Tamiya 1:72 Mosquito FB Mk.VI
Discussion
Ah, let me guess, hence the development of Aerolite (clues in the name I guess)? Cheap and simple to make and light, so it fuelled the home built wooden dinghy revolution of the 50s and 60s (although it only lasted 20-30 years before disintegrating...)
Fascinating pics, thanks for posting!
Fascinating pics, thanks for posting!
Generalising a bit, glue failures of wartime wooden airframes only happened if they were stuck in grossly unsuitable conditions: basically hot and steamy countries, because the service lives were always intended to be short anyway.
Post-war of course service lives lengthened, due to an absence of combat losses and no need for continual urgent replacement to keep pace with enemy developments. In the UK, in both civilian and military circles, it then became clear that wooden airframes are fine if you keep them hangared, but if you leave them out in the rain and damp when not it use then they deteriorate badly over time. A British winter in which a wooden aeroplane does not fly, and is kept outside, is generally enough to finish it off. In a fit of official over-reaction, the airworthiness authorities then contrived a holocaust of certain types of wooden-skinned airframes, which is why very few examples of wood-skinned Miles and Percival types now survive (really only those which were abroad at the time or which were hidden away awaiting more enlightened times).
Open-frame fabric covered types had a much easier time of it because they could be thoroughly inspected and repaired as necessary when being recovered.
Post-war of course service lives lengthened, due to an absence of combat losses and no need for continual urgent replacement to keep pace with enemy developments. In the UK, in both civilian and military circles, it then became clear that wooden airframes are fine if you keep them hangared, but if you leave them out in the rain and damp when not it use then they deteriorate badly over time. A British winter in which a wooden aeroplane does not fly, and is kept outside, is generally enough to finish it off. In a fit of official over-reaction, the airworthiness authorities then contrived a holocaust of certain types of wooden-skinned airframes, which is why very few examples of wood-skinned Miles and Percival types now survive (really only those which were abroad at the time or which were hidden away awaiting more enlightened times).
Open-frame fabric covered types had a much easier time of it because they could be thoroughly inspected and repaired as necessary when being recovered.
dr_gn said:
Eric Mc said:
I think the bottom picture is of the Parker Knoll furniture factory.
Bottom picture is either J. B. Heath or Dancer & Hearne both of whom made wing spars. Parker knoll was one of the companies who made fuselages.
I guess if you're going to make a wooden aircraft ask people who know about wood to make it!
Lowtimer said:
Generalising a bit, glue failures of wartime wooden airframes only happened if they were stuck in grossly unsuitable conditions: basically hot and steamy countries, because the service lives were always intended to be short anyway.
Post-war of course service lives lengthened, due to an absence of combat losses and no need for continual urgent replacement to keep pace with enemy developments. In the UK, in both civilian and military circles, it then became clear that wooden airframes are fine if you keep them hangared, but if you leave them out in the rain and damp when not it use then they deteriorate badly over time. A British winter in which a wooden aeroplane does not fly, and is kept outside, is generally enough to finish it off. In a fit of official over-reaction, the airworthiness authorities then contrived a holocaust of certain types of wooden-skinned airframes, which is why very few examples of wood-skinned Miles and Percival types now survive (really only those which were abroad at the time or which were hidden away awaiting more enlightened times).
Open-frame fabric covered types had a much easier time of it because they could be thoroughly inspected and repaired as necessary when being recovered.
The effects of damp on wooden airframes are as you say, but the Mosquito problem was more involved.Post-war of course service lives lengthened, due to an absence of combat losses and no need for continual urgent replacement to keep pace with enemy developments. In the UK, in both civilian and military circles, it then became clear that wooden airframes are fine if you keep them hangared, but if you leave them out in the rain and damp when not it use then they deteriorate badly over time. A British winter in which a wooden aeroplane does not fly, and is kept outside, is generally enough to finish it off. In a fit of official over-reaction, the airworthiness authorities then contrived a holocaust of certain types of wooden-skinned airframes, which is why very few examples of wood-skinned Miles and Percival types now survive (really only those which were abroad at the time or which were hidden away awaiting more enlightened times).
Open-frame fabric covered types had a much easier time of it because they could be thoroughly inspected and repaired as necessary when being recovered.
The Far East problem with Mosquitos is often attributed to the climate, but this wasn't actually the primary causes of the structural failures. The main cause was due to poor manufacture in the main wing spars with components failing to meet up and gaps in the glue joints of the main spar. The problem was far from confined to the Far East aircraft. The Australian production line was halted in Mar 1944 because of it and in the UK the allies were experiencing wing failures at a rate 2 to 4 per month across all marks between Jan and Jun'44.
An investigation by Sqd. Ldr C.J.Cabot and Mr. P. Myers of De Havilland carried out in South East Asia attributed the failures to faulty manufacture. "Defects not due to climate conditions. The standard of gluing... leaves much to be desired."
Subsequent inspections of SEAC aircraft confirmed the problem (one aircraft had only 52 flying hours and was found to have a split rear spar) and all Mosquitos were grounded as a result. Most aircraft were declared unserviceable and struck off charge.
One reason suggested for the Far East climate argument being cited as the main cause of the failures was that it was a ruse to keep the true nature of the failures quiet from the crews in Europe who were still using the aircraft.
The whole debacle is covered in some detail in Dave Brown's "Mosquito FB.VI. Airframe, systems and RAF wartime usage." which is also a very good reference book for anyone modelling the Mossie.
