forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: Old Man on July 29, 2014, 10:44:21 AM
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Royal Navy assistance to the Indian Army's riverine campaign in Mesopotamia in 1915 came to include three Short 827 float-planes of the Royal Naval Air Service. It was found these could give better service on wheels than floats, in conditions described as 'too much water for the soldiers and not enough water for the sailors'.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5711_zps8e57b038.jpg)
Among the various float-planes Short Bros produced for the Admiralty before the Great War was No.135, a derivative of the '160hp Folder' with a shortened span and a 135hp Salmson water-cooled radial. With very little modification, this became the pattern for the Short 'Type C', a two-bay twin-float biplane with unequal-span wings which could be folded back alongside the fuselage, suitable both for service at sea and patrols from shore stations. It was intended to begin production with a trial batch, half with the new British-built Sunbeam V8, and half with Salmson motors, but when the new Short Bros. factory was ready in April, 1914, neither motor was to hand, and the first 'Type C' machines built were fitted with 100hp Gnome rotaries, and referred to by the Admiralty as 'Improved Type 74'. By spring of 1915, a half dozen examples had been delivered with the 135hp Salmson radial and a half dozen with a 150hp Sunbeam. The Salmson powered version was designated Type 830, and the Sunbeam powered version designated Type 827. The pilot was seated in the rear cockpit, allowing solo operation with a larger useful load at need, and there was provision for fitting wireless equipment.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5718_zps6337abcb.jpg)
The Sunbeam powered version proved preferable to the Admiralty, and more than a hundred were ordered, most from sub-contractors who did not always deliver promptly. The Short Type 827 saw service ranging from patrol and training work from Naval stations on the English coast to operation in Belgian hands in the Congo against German forces around Lake Tanganyika. They operated in the Mediterranean, both off the Ben-my-Chree and from Otranto, and off the coast of German East Africa, based on Zanzibar, from the Laconia, Himalaya, and Manica (which also sported drachen balloons). Four were still flying patrols from the Isle of Grain early in 1918, and several were still on RAF strength, including one at Otranto, as late as October, 1918. Some of the late serving machines had their aileron controls altered to a more modern pattern from the original 'uncompensated' arrangement, which left the ailerons to hang when the machine was at rest, and had their crew accommodations altered to put the pilot in the front seat.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5722_zps9aa92597.jpg)
In June, 1915, three of the original Sunbeam examples, Nos. 822, 825, and 827, were dispatched on the armed liner Laconia to the East African coast, intended to reinforce a struggling air contingent trying to find the S.M.S. Konigsberg in the Rufiji Delta. The German cruiser had already been wrecked, however, by the time they arrived, in July. After some operation on the coast of German East Africa, these machines were shipped up to Basra, where they joined in September a Royal Navy flotilla operating on the Tigris in support of the India Army's 'Force D', and vessels of the Royal India Marine, which was at that time preparing to advance against Kut-al-Amara. In command of the flying detachment was Major Gordon of the Marines, with Flight Lieutenant Blackburn and Flight Sub-Lieutenant Dunn as pilots.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5731_zpsd06b9aa3.jpg)
The small R.N.A.S. contingent was pitched into conditions both strange and extreme. The Tigris, running at this point more west to east than otherwise, was in full flood, with marsh to its north and mud to its south. Men moved, and machines operated, in a muggy heat exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit (approaching 50 degrees Centigrade), and swarming with mosquitoes and flies. The twists and turns of the river, the many obstacles in its flood, and the heat of the air, made taking off from the water a difficult proposition. Panels were stripped off the cowlings, leaving the motors bare, in hopes of mitigating at least slightly their pronounced tendency to overheat. Malaria quickly got in among both pilots and ground crew. Still, several useful reconnaissances were made, and direction provided for artillery (4.7" naval guns mounted on boats normally used to transport horses).
