The Albatross Chronicles; bird meets Blue Bird, silliness ensues

[Elliot Naess]

Millicent has (had) 15 identical windows. But looking at various photos now, I see several with two sizes. Somehow didn't notice that before.

I suspect they juggled seat spacing too. That is, seats might not match windows, and/or might have either 13 or 14 rows in the same floor space.

Sooooo.... To establish bus length, it is not enough to count windows from a steep angle.

[Njsurf73]

Any chance of a prop on the nose?
I love this idea. Rolling art.

[TAOLIK]

This is one of the most exciting projects I've seen in awhile. May the force be with you!

ps: Millicent was one of my gateways into this site. Big fan.

[Elliot Naess]

A prop is certainly possible, but so far I'm thinking faux jet engine intake. There is probably a hubcap off an RV, or an industrial light fixture, or some such that fits. The ID of the hole is roughly 23 1/2 inches. It is round, but not flat, so it would be nice if the "hubcap" wraps around the outside a couple inches.

Of course, this is something we can swap out anytime we come up with a new one.

[Njsurf73]

How about this?

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[Elliot Naess]

Difficult to see the propeller in this photo, but it is there.
.
.

[Njsurf73]

Awesome!

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[Elliot Naess]

Since we play with bicycles quite a lot….



Two wheels behind each other, with strips of sheet aluminum on the spokes to represent turbine vanes, alternating direction, imitating a jet engine.



And on the front, a chain drive from a dummy shaft sticking out below, similar to a supercharger drive on an old race car.

I can “see” this clearly. Hopefully, I am not the only one with “predictive vision”?

[REDD]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Since we play with bicycles quite a lot….



Two wheels behind each other, with strips of sheet aluminum on the spokes to represent turbine vanes, alternating direction, imitating a jet engine.



And on the front, a chain drive from a dummy shaft sticking out below, similar to a supercharger drive on an old race car.

I can “see” this clearly. Hopefully, I am not the only one with “predictive vision”?

I can see it, joining the spokes together on an angle with thin pieces of sheet metal. I also play with bicycles. Might be able to stuff a metal garbage can in the hole and make the whole thing an insert.

So I'm looking at your drawing, freakin awesome, way to big of a project for this guy but never the less, awesome!
-Steering/axle, looks like your wheels are tight together like a tractor? What's the plan?
-Blind spot from the small windshield, that's a lot of front end.
-teeth look cool, like an old war plane.
-Do you think you'll have any issues getting insurance?
-need some crazy mirrors to tie into your build.

[REDD]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

So... shopping for a bus.
I'm struggling to understand the length of some Blue Birds. I'm approaching convinced that BB makes (made) different window sizes. Not concerned about height, but length. (One might also say window "width".)

Millicent measures 28", center to center of the window posts. Note... center to center -- not the window itself, which is a tiny bit less.
Put an other way, the full roof panels measure 56" and span two windows.

Could I ask you BB owners to run out and measure yours?

Millicent has 15 windows and 84 pax, and is 39-40 feet.

But I'm seeing buses with only 14 windows, yet also 84 pax and 39/40 feet. Longer windows and roof panels?

OK, I know you're looking for a BB flat nose.
A dog nose, you could almost put the hood inside and move the windows of the plane over the drivers seat. A couple of hatches on either side like an old Dodge swing fender and you're under the hood.

Mines 40' dog nose F/L, 10 windows the same and 1 larger at the rear [11 total]

[Elliot Naess]

Placing and accommodating the front wheels is still the great mystery.

Ideally, we would not cut clearance in that swooping "boat" edge, but I think we must.

No, narrowing the front axle is a non-starter.

[EastCoastCB]

My amtrans have an odd mix of window width, as well fwiw.

[TAOLIK]

I found a distant cousin to your Albatross.

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Placing and accommodating the front wheels is still the great mystery.

Ideally, we would not cut clearance in that swooping "boat" edge, but I think we must.

No, narrowing the front axle is a non-starter.

Are you moving the controls forward, or cutting the bus back and "capping" the front?
Either way, I want a ride!

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[Tango]

And then there was this...

[Stewzer55]

The Dr. Strangelove Experience.

[Elliot Naess]

The plan is to remove 15 feet of bus body, and replace it with the 15 feet of Albatross body. Then transfer the controls. Nothing will fit anywhere near the same way, of course, but that's no big deal.

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

The plan is to remove 15 feet of bus body, and replace it with the 15 feet of Albatross body. Then transfer the controls. Nothing will fit anywhere near the same way, of course, but that's no big deal.

Did you consider a re bus? Seems like fewer systems to contend with. Although I have seen some of your creations and it looks like you could fab about anything you needed.
I still want a ride.. charge 5 bucks a person and break even on the whole thing 😂

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[Elliot Naess]

I did consider it. But we want to have the tail open just like on Millicent.

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

I did consider it. But we want to have the tail open just like on Millicent.

Oh yes, I forgot about the rear veranda.

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