Friday 2010-11-19 Dev. update and Discussion

[zodiac]

Oh thank god the defiant is in there! I feared he wouldn't make it in the release! But obviously he is alive and kicking!

One question about that moveable part on his back. Isn't that meant to be totally retracted in order to turn the turret? That is how I remember it from the days I made a scale model of a defiant... From the pictures I've seen it was always retracted if the turret was moving.

Is there someone who could enlighten me with some info about the use of that fin? I don't know what the use of it was. I suppose it had something to do with aerodynamics or some extra space for the gunners legs during non combat flights.

But great update oleg&team!

[major_setback]

Originally Posted by zodiac

Oh thank god the defiant is in there! I feared he wouldn't make it in the release! But obviously he is alive and kicking!

One question about that moveable part on his back. Isn't that meant to be totally retracted in order to turn the turret? That is how I remember it from the days I made a scale model of a defiant... From the pictures I've seen it was always retracted if the turret was moving.

Is there someone who could enlighten me with some info about the use of that fin? I don't know what the use of it was. I suppose it had something to do with aerodynamics or some extra space for the gunners legs during non combat flights.

But great update oleg&team!

There is some interesting information in this thread (last page is about the fairings):

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=101278

"There are two other mechanisms, which control or are controlled by the turret rotation, the details are in the same AP.
1. Cam-operated air valves which control air cylinders that raise or lower the movable fairings. There are 2 valves one for each fairing. A gunner-operated lever extends an extra portion of the cam to allow the appropriate fairing to be raised when the guns are stowed. This lever covers the main switch to prevent the turret from being turned when the guns are stowed; it is labelled fairings up/down but actually has no effect when the turret is in any other rotational position.
2. There is a mechanical device that prevents rotation over the forward fixed portion of the fairing unless the guns are elevated enough to clear. There is provision for the guns to be lowered to the stowed position, this is where the electrical interrupter is required.."



Two ways to exit a Defiant!!!






It seems the pilot could also fire the (turret) guns!!!!:

"There was a threeway "gunner master switch" on the right hand side of the instruments in front of the gunner - when set to "off" there was no power in the circuit, when set to "gunner" HE fired the guns, and when set to "pilot the pilot could fire the guns from a standard firing button on his control column.
Ideally, if a gunner was injured he was supposed to traverse the turret to forward, and elevate the guns to 19 degrees or over (20 degrees or below was the best-fit angle for no-allowance shooting, apparently...but under 19 degrees and the prop gets it anyway! ) then transfer control of the guns to the pilot."
(Now I really want it to be flyable)




There is information on the cut-out device for guns (to avoid self-shooting):

"A serious inaccuracy is the statement that “the Defiant had specific electric cut out or insulation points around the ring so as to prevent the gunner from shooting off parts from his own aircraft”. This quote is taken from page 31 of Mark Ansell’s otherwise excellent book on the BP Defiant. In fact the Defiant is fitted with a sophisticated interrupter gear, which allows independent control of the left and right hand pairs of guns in both rotation and elevation. It consists of a brass cylinder with a pair of sliding contacts (one for each pair of guns) that are moved via a cable according to the guns elevation. A chain drive rotates the cylinder in synchronisation with the turret. Insulated areas on the cylinder isolate the gun circuits as required. The contacts control the guns through relays thus reducing arcing around the insulated areas.
There are only two insulated areas for each gun one to avoid hitting the tail the other a small strip that prevents firing when the guns are in the forward stowed position. The interrupter gear is described in AP 1659C, Vol 1, Chap 3. The interrupter gear end is just visible at the top centre of the top photo on page 69 of Mark Ansell’s book.. It is also visible just under the turret ring immediately to the right of the ammunition boxes in the lower left photo on page 72."

Diagram:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/attac...2&d=1288746934

[Rodolphe]

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Originally Posted by major_setback

Two ways to exit a Defiant!!!

If the Gunner concludes to exit his flying Defiant through the bottom hatch, the Pilot need to lower the landing gear as this configuration automatically retracts the rear VHF aerial mast into the aero plane belly.
That done the mast won't spear the Gunner as he, after moving the aerial wire aside, escapes through the bottom hatch, .
.


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[major_setback]

Originally Posted by Rodolphe

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If the Gunner concludes to exit his flying Defiant through the bottom hatch, the Pilot need to lower the landing gear as this configuration automatically retracts the rear VHF aerial mast into the aero plane belly.
That done the mast won't spear the Gunner as he, after moving the aerial wire aside, escapes through the bottom hatch, .
.


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From the posts in the link it seems that the lower exit route was more difficult to use. If the plane is flipped over on take off or landing though, it would become essential.

[Rodolphe]

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Originally Posted by zodiac

One question about that moveable part on his back. Isn't that meant to be totally retracted in order to turn the turret?
That is how I remember it from the days I made a scale model of a defiant... From the pictures I've seen it was always retracted if the turret was moving.

A similar system on the Blackburn Roc.





Anecdotal Roc

Originally Posted by Tony Pay in Britain at War magazine Nov 2010 edition

The Roc was so obsolete that it was quickly ruled out of the fighting.
One naval unit commander ordered that his Rocs should be used in an anti-aircraft role, parked around the 'drome turret manned during air-raids.

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