Northrop Gamma 2E and 5B

[leyreynolds]

I'm looking for details of the differences between these two types, preferably in the form of scale drawings. Early Northrop types seem to be poorly documented.

[Jure Miljevic]

Hello

Leyreynolds, I have never heard of Gamma 5B. Did you perhaps mean 2B? Cheers

Jure

[Jure Miljevic]

Hello

My apologies, I finally got it. You mean prototype of 2E series, which had been sold (via several middlemen) to Republicans in Spain? There is an article I found somewhere on the web in French language. I hope I can dig it out. Cheers

Jure

[Jure Miljevic]

Sorry, no joy. I could not find the article in question. Still, somebody put it on the web:

http://mil-history.livejournal.com/1334186.html

It is in Russian, but colour profile and photos speak for themselves. Also, I found a lot of information about Gamma 5B, including (simplified) 3-view line drawings, here:

http://www.skytamer.com/Northrop_1933(Gamma5B).html

There is a lot of photos of both Gamma 2E and 5B on following link:

https://www.aviarmor.net/aww2/aircraft/usa/northrop_gamma_photo.htm

Usually list of differences between types includes tail planes, engine and canopy. However, early Gammas 2E had the same vertical tail as 5B and later on 5B had been equipped with the same engine as late 2Es. Canopy of 5B is certainly different from the one on 2E, but looks similar to Northrop BT-1 canopy, although with somewhat reduced framing. I hope it helps. Cheers

Jure

[leyreynolds]

G'day Jure,

That's it. I plan to convert the Azur kit to the Republican aircraft. I can see that the fin/rudder are of a different shape but I haven't been able to find details of any other differences.

 

Ley

[Jure Miljevic]

Hello

Leyreynolds, probably the most difficult part would be to find suitable canopy. Of course, if you are into vacforming you are laughing. Vertical tail of 5B seems to have shorter chord than the one of 2E, while horizontal tail seems to posses longer one, at least judging by Skytamer webpage drawings. Hopefully someone with more information will soon chime in. Cheers

Jure

[ClaudioN]

On 5/9/2017 at 0:43 AM, leyreynolds said:

I'm looking for details of the differences between these two types, preferably in the form of scale drawings. Early Northrop types seem to be poorly documented.

You may already know this but, in case, here's a link to the first page of an article in "Flight" magazine of February 7, 1935:

A 200 m.p.h. BOMBER

[leyreynolds]

Thanks for the info'.

 

Ley

[Gilles_53]

The french text on the Spanish Gamma Bomber did appear in an issue of Air Mag, some years ago. I will try to be more specific soon. As far as I remember, the text was mainly on the use of this unique plane by the Republicans, with 3 views (at least) and photos, but there was no technical comparisons between this plane and other Gamma variants. The main difference between the planes (2E and Spanish Republic) is the canopy, but the tail also would have to modified, separation between movable and fixed parts were changed - and engine / cowling / propeller was different too (nothing than the spare sparts in the kit / spare box / little scratchbuild could not modify)

[Graham Boak]

The best text I know for the early Northrop types is in Putnam's McDonnell Douglas Volume 1 , by Rene Francillon.  This is because the early Northrop company (1932 to 1973) was a Douglas subsidiary and became Douglas's El Segundo division.  Northrop acted as a senior consultant to Douglas, teaching them much on metal construction for aircraft, and mentoring (to use a modern term) Ed Heinemann.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Graham Boak
Volume number added

[Gilles_53]

Reference for the Spanish Northrop is : Air Mag issue 6 (in french), January / February 2002, text by Juan Arraez-Cerda, page 49 to 52. 5 photos of the plane (+ one in Argentina), but none of the cockpit, plan with one profile (right), and top view of left wing, bottom view of left wing. It says the 5B was the prototype for the 2E, which is probably not exactly accurate, as 2E was sold to China in 1934 and 5B was demonstrated in Argentina in early 1936. The 5B profile shows the dustbin. Apparently, the plane was assembled (again) in France and reached Spain during spring 1938. Registration was BN-001 (fuselage).  The plane was used mainly in reconnoissance missions, being impressed in Grupo 72 (Coastal Defence). Apparently, it did survive until 1950, but there is no evidence it was used by nationalist forces.

 

Apparently, a full description of the Gamma family is available in Aerospace Modeller, Summer 2007.

[leyreynolds]

Thanks to you all for the extra info'. I'll have to chase up the Putnam book.

 

Ley

[JWM]

On photo of this Spanish 5e (No NB001) it is clear that canopy is not so rectangular as in 2e

(the photo os on web page, when you wil scroll a bit)

 http://www.sas1946.com/images/imageshit/img850/4884/spainn5b.jpg

 

It is also said that it is 5b

But the engines looks differnt - the Spanish looks like with single row radia. The second one is more like a twin row, both in file desription are named 5b.

Here is 5a with sigle row radial

Above two photos I took from this Russian page

https://www.aviarmor.net/aww2/aircraft/usa/northrop_gamma.htm

 

I think that Spanish one was back converted to 5a standard (9 cyl.) despite that everywhere it is named "5b". The RS resin kit looks like a 9 cyl, not 14 

 

Here are some drawings

 

This is also from Russian page, likely taken from some western book (?)

Another Russian page on older variants 

http://avia-museum.narod.ru/usa/northrop_gamma.html

Here is nice article

http://www.skytamer.com/Northrop_1933(Gamma5D).html

I am also considering such conversion...

Best regards

J-W

P.S. ( EDIT added)

I have found another takes of 5b with 14 cyliders engine

Please note the difference with the Spanish 5b

In the artucle http://www.skytamer.com/Northrop_1933(Gamma5B).html

it is confirmed, that initially 5b was 14 cyl Twin Wasp and then (when went to Spain) it was converted to 9 cyliders Wright Cyclone. So - no mystery, everything is clear

 

Edited September 9, 2017 by JWM
added PS