Teaching young lads about military history
 

I know it's not an aeromodelling site - but this does have a military aviation theme.
Young twelve year old Tartare was complaining last night.
"Dad, I don't want to make that kitset of the Stuka, I want to make a jet."
The Stuka had sat at the bottom of a pile of kitsets, and he was clearing the backlog.
"Are you sure?" says I. "It was actually quite an interesting plane I think. Let's find out some more."
So I sit there on his bed on my iPhone as he's gluing the thing together and learn something myself as I read aloud from Wikipedia:
"It had automatic hydraulic dive brakes that would pull the plane out of a dive on bomb release, even if the pilot blacked out through G-LOC.
And - get this - those Luftwaffe pilots pulled 6.5g's when they pulled up from a constant speed dive."
He looks at me. "You mean they were pulling fast-jet type G's?"
"Yep."
He spent the rest of the night finishing the plane.
And I imagined what it must have been like to fly one of those things.
Off to get Hans-Ulrich Rudel's book off Kindle now.
And that's why - despite the connotations of geekery - I think making models is a bloody good way of teaching young fellas about aviation history.

Even more basic stuff.

I recall I made a beauty of a Mosquito kit, a big 1/48th scale monster.

Which I subsequently motorised for a school project.

It was upon seeing the props spin that my grandad pointed out they were both turning in the same direction. My boob I imagine.

And thats how I learned about torque

Coochycool,
The Mosquito's props DID turn in the same direction, IIRC.
Flying a Sea Mosquito from a carrier must have been mind-concentrating.


The later DH Hornet did have counter-rotating props, though.

Well you learn something every day.

Thanks for the point of order Stanwell.

I suppose it was just simplicity of design and weight saving that all Merlins turned the same way then without additional gearing.

It was still my introduction to torque effect though

Cooch :ok:

Also, ease of support. Meant you only had to cart around, say, 50 spare engines, rather than 50 spare 'left' engines and 50 spare 'right' engines.

A lot of military history being taught over here - a lot of "70ths" of aircraft shot down and ceremonies across France. Hopefully taking friend's granddaughters to a memorial ceremony at Jonzac in a couple of weeks' time. That will be "history in the raw", but also something to take back to school in UK

On 11th November last year I had a wander over to our local cemetary just before 11.00 to pay my respects in the small war graves section. The only other person their was a youngish Polish woman accompanied by her daughter who was about ten years old. The woman was explaining to her daughter the importance of remembering and respecting those who gave their lives on our behalf.
I found that quite moving and just wish that a few local people could instill that sort of respect into their offspring.

Last year No2 son plus partner won the aircraft recognition competition for Airforce Cadets in Western Australia. No2 son's speciality is military aircraft. Partner's is Civilian. There's not much I can teach him. 17yo, three hours solo and well on his way to a PPL. Determined on a career as an aircraft tech.

All that torque was quite problematical. It was said there were two types of Mossie pilots - those who had departed the runway as a result of the torque, and those that would do so in time.

Same with retractable gear GA aircraft and gliders. Those that have and those that have yet to do so. (Land wheels up that is.)

What was the first model kit you (attempted) to make. I think mine was the Airfix Defiant when I was about 10. I've been fascinated with that aeroplane ever since.
Those Airfix kit box paintings. Sheer magic.

The first one I remember making was a Spitfire. I would have been around seven so '63. The series one kits were two bob at the time and came in a plastic bag with a card top with the painting on it. I remember the top class models in those days were Monogram but they were a bit beyond my half crown pocket money.

My sister, father and me used to sit at the kitchen table and make them on rainy Saturday afternoons.

Just checked my Man Locker and I have waiting to be made in the winter months:

1/72 Airfix Typhoon (the proper Typhoon, not the jet thingy), F5a and Lysander.

Minicraft 1/48 Cessna 172 and PA 28

Revell 1/48 Spad XIII

Eduard 1/48 DH-2 and Fokker Triplane

Flying into Old Warden on Sunday for the Wings n' Wheels so will no doubt be hitting the shop and spending more loot. A man has to have things to do on the cold winter nights.

