Academy JU87

[stona]

I heard about the Lightning. Very sad and reminiscent of this incident on 13/9/62. XG322 flown by test pilot George Aird suffered a control failiure just ten seconds from landing. George ejected at 150 feet! He survived, unlike the pilot recently, but landed on a greenhouse suffering two broken legs.

No photoshop here, the photographer was actually taking pictures of agricultural machines when he heard the aircraft in trouble.

Steve

[Guest]

Allot of specilation still but several atempt to eject failed.He was in constant radio coms :-(

Wow that photo is unreal! Do you mind if I put it on another SA pilot forum?

Theuns

[Guest]

Here is the "office" ,a bit heavy on the drybrushing, but the pic makes it look alot more "there" than it actualy is.Made the seatbelts from maskingtape.

Interesting to see the gunner's seat had no back rest.Must have been hell to keep a straight back in those high G pullouts!

Theuns

I like the detail in the cockpit. The Revell model is definitely lacking in detail.

[Guest]

Hi Theuns, just thought I'd add a pic of the Hasegawa 1/32 Stuka that also shows no backrest for the rear gunner-a case of hang on & hope when bounced by enemy fighters!

Patrick

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[stona]

Allot of specilation still but several atempt to eject failed.He was in constant radio coms :-( Wow that photo is unreal! Do you mind if I put it on another SA pilot forum?

Theuns

Feel free. It is/was widely published here. I think originally in a mainstream tabloid (Daily Mirror?)

As for back rests, I shall investigate. Incidentally the observer in a Swordfish had no harness. He was restrained by a belt attached to the imaginatively named "anti-cavorting chain". It makes you wonder what they go up to!

Steve

I'll add here that the cause of Aird's Lightning crash was a flash fire in the engine bay, which weakend the tailplane actuator, leading to failure.

[Guest]

You talk about the anti cavorting chain, it reminds me now of the time I was a loadmaster in the SAAF.When flying the C-130's or 160's with the doors or ramp open the loadies had to wear the aptly named " monkey chains" inorder not to fall all the way out.

I have joined the fuse halvs, put on the tail and wing and now it is the laborius task (sorry for the spelling ,English is not my first language) of sanding the jointlines ect.

Theuns

[Guest]

Does anyone know what the idea was behind the round clear lens cover just behind the gunner ontop of the fuselarge?and what would the collour underneath this be?

I need to start painting tomorrow.

Theuns

[stona]

Cripes, from memory it was an observation port of some sort but I can't remember what was behind it. I did it in RLM 02 as I guessed most interior surfaces were primed in that way.

Steve

[Guest]

Thanx Steve, please then ignore my posting on the other JU87 thread :-)

Theuns

[Guest]

Well I am done with the JU and ready to start painting it.

Very little filling to do , only the hole in the left wing crank.

I also seperated and droped the flaps to give it more "feel"

Will post a pic when done.

Theuns

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[Guest]

I can't realy see well from the old pix, but wat was the "cover ablilty" of the white laquer?Allmost like a white wash?

Dit it hihe the green collour well? or was there still a hint of the grnne shining through?

I am having difficulty getting the white to look just right on my model :-(

Theuns

[stona]

Theuns the white finish was an aviation paint intended for a semi-permanent, but removable finish. In all the photographs I have seen it covers the camouflage colours beneath very well. It did however seem to wear quickly. I don't have instructions for its removal but instructions for the removal of a similar night camouflage paint state "the total coat must be removed with rubber scrapers...... no work may be done with metal or sharp instruments." Also, helpfully, "work in the direction of the wind if possible to prevent dirt settling on the operator". There is also a suggestion of using petrol on stubborn or oily areas.

I don't think it would have been an easy or popular job to remove these finishes!

I'd say apply a complete covering coat to low traffic areas and show wear/ weathering on high traffic areas,leading edges etc. Remember that the mechanics stood on the spats covering the wheels to access engine panels. That would definitely wear the paint!

Since I am unaware of any directive regarding application of the scheme to units in the field you've got "carte blanche" (literally) to do what you think looks good.

Cheers

Steve

Posting about this paints durability has got me delving! To give an idea of how permanent it was Fw190s of JG 74 removed only selective areas of the white in the spring of 1944 to reveal some of the underlying colours. I presume there must still have been some snow on the ground in March. The white must have been on their aircraft for at least four months by then.

Steve

[Guest]

Cool Steve.

I will make the white a little more "solid" as it now is very transparent.Good advice on the wheel spat ,I was tought NEVER stand on a wheelspat.

I also see in one of your pix of the JU 87 that the top cowl is very dirty, would the crew climb on this maybe to get covers or cammo nets ovet the nose?

Mine will then represent the early spring cammo with bloches of green exposed;-)

I had a hell of a hard time to get the front canopy to look right in the open postion, but it will have to do.

Theuns

[stona]

Like this?

I've got a couple somewhere of the guys standing on the spats as well. I've never scanned them so who knows where they are! If I see them I'll post them.

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

Here's a bloke standing on the wheel

Look at the size of the cannon ammunition

That's gonna hurt!

Steve