Big Tony Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 (edited) Hiya Folks, On the 16th May 1944 two Corsair`s from 732 NAS a training squadron based at HMS Sakar, Brunswick, USA took off for a training flight, these being JT132 flown by Sub. Lt. Vaughan Reginald Gill and JT160 flown by 19 year old Sub. Lt. Raymond Laurence Knott from Grantham in Lincolnshire. Over Lake Sebago they carried out some low level flying but appear to have collided and crashed into the water. Both pilots were unfortunately killed in the crash and due to the depth of the lake which in some areas is over 300 feet deep their bodies could not be recovered at the time so the pilots and their Corsair`s have rested near to each other on the lake bed ever since. A few years ago one of the Corsair`s was located and an RVU was sent down to discover JT160 in almost pristine condition barring the crash damage which appears to have ripped off both wings and the aircraft stands eerily straight up on its nose. The film has since been posted on U-Tube,....I did include a link here but I`ve removed it as it brought up a grisly image of the cockpit onto this post,...so I`ve deleted it. For those who wish to watch it do a Goggle search on `Lake Sebago Corsair' and you`ll find it, although I`d advise skipping the cockpit interior shots out of respect for the pilot and his family as Sub. Lt. Knott is still inside the aircraft and the film includes distasteful views inside the cockpit which I find utterly sick and they should never have been released in public. I have asked the poster to edit the film and I contacted the RVU company to ask them to remove a particularly grisly photo of the cockpit from their website. Now that he is on such public display I do hope that the MoD can arrange to recover Sub. Lt. Knott`s body and give him a Christian funeral and I know that at least one US based Warbird company wants to recover both Corsair`s and restore them to flying condition,...make of that what you will. Here are some stills of the Corsair at the bottom of the lake; [/url] As a tribute to both Sub. Lt`s Knott and Gill I decided to build my Tamiya Birdcage Corsair in the markings of JT160 and and here is my build thread on Britmodeller; http://www.britmodel...m-mki-finished/ which might explain a few things such as the blue painted strips in front of the cockpit and on the gun ports! It also mentions how the Eagle Strike decals were adapted for this model. Here is the finished model; I`d like to dedicate this model to Sub. Lt`s. Knott and Gill and I`d also like to thank Bill Bunting in Canada for all of his help with this model,.....I really couldn`t have done it without you mate and I really appreciate it! Cheers Tony PS- I meant to add that this was brush painted using Tamiya and Polly Scale acrylics and a big brush! Edited October 2, 2015 by Big Tony reconspit, Alburymodeler, Bill Cross and 11 others 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Cross Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 A superb build and a touching tribute to a fallen warrior. Congratulations on both counts. Rick K and Big Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjones726 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Great story and your model is a fitting tribute. Well done. v/r, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 (edited) Superb paint and finish! You really dont see the Brit marked F-4Us much and this one is a BEAUT! I have to say that my OCD would never let me build an aircraft with one wing up and one down............same reason I cant put a-symmetric load outs on any of my builds. Congrats on a fine model. Edited October 2, 2015 by Out2gtcha Big Tony, Kagemusha and Bill Cross 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 VERY interesting. And the model really looks good! Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Great job, a beautiful build Cheers Dennis Big Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaffyMan Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Lovely job mate - Really like the back story too! She looks kind pretty done out in Brit markings Taff Big Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Lovely build considering you used a brush. Well done. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Tony Brilliant Corsair ... so very well done. :thumbsup: Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Excellent build as always, Tony! Looks terrific. May I publish it on the website? Kev Big Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinuheH Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Nice work and neat tribute. Corsairs just look fab in RN / FAA colours. reconspit and Big Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 A shamefully tragic reality. Inspirational rendering of the aircraft. Wonderfully executed. Sincerely, Mark Big Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconspit Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Great looking bird..., i love it.... Big Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 That's awesome Tony. Really like the look of what you have done. Cracking model. Big Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Tony Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) Hello Folks, Thank you all for your very kind words,........they are very much appreciated and I`m so glad that you like it. The Tamiya Corsair is a dream of a kit and I cannot believe that I was quite scared of starting it now! I enjoyed this model so much that I have an F4U-1A now in order to build a Corsair Mk.II or III of the British Eastern Fleet! Excellent build as always, Tony! Looks terrific. May I publish it on the website? Kev Hiya Kev, I`d be honoured if you want to feature it on the website alongside my other stuff. Cheers everybody and like Maru says earlier,......lets hope that both pilots and their aircraft can rest in peace either in or out of the lake, Tony Edited October 3, 2015 by Big Tony reconspit, David Hansen, Jackson and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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