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5715_zps1c75ccc0.jpg)
It is not clear when the decision was made to put the Shorts on wheels rather than floats, but it seems to have been done before the battle of Ctesiphon, and likely that the sorties flown by the Naval pilots in support of the advance north from Kut were flown more off the same improvised aerodrome near Kut employed by the Australian pilots attached to the Indian Flying Corps, and of the skeleton 30 Sqdn RFC, rather than off the water of the Tigris. After Gen. Townsend's defeat at Ctesiphon in late November, the Shorts flew on several occasions to attack the advancing Turks with bombs. As the Turks closed in to invest Kut, the Naval ground crew got out on steamers, and the pilots flew out to Ma'Gil aerodrome at Basra on December 4th.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5735_zps2ccd73bd.jpg)
While at Ma'Gil, during December, No. 822 broke its undercarriage and damaged its upper wing in an accident. Fragmentary records suggest this may have occurred on the 14th, but in any case it led to the machine being extensively photographed by an Australian fitter at Ma'Gil, Sgt. Shorland. In January, a relief expedition got underway, starting off from Ali Garhbi. It made fair progress initially. On 17 January, the R.N.A.S. contingent at Basra received a reinforcement of two Voisin biplanes. It was not until the 30th, though, that transport up the river for stores and men to establish an operational unit could be had. Two of the Shorts and both Voisins took off to fly north; one of each came to grief during the flight. On February 14, 1916, No. 822, with Sub-Lieutenant Dunn at the controls, ran its wheels into a muddy ditch at Orah aerodrome, south of Kut, and ended up on its back with considerable damage. Soon thereafter, a further reinforcement of five 'Short 225' machines (Short Type 184 with 225hp Sunbeam motors) reached the R.N.A.S. detachment, and No. 822 was never repaired.
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5732_zps6f27f9fb.jpg)
This is a scratch-build, inspired by an article in an old Cross and Cockade number which contains a good many of Sgt. Shorland's photographs of Ma'Gil and its denizens. There is a resin kit of the 827, but it would take a good deal of work to make into one of the Mesopotamia machines, and in any case, I confess I rather like making a model up without a kit....
(http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/vieuxhomme/IMG_5737_zpsd3ceb6a3.jpg)
The build can be followed here:
http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=3542.0
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Truly stunning, OM! This may well be my favorite build on the forum this year. I'd wish you luck in the contest, but there's no way you can lose with this beauty.
Cheers,
Bud
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Great job OM! Absolutely fascinating history as well. Can you tell us the volume and number of the Cross & Cockade article? Thanks for sharing this wonderful scratch build. :D
Regards,
Bob
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Excellent work as usual, OM, and thanks again for the historical background which you always supply. It adds a lot to the imagery...
Ian
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Spectacular build Old Man, this would have to be one of your best builds to date, the colouring is superb. Thank you also for the wonderful history on this aeroplane, it was very interesting to read.
Des.
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Incredible work as always, OM. I devoured the history lesson. Incredible to think that with +50c temps and a daddy airframe with an underpowered, overheating engine, this thing was able to get off the ground at all, much less provide useful reconnaissance. Thanks very much.
Lindsay
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Stunning results! Your build was a pleasure to watch!! I am in AWE of your talent!!!
RAGIII
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Another awesome build Old Man! I really enjoy following your builds. What's next?
Mark
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OM -
Superb work - I also think your best work so far and nicely set off n your base.
Regards
Dave
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A wonderful model and a really interesting build. Thanks too for the historical notes, which as always, give that extra dimension to your work. This is a truly stunning model and I wish you the very best of luck in the competition. We have all been winners though because you have shared with us a super model.
PS I too am rapidly coming round to your way of thinking - making your own model is more fun that just building a kit.
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Absolute cracker! Top class scratch building, OldMan. My sincere congratulations.
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I also enjoy following your projects Oldman from start to finish :) Another wonderful build :)
Terri
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Hello OM:
Outstanding bit of modeling with a great story. I have read a little about the occupation of the Mesopotamia area and I enjoyed reading your summary with the model.
Best
Mark
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Brilliant build and always great to read the history too. Well done!
