaust pipes. Piece 39d and 39e can be cut and nextly glued as in drawing made in scale 1:1.The details can also be made from other materiales for example: wire, the same things consider details made from pieces 39a and 39b which are very hard to be made from cardboard. Good results can be gained proceeding in such way: after gluing pieces 39a and b as well as gluing to it details 39c and e.The entire piece soak into cyanide-acryl glue and then polish. That way shaped detail paint black and glue to piece 38b. The spot sof gluing are shown in the drawing of the engine. Piece 40 (cylinder cover) after cutting and profiling, paint it from the botton on black and then glue to piece 36 directly in front of the cylinder. From piece 41 make the cylinders cover. First piece 41a glue into a ring, to it to the inside glue plywood and nextly piece 41a’. Next glue piece 41b with the joining plywood, now to its inside glue piece 41b’ , next glue piece 41c and to the inside of its end glue ring 41c’. It is indicated to move the joinings of pieces 41a’ , b’ , c’ , even to 180 degrees which will strengthen the detail. Pull the ready ring on the cylinder and stiffen it with the help of one drop of glue. If the ring is too loose on the engine, it is possibile to glue to the cylinder with the help of 3 strips of paper glued from the top to the cylinder. The strips need to be arranged 120 degrees from each otherbegining from the highest. From pieces 42 make the cylinders lower exhausts. After rolling the pieces, cut and glue them as shown in the drawing. Ready made piece glue to the cylinders so that from bottom part they will stick out of the holes in the bottom part of ring 41. From pieces 43 a-f as in drawings make the drive of the helicopter rotor. From pieces 44 a-e and pattern S11 glue the propeller. First glue piece 44a, over it glue ready blades made from pieces 44d and pattern S11. That made propeller string on wire S9 and glue the propeller to the wire with cyanide-acryl glue. Now glue the kolpack piece 44b witha piece 44c glued to it already. Piece 44c should be put into the marked place in the hole in piece 44b. Piece 44c can be exchanged by a needle or a piece of insulation from a wire. Begin making the wings by gluing together the skeleton from pieces A43a – A50i (L for the left and P for the right). Over girder A43a  glue from both sides piece A43b, similarly over girder A44a glue pieces A44b. On the ready girders put on and glue the ribs: A45a glue together with A45b, A46, A47. Nextly glue the stiffening A49a, A49b and A49d with the front part of rib A49c. From the sides to piece A49a and b glue the remaining piece sof the ribs A49c and to it stiffenings A49e and f. The remaining stiffenings that is A50a-A50g glue to the skeleton as it is shown in the drawing. Making the inside of the reflector (in the left wing) in piece A50d after gluing you should cut-out the marked space. Pieces A50h and A50i glue from the top and the middle in the marked spaces forming in that way a „pocket”  which will be needed for fixing the aileron. Now you can glue the last rib A48 as well as the fixing of under- carriages nest made from Piece A51 rolled on a wire-diametre 0,8mm. The nest glue into a hole which was cut-out earlier in piece A49a and stiffened. You can strengthen the nests stiffenings gluing piece sof cardboard to the next ribs. The ready skeleton should be polished. On the skeletons joinings pieces 46a and b glue plywood. Gluing the skeleton begin from piece 46b. Gluing over the skeleton piece 46 b make sure that the aileron is situated on the opposite side of the „pocket” in the skeleton. Making the inside of the reflector in piece 46bL cut-out a proper place and glue on it a „pane” made from pattern F1. The inside of the reflector make from piece 47. Nextly over the skeleton glue piece 46a and here you should pay attention so that the hole needed for fixing the dunder-carriage in piece 46a is a match with nest A51 in the skeleton. From pieces A52a-A52d as well as pattern S12 make the ailerons skeleton. The wire S12 fix to the skeleton with the help of pieces A52d letting the ailerons move inside it. Over the skeleton glue piece 46c. Gluing the skeleton with a thatch you should put inside the thatch some cotton-wool to avoid the thatches sink. The ready ailerons pinch inside the „pockets” in the wing. From piece A53a and A53b make the end of the wings skeleton. Over the ready skeleton glue piece 46d and glue to the rest of the wing. In this detail it is also seen that you put some cotton-wool  inside during gluing. The navigating lights glue from pieces 46e and glue to the ends of piece 46d. The ready wings put on the bayonet and glue to the body. The profile of passage wing-body make from pieces 46f and g. As a base for gluing piece 46f take the line on the body but not the wings. From pieces 48a –c make the imitation of the ailerons hinges. The hinges glue to piece 46b on the opposite side of the cut-outs in the aileron. During the ailerons movements down the hinges should hide to a specific stage in the ailerons holes. The hinges glue from the smallest to the biggest ( from a to c) begining from the end of the wing. From piece 49a – 49i as well as wires S13 and S14 glue the wings angel struts. Fairing piece 50 glue to pieces 50a and b, and the ready piece glue to the top surfach of the wing in the marked space. From piece A45a – A45k make the skeleton of the front under-carriage leg. The ready skeleton should be polished. Before gluing elements over the skeleton, you should glue in proper places plywood as well as check if pattern S16 without cut-outs moves into the skeletons pocket. Over the ready detail glue pieces 51a-51d. Next piece 51e glue over piece A54. To piece 51e glue profiled and glued earlier piece 51f. From piece 52 a-c(or with pattern) ma the front under-carriages wheel. When making the wheel from cardboard, after gluing pieces 52a and 52b, soak the wheel with cyanide-acryl glue and polish. That way made wheel paint on black. Put the wheel on pattern S16 and safen from sliping off of  ring 52d. That made detail put through a hole in piece A54l and push inside a „pocket” in the skeleton joining together pieces 51d and 51e. next from the bottom to the under-carriage leg glue piece 51g. To not ruin the detail during cutting and gluing we proceed as written above. After gluing the details cut-out only from the outside, the sides of the elements soak in cyamide-acryl glue and after drying cut-out from the inside holes. The ready under-carriage leg push into a space in the bottom of the body and then glue. The last stage  during the build of the under –carriage leg is gluing over it (in the places of joinings under –carriage leg- body) piece 51h.

