John Jenkins does Golden Age Aviation (3 Viewers)

[lancer]

Al, of course, is correct! On the model, the "gun barrels" emerge from the side of the fuselage and extend between the 3-4 and 7-8 cylinders:

View attachment 194138

This would have been the 2 x .30 cal configuration. I'm sure that there were other aircraft that had weapons set up like this, but the only other one that I can think of was the Douglas Devastator, having a single weapon that fired through a port on the starboard side of the engine-cowling. While examining the image above, note that the white baffle over the engine crankcase is a separate piece. I'm not sure exactly how many parts are included in the assembly, but it's easily Jenkins' most thorough and detailed treatment of an aircraft engine and exhaust to date. Very cool.

-Moe

Most impressive that John included the guns. This is one outstanding model. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Al, of course, is correct! On the model, the "gun barrels" emerge from the side of the fuselage and extend between the 3-4 and 7-8 cylinders:

This would have been the 2 x .30 cal configuration. I'm sure that there were other aircraft that had weapons set up like this, but the only other one that I can think of was the Douglas Devastator, having a single weapon that fired through a port on the starboard side of the engine-cowling. While examining the image above, note that the white baffle over the engine crankcase is a separate piece. I'm not sure exactly how many parts are included in the assembly, but it's easily Jenkins' most thorough and detailed treatment of an aircraft engine and exhaust to date. Very cool.

-Moe

Thanks for the follow up photo Moe. No wonder they were called the pea shooter. :wink2: I would have hated to go up against any modern fighter of the time in this crate. BUT, a beautiful rendition. Chris

 

[ivanmoe]

Thanks for the follow up photo Moe. No wonder they were called the pea shooter. :wink2: I would have hated to go up against any modern fighter of the time in this crate. BUT, a beautiful rendition. Chris

I don't know how badly it would have flown or fought against a Nate or a Claude. Might not have been too big a mismatch until the Zero and Oscar were operational. Found a pic of the other part of my Peashooter collection, BTW:

View attachment 194162

The HM P-26 is fairly popular with diecast collectors.

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

On the first page of the thread, Al an I had an brief discussion of the P-26 in wartime. Here's a closeup of the one in OD and medium-gray, one of the models in the pic directly above, a personal favorite:

View attachment 194163

-Moe

 

[lancer]

On the first page of the thread, Al an I had an brief discussion of the P-26 in wartime. Here's a closeup of the one in OD and medium-gray, one of the models in the pic directly above, a personal favorite:

View attachment 194163

-Moe

Moe, I don't think I would have wanted to face off against a Claude or a Nate in the Peashooter. Although they both had similar arms (2 MGs for all), the Japanese fighters were faster by 40 mph, an almost insurmountable edge. And those Japanese pilots were very good in the 1937-43 time frame, and excelled in the dogfight docturne that existed early in the war. :wink2: -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Tidying up my "picture taking folder" and found one more nice image of IWA-01:

View attachment 194188

-Moe

 

[Terp152]

Here's a few stats to compare the various fighters at the start of the war to supplement Al's comment regarding speed differential.
P35: Top speed 290 mph, rate of climb (ROC) 1,920 ft/min, P26: Top speed 234 mph, ROC 719, Claude: Top speed 273, ROC 2,790 ft/min, Nate: Top speed 292 mph, ROC 3,010 ft/min. The P26 ROC equates to no maneuverability in a dog fight. The P26 was cannon fodder even before the war began. Even the P35 was severely outclassed, and it was a marked improvement over the P26. Chris

 

[ivanmoe]

Here's a few stats to compare the various fighters at the start of the war to supplement Al's comment regarding speed differential.
P35: Top speed 290 mph, rate of climb (ROC) 1,920 ft/min, P26: Top speed 234 mph, ROC 719, Claude: Top speed 273, ROC 2,790 ft/min, Nate: Top speed 292 mph, ROC 3,010 ft/min. The P26 ROC equates to no maneuverability in a dog fight. The P26 was cannon fodder even before the war began. Even the P35 was severely outclassed, and it was a marked improvement over the P26. Chris

The power of radial engines more or less doubled between 1935 and 1941. The engines in most Japanese aircraft produced about twenty-five percent less horsepower, but both the engine and airframe were MUCH lighter than those of their American counterparts. Additionally, some pre-war U.S. types that had been "pleasant to fly" were transformed into wallowing-pigs with the addition of pilot armor and other goodies. However, the real problem with the Peashooter was that it was WAY past its prime. If we run down the list of the aircraft that replaced it in front-line squadrons, we see a string of types like the P-35 and P-36 that were themselves obsolescent (and underpowered) by 1941.

