trickydicky210 Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Came across this image of Wrens preparing for a photo recognisance flight in a book on the RN, but can't make out the aircraft. Any ideas, thought it might be a Gladiator, but the wheel struts look wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Blackburn Shark? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Blackburn Shark? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 I would agree with that... struts certainly seem to be in the right place. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 And the big gun trough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Looking at the strut layout, I'd tend to agree with the Blackburn Shark theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Mk III shark fitted with a glazed canopy and dual controls for crew training. Probably removable controls in the rear cockpit if going out to take photo's. Powered by an 800 hp (600 kW) Bristol Pegasus III radial piston engine rether than the original AW tiger engine . Selwyn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky210 Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 thanks Guys, would never have guessed as I didn't know it was ever fitted with a canopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 Looking at it, it does bear a considerable resemblance to a Harvard canopy. Surely not? A detail view of the framing says no, but it might make a suitable donor for a kit. Perhaps a bit too narrow at the top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Hi guys, I've been trying to interest Jan of AZ models to do the Shark, I had one of the Frog kits years ago, fitted with floats it makes a fairly substantial model and has quite a large selection of possible marking options for such an obscure type 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 I'm pleased that I managed to pick it before scrolling down to any other posts. What book is this from Rich, it looks like it might be interesting? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalea Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 (edited) Spaddad, Hobby Terra has Eastern Express (Frog clone ) Blackburn Sharks for $US 13, if you are really wanting a kit. Hannants has them for British Pounds 10. Edited December 10, 2016 by dalea new info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelldoc Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Is that: and found here: http://www.ark-models.org/catalog.php?cid=70 modelldoc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 4 hours ago, dalea said: Spaddad, Hobby Terra has Eastern Express (Frog clone ) Blackburn Sharks for $US 13, if you are really wanting a kit. Hannants has them for British Pounds 10. Hi dalea, thanks for your input, the thing is the old Frog kit is a pretty clunky 60's/70's kit which doesn't mean I wouldn't build it ( I am pretty easily pleased) but it would be nice to have a 21st century product & a new kit would probably result in at least one new decal sheet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 I have several Frog Sharks and Aeroclub replacement engines for then. Not a bad kit but dated now and, unusually for Frog, mine all seem to suffer from Curly Strut Syndrome. So Spaddad please continue in your efforts to persuade Jan that a new Shark is what the world is really waiting for: must surely turn out to sell even better than some of the obscure subjects already covered. Apart from FAA fans, it would also delight Canadians, (for whom it was quite an important type, esp in the early days) and not a few Portuguese. NB not providing a TT.III option (ie with canopy) would be a real missed opportunity. PS Rich: would also be v interested to know what the book is. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 2 hours ago, Seahawk said: I have several Frog Sharks and Aeroclub replacement engines for then. Not a bad kit but dated now and, unusually for Frog, mine all seem to suffer from Curly Strut Syndrome. So Spaddad please continue in your efforts to persuade Jan that a new Shark is what the world is really waiting for: must surely turn out to sell even better than some of the obscure subjects already covered. Apart from FAA fans, it would also delight Canadians, (for whom it was quite an important type, esp in the early days) and not a few Portuguese. NB not providing a TT.III option (ie with canopy) would be a real missed opportunity. PS Rich: would also be v interested to know what the book is. Get over to the KP/AZ central discussion thread and add your voice to the appeal, AZ are one manufacturer who seem to respond to appeals for kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 Once I made conversion to Mk III - and since that time I have a soft spot on Frog's Shark. Very nice kit for modelling Cheers J-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 A good book, if you can find it, on RCAF Sharks is this one. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 I have just realized, that machine on photo has roundel "C" - so it is mid 1942 or newer. I though that Shark, even Mk III were phased out that time. Always something new . And TT painting scheme is temptating Cheers J-W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 (edited) According to Sturtivant's FAA Squadrons, 755 Sq used Sharks at Lee-on-Solent until Oct 1943, though spares were a problem from July 41 onwards. Suspect (by comparison with a photo in same book showing L2359 F of that unit) that is where the photo was taken. Edited December 12, 2016 by Seahawk To add location. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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