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Photo's from my Father's album


PhilB

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Great photos! Thanks so much for sharing!

My father was a Halton Brat in the mid-30s. He mentioned working on Bristol Fighters and a few versions of Hawker biplanes of the 30s as well, as they were being phased out of regular RAF service.

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Thanks for all the kind words guys!

I wasn't sure there would be much interest!

Its a shame really that what was really a golden age for aviation between the two wars is not really given much attention

in our hobby.

Superb bipes that are not really kitted very much although I do see a Fury being recently released.

Derek,

If you go make sure you visit the museum at Ta Quali (or Ta Kali if you prefer) and also the Mosta dome where they still have the bomb on display in the church.

Astro,

Its funny but until I had a look at the Wickipedia ref, I didn't realise how big a "club" the old Halton Brats were. Seems Sir Frank Whittle was also a "brat" so its pretty good company!

Can any body identify the seaplanes for me.

I'm particularly interested in the RAF "Triple" taken in Plymouth and the Italian "push me pull you" that was apparently a local passenger and mail plane.

Just curious really.

 

Phil

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Hi Phil,

 

Lovely pictures, really like them a lot.

 

About your question about them flying boats.

 

I think the Italian is a CANT Z 501, the British should be a Blackburn R B 3A Perth.

 

Rick.

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Thanks Rick,

I think you are spot on with the Blackburn Perth but I think the Cant isn't quite right.

 

My picture: post-13803-1281870783.jpg Cant 501: post-13803-1281870775.jpg

I've just been through the Wikipedia list of Italian flying boats but didn't find anything similar.

Perhaps its a bit older than we think, I was only looking at 1930's stuff.

 

Phil <_<

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About the Italian flying boat, <_<

 

I started looking for this one and soon found out that there are a lot, and I mean a lot, of different waterplanes in those days. Some real good looking also!!

 

Rick.

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Italian jobbie is a Dornier J Wal (whale) flying boat from the 1920's/30's. They were made in Italy early on, and not in Germany by Dornier, as they would have been a violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Some Some fascinating photographs in this thread, of both esoteric and well-known subjects. Timeless stuff...

Steve.

Thanks Steve,

That's a pretty incredible plane. Very interesting link.

Looks like my one had some big radials, seems everybody had a go at bolting their engines on them.

 

I started looking for this one and soon found out that there are a lot, and I mean a lot, of different waterplanes in those days. Some real good looking also!!

Rick.

Yep Rick, I went through the entire list of Italian Seaplanes on Wickipedia and you are right there are a lot!

Some really interesting stuff from the downright weird to really elegant designs.

 

Well that's another one solved! <_<

Phil

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Awesome! Over used yes I know...........but pics like these are always interesting to me. Well we are modelers so I think I speak for most when I say that.

 

Pictures (especially with a connected story to them) are always interesting; especially so to modelers. Good show Phil!

 

Brian

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Thats the interesting thing about the Dornier Wals. Just about ever one of them appears to have been a one-off. At best they may have build a half dozen for one customer that would be powered the same way. This one is one of the Italian built airliners, powered by Jupiter radials if I remember correctly. My refs are all buried in boxes so I can't check.

 

Sabre

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Awesome! Over used yes I know...........but pics like these are always interesting to me. Well we are modelers so I think I speak for most when I say that.

Pictures (especially with a connected story to them) are always interesting; especially so to modelers. Good show Phil!

Brian

Thanks Brian. I think even if you are not into anything I've posted here modelling -wise, its interesting to see some of the between the wars stuff.

 

Those were some fantastic photos, thank you for taking the time to upload and share them! :rolleyes:

You are more than welcome Frank, glad you enjoyed them.

 

Thats the interesting thing about the Dornier Wals. Just about ever one of them appears to have been a one-off. At best they may have build a half dozen for one customer that would be powered the same way. This one is one of the Italian built airliners, powered by Jupiter radials if I remember correctly. My refs are all buried in boxes so I can't check.

Sabre

The Wickipedia entry for them is pretty interesting. Seems they used them on Trans-Atlantic passenger flights and also to South America from Spain.

I've been back through and edited some of the entries that people have kindly identified for me.

I'm also going to try and scan the Malta airfield picture in in high res later and play spot the aircraft.

 

Thanks again for looking,

 

Phil

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Phil,

 

what wonderful photos - thanks ever so much for posting

 

the VC Trop is VERY interesting!

is that one of those rare dark navy blue birds that are always talked about?

and WHAT about the fuselage underside??

surely there is no way oil / gunk can go all the way up the tail wheel?

if not, then it means the fuselage underside was painted a different colour to the wings a la late war Luftwaffe

 

Edgar, please chime in with your thoughts if you are there!!

 

Nick

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Phil,

 

what wonderful photos - thanks ever so much for posting

 

the VC Trop is VERY interesting!

is that one of those rare dark navy blue birds that are always talked about?

and WHAT about the fuselage underside??

surely there is no way oil / gunk can go all the way up the tail wheel?

if not, then it means the fuselage underside was painted a different colour to the wings a la late war Luftwaffe

 

Edgar, please chime in with your thoughts if you are there!!

 

Nick

Hi Nick!

I think we do need Edgar here.

I have scanned in the photo again at 1200 dpi so here's another look. Its as good as I can get it.

 

Spit.jpg

 

I have been going over Brian Cull's excellent book "Spitfires over Malta".

The first Spits arrived on the 7th March 1942.

They were operational on the 10th "wearing 249 Squadron's newly painted GN markings which had been hurriedly applied in white paint" So much for the codes police eh! :rolleyes:

In the book's photo's there is one of an aircraft BP845 doing a low pass alongside Eagle after take off for the first "delivery" and it is clearly a camo scheme and wearing the "older" style roundels. Edgar can help with when they were changed.

I have heard about one of the deliveries to Malta having Spits in the overall dark blue scheme.

I think you have to be careful looking at my photo as it may well be that from the angle it was taken and in bright sunlight the camo scheme demarcations may not be visible.

It doesn't appear to have squadron codes (the individual letter) but that was not uncommon as they were rushed into service upon delivery.

Obviously we don't know when "my" photo was taken.

As regards the "Oil" underneath, I think it is oil.

In bright sunshine with the underneath in shadow it may appear darker than it really is.

You can see the volkes cowling is fairly clean as well.

As an aside I was watching "Countryfile" on the beeb last night and there was a piece about the Battle of Britain with old film.

One part showed some Spits peeling off and one of them had very similar streaks and marks underneath.

Its a fascinating subject especially when you read the book and have a look at the photo's of the Spits which were incredibly varied in schemes and codes etc.

There are also numerous variations of the cannon placements. Some inner, some outer even one with four cannons!

 

HTH,

 

Phil

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