-Moe

 

[Terp152]

The power of radial engines more or less doubled between 1935 and 1941. The engines in most Japanese aircraft produced about twenty-five percent less horsepower, but both the engine and airframe were MUCH lighter than those of their American counterparts. Additionally, some pre-war U.S. types that had been "pleasant to fly" were transformed into wallowing-pigs with the addition of pilot armor and other goodies. However, the real problem with the Peashooter was that it was WAY past its prime. If we run down the list of the aircraft that replaced it in front-line squadrons, we see a string of types like the P-35 and P-36 that were themselves obsolescent (and underpowered) by 1941.

-Moe

Yes, and look at the aerodynamics of the P26 vs Claude and Nate. Chris

 

[ivanmoe]

Yes, and look at the aerodynamics of the P26 vs Claude and Nate. Chris

Maybe so, but Peashooter pilots were a lot cooler! :wink2:

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Yes, and look at the aerodynamics of the P26 vs Claude and Nate. Chris

Wire braced wings as opposed to cantilever. No contest. The Japanese aircraft were built as dogfighters, very light in construction, no armor for the pilots, no self-sealing fuel tanks, no extra weight at all. Many of the Japanese pilots even removed the radios to save the weight. Also interesting is the fact that many Japanese pilots wouldn't take parachutes. The Japanese high command finally forced the issue when pilot losses became critical, by ordering their use. The Japanese were dogfighters from the get-go and this only changed as losses mounted to new US tactics, and even then it was a slow process. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Due to a fortunate set of circumstances (planets aligning, and all that), I was able to obtain the new JJD P-26 a lot sooner than I had counted on. I obtained the 34th PS example, as Moe has illustrated in this thread. I can't add a lot to Moe's outstanding review, but it is gorgeous. Superb detail and extremely colorful. I love the detail of the cockpit door that can be left in the open position if one wishes. I am so pleased with this aircraft, I am seriously considering getting a second one, the blue trimmed one of the 95th PS. This is a fantastic model. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Well, I am absolutely stunned. Awhile back, I had purchased the Frank Luke Spad. In it was a Golden Ticket. I mailed it in and kind of forgot about it. I figured the prize would be a figure or two. Imagine my shock, and I do mean shock, as in completely taken aback, when the prize arrived this morning and the prize is the brand new IWA-04, the Reed Chambers 'Flag Bus' Spad 13. The generosity of this prize is incredible and I thank John with all my heart. This is an amazing prize give-away and one I had never entertained thought of. By way of review, the model is every bit the top-end Spad that the new Guynemer and Luke Spads are, with all the new and improved details. It also has a rather toned down paint job that makes the red and white not as garish as might be assumed from the publicity photos. This is a really nice model. It is a real beauty and now resides next to my other 3 Spads. And as the paint job was meant to, it really draws the viewers eye right to it. John, you are #1.:salute:: -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Imagine my shock, and I do mean shock, as in completely taken aback, when the prize arrived this morning and the prize is the brand new IWA-04, the Reed Chambers 'Flag Bus' Spad 13.

Now, that sir, is a nice return on an investment!

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

Wife out of town tending to "family-bidness?" Wondering what to view on the vast cultural wasteland that is cable-television? Well, I say forget it! Buy yourself a copy of Devil Dogs of the Air:

Saw this yesterday on TCM for the first time. To it's credit, the film doesn't fool around with plot or character development. Rather the REAL stars of the film are a bunch of very rare, thirties-era biplanes. And I mean, obscure gentlemen. I watched the video with a copy of United States Naval Aviation, 1919-1941 in my lap and really struggled to keep up. This was a period when the Marines might buy a squadron's worth of a particular type, but the typical order was much smaller, sometimes numbering only one or two.

