Brandy Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) Here, finally, are the pics of my finished Short 184. But first a little potted history of this aircraft: The Short 184 was the first aircraft designed specifically to carry and deliver a torpedo. The prototype, (no 184 strangely enough!) was put aboard HMS Riviera on May 3rd 1915, then joined HMS Ben-my-Chree on May 21st. No. 842 was the second production machine and joined HMS Ben-my-Chree on August 10th, in the Aegean Sea. On August 12th at 0455hrs, Flight Commander CHK Edmonds took off in 842, without an observer, and with only 45 minutes fuel - all he could carry to get the aircraft airborne with an 810lb torpedo! He got up to the dizzying height of 1,500 feet and crossed over to the Sea of Marmora. His target was spotted near the north shore, where an earlier reconnaissance flight had reported it to be, and he dropped to 15 feet, launching his torpedo at a range of about 800 yards. The ship was struck abreast the mainmast. It was later discovered that this particular ship had earlier been torpedoed by a submarine, which was given credit for its sinking. However, on August 17th, both 184, flown by Flight Commander GB Dacre, and 842, again flown by Flt Cmdr CHK Edmonds, launched to attack enemy ships at Ak Bashi Liman, on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Edmonds torpedoed the middle of 3 ships which caught fire and was later taken to Constantinople. Dacre had engine trouble and landed in the straits. His engine recovered enough for him to taxi towards False Bay where he fired his torpedo at a large steam tug, which he hit and sank. He then taxied 2 miles before managing to get 184 airborne again, crossed Bulair at around 200 feet, and was within gliding distance of Ben-my-Chree in Xeros Bay when his engine finally failed completely! This made 842 the first aircraft ever to torpedo a ship....the rest, as they say, is history....... This build is in tribute to those brave and relatively unknown fliers, who faced challenges that modern pilots would deem ridiculous - and succeeded! For those interested in the build thread, it's here. Thanks to all for your support and constructive criticism throughout the build! Ian Edited July 3, 2017 by limeypilot 59 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 That is wonderful,....truly wonderful,.....well done indeed, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Oh my word ! A work or art congratulations. Can I ask a daft question, not having followed the build unfortunately, can the wings be moved into the extended position, and why undertake the additional challenge of building with the wings folded ? Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 That last picture really sums up the work you did on the rigging. An excellent piece of work which hopefully will persuade others to build one if a certain man re-releases the kit ! Richard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Absolutely INCREDIBLE !!! I really cannot understand how you managed to do such a great work. I admire the patience you had to achieve such a masterpiece, and I don't speak only about the rigging. FANTASTIC work !!! Congratulations. Polo. :wow: :wow: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Beautifully built a real stunner! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks all, you're all way too generous! Pat, the wings don't move, that would be asking for trouble - the mounts are already pretty fragile! My long term aim is a collection of as many WWI types as possible, so space is a consideration. This aircraft had a huge wingspan for a 2-seater, so I decided to accept my own challenge and do it wings folded - I also wanted to see if I could do it! It really wasn't as difficult as I'd thought it may be, I just had to develop a plan of attack and build it in stages. My plan wasn't perfect unfortunately, but valuable lessons have been learned for the future. I also intend to build the Airfix HP 0/400 with folded wings.......just not right now! Maybe a tank next? Or maybe one of my newly acquired "Battle of Britain" stash...something without too much rigging anyway! Ian 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks Ian Great idea regarding the space challenge, please don't leave it too long before returning to wingy things so I can enjoy watching another piece of history coming together. Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Great work. Nice to see one of these made up. Very interesting aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Can't fault it. Great job. Regards, Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Oooh THAT is GORGEOUS and ONE HELLUVA BEAUTY .. SUPERB build.. KUDOS on a brilliant model.. {MY LIKES ran out but I LOVE it } 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Truly magnificent. Finish and level of detail is immense for this scale. Go to the top of the class. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reini78 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 wow....riggomaniac awesome work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Simply fantastic Ian (and I really enjoyed the potted history too!). Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Fabulous display of modelling skills – and patience. She's a work of art. Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Amazing work, really nice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcode Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 superb but bot that rigging must been a nightmare!!!!!!! but looks fantastic very nice work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Simply stunning work well done thanks for sharing regards Eamonn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger331 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Truly Superb……Coincidentally I am off to one of our local museums this coming week which houses, if I am not mistaken, the only life-size example of the Shorts 184 in the world. The aircraft is on display in the Estonian Seaplane Harbour museum, here in Tallinn and is actually a replica which sports Estonian markings, to commemorate the part it played in early Estonian military aviation. I'll compare notes during my visit ! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks very much everyone, I have to admit I'm a little overwhelmed by the positive reactions to this one! @Tiger331 - please take pics! I wasn't aware that a replica existed. The remains of the "Jutland Short", no. 8359, are in the Fleet Air Arm museum at RNAS Yeovilton, in England, but it is a very sorry state after the Imperial War Museum in London, where it was originally, was bombed during WWII. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Madness! Looks excellent, that rigging......! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoshenko Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Absolutely stunning. A thorougly comprehensive build. Well where I could wax lyrical about every aspect of this, the main things that stand out are the shading on the wing ribs, really comvincing. And of course that rigging, oh that rigging...work of a spider that studied fine art! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occa Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I have no words 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1steve Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Ian, marvellous job. Following your thread means making my second one with the wings folded will be so much easier. My 842 got a silver in the competition at the Yeovilton Show last weekend, but I'm glad it wasn't up against yours. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 An amazing job , Sir ! This is a real Show stopper! Fantastic! Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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