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Post by Bruce on May 8, 2007 17:45:25 GMT 12
I have just started planning my next project, to be started once I have finished my Kiwi resins Vildebeeste (which isnt far off...). Never one to run from a challenge, I thought I might do my Contrail Short Singapore - Not only a biplane, but a Vacform, and a large one at that!. the kit isnt to bad, its just there are lots of multiples ofthings to do - 4 wings, 3 fins, 2 engine pods etc... Before I get under way however I need to decide how to configure it for display, whether on a short stand, beaching gear or just sitting on its belly. I would prefer beaching gear, but checking the few photos I have the "Mainwheel" units look quite complicated, with various floatation chambers etc. I have no idea what the tail gear looks like, as the few photos I have show the tail either in a hangar or in shade, with no visible detail. Does anyone have any Singapore photos in thier files, especially any showing the beaching gear. I think the result will be worth the extra effort of building the gear, but I need some references - Can anyone help?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2007 18:07:52 GMT 12
There's some good photos here of the Singapore www.seawings.co.uk/singgal.htmLovely aircraft, one of the RNZAF's most elegant. I'd love to have seen one and flown in one.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2007 18:10:49 GMT 12
The RAf seem to have often used wheeled bed type platforms for them too be transported on when on land rather than attaching beaching gear wheels, and this bed negated the use of tail wheels. I wonder if the RNZAF also employed this during their period of usage in Fiji?
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Post by Bruce on May 8, 2007 21:02:18 GMT 12
Cheers for that link Dave, theres a photo there that appears to show an aircraft that has fallen off the beaching gear - looking closely it shows how the gear was braced to the fuselage - which I hadnt seen in any other pics. It does confirm that it will be complex exercise - Sunderland and Catalina beaching gear is simple by comparison! All the references and photos I have of the Singapores at Suva and Lauthala Bay show them on beaching gear rather than cradles, that seems to be the way it was done, especially when there were plenty of "natives" to wade out and fit them! Certainly I like the look of a Singapore, theyre a real nice shape. It will take a bit of effort to get the weathering right, our machines were pretty scruffy in service according to the photos.
If anyone else has photos or useful links, I'm still really keen to see them....
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2007 21:14:41 GMT 12
They were also apparently very luxurious for the crews, as they were designed for peacetime operations and thus not nearly as austere as the Catalinas that followed them. I have interviewed on of the Flight Engineers for my book. I wish i could find other crew members but they're thin on the ground.
If it were me I'd forget the wheels and model it in a water diorama - especially since it's vacuumformed the water may hide any distortion to the hull if there is any.
I'd like to scratchbuild one in 1/48th or better still 1/32nd, but cannot find any drawings.
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Post by davelochead on May 13, 2007 11:25:38 GMT 12
hmm, resin Singapore anyone?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2007 13:12:17 GMT 12
Sounds great. What scale?
I guess there'd be limited market but they're a lovely looking aircraft, and very capable in their day.
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Post by Bruce on May 13, 2007 15:37:35 GMT 12
well there seemed to be plenty of bidding on eBay when I got my vac form, there must be some interest. I've just ordered some aeroclub props and stuff for the project - I've purchased 4 Hawker Demon detail sets which gives me scarff rings and suitable props. Two of the props will need some reprofiling for pusher use, but they should look O.K. once again vac formed props etc just dont work!
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2007 15:59:19 GMT 12
Bruce, are there good drawings with the kit, or available elsewhere for the Singapore?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2007 16:02:20 GMT 12
Oh by the way I found a photo of one of the RNZAF Singapores in the hangar at Lauthala Bay, the photo taken from sort of the back port quarter and showing the back half of the aircraft. There is no tail wheel assembly fitted.
I guess the nose was heavy enough not to warrant it?
I haven't scanned it as yet, but if you want to pop around for a look Bruce if you can't wait to see a scan, feel free.