Tom
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Truly stunning, OM! This may well be my favorite build on the forum this year. I'd wish you luck in the contest, but there's no way you can lose with this beauty.
Cheers,
Bud
Thank you very much, Sir. I do have some hope, I think, and should know by next weekend.
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Great job OM! Absolutely fascinating history as well. Can you tell us the volume and number of the Cross & Cockade article? Thanks for sharing this wonderful scratch build. :D
Regards,
Bob
Thank you, Sir.
It is the Summer, 1976 issue, of the old U.S. edition. I bought a stack of them some while ago at a used book shop....
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Excellent work as usual, OM, and thanks again for the historical background which you always supply. It adds a lot to the imagery...
Ian
Thank you, Sir.
I have never been able to tell if I am more interested in the modelling or the history....
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Spectacular build Old Man, this would have to be one of your best builds to date, the colouring is superb. Thank you also for the wonderful history on this aeroplane, it was very interesting to read.
Des.
Thank you very much, Sir. Means a lot, coming from you. I think I got a little lucky on the finish. Basically I just put various brown washes on and wipe them off or daub them off quickly. I was worried I had got things way too dark while it was just the wings had had the treatment and the fuselage was still white, but it looked better one it was all of a piece.
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Incredible work as always, OM. I devoured the history lesson. Incredible to think that with +50c temps and a daddy airframe with an underpowered, overheating engine, this thing was able to get off the ground at all, much less provide useful reconnaissance. Thanks very much.
Lindsay
Thank you, Sir.
Operating these was difficult (operating anything there was difficult). On some days, machines could only take off at dawn and dusk.
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Stunning results! Your build was a pleasure to watch!! I am in AWE of your talent!!!
RAGIII
Thank you, Sir. Glad you like it. This kind of thing is not so hard as people think.
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Another awesome build Old Man! I really enjoy following your builds. What's next?
Mark
Thank you, Sir!
Next is going to be a Martinsyde S.1 Scout, also scratch-built, from the same campaign, No. 4244, flown by Maj. Reilly, a New Zealander in the Indian Army.
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OM -
Superb work - I also think your best work so far and nicely set off n your base.
Regards
Dave
Thank you, Sir. I like the base, too. I am getting a little better at making them. I was very fortunate to discover small packages of colored grout in the doll house section of my old hobby-shop; it is a very fine powder, which makes an excellent scale dirt, and I got a variety of browns and greys and tans, which I mix to different over-all shades. Dilute white glue holds the stuff well, and I paint a color approximating the shade on the earth portion of the base before applying it.
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A wonderful model and a really interesting build. Thanks too for the historical notes, which as always, give that extra dimension to your work. This is a truly stunning model and I wish you the very best of luck in the competition. We have all been winners though because you have shared with us a super model.
PS I too am rapidly coming round to your way of thinking - making your own model is more fun that just building a kit.
Thank you very much, Sir.
I greatly respect the ingenuity you display in the 'extreme conversions' you do. It takes a similar quality of eye. A lot of this is perceiving the subject as an assemblage of basic shapes, and figuring how to make each of those, and then putting them together, step by step. And of course, if it looks like you can do better, you can always do it again; there is no need to worry about ruining a part you cannot replace....
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Absolute cracker! Top class scratch building, OldMan. My sincere congratulations.
Thank you very much, Sir. Means a lot, coming from you, whom I consider master of the life-like finish and clean assembly....
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I also enjoy following your projects Oldman from start to finish :) Another wonderful build :)
Terri
Thank you very much, Ma'am!
I am glad you like the build.
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Hello OM:
Outstanding bit of modeling with a great story. I have read a little about the occupation of the Mesopotamia area and I enjoyed reading your summary with the model.
Best
Mark
Thank you, Sir.
It is a fascinating passage of history, and it still leaves traces in today's headlines.
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Brilliant build and always great to read the history too. Well done!
Tom
Thank you very much, Sir.
Glad you like it.