Pete
Tim’s Hobbyboss 1/48 Fleet Air Arm Avenger MkI
- Thread starter Tim Marlow
- Start date
When I was aboard ship we always loaded ordnance on the flight deck.....all aircraft were unloaded before going below to the Hangar deck. As far as I know this is still S.O.P. in the U.S. Navy. You might recall the shipboard fire on the USS Forrestal some years back. The ordnance crew were arming up a bird on the flight deck and accidentally launched a sidewinder missile into another bird parked opposite it athwart ship....not the best outcome, but imagine that happening below deck.
I think we have all built models where the mojo flags. Too often when that happens the model becomes a "shelf queen". However, as Scottie said" it's looking good despite the issues so stick with it. Canopy masking looks neat.
Can't disagree with the images, they would speak for themselves. Maybe they had a procedure where the electric circuits were isolated whilst the wings were folded. We have to learn from history! Be interested to know if carriers had weapon lifts that delivered large munitions to the hangar deck! In my experience all munitions are delivered from the deep weapon storage areas direct to the flight deck. (My experience is from the late 60's for a few decades).
When I was a missile aimer, (SS11 and AS12 missiles), the procedure whilst the armourer was connecting the electrical circuits was to place my hands on my head to indicate I was nowhere near the firing switches. Pilot confirms the master armament firing switch is off
.
HMS Hood was massive wake up call for the RN as to why damage control is so important even when conditions below decks get unbearable!!
The link above in my post 117, USS Forestal. Was/is a training film regards having live weapons on deck and what can go wrong.
It is said that a carrier flight deck is the most dangerous place on Earth. Weapons, fuel, heat from engines and not forgetting human error make for a volatile environment.
Years back, there was an article in the Telegraph, ( a bit tongue in cheek - but true). The US Navy has asked people in the North Pacific region to be on the look out for a Phoenix missile, ( missile name may be incorrect - memory isn't that good), The missile had left the aircraft during routine deck operations. Apparently, a fast jet had been doing practice deck landings when the jolt of hitting the deck somehow released the weapon.
Thanks Rick. I thought that maybe the case. The RN used the USS Forrestal fire as a training aid to show how quickly a fire can spread.
Cheers Jim. I will get to the end, honest :thumb2:
Great discussion by the way, lads. Looks like pictures are the best way to go to get it right. As to arming on the deck, wasn’t swapping ordnance on the deck one of the reasons the Japanese carrier fleet took such heavy losses at Midway? Hits were magnified by the surrounding bombs and torpedos.
Just had a quick search, and realised pictures are not going to help. The wings fold back, with the underside against the fuselage, so side on photos don’t show the rails anyway…..also, seem to remember that the difference between the Mk1 and the Mk 3 was strengthened wings so the Mk 3 could carry rockets. If mine is a Mk 1 then it becomes a moot point…..it’s getting the torpedo though, right or wrong…..
Wouldn't be the last time the U.S. lost a missle,
they even have a name for when they 'loose' a nuke...
I've just dipped into a film I recorded a while ago on Talking Pictures TV called Wing and a Prayer. It's all about a a US carrier in 1942 with Avengers aboard. There's some really good footage, including inside the fuselage, conversation between the turret gunner and navigator, made me think of this build(I know yours is FAA, Tim...).
I've only watched the first half hour or so but so far so good ,I believe the action leads up to the battle of Midway.
I've only watched the first half hour or so but so far so good ,I believe the action leads up to the battle of Midway.
Finished my Avenger a month ago,but that sounds interesting Neil.... Think I'll try and track that film down :thumb2:
I think I might have seen that a few months ago? Can’t remember much, but was it the one where the “awkward” dive bomber pilot got put in charge of the carrier air group to improve morale? Seem to remember friction between the dive bomber and torpedo bomber group leaders? The story and acting were really pretty poor, but the flight footage was OK…..wasn’t building the Avenger then though, so didn’t take that much notice…..
Sounds like the same film, should’ve noticed Sherman Potter though……shows how much it grabbed my attention LOL…..
Ive just read up on it, and it was very highly regarded in its day…….the carrier is Yorktown and filming was carried out on its shakedown cruise…..
Ive just read up on it, and it was very highly regarded in its day…….the carrier is Yorktown and filming was carried out on its shakedown cruise…..
Big question for me Neil. Is it black and white?
If yes, I’ll hunt it down and watch it!!!
Here you are Doug:
Pete
Brilliant Pete. B&W too. My weekend viewing sorted. :thumb2: :smiling3: A happy bunny - I don’t care if I’m not supposed to say bunny either!!! ( it’s a Portland thing!!)
Thought that was just rabbit? Worked with someone from Portland for a good 35 years……
Probably right Tim. Lived here 55 years now and it gets boring after the first three zillion times!!! They think they’re the only people that have lost people digging holes in the ground!!!!
Never realised that was the superstition. My mate thought it was in case the rock crumbled away……but then she thought they were just dumb anyway….
You could have great fun with it though, just like Blackadder and Macbeth…..
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