Ed Russell Posted May 13, 2019 Share Posted May 13, 2019 The January 2019 issue of Aeroplane contains one of their Database series - this one on the Avro Anson. There are several mentions of 500 Sqn fitting waist guns to their Ansons. For instance...... The basic armament of two .303 machine guns worried the CO so much that he and the squadron armament officer, Fg Off Harold Jones, devised the idea of adding two further guns which would fire through the glazed side windows. They would be needed in the days ahead, for 500 was about to enter a period of intense flying during Operation 'Dynamo'. Also, from the net - https://juhansotahistoriasivut.weebly.com/deadly-avro-anson.html One must remember that the Ansons of 500 Squadron carried two extra 0.303-in (7,7mm) machine-guns in the cabin windows one each side. These had been installed on special mountings made locally by a Maidstone company which refused to charge for them. The arrangement enabled the wireless operator and the navigator to provide additional defence if necessary. They seemed to be widely used by 500 at least, quite effective and contributed to the shooting down of at least one Bf109. Does anyone know of a picture of these waist guns? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 (edited) There is nothing much to see. It's just a Vickers K with the glazing removed. On the Duxford restored example it is the rearmost panel port side. This picture clicks up large and you can see everything you need to see for modelling purposes. You will notice that there is another Vickers K stashed in the fuselage, very clearly in a non firing position, and I don't know what that's doing there but there's no sign of a further-forward removal of glazing on the starboard side so I imagine that's just a stowed position for a beam gun when you don't want a howling gale through the fuselage in the middle of winter. Or it might just be a spare gun that is associated with that airframe. and lurking inside for no particular reason on the day. If you are working in 1/48 then try these Brengun resin ones. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BRL48047 For 1/72 then I don't know of any after-market ones but you can pinch them out of something like a Lysander or Swordfish. On the Duxford example it is only fitted to the port side. All the mount would need to be is something simple and swivelly that attaches under the magazine, like this. I would just knock it up out of bits of sprue cut and filed to shape possibly with a length of fine paper-clip wire to attach it firmly inside the fuselage side. Conveniently this makes it pretty much invisible in the Anson interior. Have a look here for notion of what other typical Vickers K mounts tended to look like. http://worldofwapons.blogspot.com/2013/04/vickers-k.html Edited May 14, 2019 by Work In Progress 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael louey Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 23 minutes ago, Work In Progress said: If you are working in 1/48 then try these Brengun resin ones. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/BRL48047 For 1/72 then I don't know of any after-market ones but you can pinch them out of something like a Lysander or Swordfish. In 1/72 there are the High Planes guns https://www.hpmhobbies.com/high-planes-vickers-k-gun-x-2-accessories-1-72/ I'm sure Aeroclub had some but you'd have to find them on a 2nd hand site. Cheers Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted May 14, 2019 Author Share Posted May 14, 2019 Thanks guys, most helpful. I sort of figured it must be that spot as there is nowhere else on the port side that has suitable clearance and access. It must be further forward on the starboard side as the opposite spot is the door and you wouldn't want opposing side guns anyway as it would be too cramped. I'm working in 1/72 and I have some Aeroclub ones somewhere. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 I have 1/72 Lewis guns from at least three sources. Kora, Coastal Craft, and spares in the Dragon SAS jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 Hi another BM thread link below mentions the extra guns and a photo of the 500Sqn anson 20mm cannon mod cheers jerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted May 14, 2019 Share Posted May 14, 2019 I have just googled some more 1/72 Vickers K: Miniworld, quite impressive looking https://eshop.scalehobby.eu/Miniworld-1-72-Vickers-K-machine-gun-d506.htm?tab=description 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 Thanks to all of you - that pretty much answers all the questions I had! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 On 5/14/2019 at 9:33 AM, Graham Boak said: I have 1/72 Lewis guns from at least three sources. Kora, Coastal Craft, and spares in the Dragon SAS jeep. Graham these are Vickers K not Lewis guns. They look similar but the designs are actually quite different. Their design is based on the French Berthier patents and was derived from the Vickers Berthier gun used by the Indian army. The Vickers K had a much higher rate of fire than the Lewis, which it replaced in RAF Service. Selwyn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 So they are. Brain fade I'm afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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