HoHoHo said:
It's amazing the facts you pick up along the way
I guess if you're going to make a wooden aircraft ask people who know about wood to make it!
It was part of the "selling point" made by DH to the Air Ministry. The AM were not convinced that a wooden airframe like this was viable. DH sold them the idea partly on the basis that it would make use of a whole sector of British industry that was being underutilised, i.e. cabinet makers, wood workers, furniture makers, joiners etc.I guess if you're going to make a wooden aircraft ask people who know about wood to make it!
Eric Mc said:
HoHoHo said:
It's amazing the facts you pick up along the way
I guess if you're going to make a wooden aircraft ask people who know about wood to make it!
It was part of the "selling point" made by DH to the Air Ministry. The AM were not convinced that a wooden airframe like this was viable. DH sold them the idea partly on the basis that it would make use of a whole sector of British industry that was being underutilised, i.e. cabinet makers, wood workers, furniture makers, joiners etc.I guess if you're going to make a wooden aircraft ask people who know about wood to make it!
Eric Mc said:
Herman Goering got very miffed about the Mosquito. He couldn't understand why German woodworkers couldn't build a wooden plane as good as the Mossie.
Their attempt, the Focke-Wulf Ta154 Moskito, was not one of their best.
Then it seems he was quite envious of a couple of our aircraft!Their attempt, the Focke-Wulf Ta154 Moskito, was not one of their best.
Innowaybored said:
Just discovered this room and then this thread. That model is utterly stunning. Loving your MP car project as well. What incredible talent.
Thank you - but far too kind! If you read through the MP4/6 thread (indeed many of my model threads) you'll see that trial and error and multiple mistakes often take up a signficant amount of my modelling time...Got 1st in class at IPMS Huddersfield show today, very pleased with that!
And with the paper trawler, which was a bit of a surprise, but I'm not complaining...
Was good to see Perdu again (and he took a couple of prizes in the competition too).
Despite vowing not to buy any more kits until the stash is vastly reduced, I couldn't resist this for £1
I have been wanting a kit to just build like I did when I was a kid - no airbrush, no aftermarket stuff, just build it over a couple of evenings. It's a shame I've already got this aircraft with all the bells and whistles in the stash too, but the Italeri version.
And with the paper trawler, which was a bit of a surprise, but I'm not complaining...
Was good to see Perdu again (and he took a couple of prizes in the competition too).
Despite vowing not to buy any more kits until the stash is vastly reduced, I couldn't resist this for £1
I have been wanting a kit to just build like I did when I was a kid - no airbrush, no aftermarket stuff, just build it over a couple of evenings. It's a shame I've already got this aircraft with all the bells and whistles in the stash too, but the Italeri version.
Someone ought to remind me of the Golden Rule more often
If dr_gn is entering, be wise and withdraw your own
Carved in rock that should be, above the portal at any model show
he he
It was great to see you all G, and I was possibly as pleased as yourself when you got the first for the Mossie, that model is even better on the table, in the flesh than on photographs
And the paper ship was deserving of its class win, good basic item transformed here for our enjoyment looked dainty AND rugged at the same time
Other class entering modellers will have learned the golden rule by now
: If dr_gn is entering, be wise and withdraw your own...
What doc didnt mention was that young _gn got two commended certificates too
Well done sir
(I was happy with a pair of seconds, one of those was to the Mossie. No shame in that.)
If dr_gn is entering, be wise and withdraw your own
Carved in rock that should be, above the portal at any model show
he he
It was great to see you all G, and I was possibly as pleased as yourself when you got the first for the Mossie, that model is even better on the table, in the flesh than on photographs
And the paper ship was deserving of its class win, good basic item transformed here for our enjoyment looked dainty AND rugged at the same time
Other class entering modellers will have learned the golden rule by now
: If dr_gn is entering, be wise and withdraw your own...
What doc didnt mention was that young _gn got two commended certificates too
Well done sir
(I was happy with a pair of seconds, one of those was to the Mossie. No shame in that.)
No surprise at all that your Mossie was a winner. It's a beaut.
As for the Macchi, that model holds very strong emotions for me. Back in 1969/70, my best mate at that time built that model in my house. As kids, we used to have model building sessions on our kitchen and I well remember us working on our respective models. He was building the Macchi and I (I think) was building the old Airfix Stuka.
Within a few months he was dead at 12, run over by a construction lorry.
As for the Macchi, that model holds very strong emotions for me. Back in 1969/70, my best mate at that time built that model in my house. As kids, we used to have model building sessions on our kitchen and I well remember us working on our respective models. He was building the Macchi and I (I think) was building the old Airfix Stuka.
Within a few months he was dead at 12, run over by a construction lorry.
Sorry about that loss Eric cant have been easy as a kid to lose a close mate
G was lucky getting that 'do it as a simple kit' Macchi but I wonder
You know, just wonder how little extra will creep in
I found a link to some very good pictures of the Huddersfield show here G I hope you dont mind if I drop it here
yes yours are in there
mine too
http://tinyurl.com/honngyd
G was lucky getting that 'do it as a simple kit' Macchi but I wonder
You know, just wonder how little extra will creep in
I found a link to some very good pictures of the Huddersfield show here G I hope you dont mind if I drop it here
yes yours are in there
mine too
http://tinyurl.com/honngyd
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