Barneydhc82

Here is the Hasegawa 1:32 Sabre 6 which I built a few years ago and presented to Col George Miller who flew Lead Solo with the Golden Hawks, Leader of the Snowbirds and later Base Commander at Moose Jaw. By the Way, that gold paint is from the original Sheffield Luxor Pale Gold pigment mixed with Model Master Clear Gloss Barney

The fellow on the left is F/L Harry Hardy, pilot of Typhoon "Pulverizer IV and myself with 1:8 scale Typhoon...which he signed on the underside of the wing. Barney

Here is another model, 1:72 scale Airfix, built for S/L Mel Lee who flew this a/c on 423 Sqn, RCAF . He continued flying after the war until the mid 1970s. I alwys enjoy building for veterans

Yes Mike, he flew SN*M confirmed by his WW2 logbook. Barney

Here is a model built in 1981 for a retiring friend who flew this aircraft while assigned to 243 Sqn RAF.. The rocking chair and later a fishing rod, tackle box and net told the story behind this 1:32 build.. On Larry`s last day in Pitt Meadows Tower, we made him stay in position right to the last second ...then presented him with the model.It was well worth the effort. Barney

John: Your photo is of the PA-28-140 but it was not called a `Cadet`...this was the name used after the -140 line was terminated and the PA-28-151é161 Warrior became the stripped down trainer. I ran a flying school and Piper dealership in the late 1970s. That 1:48 Minicraft kit is as good as you will find. Barney

There is nothing like a first flight in a Two-Holer! Mine was in Zweibrucken 3 Wing RCAF in the mind 1960's and I can tell you I was hyperventilating even before the canopy was closed. I got about 15 hours altogether in 654 and today she sits derelict in a "museum" here in Langley, BC Canada...really sad to see! This is the same kit with Alclad finish....I'll be keeping a watch for this one of yours Best wishes Barney

Very nice Tony!. Paul; I don't remember the amount required to shorten the fuselage but Tony looks like he nailed it. One small mod was to add a 4th window to the rear fuselage. Barney

Now if you want something really different based on the DC-4/North Star , there is the Canadair C-5. Only one built for 412 Sqn RCAF as the answer to "air Force One". It was a DC-4M/North Star fuselage with DC-6 wings, engines and landing gear and DC-6 horizontal tail. This 1:72 model built from French kit about 30 years ago was brush painted. I removed fuselage plastic from ahead of and behind the wing to shorten the beast as per the book North Star. Barney

The F24 tires were 6.50x 10 Barney

A bit of background on TG117: In June 1949 it was participating in an airshow in Edmonton, was overstressed and had to be shipped to A>V>Roe , Canada for repairs. Before being returned to the Test Flight at RCAF Namao, TG117 was repainted in the Canadian Dark Grey/Light Grey scheme with Red hi viz panels. The two Greys were similar to but not exact match for EDSG/MSG Barney

Rod: My last encounter with the beast was trying to replace the engine oil pressure/oil temp/fuel pressure gauge in the front cockpit. Remove the control column, throw in a couple of cushions, grip wrench between teeth and dive head first into the hell hole followed by a half roll and push up. Now the above procedure was not too bad but when the OAT is 95+F and the sadistic engineer closes the canopy on you it can be very frantic trying to change the gauge as quickly as possible. After that day I never touched a Chipmunk again for 20 years! I joined the RCAF in 1953 and that same Chipmunk showed up on the west coast near Vancouver and I got to fly her one last time in about 2010.. The gear leg fairings on the Chipmunk were like the gear doors and spinner on the Harvard..redundant. Thanks for your comments Rod..greatly appreciated. Regards from the West Coast of Canada Barney

The gear does look flimsy but it is the same as all other Chipmunks but without the fairings. In this part of the world the winters are long and nasty so the fairings came off to ease maintenance. After spending nearly 3 years working on the two Chipmunks at WFC, I can not describe the nightmare of working on this type..at least not with any degree of civility. Winter operations were terrible for he aircrew and maintainers alike when temperatures dipped to -30 C which was usually the cut off for flying operations. Barney

