Modelling > 1920s/1930s GB or Between the Wars GB
D.H.88 Comet Follow-Ons
apophenia:
--- Quote from: elmayerle on June 30, 2021, 11:47:29 AM ---Very tasty!! Lead me not into temptation.
--- End quote ---
Sorry Evan. 'Lipstick Red' is temptation, by definition ;)
--- Quote from: robunos on July 01, 2021, 05:03:23 AM ---Of course, if the overseas version was floatplane, the floats could carry the displaced fuel, restoring the range, and the aircraft could alight in the harbour. or even deliver the mail to the ship while at sea, conditions permitting . . .
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Good points! I did wonder about floats ... maybe extending the route from Alex to Bombay? And there's always the pressing need to show Lufthansa how catapult airmail should really be done!
--- Quote from: GTX_Admin on July 01, 2021, 02:43:53 AM ---I am tempted to do a RAF one. Would probably be armed with 1 20mm cannon and a pair of .303 MGs. Idea would be for it to play the role of long range/long endurance 'heavy' fighter alongside the likes of the Gloster Gladiator.
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Oh no! I can feel an armed Comet variant coming on. Cannot. Make. It. Stop... :o
apophenia:
Sow's Ear or Kindling? - The Fate of the RAF's De Havilland DH.88 Comet
After its success in the MacRobertson Air Race, a single de Havilland DH.88 Comet was purchased by the Air Ministry in June 1935. Formerly 'Grosvenor House' (G-ACSS, c/n 1996), the little racer was repainted painted silver overall and assigned RAF serial K5084. Evaluation of the D.H.88 was performed by the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) from RAF Martlesham Heath. However, in September 1936, K5084 was written-off in a heavy landing at Martlesham Heath. In this accident, the Comet's undercarriage collapsed and the fuselage of was ruptured as the main fuel tank broke free.
Seeing no real military role for the delicate D.H.88, the Air Ministry recommended selling K5084 for scrap (estimated value being between £200 and £350). However, some A&AEE staff advocated rebuilding the damaged aircraft as a test bed for prone-pilot operation. A basic concept was draughted which involved replacing the shattered forward fuselage with a new prone cockpit section. The original cockpits were to be eliminated, the forward position to be occupied by a new fuel tank.
As sketched, the new prone cockpit would be quite cramped. (Indeed, the position was so tight that some instruments had to be mounted externally - including engine instruments attached to inner cowlings.) The pilot would lay on a 'settee' with a small Perspex 'dome' providing forward vision. It was thought that the view to the sides would be extremely poor but this was judged acceptable for an experimental aircraft. There were small 'porthole' side lights let into the canopy's hinged hood but these were more for illumination than vision.
With rough plans in hand, enquiries were made of de Havilland Aircraft about having K5084. Hatfield was appalled by the A&AEE's scheme and declined to have anything to do with it. The remains of K5084 lay in a shed at RAF Martlesham Heath while the Air Ministry cast about for a 'Plan B'. In the meantime, de Havillands made clear that they had no objection to any modification work being performed 'out of shop'.
(To be continued ...)
GTX_Admin:
:smiley:
Robomog:
Theres a lot of really inspiring stuff here, love it !!
Hmmmmm float plane version thats food for thought.
Mog
>^-.-^<
Buzzbomb:
Nice work.
The Airfix Dh-88 must have been one of those kits that nearly every modeller of a certain age must have done at some stage
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