I had a few I recall from my very early days of glue-finger, aged about 11/12 (1950s). As I was living in Jamaica at the time, they were inevitably American.
Revell - PT-109. Delicate work needed.
Revell - USS Missouri. Loads of turrets!
Revell ? - B-26. I still recall the big oversized rivets!

On return to UK, I went 1/72 Airfix. And as a plt off, had a huge collection of assorted/modified stuff that was bequeathed to the College of Air Warfare when I was posted for ... something, but my flt lt mate said they would be useful.

Last one I made was probably this 1/48 Thunderbolt at Tengah in 1968 ... then I got married :)

http://i319.photobucket.com/albums/m...3Xmas22006.jpg

Reverse Waltz.
 

Speaking as a total engineering ignoramus, is there anything in principle to prevent rigging the magnetos to make the Merlin run in reverse (as was done in the Villiers two-strokes, in the later Bond minicars, to give a reverse gear ?

You'd only need two lots of props and mags in stores then, not two lots of Merlins.

D. :confused:

I can't remember the first, of many, model aircraft I made but the one I do recall is that which my Dad made for me during the war. I think it was in 'Spitfire Week', raising funds to buy aircraft - nominally Spits. The plans could be bought, possibly 6d?, and there was a prize for the best model. Ours (I took possession of it) was a beautifully hand carved solid-wood one, painted IIRC, and I was sure it would win. Of course, it didn't, but it kept me happy for many years thereafter.

"thing." Love the address. Will have to pop round for a pint...(that's very nearly an armful.)

Merlin vs Villiers
 

No Danny that would not be possible. The Villiers was a two stroke and did not have a camshaft as far as I can recall so it had ports like a model diesel engine which were exposed as the piston went up and down. The Merlin being a four stroke had valves operated by the camshaft (or camshafts) which limited it to going in a forward direction only.

Not a great explanation but true none the less.

ACW

Ah, a gentleman of certain vintage sir...:ok:. Actually you're not that far away. I reside in Lincolnium.

Well, when THAT episode came out I was still "sh--ing yellow" as my dear old granny used to say. I actually discovered Hankers in the 80s and have been a fan ever since.
Episode called "The Lift.". Quote. "Ahh, Cranwell triumphs again. Go on, press the button, pretend its a rocket you'll like that....."
Back on thread. Getting kids interested in model kits could have positive
dividends for the future. Its hands on and its real, not virtual. Magic stays with you.

Eight year old grandson has made his first model (well I guess I helped a bit) which hangs proudly from his bedroom ceiling, a Hawk.

Finishing an Airfix Gnat with my eldest who was about five at the time and hanging it from his ceiling was AWESOME!!!
I'll leave you to guess who got most from the experience!


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The kits also lead you to ask questions about the real thing.
Like the 1/24th scale bona jet me and the boy finished recently - the Sharky Ward version.
Jeez, that thing has `fire access' points all over the place behind the pilot around the Pegasus.
I think I'm right in saying you couldn't run the water injection for any longer than about 30 seconds and that time in the hover was limited due to it getting too hot.
Was it especially prone to catching fire?
Possibly due to the excessive heat radiating from the office, due to the pilots ego?!

My bedroom ceiling was festooned with 1/72nd Spitfires/Hurricanes/Me109s/Stukas etc, all hanging off bits of cotton in attack mode…..fantastic! (I miss those days).
Having a father who was in the services, I think automatically gravitates a young lad into an interest in the military. As a boy I could dentify dozens upon dozens of aircraft from the 40s-70s.

MY stimulation of my grandson's interest in aviation is bearing fruit. Aged 19 he has just passed all of his ATPL ground exams with an average of over 90%. I made him model a/c and he 'made' me models in return. I still have all those he made me when he was little. But I do not know of anyone else locally with an interest in aviation.

