Messages

436

Warplane Art / Re: Hump

« on: October 10, 2010, 06:25:48 PM »

Nice plane and nice scene, although I think it is not yet complete!
Coomando was impressive machine. Here is one I photographed as a 16-years old kid at the old Schiphol airport. It is s freighter, so it must have a military background!

437

Warplane Art / Re: D.H. 108

« on: October 08, 2010, 03:56:14 PM »

Really nice!!! One detail: this high-speed testplane shows open slats, but that was only on 1st machine where it was fixed in open position. At high-speed flight with 2nd machine wing slats were normally closed.
However, since plane crashed moments later nobody will know what exactly happened.
So, open slats: OK, maybe shortly before breaking up in the air///Who knows!!!!!

438

Combat Warplanes / Re: Westland Whirlwind

« on: October 08, 2010, 03:48:17 PM »

Well, that is exactly also my question! When reading parts on the book on his Whirlwind experiences I already noted some peculiar things: Whirlwind never flew with additional external fuel tank under the fuselage as stated by this person!
And............that photo of the author in front of his plane is clearly a case of 'early photoshopping'! Whirlwind was at that time still secret, so taking photographs was definitely not allowed then! In fact plane belonged to 263 squadron commander H. Coghlan///////

439

Combat Warplanes / Westland Whirlwind

« on: October 08, 2010, 03:31:41 PM »

I recently found a nice book written by Eric Thomas describing his combat experiences while flying the Westland Whirlwind fighter. However, on Internet it was reported this book gives false information and that it was soon withdrawn by the publisher William Kimber when it was introduced in 1988. Surprisingly this book is now quite expensive since it seems to be a collector's item!
Can anyone give more info!
Attached the book cover and a photo of the author in front of 'his Whirlwind' as published in this book.
Attached also same photo without the 'pilot' from other sources!

440

Warplane Art / Re: D.H. 108

« on: October 07, 2010, 07:30:57 PM »

Really looking great!
As you may know, this plane had NO ejection seat!
Pilot wore simple leather helmet//

441

Warplane Art / Re: D.H. 108

« on: October 07, 2010, 04:11:27 PM »

Title: 'Moments before disaster' ???

442

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Euro Scale Modelling Nieuwegein

« on: September 30, 2010, 06:10:26 PM »

And this was BEFORE the fire broke out!!
My 'impression' of this nice Revell kit was prototype 'V01'////////

443

Combat Warplanes / Re: De Havilland D.H. 108 Swallow

« on: September 24, 2010, 08:56:04 PM »

Very nice details! I have never seen dark underside fuselage inspection panels (at least I assume these ARE panels!) on other drawings. On photos these are clearly visible.
All that has been published so far is based on De Havilland drawing material since none of the prototypes can be checked in a museum. We already know from Fokker S.14 that even company  general overview drawings not always reflect precise details on the 'real plane'! In this case you can only carefully study existing photos for all details// Think we are writing history with these drawings.
And don't forget to remove inner pitot tubed on wingstips; TG283 only had only one at each!

444

Combat Warplanes / Re: US airships

« on: September 22, 2010, 10:03:35 PM »

I believe large airship hangar at Moffet Field still exists today!

445

Warplane Art / Re: Junkers Ju88

« on: September 22, 2010, 06:06:33 PM »

It is interesting to know that the JU-88/FW-190 Mistel as shown in the UK after the war was in fact 'manufactured in the UK' using the separate components.
The JU-88 Mistel combination with the special nose with a hollow explosive charge was intended for special targets like bunkers. The book 'KG200' by Len Deighton describes such a mission on the bunker complex in London housing Winston Churchill and the most important ministers. Of course it is pure fiction.....

446

Combat Warplanes / Re: De Havilland D.H. 108 Swallow

« on: September 20, 2010, 11:08:37 PM »

This is showing TG283 low-speed 1st prototype. Wing tip fairings contained anti-spin parachutes. Pitot tubes at wing tip were not double (see photographs of TG283!). We can clearly see the fixed leading edge slats! All three prototypes were different from eachother!
Great work!!!!!

447

Aircraft Modeling / Re: For home manufacturers

« on: September 20, 2010, 11:17:55 AM »

Be careful with that photo-etching process! Please, realise the etching liquid will also etch your fingers if you let it come into contact.
So: carefully read the safety instructions and follow them///////
Another advice: wear safety goggles during the whole process!!!

448

Warplane Art / Re: Cessna L-19 Bird Dog

« on: September 13, 2010, 11:30:21 PM »

Cessna also made XL-19B prototype with small turboprop engine.
Believe only one was built!

449

Warplane Art / Re: D.H. 108

« on: September 13, 2010, 06:28:31 PM »

Interesting times when you still could roll an aircraft out of the hangar without using any machines!
Pilot shown is Geoffry De Havilland, son of the company founder, who was later tragically killed when flying this type.....

450

Warplane Art / Re: Morane Saulnier MS.406 C1

« on: September 02, 2010, 11:32:21 PM »

Sorry, but Pilatus had nothing to do with MS406.
They were licence built by Doflug (Swiss Dornier).
Type was developed further into D-3802 with Me-109 type canopy and D-3803 with Mustang type bubble canopy.
D-3803 was built as single prototype only. Both D-3802 and D-3803 had new all metal monocoque fuselage instead of welded steel tube fuselage coverd with fabric at rearside and 'Contreplaque Aluminium' panels at front fuselage side.
D-3802 was built in small numbers only, but served with Swiss AF until late fifties. Also single D-3803 was used operationally alongside D-3802's