Here's a clip of the final, somewhat silly sequence of the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgo70ZVlylA

All in all, I found the viewing thoroughly entertaining.

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Wife out of town tending to "family-bidness?" Wondering what to view on the vast cultural wasteland that is cable-television? Well, I say forget it! Buy yourself a copy of Devil Dogs of the Air:

Saw this yesterday on TCM for the first time. To it's credit, the film doesn't fool around with plot or character development. Rather the REAL stars of the film are a bunch of very rare, thirties-era biplanes. And I mean, obscure gentlemen. I watched the video with a copy of United States Naval Aviation, 1919-1941 in my lap and really struggled to keep up. This was a period when the Marines might buy a squadron's worth of a particular type, but the typical order was much smaller, sometimes numbering only one or two.

Here's a clip of the final, somewhat silly sequence of the movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgo70ZVlylA

All in all, I found the viewing thoroughly entertaining.

-Moe

Those are great, if somewhat simple, movies. I've seen this one and liked it. There is also a 1941 movie called 'Dive Bomber', starring Errol Flynn, that involves US Navy flight surgeons and includes many period aircraft like the F3F, Vindicators, and Devastators, plus carrier activities on CV-6 Enterprise. And it is in brilliant color. -- Al

 

[Jack]

Well, I am absolutely stunned. Awhile back, I had purchased the Frank Luke Spad. In it was a Golden Ticket. I mailed it in and kind of forgot about it. I figured the prize would be a figure or two. Imagine my shock, and I do mean shock, as in completely taken aback, when the prize arrived this morning and the prize is the brand new IWA-04, the Reed Chambers 'Flag Bus' Spad 13. The generosity of this prize is incredible and I thank John with all my heart. This is an amazing prize give-away and one I had never entertained thought of. By way of review, the model is every bit the top-end Spad that the new Guynemer and Luke Spads are, with all the new and improved details. It also has a rather toned down paint job that makes the red and white not as garish as might be assumed from the publicity photos. This is a really nice model. It is a real beauty and now resides next to my other 3 Spads. And as the paint job was meant to, it really draws the viewers eye right to it. John, you are #1.:salute:: -- Al

Its times like this I wish I was a better person. Then I would be able to share your joy and be happy that you are happy. But alas ...

 

[ivanmoe]

"Yellow 43" of the 73rd Pursuit Squadron landed today, so I thought that I'd post a pic for your approval:

View attachment 195311

IWA-02 is slightly different from the other two P-26 models. It doesn't have the antenna mast or wire associated with -01, and -03 apparently lacks the gunsight we see mounted on 43's nose. It's a beauty, IMO, and Mike's engineers will be put to work as mechanics!

-Moe

 

[lancer]

"Yellow 43" of the 73rd Pursuit Squadron landed today, so I thought that I'd post a pic for your approval:

View attachment 195311

IWA-02 is slightly different from the other two P-26 models. It doesn't have the antenna mast or wire associated with -01, and -03 apparently lacks the gunsight we see mounted on 43's nose. It's a beauty, IMO, and Mike's engineers will be put to work as mechanics!

-Moe

It's a beauty and the figures are a great addition. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

It's a beauty and the figures are a great addition. -- Al

Thanks Al,

Hasegawa makes a P-26 in 1/32. After I received my model yesterday, I google'd it and found all sorts of beautiful examples that were completed by master modelers.

What I find amazing is that JJ's paint work is as good, or better, than what I was seeing in those kit-builds. In particular, his treatment of the wings is a proverbial "work of art."

I don't want to sound vulgar always talking about $$$, but the fact that these models are as reasonably priced as they are has to be viewed as a real incentive to collectors.

Question for you though...

The braided-bracing between the fuselage/landing gear and wings has a green tint to it. I'm sure you've noticed this characteristic of the material. Might this be intended to simulate copper that's oxidized a bit? If so, Jenkins has certainly drilled down into it's rendering of the rigging. A pic of the "blue-green" cable that I'm talking about:

-Moe