Frigate Bird II

[emfrat]

Does anyone know of any Catalina repaints depicting Frigate Bird II / VH-ASA ? I had the old FS98 one, but I never found anything later...I thought I saw one for the Alphasim PBY when it first appeared, but that may have been just a dream

ATB
MikeW

[Ian Warren]

Mike ... first of all Welcome to NZFF ... , I have a book on the Cat covering history and recent paints .. I also have the most brilliant version current ... The Aerosoft model , we will see what we can do for ya

[emfrat]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 11 2012,4:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mike ... first of all Welcome to NZFF ... , I have a book on the Cat covering history and recent paints .. I also have the most brilliant version current ... The Aerosoft model , we will see what we can do for ya

Thankyou Ian - I've been registered here for quite a while, but I always search before I ask a question, so I have only had to post a couple of times. I have most of P G Taylor's books, and now I have the leisure to try the Valparaiso flight. Will have to figure out some rocket assistance for Easter Island....

Many thanks for your interest.
MikeW

[Ian Warren]

I did a bit research last night and did not find the aircraft in the Catalina as good as it is but now recall it maybe in the 'Longreach'QANTAS series during one Capt Taylor's survey flights .

[emfrat]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 12 2012,8:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did a bit research last night and did not find the aircraft in the Catalina as good as it is but now recall it maybe in the 'Longreach'QANTAS series during one Capt Taylor's survey flights .

Ian - it is a fairly simple scheme - off white overall, mid-blue writing.
I have seen it as preserved in the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
This link may be useful:

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection...0&img=18360

The painting done by the Museum seems to have been a bit "stylised" - the photos in "The Sky Beyond" seem to show the aircraft name was not italicised, as the Museum shows it.
I have scanned pics to my own PostImage webspace:
http://postimage.org/gallery/3sdext9s/

EDITED 28-2-13 to update image links

[Ian Warren]

Hecks , that is very interesting , I did not think it was a 6A Variant , no water bound UC and the historical photo show's gear .. I wonder if it was removed for the long range attempt .. to my knowledge these all were amphibians with the higher dorsal fin . I'll keep digging on this one .

Mike , Now what model do you have , Most all have FSX and the Cat to have is the Aerosoft model , I have not painted an Aerosoft product yet but this would be a goodie .

[emfrat]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 12 2012,11:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hecks , that is very interesting , I did not think it was a 6A Variant , no water bound UC and the historical photo show's gear .. I wonder if it was removed for the long range attempt .. to my knowledge these all were amphibians with the higher dorsal fin . I'll keep digging on this one .

Mike , Now what model do you have , Most all have FSX and the Cat to have is the Aerosoft model , I have not painted an Aerosoft product yet but this would be a goodie .

Ian - Both Frigate Birds were pure flying boats, not amphibians. They did carry beaching gear as shown here:

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection...ase/?irn=207905

This pic from "Forgotten Island" shows the first Frigate Bird, with beaching gear attached, to the forr'ard wing strut...notice the first one had the name in a different font.
The original Frigate Bird was used on a survey flight from Mexico to Australia by the southern route in 1944.

http://postimage.org/gallery/3sdext9s/
EDITED 28-2-13 to update image link.
The amphibians are pretty unmistakeable - with the gear up, folded into a recess between the wing struts, the wheel is exposed, there being no cover.

In my FS9 I have 'Miss Macao' which is on the Mike Stone model, and I just installed the Alphasim Cat, since it has been released as freeware. The Toys-for-Granpa Fund will run to the Aerosoft model - I have FSX on the same machine, but it is nowhere near as good as my lovely FS9 which took years to get there.

ATB
MikeW

[Ian Warren]

Mike , i'll have to search the aircraft , FS9 , i don't have a Cat for but sure keep eyes open for specials for ya FSX model .

[emfrat]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 12 2012,2:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mike , i'll have to search the aircraft , FS9 , i don't have a Cat for but sure keep eyes open for specials for ya FSX model .

Ian -
The old Harry Follas one was described as a Boeing Canada P2B-2
The Alpha ones are PBY5 or 5A - A seems to indicate Amphibian - there are two Black Cats, one with and one without u/c.
http://www.easyfly.co.nz/Freeware/index.php

The Aerosoft ones are PBY5 or PBY6, but there is a Flying Boat (the RAF one) as well as an amphibian.

Found these paintkits:
http://www.easyfly.co.nz/Freeware/index.ph...r=/Paint%20Kits

http://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/topic...-kit-available/

Capt. Taylor's plane had the front gun turret converted to a mooring hatch. It was RAAF A24-385 before the Oz Gov't presented it to him. Unfortunately Capt Taylor, in his books, only ever calls it a Catalina, not a PB-whatever.
I am not one to throw out a sim aircraft because the internal fuel pipes were modelled at 25mm instead of an inch. I respect accuracy - I once modelled a loco tender complete with innards - but there has to be some common sense. If the external model looks the part, I won't be counting the rivets in the tailfin.
If I can help with digging up info, please let me know.

ATB
MikeW

[Ian Warren]

Found it - the aircraft in question was known as the 'Nomad' , PBN-1/PB2B-2 redeveloped and built by the Naval Aircraft Factory Philadelphia all only supplied to the the US Navy and the USSR based on the 6A but with a revised hull and nose turret , the model was then built by Boeing/Canada A24-385 C/n 61162 as a Catalina VI previous ID JX638(RAF) Bu44256(US Navy)- in the Notes it says this aircraft crashed into the sea south-east of Mindanao 10/10/45 . The aircraft was registered as VH-ASA and departed on it first stage at RAAF Rathmines .

[emfrat]

Ian - I now have the Aerosoft Cat...averaging about three bursted engines per take-off - could well be reduced to reading the destructions. It's all very well saying Rotate at 83kts, but one has to get there first - haven't sighted any IAS above 70kts, so far.
ATB
MikeW

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (emfrat @ Aug 14 2012,10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ian - I now have the Aerosoft Cat...averaging about three bursted engines per take-off - could well be reduced to reading the destructions. It's all very well saying Rotate at 83kts, but one has to get there first - haven't sighted any IAS above 70kts, so far.

Two red mixture levers on the back wall , bring them down one notch , pleased you have this Cat , you are going to love it ... and means i have to get my AnG to do a suitable paint for you .

[emfrat]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 15 2012,7:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Two red mixture levers on the back wall , bring them down one notch , pleased you have this Cat , you are going to love it ... and means i have to get my AnG to do a suitable paint for you .

It is a very nice toy, makes the most of FSX's capabilities, and cost less than a slab of XXXX
Got some more testing to do - MAP & RPM look right, mixture is auto-rich, fuel boost pumps on - it might need its own FSUIPC profile for my CH Yoke/Quad/Pedals setup. I use a switch to open/close the cowl flaps, and on one of the Jahn team Connies, it was creating an 'invisible spoiler' which had a very similar result. Had something the same on a CalClassic DC-7 where you open the gills slightly for climbout - that was causing the speed brake (main u/c) to deploy. Should really get into the habit of using that excellent VC.

There is a lot of FS2004 freeware scenery for the Pacific Islands, and Easter Is., but not much for FSX. Will need to have a crack at upgrading it - never too old to learn.

ATB
MikeW

[Ian Warren]

It is an ideal aircraft that suits the NZ terrain whether its VLC or ORBX , long range tho could be a chore plodding along out across the Pacific , course CH Yoke/Quad/Pedals or Siatek make it .