Getting this out of the way for when the time comes...
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Wreaking Havoc 1: A-20B 41-3266(?) Outhouse Mouse with a Sharkmouth
- Thread starter Sharkmouth
- Start date
Since I am working on five, each shows where I am at with a common thread showing what was, or is being, done to all.
On the A-20B, this thread, I have almost completed the engine cowling covers and now feel confident to work on the nose after finding more images of the subject.
Sadly, some of the things I looked forward to, such as the additional four guns in the nose, or the rear firing nacelle guns, won't be performed in the sake of accuracy.
Not happening - circled rear firing guns:
They're not there on the subject
The four guns, seen on the A-20C, can't be used... look at the photo of the subject and see that the guns are mounted high, like the dual setup, not this one.
This MACR shows that it was possible to have four additional guns in the nose along with the rear firing guns:
Having received the resin casting kit, I need to decide if I should create the formation lights or wait until the fuselage is together.
So again, after the nacelles are completed, they need light riveting done, I will concentrate on the two additional guns in the nose.
I finally found an image of the passing light!
what is a passing light?
For flashing the aircraft you're flying behind. Like when driving...
OK, Okay... I don't know.
I made that up will try to find out.
I know they use to have "passing light" on cars, kind of a low beam, for when you met someone, not the overtake passing. I don't think I've ever heard the term in aircraft.
@moon puppy, ya made me look in some manuals!
Now I know it is a red lens. Passing lights on aircraft are based on the nautical world usage:
When seen on approach, you pass to the right of it, which will place you off the approaching aircraft's left wing. It is not kept on as it is a high intensity light. It is used in conjunction with the running lights (port/red and starboard/green) which indicate the wingtip. Formation lights were blue.
From the B-25 manual but they did print the light lenses in the color they appear. Passing light is red next to the port landing light:
Now I know it is a red lens. Passing lights on aircraft are based on the nautical world usage:
When seen on approach, you pass to the right of it, which will place you off the approaching aircraft's left wing. It is not kept on as it is a high intensity light. It is used in conjunction with the running lights (port/red and starboard/green) which indicate the wingtip. Formation lights were blue.
From the B-25 manual but they did print the light lenses in the color they appear. Passing light is red next to the port landing light:
That's what the positional lights were for. so you can see left right orientation of the A/C. I don't really get it but ok.
Ok, let's see if I get this straight.
Running lights help anyone understand the aircraft orientation as there is a white one on the tail, red on port and green on starboard. If you only see red and white, aircraft is yawing (turning on a horizontal plane) to port (left from the pilot's view). If you only see green and white, the aircraft is yawing starboard. If you only see red and green, the aircraft is headed towards you. If you or they are approaching quickly, the red passing light is turned on so you move (pass) to the right (where the red port running light is). Formation lights help you orient where the aircraft is and how far as the further, the lights seem closer together. The recognition lights (white on top and red/green/amber on the bottom) are used to signal to ground that your are a friendly based on the pattern. The white let's them know you're inverted. The bomb formation lights, different from the rear running light, has a white bulb which is on when the bomb bay doors open and a red one which signifies bomb release and has a 5 second delay to ensure all ordnance clears before another aircraft tries overtaking from below.Landing lights are to light up the runway when alighting (fancy word for landing) and the only one missing, used by the British, is the anti-collision beacon which seems like a strobe light but is not. It is a white bulb in a larger encasing which sometimes had a spinning reflector which gives the appearance of a lighthouse sweep.
