wonwinglo

Curtiss T-32 Condor.

The Curtiss T-32 Condor II ( Curtiss Wright CW-4 ) biplane transport of 1933 was even more of an anachronism than its namesake,the Condor 18 of four years earlier.Its only concession to the then current modernity was the landing gear,its main units retracting into the engine nacelles.A two bay biplane of mixed contruction,with a strut braced single fin and rudder tail assembly,the T-32 Prototype made its first flight on 30th January 1933.Layout for most of the production batch of 21 aircraft that followed was as a luxury 12 passenger night sleeper transport,and a number of T-32's flew with Eastern Air Transport and American Airways during the following three years on regular night services.Two modified T-32's were bought as transports for the U.S Army and operated until 1938 under the designation YC-30.One Condor was completed with extra fuel tanks as a long range version for use by the Byrd Antartic Expedition.Equipped to operate with either twin floats or skis,it was also unique in having a fixed landing gear.Ten T-32's were ultimately converted to AT-32 standard and re-designated as T-32C.Four T-32's were being operated under British civil registrations at the outbreak of World War II,these were impressed and flown by the R.A.F.



The Curtiss Condor in R.A.F service.



Grumman Tigercat.

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'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

wonwinglo

Piper L4H Cub ( Grasshopper )



Low and slow,artillery,observation aircraft,the Piper L4H could land in tiny fields and was the helicopter of its day.



On approach to a small field,the name Grasshopper referred to most U.S.Army spotter aircraft.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Bunkerbarge

Barry, I think it would be interesting if you could put a bit of information regarding the model alongside these pictures. Such as Airfix 1/72nd, Frog 1/48th etc.

Just a thought, although you are probably like me and can't remember all of them!!

wonwinglo

***Richard these models are over 35-40 years old, and have been restored from the broken remains utilising scratch built components or bits from the spares box in many cases,most of the kits are no longer available which prompted me to rebuild them,sadly I have lost my original notes,building instructions,box ends etc in various house moves which makes kit manufacturer identification difficult.
Whenever possible I will endeavour to provide a few details if my memory allows me,if not then details of the real machine are added like the Curtiss Condor above.
I do believe the Condor to be an original ITC kit that was revamped by Kleeware U.S.A in 1=72nd scale.
Most are fairy obscure manufacturers now long defunct which makes them a bit special.
Since Jan 2005 have managed to salvage 200 models,some required a dunk in brake fluid ( thanks Nigel for that excellent tip ) to remove old paint prior to priming and painting,others needed splitting down the seams,to get at rattling bits inside of them which had to be retrieved and re-glued,others just needed a bit of work with some wet and dry and a lick of paint added.
The work has been very satisfying to save these old relics,many of which cannot be replaced.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

wonwinglo

Mirage 2000


India hopes to buy Mirage 2000 fighters from Qatar especially as the US has committed to supplying F-16 fighters to Pakistan, the Indian ambassador to Qatar, Dr George Joseph, told Al Sharq in an interview.
India also expects to take its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import to a whopping 20 million tonnes a year by 2015 from the current five mtpa.
India's Petronet has recently signed a deal with Qatar to import another 2.5 mtpa of LNG to its terminal in the south of the country.
India and Qatar have historical ties. The Indian rupee was the currency of this country until the early Sixties.Qatar's investment in India is worth $5bn and India hopes to invest in Qatar in the key energy sector, especially in the downstream industries. There are Indian companies active in construction and infrastructure sectors.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Nigel.D

Barry when will we get the next instalment of your biography???? pretty please

wonwinglo

***Nigel still finding photographs and bits and pieces,it will appear in due course rest assured.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

wonwinglo

Northrop P-61 Black Widow.

This was the first aircraft to be designed as a radar equipped night-fighter,Northrop's three seat twin engine twin boom design gained a U.S.Army Air Corps contract for two Northrop XP-61 prototypes in January 1941,these were followed by 13 service test YP-61 aircraft,and the development problems of this aircraft were matched by those to create a new air interception radar based on the British cavity magnetron.Nevertheless,the first,the first examples of the P-61A Black Widow production version began to appear towards the end of 1943.It was soon discovered that its four gun remotely-controlled dorsal turret caused severe buffeting when slewed to a beam position,and the turret was deleted after the first 37 aircraft had been built.P-61A'a began to appear with fighter groups in the South Pacific in the first half of 1944,production of this version totalled 200 aircraft,deliveries of the ensuing P-61B began also in 1944,a total of 450 of this version being produced,the last production batch the P-61C model comprised 41 aircraft,however at the wars end some 476 aircraft of this model were cancelled.Black Widows appeared in Europe by July 1944 and shot down four German bombers in their first engagement.The type also destroyed a number of V-1 Flying Bombs during the offensive with Antwerp.





The sole Northrop XF-51A Reconnaissance aircraft was converted from a late production P-61C Black Widow night fighter.







Both models were built from early Frog Northrop Black Widow kits 35 years ago,the XF-15 being made from scratch built parts utilised in the assembly,both models were restored during 2006.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Bunkerbarge

Barry,

These restored models look amazing for thier age and must be now extremely rare examples of thier kind. These pictures will then preserve them for evermore and must give you a tremendous pleasure and satisfaction to record them in such a way.

You must have enough made and unmade kits to do justice to a museum exibition!!

Do you think sometimes the aircraft could be banking for the final approach so that we can see the upper surfaces as well?

wonwinglo

Yes Richard I do enjoy setting them up in realistic poses,I may just take a few models along to the local airfield at Wellesbourne and film them in a different setting,unfortunately if I bank them too much the angles look unrealistic at the height above my garden fence ! I may do some airfield scenes looking down on the upper surface,when the skies outside are unsuitable in the winter months.
It is a great way to record the models,and see them as many live stored in boxes if not on display rotation.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/