Deadly Queen of the Skies

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

“Flying Fortress: Deadly Queen of the Skies… pride of the Army Air Forces” — WWII poster from the Office of War Information. Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

B-17 Flying Fortress: Deadly Queen of the Skies... pride of the Army Air Forces
 

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P-40 Pilot’s Ground Checks

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

Ground checks for the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk from Pilot Training Manual for the P-40, Headquarters, AAF, Office of Flying Staff, 1943.

P-40 Pilot’s Ground Checks

P-40 Warhawk Pilot Ground Checks

Before you get into your airplane, look it over closely. Walk around and inspect the wings, fuselage and control surfaces. Look carefully; take your time.

Before you climb into the cockpit be sure you have checked all of the following:

1. Check your tires and tailwheel. See that the struts have plenty of clearance. An instruction plate on each strut shows the necessary clearance.

2. Make sure the cover is off the pitot tube.

3. See that the covers are on the gun hatches.

4. See that the caps are fastened tightly on the gas, oil, and coolant tanks.

5. Make sure the Dzus fasteners are secure, and check the fairing on the entire ship for looseness.

6. Find out whether the propeller has been pulled through. It needs at least four turns if the engine is cold.

7. See that the wings and wingtips are not damaged.

8. Check canopy for proper tolerance.

 

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New Luftwaffe Books from Kagero

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

A new book and book/decal combination release for February 2014 have been announced by Kagero Publishing.

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SBD-3 Flying Characteristics

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

Basic flying characteristics of the SBD Dauntless from Pilot’s Handbook Model SBD-3, Douglas Aircraft, 1942.

Flying Characteristics

The model SBD-3 airplane is a single engine, low wing, monoplane, designed for dive bombing or scouting operations from either shore stations or aircraft carriers. This airplane performs all ground and flight maneuvers with the normal characteristics of its type. As a land plane, this airplane will take off from the ground or carrier deck with or without the aid of a catapult, and will land on an ordinary landing field with or without landing flaps, or on a carrier deck in an arresting gear. Dive bombing maneuvers may be made with or without the use of the diving flaps.

Douglas SBD Dauntless

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M24 Light Tank Powertrain

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

Diagram of the powertrain of the M24 Chaffee light tank from the U.S. Army training booklet Tracked Vehicle Chassis Units, The Armored School, Fort Knox.

M24 Chaffee Light Tank Powertrain

 

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Fighter Trio

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

A three-generation trio of USAF fighters — the P-51 Mustang, F-22 Raptor, and F-16 Fighting Falcon — fly over the crowd on opening day of the Joint Service Open House at Joint Base Andrews. Photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Clifford Davis, Navy Media Content Services, 2010.

Fighter Trio
 

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Dragon 1/72nd Tiger I

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

New 1/72nd-scale kit announcement from Dragon Models depicting the Tiger I of Michael Wittmann used at Villers-Bocage — Kit No. 7440: 1/72 Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E Tiger I Late Production with Zimmerit + Tiger Aces. The Dragon kit also includes a set of German tank ace figures which have been downsized from the 1/35th-scale figure set.

Tiger 212 Wittmann at Villers-Bocage
 

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Airframe Constructor No. 2: He 219 Uhu

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

He 219 Uhu Airframe Constructor Upcoming book announcement from Valiant Wings Publishing on the He 219 Uhu: Airframe Constructor No.2: Building the Heinkel He 219 Uhu: A Detailed Guide to Building the Zoukei-Mura 1/32nd Kit by Daniel Zamarbide. Pre-order price is £13.95.
 

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XP-39 Airacobra

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

U.S. Army Bell XP-39 Airacobra in flight over Langley Field during WWII. (NASA Photo)

Bell XP-39 Airacobra

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Universal Carrier Mk. II

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Lone_Sentry_Admin

New 1/35th-scale WWII Universal Carrier release from Riich.Models: RV 35027: Universal Carrier Mk. II. Announced features of the model kit include full interior; over 425 plastic parts on 12 sprues; 6 parts molded in clear styrene; over 130 photo etch detail parts; easy-to-assemble track links; and seven markings choices.

universal-carrier-mk-ii

 

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