How it is supposed to work:
Running lights help anyone understand the aircraft orientation as there is a white one on the tail, red on port and green on starboard. If you only see red and white, aircraft is yawing (turning on a horizontal plane) to port (left from the pilot's view). If you only see green and white, the aircraft is yawing starboard. If you only see red and green, the aircraft is headed towards you. If you or they are approaching quickly, the red passing light is turned on so you move (pass) to the right (where the red port running light is). Formation lights help you orient where the aircraft is and how far as the further, the lights seem closer together. The recognition lights (white on top and red/green/amber on the bottom) are used to signal to ground that your are a friendly based on the pattern. The white let's them know you're inverted. The bomb formation lights, different from the rear running light, has a white bulb which is on when the bomb bay doors open and a red one which signifies bomb release and has a 5 second delay to ensure all ordnance clears before another aircraft tries overtaking from below.Landing lights are to light up the runway when alighting (fancy word for landing) and the only one missing, used by the British, is the anti-collision beacon which seems like a strobe light but is not. It is a white bulb in a larger encasing which sometimes had a spinning reflector which gives the appearance of a lighthouse sweep.
How it is supposed to work:
Some illustrations. note that on the jet, viewing from behind one doesn't see the red and green running lights as the formation lights behind it overtake their brightness. The A-20 with clear wingtips has this setup.
Corntorl of the recognition lights (white on top, red/green/amber on the bottom):
Resin lenses in red/green/amber were not to be used for more than 30 seconds when on the ground as they would melt:
The upper one didn't seem to have this limitation.
On this Corsair schematic, one can see how the red/green running lights are mounted in a way that they're visible form the front but not the rear:
This was all inspired by the natical system in use. @Rhino probably knows more than I here!
Corntorl of the recognition lights (white on top, red/green/amber on the bottom):
Resin lenses in red/green/amber were not to be used for more than 30 seconds when on the ground as they would melt:
The upper one didn't seem to have this limitation.
On this Corsair schematic, one can see how the red/green running lights are mounted in a way that they're visible form the front but not the rear:
This was all inspired by the natical system in use. @Rhino probably knows more than I here!
phantom II
Master at Arms
Recognition lights ( lower aircraft ) . They were a code for ground troops to know what was flying over their position after dark to avoid friendly fire . The three light were used in a predetermined order . Code of the day .
Rear fuselage blue formation lamps. Note that the white item is a ceramic insulator for the antenna entry point:
Tail... note the British Havoc doesn't have them but does have the anti-collision beacon absent on US aircraft. Arrows - blue formation lights, Circled - starboard green light circled on US Havoc, anti-collision beacon on British Boston:
Tail... note the British Havoc doesn't have them but does have the anti-collision beacon absent on US aircraft. Arrows - blue formation lights, Circled - starboard green light circled on US Havoc, anti-collision beacon on British Boston:
Let's look at images of the secondary aircraft controls located in the gunner's compartment. I'm trying to find a usable image from an A-20C (Havoc Mk. IIIa) manual.
A-20A Manual:
From A-20A Parts Catalog. Of interest is the stowage for the control column (A).
F-3 (Reconnaissance variant of A-20). The zippered curtain is access to the camera man's location if what is the rear bomb bay section. F-3 could revert back to their bomber roles as no equipment was removed, only added.
A-20B Manual.
A-20C interior... Still looking for manual image to see of the control stick is stowed or missing.
Seen before but worth repeating. A-20G-1 Manual (note the gun nose and the open rear gunner's area). Aileron controls don't reach the gunner's compartment, therefore the aircraft controls are no longer there. Rudder and elevator controls do run to the rear past the gunner's compartment so can't be used to prove the lack of a secondary set of aircraft controls.
A-20A Manual:
From A-20A Parts Catalog. Of interest is the stowage for the control column (A).
F-3 (Reconnaissance variant of A-20). The zippered curtain is access to the camera man's location if what is the rear bomb bay section. F-3 could revert back to their bomber roles as no equipment was removed, only added.
A-20B Manual.
A-20C interior... Still looking for manual image to see of the control stick is stowed or missing.
Seen before but worth repeating. A-20G-1 Manual (note the gun nose and the open rear gunner's area). Aileron controls don't reach the gunner's compartment, therefore the aircraft controls are no longer there. Rudder and elevator controls do run to the rear past the gunner's compartment so can't be used to prove the lack of a secondary set of aircraft controls.
What pray tell is a Wobble that requires a pump? I see it referenced twice.
