Selwyn Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 When the TFX beaus were converted to TT10 standard did any retain the thimble nose? I have it in the back of my mind that I have seen a picture of one so fitted somewhere, I realise that this radome would now be redundant, but I assume it would have been seen as extra unnecessary cost to replace it with a standard nose on conversion. Can any one confirm? Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcanicity Posted November 29, 2014 Share Posted November 29, 2014 Well, I've just had a good look online and have found only pics of TT10s with the ordinary nose-but I realise that isn't evidence that none retained the thimble! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Selwyn, this is the only one I could find, TT.10 RD854 at Boscombe Down 1959 John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 The one in the photo above, and a couple of others in photos I've found do seem to have had a nose job. I've not seen any with radomes but the only description of the conversion I've found is in the Crowood book and that doesn't mention anything about the radome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gumbie Air Services Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 I've never seen a TT.10 with a thimble nose, I looked into it a few years ago while thinking about converting the Matchbox kit. I'm sure Hasegawa did an issue of this type? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 thanks guys, looks like its a short nose for my TT10! time to start hacking my matchbox kit. Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Something in the back of my mind says you are right, but I can't find a corroborating pic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossm Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 I'm sure I can find you a short nose to graft on, if not the Hasegawa part (I've done a thimble one) then a whole Airfix fuselage. PM me an address if you want one, Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Hi Selwyn, Just had a glance through, Evans, D., 2004, The Long Drag, A Short History of British Target Towing, Flight Recorder Publications, Ottringham, Greta Britain, ISBN 0 9545605 4 X, pp. 68. There is one picture of a TT.10, RD 821, (P. 51), showing the standard nose and nothing mentioned about thimble noses. However, with this caption the text mentions that the RAAF carried out a similar conversion on some of its Beaufighters. Although IIRC the RAAF did not have the thimble nose, the did have the bulged Sperry nose. Could this be a source of conflict/confusion? Also had a quick look through, Franks, R.A., 2002, The Bristol Beaufighter, A Comprehensive Guide For The Modeller, Modellers Datafile 6, SAM Publications, Bedford United Kingdom, ISBN 0 9533465 5 2, pp. 175. There are several photographs and copies of the relevant servicing manual, but all show the normal nose. HTH!Christian the Married and exiled to africa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted December 1, 2014 Author Share Posted December 1, 2014 (edited) I'm sure I can find you a short nose to graft on, if not the Hasegawa part (I've done a thimble one) then a whole Airfix fuselage. PM me an address if you want one, Ross Just made a mould for the nose using my airfix kit as a master, will be pouring some resin (perhaps tonight?) and see what comes out! if it looks ok it will find itself attached to the nose of the matchbox kit. I'm also using the power eggs off a scrap Stirling to the replace the kit "cones." Selwyn Edited December 1, 2014 by Selwyn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 I found a picture of a TT10 with a thimble nose (SR915) in an old copy of Planes magazine (issue 8). It has a target towing pod under the fuselage and slightly non standard markings with c type roundels under the wings and the serial is white where it overlaps the black stripes. The caption says that some TT10s had their target towing gear replaced with a pod but I can’t find any other pictures of that or an aircraft with the thimble nose. All the other TT10s around that serial have the short nose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 (edited) SR915 was a TF10 used at the RAE, but used to test the ML target pod that was later used on the Tempest, hence why it had the pod. The pod wasn't adopted for the Beaufighter When looking for other pictures, I found one of RD850 in this scan from Flypast (p93, p4 of the PDF)- not sure if that's a standard or thimble nose? https://www.jets-are-for-kids.ch/pdf/bristol_beaufighter_target-tug_FlyPast_01-2019.pdf Also here https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Aircraft-Royal-Air-Force-1918-Thetford/30178449795/bd#&gid=1&pid=5 Edited April 6, 2022 by Dave Fleming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 Thanks Dave. That’s really interesting about SR915. The caption says that some TT10s had their target towing gear replaced by the pod - obviously not! Unfortunately I can’t find any more photos of the aircraft. I’d looked at that picture of RD850 too. I think it is the standard nose but looks strange with the line round it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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