Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on October 13, 2012, 11:52:00 PM
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The 1930s were an uneasy time. Along with the Great Depression, international tensions were on the rise, especially in Europe.
The RAF found itself in a technological gap as development of its new monoplanes, the Hurricane and Spitfire, were protracted and beset with problems.
Seeking stop-gap fighters until the new monoplanes could enter mass production, the RAF bought biplanes from Hawker, Gloster and Armstrong-Whitworth who upgraded their famous Siskin.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0001.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0002.jpg)
The Siskinator was powered by the new Bristol Noname engine and was well streamlined, featuring lovely spatted landing gear which were the envy of air arms world-wide.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0007.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_head-on.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0006.jpg)
Seen here in hastily applied 1936 "Lichtenstein Crisis" camouflage, the Siskinator was the front-line defense against attack by the feared Lichtenstein Luftschwerbombengerstaffelen.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0003.jpg)
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0004.jpg)
When the marauding Lichtenstein bombers failed to materialize over British skies, the Siskinator was credited with deterring the threat. Here you see Flight Leftenant Smallies anxiously awaiting the signal to scramble during the tense days of the crisis.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_with_pilot.jpg)
The Siskinator was withdrawn from front-line service in 1938 and relegated to training and target-towing duties.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0008.jpg)
However, some could be seen during the early days of W.W. II being used as station hacks and for nuisance missions against recalcitrant RAF ground crew. The Siskinator was finally phased out completely and declared obsolete in 1972.
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/Siskinator/Siskinator_0005.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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:)
What have you used for the bracing wires?
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:)
What have you used for the bracing wires?
Steel guitar strings. I find them easier to deal with than thread.
This inter-war stuff is addictive. I just started on a Gladiator kit.
Brian da Basher
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Hey Brian, that's awesome!!!
There's a bunch of guys that wargame the "Third British Civil War" which is interwar and uses sort of a mix of heath-robinson type equipment and this would fit it perfectly. I see you use wire for your rigging too, tis definately much easier than faffing about with thread or line, especially for casual builds.
Brent
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Love it Brian :-* Brilliant stuff!
... The Siskinator was finally phased out completely and declared obsolete in 1972.
Typical MoD wastefulness. Prefectly useable airframes cast out with years of potential service life left in them!