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Richard M
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 Posted: Sat 08 Nov 2008 09:06 am Post subject: Airfix Special What-if GB - Hangartime's Build. |
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Hangartime's build will be reported here.
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Rich
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"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."
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Hangartime
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Joined: 02 Jul 2006
Posts: 975
Location: All over the show.....
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| Posted: Sun 09 Nov 2008 05:53 am Post subject: |
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A full background and history.
This aircraft - developed initially by Germany, then under licence in Spain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispano_Aviacion_Ha_1112 would find itself defined by a small struggling nation to ensure their borders and survival. The history of events predates this reference and how this aircraft truly came about under the guise of a Spanish aircraft.
As the previous reference mentions (The other twenty-four airframes were flown during 1947-9 with Escher-Wyss props, but never became operational). While this was true, it was never disclosed exactly where the airframes were sent.
The timeframe takes place in 1948 - the world itself is still recovering from a world war by rebuilding and the ushering in of a jet age. Technology itself was being seen as a 'trophy of war' with German scientists now working on aircraft in Russia and the US using even more resources to upgrade it's own forces with newer equipment. The emerging cold war is itself a very uneasy peace a new fledging state in the middle east is emerging - Israel, which has found itself almost immediately threatened by surrounding states. History itself tells the story of the beginnings of the IAF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Air_Force
The focus will be on the (re)development of one of the aircraft that helped Israel maintain it's independence in the very first few years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avia_S-199
When Israel's first Spitfire arrived - it was assembled from several broken aircraft on 15th May 1948, only 5 days later the Czech 109's arrived on the May 20. It would only be 9 days before the 109's went into combat with somewhat dissappointing results.
| Quote: | | The S-199 continued to use the Me 109G airframe, but with none of the original engines available, the engine (Junkers Jumo 211) and propeller from the Heinkel He 111 bomber were used instead. The result of this compromise was an aircraft with poor handling qualities. The substitute engine lacked the responsiveness of the Daimler-Benz unit, was heavier, and the torque created by the massive paddle-bladed propeller made control difficult. This latter flaw, combined with the 109's narrow-track undercarriage also made landings and take-offs more hazardous. A final hidden danger lay in the synchronization gear which did not seem to work properly, leading a few Israeli aircraft to shoot off their own propellers.The S-199 continued to use the Me 109G airframe, but with none of the original engines available, the engine (Junkers Jumo 211) and propeller from the Heinkel He 111 bomber were used instead. The result of this compromise was an aircraft with poor handling qualities. The substitute engine lacked the responsiveness of the Daimler-Benz unit, was heavier, and the torque created by the massive paddle-bladed propeller made control difficult. This latter flaw, combined with the 109's narrow-track undercarriage also made landings and take-offs more hazardous. A final hidden danger lay in the synchronization gear which did not seem to work properly, leading a few Israeli aircraft to shoot off their own propellers. |
Such dissappointing results only highlighted the aircrafts shortcomings. A more powerful powerplant would only greatly increase torque problems and a solution was about to be found - only to be denied by the arms embargo on Israel. Recent losses of aircraft in combat and training meant a small number of surplus engines and airframes were available. It seemed logical to Israeli mechanics that a mock up of the Spitfire Merlin engine be substituted for the older and inadequate Czech powerplants in the S-199.
At this time in Spain was working on the Ha1109 - K1L - it too finding an inadequate engine was being put into a well proven airframe. It was at this time Isreali agents contacted Spanish officials to hold a highly secret meeting with regard to a trade agreement that could never be revealed. Under secret negotiations, Israel wished to purchase the Ha1109 - K1L under licence from Spain - under the guise of 'war surplus military equipment' - the negotiations held came out with a very different and clever scheme that worked for both countries.
The unwritten agreement was to be conducted by Israeli agents and Spanish officials who did not hold Government positions. The later would be if the negotiations were ever compromised - the Spanish could claim there was no Government conspiracy to supply military hardware to Israel and such doings were of corrupt businessman without Spain's knowledge.
So it came to be the Spanish would receive an Israeli S-199 airframe powered by one of it's Spitfire 1600hp Merlin engines and propeller. The Spanish could claim this was their manufacturing to solve the problem of the underpowered Ha1109. This would not be before Spain would covertly order on Israel's behalf the Rolls Royce Griffon Mk88 contra rotating engine (http://www.spitfiresociety.demon.co.uk/engines.htm). The argument Spain would put forth to the British Government - as Soviet Union received a Rolls Royce Nene powerplant it would prefer to have more powerful piston aircraft which it would try to manufacture.
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Hangartime
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Joined: 02 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Mon 22 Dec 2008 10:25 am Post subject: |
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Kit to be used for conversion.
further parts to follow from various other Airfix/Academy kits
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AFCBGeorge
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Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 1286
Location: Northampton
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| Posted: Mon 22 Dec 2008 19:07 pm Post subject: |
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If you need any parts I've got loads of academy ones left after uilding one recently- I've also got the S=199 which I'll build at some stage which contains loads of 112 parts. You're welcome to anything you want, although you do sound pretty sorted already!
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Hangartime
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Location: All over the show.....
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| Posted: Tue 23 Dec 2008 10:44 am Post subject: |
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Great, thanks for that - I do have quite an extensive spares box though.
Additional Airfix kits could come in useful - Academy have some good spares too. Other kit parts (Airfix too!) will also be useful for modifications - some from a 1/48 Spitfire (2 kits), a 1/72 Do 217, multiple Squadron vacform canopies and some minor scratchbuilding.
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Hangartime
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Joined: 02 Jul 2006
Posts: 975
Location: All over the show.....
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| Posted: Mon 12 Jan 2009 05:01 am Post subject: |
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Well I have made a start - keeping progress going and time is issue at the mo. Still - here's the Airfix fuselage (cockpit tub being glued in with tail wheel and 2 fuselage halves wasn't anything exciting - so focus will be more on actual conversion than basic construction. Ideal kit for a conversion though.
Seam lines removed.
Tail gets the chop - replacement at the ready. That reminds me - I have a near OOB kit of this somewhere already built.
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