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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 3, 2020 13:26:39 GMT 12
These roundels are as I have always tried to say to modellers, they started a colour very close to the RAF roundel blue, and they faded only slightly to that less bold, slightly oxidised blue. I think Malcolm Laird of Ventura decals got the colour pretty much spot on. So many other decal manufacturers and others have got it wrong.
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Post by curtiss on Mar 7, 2020 15:28:16 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2020 15:48:53 GMT 12
That is very interesting to hear it had a red stripe, Mike, because as you'll know I'm sure the red stripes were the markings for No. 4 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit. This aircraft served with No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit, and so far I have not seen any documented evidence that it was with 4OTU, but now I am wondering if it did have a brief time with that unit.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2020 15:50:46 GMT 12
Mind you, is it NZ3220's actual fin? Do the numbers line up?
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Post by curtiss on Mar 7, 2020 15:55:19 GMT 12
John Smith pencilled the NZ serial on all the major airframe parts he collected. This vertical stab has NZ3220 written on it. What do you mean about numbers lining up?
Only other option is that John got it wrong for some reason.
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Post by curtiss on Mar 7, 2020 16:14:58 GMT 12
There is a photo of NZ3220 in Asplins yard and the paint on the vertical matches the one we have installed.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Mar 7, 2020 19:19:19 GMT 12
What a magnificent relic!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2020 19:26:33 GMT 12
Cool, well that must confirm it that it's NZ3220's tail, great. So I wonder, when was it on 4OTU?
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 8, 2020 8:45:45 GMT 12
Oh my word! WOW Thanks guys....I'm lost for words. As Curtiss says, that fin matches the pics of her I have seen as well. John told me once he had collected as much original off Gloria he could at the time, this confirms it.
Nice one and thanks for the update!
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 8, 2020 8:52:34 GMT 12
John Smith pencilled the NZ serial on all the major airframe parts he collected. This vertical stab has NZ3220 written on it. What do you mean about numbers lining up? Only other option is that John got it wrong for some reason. I think John got it right as well Mike. He had a great knowledge of these airframes as you guys know. He knew even such details of the 'Z' equipment fitted to the Mosquito (bit like an IFF system) as well as the strike Camera set up in the nose of his Mosquito. For those of you who aren't aware John's Mosquito had what many called the 'Coastal Command' strike camera in the nose. I looked for an F-24 with a 1 inch cone for ages for him. Apparently some Canberra's had them fitted he said. Anyway.....that's another story Thanks gents for every snippet, we all appreciate it Cheers Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2020 9:03:29 GMT 12
Do you know if John had studied the actual history of his aeroplanes in depth? i.e. not the mechanical side but the history of which units used the particular aeroplane and when, and who flew them, etc?
The thought occurred to me that perhaps the tail fin had suffered damage and been swapped while in service, but I cannot see any accident reports in Archway.
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 8, 2020 9:13:40 GMT 12
Do you know if John had studied the actual history of his aeroplanes in depth? i.e. not the mechanical side but the history of which units used the particular aeroplane and when, and who flew them, etc? The thought occurred to me that perhaps the tail fin had suffered damage and been swapped while in service, but I cannot see any accident reports in Archway. Dave, I don't recall him really mentioning specific histories/pilots. He very may well have. But he seemed more interested from an engineering perspective. But was very familiar with the ones he had that had notable histories, but how in depth he got is something I cant remember talking to him about...or that I remember, sorry
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2020 9:14:37 GMT 12
OK. I just emailed you by the way Anthony.
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 8, 2020 9:52:52 GMT 12
I was just relating to Dave a story of one of my visits to John, he thought it good to put up here too. My previous job used to have me constantly away from home travelling to Aus, Japan and all over NZ. I guess that's how I got to know JS so well after I was a teenager. One day I was passing through Nelson and thought "Oh I have enough time to pop in and say hi to John for 10 mins". I arrived there, and he was busy shifting stuff around his shed. I offered to help but he didn't want me to get my suit dirty or was ever conscious of someone hurting themselves, but that it would be appreciated if I did! Besides, I didn't care...old planes are far more important LOL. We were moving Harvard stuff around and I said to John...after all these years and I still don't have a photo of you! Well, he said, 'no one wants to see my ugly mug' in reply. True, I said.....but I do. We both had a chuckle and he agreed. So to compromise said...how about we get an 'action shot' with you on the corner and we both agreed that was a better idea than a posed one. Here is the resulting 'staged' photo. By the way he said I looked daft and dirty and probably not fit for work after that....he was right and I cancelled my afternoon off and spent it with John! Nice memories. I'm posting this because it is important to remember the man behind all these beautiful aeroplanes and what he has done for our history I hope you like the wee anecdotal story and pic Cheers Anthony
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Post by Damon on Mar 8, 2020 11:47:25 GMT 12
As usual Great Pictures. Thanks Mike and John and Anthony for posting them. Any ideas on the significance on the PP--9-17-43 on the tail? Thanks.
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Post by planecrazy on Mar 8, 2020 12:05:01 GMT 12
Another great set of pic's, we are all so lucky to be seeing this it's like the P40 time machine. An interesting detail unless my eyes deceive me the fin flashes are actually tapered, as in broader at the bottom than top, always thought they where parallel to each other, so many secrets being told by this adventure!
Thank you to all.......
A PS, just noticed in the second last pic of the port side of the fin, she may have had the angled identification bands on the fin as well, perhaps in red?
These pictures are such a treasure trove, most grateful to view them, wow!
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Post by Damon on Mar 8, 2020 12:36:52 GMT 12
The first image of the tailplane seems to show the original factory disruptive pattern on the upper surfaces. Amazing. Can we get a more accurate image from our curators ?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2020 14:44:07 GMT 12
Any ideas on the significance on the PP--9-17-43 on the tail? Thanks. My guess is it is a batch number for the sheet of duraluminum used to make the tail, and it would have been on the sheet before it go to Curtiss? I may be wrong of course.
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Post by curtiss on Mar 8, 2020 14:56:48 GMT 12
The PP 9-17-43 is painted on. I surmise that it may be the date of painting- 17 Sep 1943?
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Post by agalbraith on Mar 8, 2020 15:02:36 GMT 12
The PP 9-17-43 is painted on. I surmise that it may be the date of painting- 17 Sep 1943? Yep....
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