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sharkmouth

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  1. sharkmouth
    Thank you BS_w for the explanation. As I wrote, I don't have experience with the early Hawks so I interpreted what Tom Cleaver wrote. good to know the exact angle and depths variance. Regards,
  2. sharkmouth
    Sorry that I didn't get a chance to answer your questions. I see you found the answer. Thanks BS_w for the input and images. I was trying to gather some references to answer them even though we have strayed away from the kit in question. As a shark mouth fanatic, it should be no surprise that I love the Curtiss Hawks (Tomahawk, Kittyhawk, and Warhawk). Regards,
  3. sharkmouth
    Well, my friends over at HARP (Historic Aircraft Restoration Project) seem to have fun going through their references to see proof of the floor. Instead, one sent me this page from a booklet published by the Curtiss Aeroplane Division (New York), Export Sales Division, Curtiss-Wright Corporation . The booklet is called "Detailed Specifications for Curtiss Hawk 75-A Airplane" and there is "No. 6895-A" at the top right. I have boxed in the pertinent text since the 'deep cockpit' P-40 are in essence inline engined P-36 (Hawk 75): For those unable to read the text, or see the image, it states: The floor of the cockpit is the upper surface of the wing. It is continuous across the lower portion of the fuselage. Regards,
  4. sharkmouth
    A wooden plank could be placed between the stringers but his legs are splayed out as though he climbed in from underneath. See the legs of the person in the fuel tank area (behind the scallops)? Nice detail is "Dutch" on the toolbox. Regards,
  5. sharkmouth
    A fine one to add to a collection (skulls are nice too)> Regards,
  6. sharkmouth
    It isn't needed in this aircraft. Yes, I am familiar with it. The person who posted the photograph agrees that the workers feet are on the stringers, just like mine were, and can be seen by the position of his legs in the cockpit. Fair enough... it was clear to many. I guess Airfix's CAD must be wrong as I don't see a separate cockpit floor there. Regards,
  7. sharkmouth
    I should be ashamed! Fixed and thanks,
  8. sharkmouth
    Here is a cockpit image of P-40D (KittyHawk HS@B found in the desert. Note the accoutrements at each side of the pilot's seat? What purpose would a cockpit floor serve? Click image to visit site from which this photo was borrowed. Regards,
  9. sharkmouth
    A discussion with one of my friends brought up this question... if this photograph of the Curtiss H81A-2 cockpit shows the upper wing fuselage under the seat and forward from the photographer's perspective, what purpose would a cockpit floor serve? Note that the photograph was taken without the seat in place. Regards,
  10. sharkmouth
    As someone who helped restore some warbirds, I can state that I clearly understood what was in the manual and it corresponded with what I saw on the aircraft. As a 'Yank' the wording is quite clear to me. The manual is used to help those involved in flying and maintaining the aircraft as built. So, manuals are used in rebuilding the aircraft with concessions made for safety and (if the owner wishes it) comfort. In the erection and maintenance manuals, I find absolutely no instance where a separate cockpit floor is mentioned. Not during assembly or disassembly, not during maintenance to get behind what this floor would cover, not in the parts catalog, nor in the combat repair manuals. I still have copies of most of them. Again, I am limited to later models of the P-40 but for me, there is no separate floor. You'll have to wait for another release or aftermarket decals for the 112 Sqn markings as their shark mouth designs probably won't fit any of the new releases. Regards,
  11. sharkmouth
    Óttar, I just realized that all your posts on Britmodeller (< Thanks, JasonC) are in this thread. So, first of all, welcome to the Britmodeller forums! Second, I proved my point even if you don't believe it so I won't harp on it. You should be happy to know that there are plenty of aftermarket decals for this aircraft and, since shark mouth schemes do not interest you (or do they?) you don't need to worry about the fit since they would have been designed for the kits available at the time of first printing. Regards,
  12. sharkmouth
    Actually, it isn't clear. It seems that you are incredulous although you read statements by two claiming to have first hand experience with the aircraft that said aircraft does not have a separate cockpit floor and all references to a cockpit floor is synonymous to the upper wing surface within the cockpit area. I don't have photographs taken during my experiences restoring aircraft (keeping my A & P licenses up to date) and I didn't ask Tom Cleaver for photos either. Tom Cleaver laid it to rest when he mentioned that, until the P-40D, the cock[pit was ten inches deeper than the rest of the production variants. This may not be easy for some to imagine so I will try to illustrate with photos. Here is a P-40C. Take a look at the horizontal line above the crest on the insignia on the fuselage side. Follow it along the left and you will see the hinge line at the top of the fuselage hatch and continue following it left to see it line up with the bottom of the canopy rail: Now we have a P-40N. Follow along the top edge of the hatch and see where the cockpit sill is now. Ten inches lower. P-40E here. Same exercise, same result. Regards,
  13. sharkmouth
    I hope the cockpit isn't shallow. Over on the Bronco announcement thread, questions were raised about the depth of the cockpit. Tom Cleaver laid it to rest when he mentioned that, until the P-40D, the cock[pit was ten inches deeper than the rest of the production variants. This may not be easy for some to imagine so I will try to illustrate with photos. Here is a P-40C. Take a look at the horizontal line above the crest on the insignia on the fuselage side. Follow it along the left and you will see the hinge line at the top of the fuselage hatch and continue following it left to see it line up with the bottom of the canopy rail: Now we have a P-40N. Follow along the top edge of the hatch and see where the cockpit sill is now. Ten inches lower. P-40E here. Same exercise, same result. Regards,
  14. sharkmouth
