Czech Master Resin Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk in 1/72 Scale

This is the Czech Master Resin 1/72 Scale Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk, their kit number CMR72-239 released in 2014.  If you want to build this unique airship fighter in 1/72 scale there are three options – the limited-run Pegasus injection mold, the Eagles Talon vacuform, or this CMK kit in resin.  The kit provides three marking options, I marked mine as an aircraft carried by the USS Akron (ZRS-4) during 1932-33.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heinkel He 177 Greif (Griffin) Engines & Servicing Details

An He 177A-3 of Flugzeugführerschule (B) 16 starting engines.  The cart in front of the aircraft is an electrical generator which was widely used on Luftwaffe airfields while starting engines or to replenish batteries within the aircraft.  The ground crewman on the left stands by with a fire extinguisher, a prudent precaution.

The main powerplant of the early He 177, the Daimler-Benz DB 606.  This engine was built by combining two DB 601 twelve-cylinder engines.  The A-3 and later variants carried the similar DB 610 which used DB 605 engines and developed 2,860 hp (2,133 kW).

Each bank was married to a common reduction gear to drive the propeller.  This has led to a semantic debate about whether the He 177 was a two-engine or four-engine design.  In any case engine fires plagued the Greif and the developmental He 274 and 277 designs were laid out as conventional four-engine designs with each engine in its own nacelle.

Engine servicing on this 4./KG 100 machine would make for an interesting diorama!  The aircraft was designed to have this special crane fitted when a block and tackle was needed to service the engines.  Note the spinner on the hardstand in front of the aircraft and how uneven the spiral is painted.  The aircraft is W.Nr. 550043, coded 6N+HM.

Another view showing the maintenance crew preparing to remove the propeller.  Each DB 610 engine weighed a hefty 3,300 pounds (1,500 kg).

A different type of portable block and tackle commonly seen on Luftwaffe airfields.  The tarps covering the engines and cockpit glazing of this KG 50 Greif are noteworthy.  (World War Photos)

It is rare to see the Fowler flaps deployed on an He 177, on this example they are fully extended and depressed for maintenance.  Crews are working on both engines and the wing access panels have been opened.  The cover for the B1-Stand remote turret is on the starboard wing.  These are KG 100 machines at München-Riem airfield.

An He 177 is bombed up using a standard Luftwaffe hydraulic bomb cart.  Maximum bomb load was designed as 15,000 pounds (7,000 kilograms) although it is doubtful this was ever carried operationally.

More bombs are brought to the belly of this KG 100 bomber as armorers work to fuse bombs under the aircraft.  (Bundesarchiv photo)

A heavy load!  An SC 1800 bomb is wheeled under this He 177.  This bomb weighed in at 4,000 pounds, the Grief could carry one on the hardpoint under each wing.

The hydraulic bomb jack strains under the massive weight as armorers connect the shackles.  Note the aircrew approaching from the front of the aircraft.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/08/19/heinkel-he-177-greif-griffon/

Revell of Germany Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4 of Major Adolf Borchers in 1/72 Scale

Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4 of Major Adolf Borchers, Stab III. / JG 52, Deutsch Brod Czechoslovakia, May 1945.  Revell of Germany kit.

Adolf Borchers fought in the Condor Legion in Spain and through the entire Second World War from the first day to the last.  On 02SEP44 he claimed his 118th victory, which was also the 10,000 aerial victory for JG 52.  He ended the war as Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 52 with a total of 132 victories and was imprisoned after the war by the Soviets.

Battleship Ramillies Book Review

Battleship Ramillies: The Final Salvo

Edited by Ian Johnson with Mick French

Hardcover in dustjacket, 256 pages, well illustrated

Published by Seaforth Publishing June 2014

Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-1-84832-2110

Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.0 x 9.2 inches

HMS Ramillies was one of five Revenge class battleships built for the Royal Navy during World War I.   Her main armament was eight 15 inch (381 mm) guns carried in four twin turrets.  She was quite active during the Second World War.  She was part of the escort for HMS Illustrious during the Toranto Raid, and her presence with Convoy HX 106 was enough to prevent the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau from attacking.  She was the flagship for the British invasion of Madagascar, and was torpedoed by a Japanese midget submarine there at Diego Suarez on 30MAY42.  She participated in Operation Neptune, the naval portion of the Normandy Invasion where she expended over one thousand rounds of 15 inch.  Her last major action in WWII was Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France.

This book consists entirely of “sea stories” from the crew as collected by the HMS Ramillies Association.  These are very personal accounts and vary greatly as each sailor tells his story from his own perspective.  All seem to have a lasting affection for the ship and shipmates, Ramillies is consistently described as a clean ship and a happy ship.  The Royal Marines are also represented, as are the wives and sweethearts.

Most accounts mention that HMS Ramillies was the first battleship to call on New Zealand, where her Captain was presented with a Māori warriors’ skirt, the piupiu.  It was said to be able to protect the crew from harm if worn in action.  The Captain did indeed wear the skirt, and the Ramillies suffered no losses due to enemy action while he was wearing it.

I enjoyed this book.  It really conveys what life was like in the Royal Navy during WWII, both on the ship and ashore.  Sailors from any navy will recognize much from these accounts, although some of the jargon is unique to the British – the Royal Navy is “The Andrew” and sailors are “matelots”.  The book also contains several photographs, my one criticism is that they should have been reproduced in a larger format to better see the details.  Recommended.

Note:  The dustjacket on this copy is not torn, the “damage” is a rather odd artistic choice of the publisher and is printed on.

Curtiss XP-55 Ascender Walk Around

Photographs taken at the Air Zoo, Kalamazoo Michigan.

