BE2C

[John Marco]

Can anyone tell me was this a common gun setup for a BE2C?



Thank you.
Deutschmark

[buzby]

check TVAL website

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/be2/history-be2-series

 cheers

[John Marco]

Hi buzby,

Thanks, been there at that site a lot and I read where they say that the gun could be moved from one mount to another, but in the 3D simulation world we cant move a gun that way we can only pivot and gun not take it off of one mount and put it on another, that's why the gun setup in the photo above got my eye, I know the most common was the gun facing back as I seen in so many photos.

Deutschmark

[ALBATROS1234]

on the be2c the observer was in from,no tail gunner. that was a common place to mount the lewis gun. also there sometimes was on straddled between the cabanes so the onserver could fire to the rear over the pilots head.

http://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft25545.htm

[Pgtaylorart]

on the be2c the observer was in from,no tail gunner. that was a common place to mount the lewis gun. also there sometimes was on straddled between the cabanes so the onserver could fire to the rear over the pilots head.

http://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft25545.htm

Fire to the rear over the pilot's head! Wow, those guys were tough. I couldn't imagine flying a plane with a guy firing an MG in my direction over my head!

George

[John Marco]

Hi ALBATROS1234,

Yes I been there at that site also a lot and there is where I seen the only other photo of the gun setup like the above photo shows and here it is;


All other photos I have seen of the BE2c shows just the gun facing back from the front cockpit, so was that a uncommon gun setup for this plane?.

Deutschmark

[ALBATROS1234]

either like the photo above or faced forward at an angle like your original post. i think i saw a photo of a lewis gun mounted on the top wing once.

[ALBATROS1234]

your first photo you posted shows both mounts. only one thing the forward facing gun is at present in the photo with the barrel inside the cabane array. normally this would be facing outward at an oblique angle.

[Des]

A really pathetic set-up, trying to fire at the enemy through the struts and the rigging and then firing rearward towards the pilot, what were they think when they designed this machine.

Des.

[ALBATROS1234]

like this

[ALBATROS1234]

they were thinking planes were for observation, then the war started and it had the pilot in back and observer in front so ,also there were no sychronizers yet so they threw a couple welded brackets and mounted a couple lewis guns and said " get er done mate"

[coyotemagic]

they were thinking planes were for observation, then the war started and it had the pilot in back and observer in front so ,also there were no sychronizers yet so they threw a couple welded brackets and mounted a couple lewis guns and said " get er done mate"

Exactly!  The early BE's were never intended to carry guns.  They were only added as an afterthought and there was a wide array of configurations that followed.  It wasn't until the single seat BE12's came along that guns were installed at the factory.  Still, this was just an adaptation of the old airframe.  The RE8 was the first in the line to be designed with the observer in the rear with a Lewis on a Scarf ring.
Cheers,
Bud

[John Marco]

Thanks ALBATROS1234,

I am still not sure if I will put in the side mounted gun, but for sure it will have the gun facing back as that was the most common setup, I am only a day or two away from putting her in game to give everyone their first look at her when I do I will post a few screen shots here.

Thanks again ALBATROS1234 and all for your help 

Deutschmark

[John Marco]

Hi guys,

Well here is a few in game shots, still far from done about another weeks work on her and she will be up for download for the CK game.
I did end up putting the side mounted gun, I just though it look so cool of very early war gun setups.







Deutschmark

[ALBATROS1234]

thats very nice john, it looks very authentic