MikeC
Moderator 
Too many SIGs for my own good!
Posts: 804
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Post by MikeC on Feb 21, 2008 13:46:52 GMT
Dear fellow recce fans, I heard a muffled screaming from the loft the other day, which turned out to be my Airfix Buccaneer yelling "Build me next!" Well I've got some stuff for the combined SIG/Avon stand to do first, but started a bit of gentle research. In the course of this I found that the type had a dedicated recce pack. However, the only photo I have found of it to date is the one on here: www.spyflight.co.uk/buccaneer.htm - see 5th photo. Can the collective consciousness and archives supply any further info, or better still a line drawing and info. Specifically: was it on the "inside" of the bomb door, and rotated into position when used, or was it a fixed fit? I suspect the latter, given the bulge for the forward oblique, but it would be nice to know for sure. Info on colours would be good as well - I suspect white, but would it have been EDSG on the later overall EDSG aircraft? TIA for any info or pointers, |
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Post by popeye on Feb 21, 2008 16:30:11 GMT
Hello Mike, Muffled cry ? Could it be it was my kit from far away  Seriously - if anybody can unearth said info I am also very much interested. The Bucc is not only a long-lived good looking a/c - it's also technically very interesting (sic boundary layer control etc) and a dream project in recce config. Rolf |
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Post by COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT on Feb 21, 2008 18:37:04 GMT
Mike, Thanks for bringing this one up.... I found the same reference on Spyflight and went looking as well but have been singularly unsuccessful in finding any further information. So I am interested as well. Found a couple of websites that appeared good for Buccaneer stuff, but pursued it no further. www.blackburn-buccaneer.co.ukwww.thunder-and-lightnings.co.ukLooking at that photo, I suspect it was a pack that was fitted 'in' to the bomb bay, the buccaneer rotating door was quite a substantial door......Looking further at that photo, noticed what appears to be RN EDSG paint scheme and yet it appears to be a 12 Squadron Foxes head painted on the pack....? Any body got any Buccaneer books that show references........? Colin |
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Post by johnsheehan on Feb 21, 2008 20:08:47 GMT
Hi Guys
I've had a quick look at what I have and I've come up with 2 books that show the Recon pack but the best by far is Wings of Fame Vol.14 this has 3 good photo's of the pack,(page 48) two left side ,and one from underneath to the rear. The other photo is in the Ian Allan aircraft Special RAF Buccaneer page 34 left side again. I can scan them if any one wants me to?
John
I forgot, also in Wings of Fame there's a nice close up of the right side sowing the bulge with the forward facing Camera. It looks like the pack was fixed as all the photos show it out, also on the same page as this close up (page 76) is a photo of the Bomb bay with out the Camera Pack just showing the Flare pack. I've also found another photo in Flight Testing at Boscombe Down The Cold War Years. Page 302 has a left side close up.
John
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Post by COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT on Feb 21, 2008 20:40:20 GMT
John,
I would like........please have a go.
Colin
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Post by johnsheehan on Feb 21, 2008 20:44:19 GMT
Ok Colin I'll e-mail them it may be the week end before I can but I'll do them
John
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MikeC
Moderator
Too many SIGs for my own good!
Posts: 804
|
Post by MikeC on Feb 21, 2008 23:22:42 GMT
John, Yes please, and sorry about the teeth marks where I've just bitten your arm off ...  Colin, Yes, I'd noticed that as well, the same photo is also in Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork's "The Buccaneers". My own suspicions are that it was those fun-loving RAF types indulging in a bit of gentle zapping in the days when the RN based their Buccaneers at Honington along with the RAF. John et al, Thanks for the responses. If I can do it by Telford I will, although something will have to drop off the list. |
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Post by sloegin57 on Feb 22, 2008 4:31:05 GMT
Intriguing - 25 years in HM's finest and I never knew that the "Brick" had a recce pack. Didn't think it could fly high enough to get decent pictures. Rumour was that it only got orf the ground because the Earth was round!.
Thanks Guys - you've filled in a gap I didn't even know I had!!
Dennis
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Post by COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT on Feb 22, 2008 20:13:51 GMT
Mike,
There is nothing "gentle" when it comes to the "ART" of zapping, particularly when it comes to 'interservice' zapping..........
Numerous examples abound, but Hercules springs to mind, ......maybe thats a seperate thread....? Mexico I believe..was a good one.
Dennis,
I take some, small satisfaction in you being confounded by this, and for you to perpetuate the rumour about the Buccaneer only being able to gain wing borne flight due to the curvature of the earth.........................................
Shame on you....!
Every body knows that it was gravitational attraction by the moon, that enabled the 'Bucc' to fly, have you ever checked what time of day the photos were taken......? Only ever twice a day, when the tides were high..................................! But God what a beast when it got up to speed........Been at Tain, when it passed at 30-40 feet, cannot argue with it's prescence at that speed/height....
Oh its good to 'muddy' the waters......
Colin
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Post by johnsheehan on Feb 22, 2008 20:30:46 GMT
Hi Colin, Rolf, and all. I've e-mailed the photo's, 7 in all hope they're not too big! As for the Buck not being able to get high enough, how do you think they got photo's of things under trees?  Colin, If the photo's are too bad I'll photo copy them and post them on. John |
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Post by sloegin57 on Feb 22, 2008 21:35:03 GMT
Intriguing - 25 years in HM's finest and I never knew that the "Brick" had a recce pack. Didn't think it could fly high enough to get decent pictures. Rumour was that it only got orf the ground because the Earth was round!. Thanks Guys - you've filled in a gap I didn't even know I had!! Dennis I take back not one jot of wot I rote BUT, if an aeroplane looks right then it is right. And by God the "Brick" was that! Dennis Evil Thought "(even though it was designed and built in Yorkshire)" |
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Post by johnsheehan on Feb 22, 2008 21:37:55 GMT
You're not wrong there Dennis!
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Post by popeye on Feb 23, 2008 9:17:15 GMT
John,
many thanks for the scans - arrived with no probems - quite an impressive piece of British - "make do" equipment !
Thanks, Rolf
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Post by kiwichappers on Feb 23, 2008 10:21:10 GMT
A little off message but I couldn't resist given the ZAP opening and yes maybe worth a seperate thread.  A Kiwi Vulcan? |
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Post by COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT on Feb 23, 2008 11:09:55 GMT
John,
Thank you for those scans, just what we needed.
Mike, Dennis, I will start sending them to you both, later on one at a time, there is seven.
Anybody else want scans sent?
Colin
Now I'm going to have to go looking for a Buccaneer kit.......
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Colin, If the photo's are too bad I'll photo copy them and post them on.
