Prototypes worth modelling-The Fairey Swordfish.

[wonwinglo]

Whilst not the easiest of subjects the Fairey Swordfish should not be ruled out because there is not a straight line anywhere this model has daunted many,however with a bit of pre-planning a workable model should result of this famous old Fleet air arm biplane.

Aerographics boldly kitted her for rubber/Co.2 power,Complete-A-Pak did a plan and there are others out there as well.

The biggest problem with models of this type is to keep them light yet strong,with that big radial engine up front she sure is draggy needing a big engine that will effectively drive a large propeller.

Certainly another candidate for folding wings just like the cleverly executed example recently discussed on the Parnall Elf model.Whichever way she would certainly be an eye catcher especially with a torpedo underslung.

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[Guest]

Have you seen Richard Crapp`s example ? World Championship contender this year. Magnificent.:bravo:

[Guest]

Indeed the Complete-a-pac plans are still available with a cowl to match and another larger version of same with cowl available too.

Click on Link:

https://www.traplet.com/pages/store/action.lasso?-database=FastTrack.fp3&-token.cust=12859945&-response=aircraftplans.html&-show

Enter swordfish into the first box and click on search.

The first of the 2 in the list is the Complete-a-pac Plans.

Regards........Mark.

[wonwinglo]

Have you seen Richard Crapp`s example ? World Championship contender this year. Magnificent.:bravo:

*** Never seen that one Duncan ? sounds like a great model.

[wonwinglo]

Indeed the Complete-a-pac plans are still available with a cowl to match and another larger version of same with cowl available too.Click on Link:

https://www.traplet.com/pages/store/action.lasso?-database=FastTrack.fp3&-token.cust=12859945&-response=aircraftplans.html&-show

Enter swordfish into the first box and click on search.

The first of the 2 in the list is the Complete-a-pac Plans.

Regards........Mark.

*** Thanks Mark,a very good starting point for Swordfish fans,these CAP plans are very functional practical models.

[Guest]

Barry ,I think Richard`s Swordfish may be on the LMA`s web site, or at least at link to it. Worth doing a search for it. He had access to the RN Historic Flight hangar and his model is of the full-size one in your photograph.

[Guest]

Just for Info.....

I have just sent an E-mail to the man himself (Richard Crapp) inviting him to join the forum and to hopefully provide some info/feedback on this model and many of the Scale Beauties he has built over the years.

Regards.........Mark

[Guest]

Photo coverage of his model ( and the full size ) was in the August 2004 Flying Scale Models.

[wonwinglo]

Just for Info.....I have just sent an E-mail to the man himself (Richard Crapp) inviting him to join the forum and to hopefully provide some info/feedback on this model and many of the Scale Beauties he has built over the years.

Regards.........Mark

*** Well done Mark,what a good idea.

[Guest]

Some nice picturs in latest RCM&E a well.

I went down to RNHF Yeovilton for a 5th visit this week. Met the new C/O John Beattie who flew W5856 on its first post restoration flight in 91.

I recently met Stanly Brand who flew W5856 in 1944!

As i have the seat lether, given to my on one of my visits to the hanger, from the aircraft in my model Stanly must have sat on it 60 years ago.

Stanly, now 81, has writen a book of his wartime years on MAC ships with Swordfish. E-Mail me for details.

I can post details of my building plan if any one requires it.

[Guest]

Welcome Richard, Beattie himself was/is no mean pilot and an all round aviation person. I was lucky enough to be at RNHF when they brought the late lamented Firefly out for test flight and had close-up view(on the apron with ground crew) of the wing-fold sequence. Wonderfull,the ear defenders provided didnt dull the roar of the engine much at that range. When on the road with the carrier I`m always approached by ex Fleet Air Arm types and they have some wonderful tales to tell. Amongst the most amazing was the Gentleman who was awarded a commendation from the King for nearly sinking HMS Indefatigable while ferrying Hurricanes to Russia. I was sworn to secrecy but I have asked a few RNFA people of that time if they could confirm the details , no luck so far but it was a great story. Another one was the invention of the "ski-ramp" to assist Harrier take-off. One old matelot claimed his Flight Leader came up with this in the Med in 1942/3 when his carrier was damaged and started taking water. They decided to save the aircraft (Swordfish), stripped them of as much weight as possible and constructed a ramp at bow of the listing ship from shoaring and timbers. The Leader said he`d go first and two things were likely to happen, a. the undercart would come up through the lower wing, or b. "the damn thing will be flying before it knows it, if I get off, so can you ". Well they all made off safely and made it to land. The carrier limped into Malta 5 days later. The story-teller was livid that somebody got a few hundred quid for the idea a couple of decades later. Another with the glorious name of Falcon was going to fly one of the Lend Lease American fighters to a hideway in Spain. They were coming to FAA units towards the end of WW11 and being ditched over the side as "gash gear". Few had many hours on them, some test-flown only. Only last month a Swordfish gunner/wireless op showed me his log-book and photos. One ,probably taken with a Kodak "Box Brownie" was a broadside salvo on-board HMS Warspite taken from the foredeck...bet they were deaf for a week, health and safety.. Pwhah. Heroes every damn one.

