Tolga ULGUR Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Hello everybody I would like to ask a question about seat belts used in RAF P-40 Kittyhawk Mk.III ( M for US version) Did they used RAF Sutton Harness? If yes; these were late type or early type as in Kittyhawk Mk.I Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 (edited) until K-1 model, RAAF P40 was fitted with Sutton harness. K-10, 15 & N had US type similar RAAF typeTO1. May be similar on RAF Kitty III? Edited September 13, 2020 by BS_w 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Squadron Leader Terry-Thomas? Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Joyce Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 41 minutes ago, 72modeler said: Squadron Leader Terry-Thomas? Mike I believe it's Bobby Gibbes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Squadron Leader R H M "Bobby" Gibbes, Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron RAAF https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205211932 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholas mayhew Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 hi all, where / how did the Sutton seatbelts anchor? the Hasegawa kit instructions show the (US) seatbelts just lapped over the back of the seat and disappearing down out of sight between seat back and bulkhead / armour plate. this is fine but also in the Hasegawa bulkhead part there is just above where the top of the seat would line up some moulded on padding with what looks like a slit in it, and i am wondering whether the seat belts actually went through that and anchored somewhere the other side of the bulkhead? I cannot find any suitable pictures online or cockpit walkarounds which show me what i am looking for any help much appreciated Kind regards Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Not sure where I got this but it was in my P40 file, it may help. Cheers Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholas mayhew Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Hey Dennis in a way it does because it would seem to tie in with what i am seeing in Ultracast's seat with a Sutton now i know looking at aftermarket to deduce what the real thing was like is akin to looking at most profiles to determine original camouflage ie extremely flaky!, but what they depict does make sense do they have it right you think, with the rear straps split, one part going in down the front, and the other going over the back? pics from ModellingNews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Looking at the way the Sutton harness is fitted on the Spitfire and Hurricane that looks good to me. Cheers Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie22 Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 1 hour ago, spitfire said: Not sure where I got this but it was in my P40 file, it may help. Cheers Dennis You possibly got it from a post I made on Britmodeller some time ago in answere to a similar question. The aircraft is a P-40K of No. 77 Sqn RAAF. Peter M 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozhawk40 Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) These pages from RAAF Kittyhawk Order No-1 may assist. Pages can be found in the National Australian Archives as per references on the bottom of the images. They relate to the P-40E and up in RAAF service, and the Order gives guidance on lengthening the harness to fit. Although the Order requires fitting the Sutton only if a lap belt is present, it is possible that later P-40M's and P-40N's delivered with shoulder harnesses could also receive the Sutton harness. There appeared to be a mixture of types in service with RAAF. Others may have more info on RAF use. Cheers Edited March 14, 2021 by Ozhawk40 added info 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBBates Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) 17 hours ago, nicholas mayhew said: Hey Dennis in a way it does because it would seem to tie in with what i am seeing in Ultracast's seat with a Sutton now i know looking at aftermarket to deduce what the real thing was like is akin to looking at most profiles to determine original camouflage ie extremely flaky!, but what they depict does make sense do they have it right you think, with the rear straps split, one part going in down the front, and the other going over the back? pics from ModellingNews That ultra cast seat is for a Tomahawk not a Kitty hawk ..very diffrent Edited March 14, 2021 by HBBates 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholas mayhew Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 4 hours ago, HBBates said: That ultra cast seat is for a Tomahawk not a Kitty hawk ..very diffrent whilst the shape of the seat is indeed very different, the principles are the same given they both have the hole at the bottom of the seat back etc. anyway, thank you to all who have replied, it's much appreciated i am happy now that belts should indeed go as ultracast cast them i also realise there was (still is?) a large can of worms with how the belts went on early Spitfires, having seen threads both here, Hyperscale and LSP where the late and much missed Edgar was among many of those who took part. anyway, thank again and enjoy your Sunday Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V Line Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Compare the drawings in Ozhawk's very useful post above with the unpainted 'round -backed' seat of the P40 e discovered in the Sahara some years ago.I believe this is an RAF as opposed to an RAAF aircraft but procedures for such a modification were I suspect, unlikely to differ. As the harness has either been cut or rotted away and the lap sections of the harness are not visible, it's not altogether clear that this is a match,or indeed exactly which type of harness it is although my feeling is that it's as per the one visible in the photo of Gibbes in his cockpit posted by Bs_w, also above. The section at the bottom of the seat back could be the top of the extension piece. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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