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Post by Bruce on May 13, 2007 17:07:49 GMT 12
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Post by Bruce on May 13, 2007 22:54:33 GMT 12
started cutting plastic on the Singapore tonight. Before I started I took a photo to show the contents of the kit: As you can see, it comes with good drawings, and the general quality is pretty good. My kit unfortunately has some damage on the fuselage chines where it was inadequately packaged when couriered from the UK. it looks worse than it is, and should be easy to patch and fill. Cutting out the fuselage halves tonight I was taken by how solid the formings are. the plastic is a lot thicker than the stuff used on the Andover and Hastings I have recently done - in some respects its almost too solid, cutting the openings for the cockpit etc requires a great deal of care, but a reasonable effort (and a very sharp knife) to cope with the thickness of plastic. As with most vacforms I will be adding some dummy spars etc to align the wings, but certainly there wont be much internal beefing up required for rigidity. will post some progress pics at key points.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2007 23:16:16 GMT 12
Did you notice in the photos on that link that some of the Singapores had no canopy, just an open cockpit? I assume they were the earlier model to our Mk III's. That would be a cool ride in an open cockpit four-engined bi-plane monster like that.
What colours were the No. 5 Squadron Singapores? I assume they were adrk earth and dark gree with sky beneath, but as they came from the SEAC region I wonder if they were some sort of variation? I assume they were not repainted when we got them?
Does the other set of drawings you have actually have sections and more detail for scratchbuilders?
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Post by Bruce on May 14, 2007 8:27:03 GMT 12
Our Singapores were finished in dark ocean grey and dark slate grey with sky undersides (Ocean grey has a greenish tint) which was the standard coastal command colour scheme early in the war, of course our machines had faded and worn considerably, with lots of touch ups and patches! yes the other set of drawings does have some sections and a bit more detail, the Contrail plans drawings are mainly to get the general arrangement correct
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Post by kiwi on May 14, 2007 13:00:18 GMT 12
According to an article by Warren Russell the colours were Extra Dark Sea Grey /Dark Slate Grey over Sky Blue , nearest FSNo 35622 ( not Sky type S ) , with Medium Sea Grey codes . He also gives the code /serial tie ups as K6918 OT-A , OT-C and OT-D K6917 OT-C K6916 OT-B
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2007 13:34:28 GMT 12
What does that mean about K6918, does he reckon it wore three different codes, two of which were worn by other Singapores?
My research has it that K6912 was OT-A K6916 was OT-B K6917 was OT-C K6918 was OT-D
I've never come across a variation in '18's codes before. Where was this article published Richard?
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2007 13:48:16 GMT 12
Hmmm, adf.serials has K6916 as OT-D nd '18 as OT-C
This is getting confusing. When were the serials applied? Was OT- the 205 Squadron code and did it carry over to 5 Squadron? Or were these applied later after the four were delivered to Fiji?
As '16 crashed into a reef and was damamged beyond repair just days after it arrived in Fiji, it is possible that it was made 'D' if the codes were allocated later after they'd all arrived. But then why? It was reduced to spares so didn't need a code.
Another interesting thing is two of the Singapores were sunk in 300 feet of water in Fiji so are probably now just coral reefs, but K6917 was sold to use as a hoseboat according to adf.serials. I wonder if it still exists in Fiji now? Has anyone ever seen reference to this houseboat, or photos?
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Post by kiwi on May 14, 2007 16:31:28 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on May 14, 2007 20:58:20 GMT 12
From my database: K6912 OT-A K6917 OT-B K6918 OT-C K6916 no code (or not recorded)
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 14, 2007 21:44:43 GMT 12
Thanks for pointing out those photos Richard. I note there's some sort of nose art on the one in the first photo, which I assume is also OT-C during the same photo shoot.
And that third photo is the same one that I was going to scan for Bruce, and though this one online is clearer and larger the one in Contact has significantly more to the right showing and you can see that the wing on its edge behind the Singapore is off a Vincent, and there's a fuselage too all stripped down. You can see more above too. That must have been a massive hangar as the Singapore looks small inside it. I'll scan the more complete photo soon.
Thanks Peter for the info you have, that's four versions now. I note in the photos you can never see a serial anyway, so I guess this is where the confusion has come into it.
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