Sunderland guns - pre-war fitting (or not)

[rossm]

I'm posting here 'cos it's mostly a WWII aircraft but I'm planning to model a pre-war silver Sunderland I - L5802 from the Kits-World sheet 172091 using the Italeri kit . Looking at photos I don't think any of the guns would be mounted in the turrets - please can anyone confirm the normal practice for when guns were mounted?

 

Also I need to close the mid-upper gun positions and photos seem to show a smooth surface, not even the slight bulge of the Italeri parts in the closed position, so I'm thinking I have to back the opening with plastic card and fill generously to conform to the remainder of the fuselage. Again, please can anyone confirm?

 

Thanks in advance,

Ross

[JPuente54]

Ross, you might want to post this in the "Interwar" forum as well. But, someone may help you with the info needed here. Good luck!

Joe

[dogsbody]

You could also try here: http://theflyingboatforum.forumlaunch.net/index.php

 

Tell them I sent you.

 

 

Chris

[LDSModeller]

11 hours ago, rossm said:

I'm posting here 'cos it's mostly a WWII aircraft but I'm planning to model a pre-war silver Sunderland I - L5802 from the Kits-World sheet 172091 using the Italeri kit . Looking at photos I don't think any of the guns would be mounted in the turrets - please can anyone confirm the normal practice for when guns were mounted?

 

Also I need to close the mid-upper gun positions and photos seem to show a smooth surface, not even the slight bulge of the Italeri parts in the closed position, so I'm thinking I have to back the opening with plastic card and fill generously to conform to the remainder of the fuselage. Again, please can anyone confirm?

 

Thanks in advance,

Ross

Hi Ross,

 

Looking through my books etc. Pre-War Sunderland's don't seem to carry guns in photos. - That doesn't mean to say

they didn't carry them though, especially on exercises etc. Also the various Squadron armourers would have had to practice

mounting the VGO's and Browning MG's to the mounts and arming the guns in the  turrets etc. WAG's etc would have had to

practice shooting whilst in flight - just remember photos are only a snapshot at a particular time.

 

I would second Chris's comment on trying Seawings, Allen King (Author "Wings Over Windermere" etc) who is very knowledgeable

on the Sunderland may shed more light.

 

Regards

 

Alan