Make the main under –carriage leg this way: first glue together piece 53a. Next from pieces 54a-d (or according to the pattern) make the under –carriages main wheel as written earlier. The ready wheel put on  wire S17 and protect it with piece 54e. Now the entire piece push inside the bottom into the cover. The pointing out wires end glue with tightly rolled piece 53b to which you glue ring 53c. Close the fairing from the bottom with piece 53d. The back landing skid glue as in drawing from pieces 55 and wire S18. The ready piece fix into the back part of the body in the marked place. The details made from pieces 56a and b glue to the sides of the body in the marked places. Elements 56c glue from both sides to the rudder Elements 57 and 58 make as in drawings. Piece 57 glue to the right side in the marked place on the body, and element 58 from the left side to the rudder and trimming tab. Element 59 glue from pieces 59a, 59b or 59b’. The ready detail glue to the bottom of the body. Piece 60 glue to the body in the place shown in the assembly drawing. From pieces 61a, b, c, and the „pane” made from pattern F2 glue the front windscreen as well as the rear-view mirror. The ready piece glue to the body. Pieces 62 a-d glue together as in the drawing. The ready element glue to the body after the pilots cabin. Now from pieces 62e, f and „pane” F3 glue the shooters fairings (left and right). The ready element glue to the body and to piece 62c.

Launcher with rackets.

To a tightly rolled piece 63a (instead of rolling details from piece 63a you can make it from a thin stiuk or wire) glue piece 63b with a wire S22. From the bottom glue guide bar S21. From pieces 63 c-e make a racket and when it is ready glue it to the launcher. Fix the launcher to the wings with the help of stiffenings glued from pieces 63f and g as well as wires S23 and S24. Places where bombs and rackets are fixed are marked on the bottom airfoil surface with black dots. In the marked places drill a hole and glue inside the stiffenings. Glue the bombs from pieces 64 as in drawing and the ready made element fix  under the wings. During the build of the bombs you can resign from patterns S25 which are complicated. Km make from piece 65. First glue together both pieces 65a. To them glue a magazine made from pieces 65b-65d as well as a dative 65e. In the front glue the barrel made from pattern S28. Make the barrel from a needle or a thin isolation from a wire. From the bottom in piece 65a drill holes in which you glue stiffenings S29. To the inside of the ring 65g glue strip 65h. On both sides of the turn-table in contact on marked places glue piece 65i. Between  pieces 65i in the specific angel glue wire S30 to which you glue ready km. The entire element put in the nest of km in the body. The turn-table should slightly turn but not fall out of the nest. The last stage of work on the model is making the mast and  impeller. The masts skeleton glue from pieces A55a-A55i as well as wire S31 as in drawing. After polishing the ready skeleton glue it over with plywood.Glue over the skeleton pieces 66a-66h. Element 66h can be made in two ways, as spinned (66h) or cut (66h’) you should choose one. The ready mast put into the proper holes in the upper part of the body and then glue. From both sides of the mast fix guys made from wire S32 and piece 66i. Element 66i glue from the top to piece 49e. Places where the wire is fixed in piece 66b is marked with a black dot. The impeller make as follows: First wire S33 and three wires S34 roll tightly by piece 67a. On the conection pour cyamide-acryl glue. When the glue has dryed check if the entire construction is possible to put into the hole in the machine and i fit can spin without any barriers. In case you come with any problems you should turn the detail with the help of abrasive paper and scissors. From piece 67b and 67c glue a nave which from the top will be glued to the earlier made construction. Through the cut-out in the nave roll tightly piece 67d, nextly to the wire glue piece 67e and over the entire piece glue the airscrew blades thatch 67f Piece 67g glue in the crack in piece 67f. Over piece 67d glue 67h. From the sides of piece 67d near the nave glue piece 67l to which you fix piece 67l. The ready impeller put into the hole in the upper part of the mast.

We wish  great pleasure on building this model.