History of the type here:  https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/07/01/curtiss-wright-xp-55-ascender/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women Warriors 81

Russia

Sweden

LCDR Paige “PUFN” Blok, VFA-32, F/A-18 Pilot

War Photographer Margaret Bourke White on B-17 Flying Fortress Engine

Israeli Police

IDF

IDF

ATA Pilots

To see more Women Warriors, click on the tags below:

Converting the Airfix B-17G to a B-17E, Part II

Here is the Airfix cockpit and bomb bay module.  This is a neat bit of engineering, the wing spars effectively eliminate the chance of getting the wing dihedral wrong, a problem which plagues the Academy Fortresses.  Experience has demonstrated that very little is visible inside the cockpit except for the seats.  I did blank off behind the wing spars in the bomb bay so the inside of the wing is not visible, just like the real aircraft.

The aft fuselage has some improvements.  The Airfix floor piece is all one level platform, in actuality there was a step in the middle.  Note that the gun mount is offset forward, not centered in the window opening.  The cylindrical object at the rear is a chemical toilet.

This view shows the changes made to the radio compartment.  All the rib detail was removed, the B-17E was provided with batting for sound deadening in the nose, cockpit, and radio compartment so the internal ribbing should not be visible there.  I made the missing compartment doors from plastic sheet and blocked off the side panels where the wing fillet was visible.

The E models had different crew seats than the “swivel chair” type used on the G.  These are not difficult to construct.  Here are the different components in various stages of construction.

I found photographs of actual USAAF seat cushions online and reduced them to scale.  These were then printed on photographic paper and installed in the seats.  Seatbelts received a similar treatment.

The interior after painting.  The floors were covered with rubber sheet to reduce slippage.  Note that the bomb bay and after fuselage section is left in the natural metal finish, unprimed and unpainted.  There are a number of photographs which show Interior Green in these compartments, but these are all of restored warbirds, the interiors of these compartments on actual service Fortresses were left in natural metal.

Here are the Quickboost resin engines with pushrods and the kit exhaust piece added.

Part III here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/09/11/converting-the-airfix-b-17g-to-a-b-17e-part-iii/

Monogram Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk in 1/72 Scale

This is the Monogram kit from 1968.  Even though it is over fifty years old the kit still compares well to recent releases, featuring some very nice surface detail and clever engineering which ensures correct alignment and easy construction.  I dressed this one up with a resin cockpit from Starfighter Decals, and also used their sheet 72-107 for the markings.  The aircraft is BuNo 9363 assigned to VF-1B “Tophatters” aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) in 1933.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Build posts here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/monogram-curtiss-f11c-2-goshawk-build/

Heinkel He 177 Greif (Griffin) Landing Gear & Cockpit

The Heinkel He 177 Greif was equipped with a rather unique set of landing gear.  There were four main wheels, each mounted separately on individual struts.  The hinge points were in the engine nacelles and each leg folded laterally up into the wing.

There was a large circular cover for each wheel well under the wing.  These covers were normally closed, opening only when the landing gear was cycling.  The covers could be released by the ground crews for maintenance.  This is an He 177A-1 of KG1, VF+RP.  (World War Photos)

This photograph of an He 177 being serviced reveals several interesting details.  The wheel well doors have been released by the ground crew and the engine covers have been removed.  The highly-polished spinner has been removed and is painted with a very even spiral.  Under the wing at the right of the photo is the rack for an Hs 293 or Fritz-X guided bomb.  The aircraft is from II./KG 40.  (Bundesarchiv Photo)

This aircraft is up on a jack to allow servicing of the main wheels.  The tires were quite large, 1220 x 445 mm.  (Bundesarchiv Photo)

Another machine from II./KG 40, this view gives an impression of the limited access to the engines, even with the panels removed.  Engine cooling problems were never fully overcome, and many He 177 were lost to engine fires.

A nice view of the main gear from the rear showing many useful details for modelers.

A captured aircraft with the wheel well doors and engine access panels open.

The starboard gear retracting as seen from the cockpit of He 177V-4.  The gear was actuated hydraulically and the struts compressed as the gear retracted.

A rare view of the flaps from the underside showing the interior structure.  The He 177 was equipped with Fowler type flaps which slid to the rear before deflecting downwards.

A view from inside the cockpit.  Not the best photograph but it does show the general arrangement.  The pilot sat to the left.  As on many Luftwaffe bomber types, his control yoke was hinged at the top of the center column and could be flipped to the right to allow the Bombardier to fly the aircraft.

A much clearer picture showing the pilot’s station.  Engine controls are on the console to the left.  The extensive glazing provided excellent all-around visibility, particularly down and to the front of the aircraft.

A view of the rear bulkhead of the cockpit showing the radio equipment.  The He 177 carried a crew of six.  German design practice was to concentrate the crew together at the front of the aircraft to improve communication.

Part IV here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/09/09/heinkel-he-177-greif-griffin-engines-servicing-details/

Hasegawa Bf 109 G-6 of Leutnant Anton Hafner in 1/72 Scale

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 of Leutnant Anton Hafner, 8./JG 51, Tilsit-Ost, August, 1944

Anton “Toni” Hafner scored his first victory (a Soviet SB bomber) on the third day of Operation Barbarossa.  He scored steadily against the Soviets.  In October of 1942 II./JG 51 was withdrawn from Russia and transferred to the Mediterranean theater.  He added 20 more victories against the Western Allies until he was shot down and wounded on 02JAN43.  He returned to JG 51 in the East in August, eventually becoming Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 51.  On 17OCT44 Hafner downed a Yak-7 of the French Normandie-Niemen fighter regiment for his 204^th victory, but flew into a tree and was killed.