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Post by deecee on Feb 13, 2012 17:14:23 GMT
I'm struggling to find any details on this standard WWII torpedo! I've tried Google but there are no photos or drawings that could be of any use.
I want to add some detail to the torpedo which is in the new Airfix Fairey Swordfish. The tail is reasonable but the main body only has two engraved lines around its circumference. I'm hoping to add the access panels and would like some idea of their positioning and size. Also there are the bands of vents(?) around the body which are quite significant, but absent from the moulding.
Any help on this would be much appreciated. Thanks,
deecee.
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Post by alfie on Feb 13, 2012 21:59:40 GMT
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Post by deecee on Feb 14, 2012 23:08:56 GMT
Hi Alfie
Thanks for your response, but again it looks like I'm going to be unlucky.
I've tried all the links and there is nothing that shows anything like the detail I require. The IWM link could be of some use, I found 5 pics of Mk XIIs being loaded onto aircraft, but all the images are small and no detail can be picked out.
I see there is one on display at Hendon - a bit garish looking in red and blue. It seems to have panels cut away which doesn't help. 180 miles round trip makes me think twice.
I'm really surprised there is so sparse information on such an important weapon. No drawings at all.
Thanks for trying,
Best regards
David H.
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Post by alfie on Feb 16, 2012 23:24:46 GMT
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Post by deecee on Feb 20, 2012 11:10:46 GMT
Hi Alfie
Thanks again, but not exactly what I was looking for, and no, I haven't tried the FAA SIG. That's a good idea, I'll do that.
Let me tell you how far I've got with this.
I was at Yeovilton last weekend for the model show and thought I'd have a good chance of seeing a torpedo there. Well I did, but it was positioned in front of the Albacore and with guys at display tables right in front! Well I didn't like to disturb them all munching their lunch, so I managed to crawl on hands and knees under the folded wing of the Albacore behind the torpedo. Unfortunately the torpedo had been cut up alot obviously to show the innards so it was difficult to get positions of the circular access points and removable panels and lugs etc. I took a few pics but it was disappointing. By the way, the Swordfish on display was poor. It was in a bad state and had limited access only, on the port side. It was positioned up on a balcony and strung from the ceiling. They had a sort of desert scene with appropriate figures but it was all tucked into a corner and the engine was hanging over the balcony. The display didn't seem to go with the rest of the display in the cabinets which were arranged around the balcony and which were all about theTaranto, Bismark and The Channel Dash raids, which was very good. I did, however, get some good pics of the Light Series Bomb Carrier under the Swordfish's wing, but that's another story.
The RN Historical Flight would probably have torpedoes (dummies?) but they are based in hangars the other side of the airfield. That would probably need a written request.
I've tried the RN Dockyard archives and the Submarine Museum archives with no success.(I live in Southampton by the way so not far to travel)
I've tried the Explosion Museum (naval armaments) at Gosport and that could be promising, I'm waiting for a reply from their archives dept. I visited the museum on Friday and it's quite good for naval weapons. I took walkaround views of single and twin Oerlikons, a naval Bofors gun, depth charge throwers and various other things. I spoke to the manager and he told me they had a vast amount of stuff which wasn't on display but could be accessible being housed in another block. He didn't know if they had a Mk XII. I'll keep you informed if I get any further.
A couple of other queries now regarding the Swordfish. . . .
Have you any detail shots or diagrams showing the rudder pedals? From what I can gather in pictures of the cockpit construction of models the rudder bar does not swing from side to side, support framework seems to be in the way. So do the pedals push forward and down on a horizontal axis and how are they connected to the operating wires?
Secondly, from instrument panel photos it appears that the compass mounted centrally at the top of the panel has an angled mirror to reflect the compass image. Interesting! I have never seen this on any other aircraft. Is it a Fairey device used on other aircraft from the Fairey factory, or exclusive to the Swordfish? The compass itself appears to protrude the cowling just in front of the windscreen. I can only make out a circular black casing, but is there a glass there to take in light? I don't think any of the kits model this feature nor is it on etched detail sets, and it's not on the flying display aircraft, they probably have to use modern instruments don't they?
Hope to hear from you again,
David
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Post by alfie on Feb 20, 2012 23:48:38 GMT
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