Dune - Atreides Ornithopter 1:48

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bigpetr

Designer/Master Modeler
Jan 27, 2016
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Czech Republic
Hello friends

I just want to let you know what I am up to. I am gathereing reference to create Atreides Ornithopter from the new Dune movie:

dune ornitopther.jpg

I have laid out rough basic proportions, but I need to wait for more info and images to hopefully apper sooner or later. If you have something useful to me, I will be realy thankfull for it.
Thank you.
 
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@bigpetr You have certainly garnered my interest in this project. I am greatly looking forward to seeing how it will turn out. I would be very willing to try my hand at this model, once it is done.

I wish you the very best of success on your endeavors with this project!!!
 
That is a beautiful design. The similarities to a dragonfly are obvious. I wish you good luck with this project! :)
 
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It all goes by fast but it's clear there are at least two ornithopter designs in the film. Paul and Jessica escape from a research station in a small, two-seat ornithopter with only 4 wings, a bit more like a dragonfly. I'm not a designer, but I think I could modify an existing helicopter model to make an approximation.
 
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You are right, there is more types of ornithopter - The Atreides version (one I am working on), Harkonens version and two-seater version you are talking about.

I have done approximate basic shapes of Atreides topther, but I am waiting for some other references to be released (like official blueprint idealy :)), because I am not able to figure out some dimensions and shapes as precisely as I would like.
 
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I just saw the movie in a IMAX Laser Theater. When the ornithopter was gliding, well, let's just say they really should have contacted a better aerodynamics specialists. I liked the movie, and the ornithopter, the vibration at low altitude would attract worms for miles, but that was how it was in the book.

I look forward to looking at your build, it should make for a fantastic model in your hands! :)

Considering how long ago this guy made this, it is still one of the smoothest flying ornothopters I've seen:

 
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Was that the set model? It couldn't get off the ground otherwise. Must have been, with all the actuators, and motors electronics inside. ;)
 
I have found a very interesting article on REAL ornithopters:

1e9.community

Die Ornithopter in Dune sind keine Science Fiction

Es sind obskure Fluggeräte. In der neuen Verfilmung der Wüstenplanet-Saga Dune sind Helikopter zu sehen, die statt mit Rotorblättern mit schwingenden Flügeln durch die Luft surren. Diese Ornithopter sind allerdings keine Science-Fiction-Fantasie, sondern real – wenn auch nicht sonderlich...
1e9.community 1e9.community

It's in German, you have to translate it (if you dare! ;) ). :)
 
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Revell-Fan said:
I have found a very interesting article on REAL ornithopters:

1e9.community

Die Ornithopter in Dune sind keine Science Fiction

Es sind obskure Fluggeräte. In der neuen Verfilmung der Wüstenplanet-Saga Dune sind Helikopter zu sehen, die statt mit Rotorblättern mit schwingenden Flügeln durch die Luft surren. Diese Ornithopter sind allerdings keine Science-Fiction-Fantasie, sondern real – wenn auch nicht sonderlich...
1e9.community 1e9.community

It's in German, you have to translate it (if you dare! ;) ). :)
Click to expand...


That first one was a joke, the wings weren't even changing their angle of attack. The second video showed much more knowledge of the subject, with wings flapping and changing the angle of attack on every stroke. That was truly imppressive, klunky, but impressive. I think they could have achieved better results with larger slower moving wings, and fewer of them, they have the physics right. Kudos to those guys. :)
 
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I will take a thumbs up from an admin as encouragement. The first image here seems to be another angle on the prop seen above. The next two look like high quality pre-production artwork. The circular mounting points for the wing actuators on the interior stretch credulity, but it's still cool..a12.jpga13.jpga14.jpg
 
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I wonder why they always square off the leading edges. Even Dragonflies have natural rounded leading edges. A square leading edge would cause such bad stall characteristics. I'm dumbfounded by this. Judging from what I saw in the movie, a Sikorsky CH53K could outperform these, and carry 55 soldiers to boot., but it was what was in the book, and helicopters were in their infancy when it was written. Twice the horsepower as the previous, and all carbon fiber, this is one monster machine. ;)

 
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zathros said:
I wonder why they always square off the leading edges.
Click to expand...
Maybe because it looks cool? ;) I think it is easier and faster to build. Just look at papercrafting. Round shapes are far more tricky to produce than edgy ones. I absolutely loathe making curved parts but sometimes it is a necessary evil. Unless you are building a model in South Park Canadian style, of course (NO OFFENSE, I LOVE YOU ALL!). ;) :D

1638814504639.png
 
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I don't know what it is with South Park and Canadiens, but I've been to Canada and Montreal, they are really completely different places, and the people are wonderful. Some of my fellow Americans at play up there were not the best representation of the U.S. of A. ;)
 
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