[wonwinglo]

Some nice picturs in latest RCM&E a well.I went down to RNHF Yeovilton for a 5th visit this week. Met the new C/O John Beattie who flew W5856 on its first post restoration flight in 91.

I recently met Stanly Brand who flew W5856 in 1944!

As i have the seat lether, given to my on one of my visits to the hanger, from the aircraft in my model Stanly must have sat on it 60 years ago.

Stanly, now 81, has writen a book of his wartime years on MAC ships with Swordfish. E-Mail me for details.

I can post details of my building plan if any one requires it.

***Richard,a big warm welcome to you here,your piece of leather reminded me of incorporating a piece of spruce from a real Turbi G-APFA into yes you have guessed it ! a model of same which I built years ago.

If you want to send in some pictures of your beautiful model here then please go ahead,especially any constructional shots.

Thank you,Barry.

[Guest]

Welcome to The Forums Richard, Nice to see you decided to join us then, there are many like minded modellers here and I am sure you will fit in perfectly to talk scale and swordfish as much as you like, as well as your other models of course..!!

Regards.....Mark.

:respect2:

[wonwinglo]

Yes indeed,a very warm welcome Richard,if you get a minute and have any constructional pictures and notes then we would love to see them here ?

[Guest]

Stanly Brands Book

You realy ought to read Stanly book. He wants sales to go towards the RNHF . If you send me a stamped, selfe address envelope and a donation check to RNHF will send you or anyone elce a coppy.

Quote from Stan.......

W5856 was not with me on Macships on the North Atlantic. There we went through aircraft at the rate

of three per crossing because the hazards of landing in a space 60 feet wide and 200 feet

long,rolling 15 degrees to the left then 15 to the right ( at deck height this meant that the bridge

structure moved about18 feet to the left of centre then moved the same distance to the right). With

the stern going up 20 feet then down 20 feet it is surprising that more of us didnt kill ourselves.

Even after writing off the three stringbags which we carried,there was no peace for the wicked.

Because there were only nine RN officers aboard, the rest being Merchant Navy, we had all the duties

of the 90 officers aboard a fullsize carrier. For instance,as well as pilot, I was Engineering

Officer, Stores Armaments,Metiorological, Photographic, Safety equipment, Comforts, Entertainments,D

ivisional(discipline and promotion). The R.A.F.aircrew could walk away from their responsibilities

when they landed and go off to a pub,to the cinema or an E.N..S.A.show, with a girl friend or their

mates, then back to a good night's sleep. Our off-duty was to get our aircraft bombed-up,refuelled

serviced with any faults corrected( such as change a set of spark-plugs a

nd get rid of an electrical short circuit caused bby salt-water spray. (we had no hangar!).After

recording the use of all consumable spares such as Verey pistol cartridges, lube oil, hand rags,nuts

and bolts, we could then relax in our steel coffin in an oil-tanker dressed up as an aircraft

carrier in the middle of U-boat alley in the North Atlantic in mid-winter.

In two years of this,our squadron operated nineteen merchant aircraft carriers either oil

tankers or grain-carriers, with over a hundred complete crews each consisting of pilot, observer and

air-gunner, escorting convoys from the UK to Canada or the USA and back ,and in all that time lost

only two merchant ships in their care,,compared with 60 ships a month before Macships were used.

Here comes the injustice NOT ONE DFCor DSC and NOT EVEN A MENTION IN DESPATCHES was awarded

Only the Swordfish could do the job.

My flight in W5856 lasted less than 5 minutes. It was at Advanced Operational Training

Unit at Errol (between Perth and Dundee) where W5856 had just undergone a major overhaul by WRNS

mechanics under training. Supervision was appalling when they re-piped the petrol system and the

gravity tank and main tank connections to the selector cock were crossed. This did not show on run-

up but caused an air-lock and engine-failure on take-off,and I detail the consequences in my book