Rod: Thanks for te comments. As for the canopy, it was incorporated in the first batch purchased by the RCAF and yes, a few of this batch went to RCFCA clubs across Canada. I first saw the Chipmunk in June 1950 when I went to work as an apprentice wrench bender at the Windsor Flying Club. These aircraft were as per 065 although the fin flash and roundels along with the serial were removed and the official RCAF crest was applied to the fuselage yellow band. Chipmunks first went to the Flying Instructors School, RCAF Station Trenton, and Primary Flying School, RCAF Station Centralia. The flying club aircraft were used to provide refresher training to Supplementary Reserve pilots until they were returned to RCAF service in the late 1950s... Over the years I've flown many Chipmunks and when they came up for disposal in 1971 I turned down the option to buy one. They were the nicest flying trainers that I have ever flown but a nightmare to work on...and I have the scars to prove it. Best regards Barney

Thanks for the comments JR. When the prototype Chipmunk was test flown, the aircraft had the much the same canopy as the British version but it was soon realized that the "birdcage" canopy was too confining and had too many blind spots because of the framing. The big bubble provides incredible visibility. Barney

This wee beauty started life as th 1:48 scaleAeroclub kit which I modified to represent the RCAF version. Modifications included landing gear, wing root fillets, removal of those ugly anti-spin strakes, exhaust and of course the canopy. This last was vac-formed using a balsa master and .040" PETG. The finish is a mix of Alclad II paint. As much as possible I used the original aircraft for the mods. Barney

I downloaded all military fonts from simmerspaintshop.com. They have a number of RCAF fonts. Barney

Hi Gang: There is a large number of Beavers of all configurations and paint schemes here on the West coast of Canada operating as air taxis as well as private toys . Two of my friends each have one and a few years ago while I was still quite agile another friend asked if I had ever flown a Beaver. No but if you drill me on start up I'll fly it. I had never been in a Beaver. Walt ran the drill, lit the fire in the P@W 985 and off we went. from a narrow short grass strip. What a flight considering that Walt was in the right seat with NO controls. I did the initial test flight, after a lengthy rebuild of thi DHC 60M Barney

I worked in the control tower at Downsview 1956=57 and it was interesting to see the Beavers, Otters and test rig twin Otter, every day. Bur alas, no Beavers in RCAF markings. I also so the near disastrous departure of Beaver 1000,a.k.a. CF-PCG which is still flying out of Vancouver, BC Barney

Here is the Roden Staggerwing in 1:48, a very nice kit. This particular aircraft was delivered from the factory on floats. The 1:1 scale bird is now flying again but on wheels, after a 17 year restoration. Barney

I'mreading the DeHavilland Canada Story and the author states that the post war Fox Moths used Tiger Moth wings and tailplanes along with the Gypsy Major 1C engine but no mention of the fuselage source.. The first flight of the new production Fox was 5 December 1045 at Downsview, Ontario. ( CF-BFI-X). A total of 53 aircraft were built until the line closed in 1948 Barney

I have the book, The DeHavilland Story by Fred Hotson in front of me and on page 93 is a photo of ZK-APT, which was shipped from DHC to New Zealand after WW2 Barney

Some time around 1965, AMT produced a beautifully detailed 1:48 scale Stinson SR-9 Reliant. I managed to snag one at the Vancouver IPMS show. The finish represents a 1:1 scale bird that I was offered in 1974 for the outrages sum of $17,000 CDN Barney

When it comes to civilian aircraft kits, it is really a shame that so many that many of you would like to see but never will. So why not scratch-build your favorites as I did.. My present aircraft is a Grumman AA1A and I built a 1:32 scale model as I did with the 1946 Fleet 80 Canuck, Both of these aircraft can be viewed on my web site http://www.barneysairforce.com

Here is a pic of the Big Sword presented to Col (ret'd) George Miller who at 80 years young leads a formation team, The fraser Blues, out of Langley, BC Barney