Daniel Cox

On this topic, would the Fw 190A-8 aircraft that had their MG131’s removed for this role, also have had their associated ammunition boxes removed?

Hi phat Trev, There are a number of significant differences between an Fw 190A-8 and an Fw 190A-3 or Fw 190A-4. With the most notable difference being that A-3 and A-4 variants were 152mm shorter than the A-5 through the A-8. With fillets being placed in front of the wings behind the engine cowlings. Following the engine being moved forward 160mm to improve cooling. The A-3 and A-4 usually had fully enclosed main undercarriage. The cooling outlets behind the cowling were also very different from the A-8. Likewise the wing armament and fuselage armament plus for the most part their associated covers on the A-3 and A-4, were significantly different than the A-8. While the A-3 vertical stabiliser had a socket at the top for the radio antenna rather than a mast. You should also be aware that the centreline bomb rack drop tank assembly was moved forward on the A-8 to address CG changes. Cheers, Daniel.

Also @Troy Smith, I wish I had better information on the spinners, for a project I am working on. Yet the Rotol manuals I have and all the rest can only take me so far. That said I presume there probably are some spinner manuals, plans and other documents floating around somewhere that might offer more, yet I haven't found any so far (maybe one day though).

Hi Tony, Not really, there are two illustrations showing spinner shape, one of the RXF5 as fitted to the Halifax and a version of the RX5 as fitted to one or more of the following Hurricane/Spitfire/Fulmar/Barracuda etc. Yet the spinner types are not identified, since they are a mere background to the cutaway illustration. Also for what it's worth, in another Rotol manual on 4 bladed airscrews as fitted to later Spitfires, there is no notable difference in shape between the illustrated C.S.A. spinner and the Rotol one. In fact in that much later instance, the noted difference most notably just rests on the method of construction and the locking method that secures the spinner backplate to the front part of the spinner. Back to the 1941 manual, regarding spinner stuff. It effectively only notes the difference in locking system between spinner manufacturers. With Rotol spinners requiring a flathead screwdriver to turn the locks, while the C.S.A. spinners, require a made for the purpose spanner. From the 1941 manual. Cheers, Daniel

Hi All, As found in the following. ROTOL NOS. 5 & 6 SIZE HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED AIRSCREWS 35° & 65° Range Series RX5, RXF5, RS5, RS6 Notes on Installation, Operation and Maintenance ROTOL AIRSCREWS LTD. Book No. R24 Oct. 1941 Which also details the differences between spinner locking devices on Rotol Type and C.S.A. Type spinners, as applicable, since either Rotol or C.S.A. spinners could be used with all Rotol external cylinder type airscrews. Also note that RX5 refers to non feathering 35° No. 5 size airscrews, RXF5 refers to feathering 65° No. 5 size feathering airscrews. While RS5 and RS6 refers to standardised No. 5 and No. 6 size airscrews, that have a pitch range, which can be increased as required from 35° to 65° following removal of a distance piece. Cheers, Daniel.

Hi Howard, I hope you find a satisfactory solution whatever you choose. All the best, Daniel.

And here is another colour picture that shows the crowbar, as captured with Kodachrome by William Vandivert for Life during 1941.

Hi Bertie, You are mistaken. The first image is from one of several archival Kodachrome colour slides, that show 222 Squadron, personnel and aircraft at North Weald. IWM COL 191 While the same also applies to the last one as well, being from one of a few archival Kodachrome colour slides, that show 64 Squadron, personnel and aircraft at Fairlop. IWM TR 517 Cheers, Daniel.

Hi Sebastian, This link is worth a look. https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/me163/clothing.htm Cheers, Daniel.

Hi Stickleback, I understand better now. That being the case, as best as I can tell comparing pics. In Robert Pęczkowski's book; Messerschmitt Me 410 (Stratus). Peter Petrick and Werner Stocker's book, Messerschmitt Me 210/410 HORNISSE Hornet (Midland). And George Punta's book, Messerschmitt Me 210/410 In Action (Squadron). Versus images in J Richard Smith and Eddie J. Creek's book Focke Wulf Fw 190 Volume One 1938-1943 (Classic), plus other books on the Fw 190. It looks like using the gondola gun pack from an Fw 190 kit, is appropriate for what you want to do. Cheers, Daniel.

Hi @Stickleback, The Me 410 carried the WB 151 A, gun pack. Which was a pill shaped assembly with cheeks running the length of the bottom part of the pod assembly. That bears no physical resemblance to the WB 151/20 assembly as fitted to some Fw 190A airframes. Cheers, Daniel.

Hi George, Here is a GA Drawing from the manufacturer, of the Sutton Harness installation for the Spitfire VII. There's a few more drawings for the type in the following discussion thread, that I posted on Wednesday. Cheers, Daniel.

You might also try the MMP book by Matthew Willis, on the Blackburn Shark. Which I believe has some good shots of internal stuff from the manufacturer.

Hi Ley, All that I am aware of is the following article, from a 13 December 1934 edition of Flight magazine. Cheers, Daniel.

Hi Craig, If you are looking for a deeper dive on this subject, I recommend you read Simon Watt's book "Airborne Maritime Surveillance Radar - British ASV Radars in WWII 1939-1945 - volume One". Cheers, Daniel.