H-h-h-Hancock's Half Hour - loved it and still do. Then discovered Anthony Aloysius was an old boy of my son's prep school in Dorset, brought him even closer.............

Wander,

You can hear 'The Lad Himself' almost every day on this

British Comedy Channel Program Guide - The ROK Classic Radio Network

Have always been a keen but un-skilled model maker (glue fingerprints on the canopy etc) but am looking forward to helping the Grandchilden with there first attemps.

As an aside any one know the story of why a 1/72 TSR2 in 'Desert Pink' resides in 54's tea bar?

Thanks GG2

First kit my son played with was a Frog Meteor 4. Bright red, it was. Second kit was a "display standard" Matchbox Gladiator [fully rigged] which he gave to his girlfiend [He was 3.5, she was 2.9] through the letterbox
He now makes me look like a 3 year old.....

There is no doubt in my mind that I went to university to do Engineering because of lego, and Aeronautical Engineering because of airfix (et al). Crucial. No other word for it.

Never got into Airfix kits, always preferred the balsa wood and paper versions, I started with Keilkraft, 2s6d old money per kit. My first was a Stinson. By the time the 'extras' like dope etc. had been purchased it was a 5/- kit!


Progressed to a Jetex 50 power plant, built a beautiful Gloster Javelin, launched from parent upstairs bedroom window, straight up in the air, caught fire, (I had no asbestos paper, as required by instructions), crashed and burned!


Went back to Tow Line gliders after that.

Dad was ex-Air Force so I sort of grew up with it, but my pride and joy as a 11 year old was the 1:24 Mk II Spitfire I lovingly put together over weeks. Nothing spared, decal softener to mould it to the paint, clear gloss and then clear matt over the top of both, masking tape harness straps, muddy wheels, the lot. Gear and flaps down, canopy cracked open, gun port covers shot through, she was set on short final from my bedroom ceiling by some light gauge fishing line...

Her service life ended when she was unfortunately shot down and destroyed one cold July afternoon by my brother, who decided to see how much different history might have been if the Luftwaffe had taken to the RAF with air rifles...

When they are old enough and reading, try a copy of

"On the Psychology of Military Incompetence" as a primer?

Darned good read, pity most of the VSOs have never read AND digested! !

Still like to chill out by making the occasional model kit, although I've got a bit of a backlog at the moment: XB-35, XB-70, SR-71, Saturn V, Fairey Rotodyne, and RAH-66 are all awaiting completion.

I cut off all the box art and still have them in an old nav bag. Don't ask me why. Its a pity Airfix doesn't go back to the old plastic bag for the basic models.

I picked up a copy in Cirencenster Oxfam a year ago - I hadn't read it since IOTC some 30 odd-year earlier. However, apart from the examples of military incompetence, the analysis is somewhat dated in psychological terms - strong emphasis on potty training, anal retentiveness etc.

Try 'googling' the latest airfix offering - a 1/24th scale Typhoon, (the ww2 one not the new jet) and have a look at the piccies of the finished model.

It is an amazing product even for the £100 price tag.

Well beyond my abilities to build! Lets hope my grandson is happy with the 1/72 kits. I expect they cost more than 2 bob these days.

The Typhoon looks huge but check out the Mozzie in that scale! I wouldn't fancy hanging that by a couple of drawing pins!


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One erm cough...has both the 1/24 Mossie and 1/24 Typhoon.

The 1/48 Mossie mentioned earlier has just been released by Revell

For those that haven't seen the Tiffie

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps8a2f4ffe.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pscbf1517a.jpg

more here including painted and assembled

http://scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboo...phoon-revealed

they have added panting to the skins etc on this.. it is superb.

I can assure you, that Mosquito is a beauty! I'm going to build mine as MM 417, EG-T of 487 Squadron, RNZAF. The original Airfix Mosquito was, while not my first, one of my earliest models, and it and its brethren launched me into the wonderful world of plastic aircraft modelling in particular and military aviation history in general.