ajmm Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) Niche question. Does anyone have any reference photos or information concerning beaching gear on the Short Shetland sea plane? Im building the Anigrand kit at the moment and don't want to sand away the bottom to make it a waterline job but I also think it looks weird and lopsided on the shelf resting squiffy on its wing pontoon. Beaching gear seem to be the logical solution but I can find no references for this. That said, the Shetland must have had some provision for being winched out of the water in order to perform maintenance and clean off the salt. I'm tempted to assume that it was a la Sunderland but the Shetland was a much much heavier airframe and was a joint venture with SARO who did the hull design so I'm windy of simply replicating the Sunderland's gear on this. I have plundered the internet to no avail. I have nothing on the Shetland in any of my reference books on my shelf but I think the Buttler book on British Prototypes has something on the Shetland (well it's on the cover anyway). Does anyone have this book? Might you be able to tell me whether anything about the beaching gear is mentioned? Thanks very much, Angus Edited April 25, 2017 by ajmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Martin Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Try these..... Short Shetland Putnam ident Short Shetland Aviation News 19 03 article Short Shetland Air Reserve Gazette 194801 photo Short Shetland I Flying Review 196206 letter drawing Short Shetland Air Pictorial 196707 letter Short Shetland Aeroplane Monthly 197409 photos Short Shetland Aeroplane Monthly 197803 article Short Shetland Air Pictorial 199603 ident Pat Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Rather than beaching gear, some old school modellers provided a stand (like a ship) for flying boats. It certainly looked effective for the large flying boats like the Southampton. Cheers Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) Sadly not very clear, but at least confirms twin wheel beaching units and a picture here, Edited April 25, 2017 by 71chally 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmm Posted April 26, 2017 Author Share Posted April 26, 2017 Thanks guys! Where did you find that picture, 71Chally?! Brilliant. I thought I'd found every pic there was. I'd seen that video but for some reason never clocked the frames where you can see the bird fully out of the water. Thanks so much. Malpaso - thanks I'll consider that actually if I balk at scratching the gear. Could work nicely. Pat - great list thank you. I'll have a tootle through those as there's bound to be more answers to other questions I have in them. Very grateful to you all. Angus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denford Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 Just love that photo! It almost looks too big to get off the ground or rather the water. Interesting too are the opened portholes: truly a flying boat. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 Just in case you're still wondering, no photos of Shetland landing gear in the Buttler book: all shots either in flight or in the water. Look forward to seeing your model of this majestic beast. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 8 hours ago, ajmm said: Where did you find that picture, 71Chally?! Angus Hi Angus, it's from one of those odd Russian sites which seem to have more pictures of British aircraft than Western sites! Here, http://www.airwar.ru/enc/sww2/s35.html I'm sure I've seen other pictures of the Shetland II on beaching gear as well, will keep an eye open. That shot is really useful as I believe it also shows the outlines of the wing weapons bay doors, aft and inboard of the inner engine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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