    Right before the eyes of the pilot? Before the pilot, looking where? Up, down, left, right, or behind? Looking up is the sky and the canopy with the central bar most models omit. Looking behind is the armor, headrest, and scalloped sides to improve vision of the sky. With peripheral vision, one can barely make out the landing gear horn and fuel port. Looking forward, the pilot sees the sky, the gun sights (one of which is the ring and bead), instrument panel, & gun butts. Looking left is the sky, port wing, throttle, belly tank release, and so on. Looking right is the sky, starboard wing, radio, map case, hydraulic hand pump knob, and other items. Looking down ahead are the rudder pedals, control stick, starter pedal, main fuel tank gage to the left of the central seam, reserve tank gage to the right of the central seam, shut off valves, and the emergency hydraulic pump. What is the central seam? The seam created when both wings are attached together (meaning it is the upper wing surface that one sees). All these items described are in the cockpit. The upper wing surface the pilot sees and has access when flying is his/her cockpit floor. Tom Cleaver, who actually was in the same model of P-40 as the kit purports to be, stated clearly that "In both cases the wing is the "floor"." In the end, that means that there is no separate floor in the cockpit. Anyway, to return to the model being released, it seems that Airfix will be the only one correct. Bronco can, at the last minute, make corrections. I would love to see what they do. Regards,
  15. sharkmouth
    I have received a reply from Tom: "If you look at a Tomahawk fuselage in profile and a Kittyhawk fuselage in profile, the Tomahawk fuselage is deeper (or higher) while the top of the Kittyhawk fuselage is cut down in comparison. This is why the later cockpit is more shallow. In both cases the wing is the "floor". Tom" Well, this is the Bronco thread which does share the same error as the Trumpeter. Regards,
  16. sharkmouth
    Well Óttar, unlike Tom Cleaver (who sat in a P-40B/C) my experience is limited to the later P-40 series (an E, a K, M, and N) and none had a cockpit floor above the upper wing surface. This is why the seat rail sockets are on the upper wing surface. The seat mounts to this rail and can be adjusted up and down as you might have seen in the paragraph at left whereby it states: "If cables seem too short, adjust rudder pedals to full aft position and seat to down position." This explains your pilot with the shoulders above the cockpit sill. Note that Troy Smith quoted Tom Cleaver's experience with the Tomahawk. What he explained was that the seat rails on the Tomahawk are vertical (the seat on aircraft are adjustable) so there is room to sit 'normally' while later versions of the P-40 have a cockpit which is ten inches shallower causing the pilots legs to be out in front, nearly horizontal. I've sent an e-mail to Tom Cleaver to ask for clarification. Regards,
  17. sharkmouth
    I'm well aware of the procedure to remove and install the wing but I can't find your quote in my quick perusal of pages 43-44. I wrote that the upper wing serves as the cockpit floor so each time you see "cockpit floor" it refers to the upper wing surface within the fuselage where the pilot resides. The cockpit still extends further forward and there is an area behind the rudder pedals (from the pilot's viewpoint) where the oil tank and (from the P-40C on) armor plate was found. This area can only be reached through the cockpit and is past where the pilot resides thereby making it the wing surface. The only way to make the distinction is to put it in context once I find that quote. Is it referring to the area forward of the rudder pedals, the area behind the back plate armor where the fuel tank is, or where the pilot is located during the operation of the aircraft? Regards,
  18. sharkmouth
    That is very nice, is there a photo of the actual aircraft Tulsa Redhead in Turkish service? If so, I may need to add this to my project pile! (aside from sharkmouth schemes, I love smaller air forces) Regards,
  19. sharkmouth
    It means that the pilot's seat is literally on the raised floor, the rear bulkhead is too short, the rudder pedals don't have enough room to hang properly, the ammunition box doesn't hang but goes through the floor... everything is compressed. Regards,
  20. sharkmouth
    Comparing a crew member sitting on the wing to the pilot on a seat in the cockpit is a flawed approach to proving your point as the latter sits on a seat, not the cockpit floor (which in the case of this aircraft is the top surface of the wing)... The seat is on rails which fit into sockets on the wing top which serves as the cockpit floor. Then believe the impossible. I have no idea who made the initial statement but my experience with working with these warbirds tell me that the wing upper surface served as the cockpit floor as it is where you can find the shut off valves, hand pump, and fuel gages. Occa, you are correct in that the worker has his feet on stringers to keep from falling through, note the position of his legs? There is a crouched factory worker in the second photo. Anyway, people won't believe unless they see so I fortunately have all the manuals and here are some scans from the erection of a Tomahawk: Regards,
  21. sharkmouth
    Vince, that was from Stevens Hobby, not Trumpeter. Trumpeter sent a blank sheet and Stevens Hobby asked me about the aircraft history (since it does have a sharkmouth after all). Please note that the person posting as "Trumpeter&HobbyBoss" on Facebook, states it is all new: https://www.facebook.com/TrumpeterModel/posts/600334090125188 Regards,
  22. sharkmouth
    Vince, ref. 02228 is 1/32nd scale and their is also the 72nd scale ref. 01632 http://www.trumpeter-china.com/index.php?g=home&m=product&a=show&id=1699&l=en Regards,
  23. sharkmouth
    Artwork for the box: Regards,
  24. sharkmouth
    Click image to visit announcement on Facebook: Regards,
  25. sharkmouth
    Thanks Vince, I didn't scan that far back before posting. Anyway, since the majority of Bronco's are armor related, and I had a relationship with them when I wrote AFV reviews, I will try to (again) try to get an early production kit. I may post photos and see it get ripped apart. I also plan to buy the Airfix kit. Regards,
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