T-28S Fennec Airbrake

[Wez]

I feel as though I should know this but an element of doubt has crept into my noggin and it's something I need to sort out.

 

The French Fennec's were all based upon T-28A's but with new engines to resemble the T-28B.

 

One of the things often repeated about the Fennec was that it didn't feature the airbrake used on regular T-28's, so far so good, but then I read Post #60 (last on page), in this thread on WW2AIRCRAFT.NET which stated that the airbrakes were plated over (happy so far), but the channels for the hinges were left (face breaks into frown at this point).

 

Can anyone shed some light on this?  I'm thinking for my proposed Fennec build in the Heller Classic GB, I need to fill the panel lines and perforations for the airbrake but carve the hinge channels to achieve the desired result?

 

I must say, I'm surprised that they may have left the channels open, nice little corrosion trap there.

[72modeler]

Wez,

 

Interesting query, to be sure! I did a little research and found two written references to Fennec production; one was Southeast Asia T28's, which included a brief description of the Fennec as well as the serial numbers and disposition of 147 of the 149 examples built. According to this reference, the Fennecs were basically remanufactured T-28A's, and  USAF T-28A's were never equipped with speedbrakes, so I would think there were no channels for the speedbrake arms since the brakes were never installed. Now, I also read that some T-28A's were upgraded with better engines and three blade props, so they might have also been fitted with speedbrakes, so if some of those upgraded A models were bought by the French to be made into Fennecs, then perhaps they might have had retrofitted brakes skinned over with the channels left as is. Just an uneducated guess on my part- hopefully somebody with more knowledge can help.

Mike

See the link below to an article on the purchase and restoration of the first Fennec built; while the article states that no Fennecs had speedbrakes, the owner had one retrofitted to this Fennec...soooo, I'm thnking no speedbrake, no actuating arm channels. (Is this a great hobby or what?) 

 

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/fennec-rising-the-first-production-t-28s-fennec-is-flying-again.html

[Wez]

Thanks Mike,

 

I'm inclined to think along the same lines as you, no airbrake (speedbrake), no actuating arm channels, it would be different if it the aircraft were built with them then had them removed.

 

Underside views of a Fennec's underside are rarer than rocking horse poo, the best I could come up was this on Frenchwings.net.

[72modeler]

2 hours ago, Wez said:

the best I could come up was this on Frenchwings.net.

That is a  great photo! I couldn't find ANY Fennec pics that showed the undersides clearly enough to make a comment one way or the other. Looks like no speedbrake or actuating arm channels all right!

Mike

[Wez]

9 minutes ago, 72modeler said:

Looks like no speedbrake or actuating arm channels all right!

Yes, I concur which means I'll be reverting to my original plan to fill the panel lines and the perforations - I've been giving the matter some thought and come up with a cunning plan to sort that out!