[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Well, I changed my mind on this model. I like the floatplane version but I don't like the lack of display options with it (on the stand or on the floats without water). I changed my order from the floatplane to the Bismarck version because it appears to be more historically significant and I only want one "Stringbag" in my collection. I like it with the torpedo too since it was primarily a torpedo plane. Thanks for all your help in deciding what to finally get!

Landslide, I thought that they were similar so opted for the floatplane version. Since then I realised just how wrong I was and spent quite some time hunting the Bismarck one down. They seem pretty hard to come by. Don't make the same mistake.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

Landslide, I thought that they were similar so opted for the floatplane version. Since then I realised just how wrong I was and spent quite some time hunting the Bismarck one down. They seem pretty hard to come by. Don't make the same mistake.

Thanks for the tip...I found the Bismarck version and got it instead!

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Thanks for the tip...I found the Bismarck version and got it instead!

Don't forget the floatplane now. How many floatplanes do you see in diecast?

[parsig9]

Originally Posted by Daywalker

The only thing i noticed is that you cant display the torpedo when you use the stand, does nobody from Corgi noticed that?
:

Yes you can Daywalker. Put it on the stand with the Torpedo and turn the stand a little so it goes off to one side. Model displays nicely and torpedo fits on!

See Flying Mule or Tricatus for pics.

[DCRanger]

Originally Posted by DCRanger

The lower wing was strengthened so that rocket projectiles could be used but only the under surfaces were metal skinned. I have several books on the Swordfish but I haven't found a photograph that clearly shows how they differed from the MKI. I believe however that Corgi are in error here.

I open my big and then another book arrives which has an excellent picture to prove me wrong. This is a MKII complete with rocket rails. Despite the metal skinning to the undersides of the wings it still has the same appearance as the earlier MKI so it looks like Corgi got it right after all.

[lanslide]

It looks to me like some of the ribbing is gone around the rockets in that photo - but I can't tell for sure.

[Agent X20]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

Isn't the ENTIRE wing on the Corgi metal?

The secret larf here Capt Eddie, is that the Swordfish wings, on all of them, are 100% plastic.. but that is best for the model... metal would just droop....

I wanna know.. how do they assemble and paint em for the money..??

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by Agent X20

The secret larf here Capt Eddie, is that the Swordfish wings, on all of them, are 100% plastic.. but that is best for the model... metal would just droop....

I wanna know.. how do they assemble and paint em for the money..??

Plastic! Oh no no no! You all know by now how I feel about plastic in my diecast! It's not like chocolate in my peanut butter!

[jim]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Plastic! Oh no no no! You all know by now how I feel about plastic in my diecast! It's not like chocolate in my peanut butter!

Steady on old boy, I know the wings are an oil based product (we dont use the word plastic) but I doubt Corgi could have done this any other way.

Here is a story my relative told me about life aboard the Ark Royal and operating Swordfish.
Although the weather was bad and a storm was on its way, a recce mission had to be flown so a Swordfish was readied and dispatched.
On its return the Ark turned into wind and called in the Swordfish.
Fred (my relative went up on deck with his team to await the Swordfish's landing so as to get it below as the weather was worsening all the time.

He stood there for some time but could not see the Swordfish, after a while he checked with the radio room as to the whereabouts of the plane.
Dont worry sir they said, the pilots just radioed to ask if we can slow down a little because he is having trouble catching up to the ship, he has been 15 miles astern for about 20 minutes now but is making little progress.

The Captain refused to slow down because of the threat of submarines but instead did a couple of very big zig zags and thus the plane was safely received.
I dont profess to understand the technical details but Fred told me that the landing was a superb display of airmanship because conditions were so bad at the time that it was considered impossible and the pilot had been given the option to ditch (not much of an option I would have thought).
Evidently the pitch of the ship was 30 foot on its axis giving 60 foot stern to bow variable, (you navy guys might understand this better than me) but I think he meant the rise and fall of the stern was 60 top to bottom!
The pilot landed the Swordfish without a problem and Fred said the wind was so strong he swears it hovered over the deck before touching down.
It was the slowest deck landing he ever witnessed.

All this happened as they made passage through the bay of Biscay, where the fleet (Force H) was hit by a storm that was the worst ever recorded by a modern fleet.
He said that it was an "interesting" time on the Hanger decks during that storm.
Just as a footnote,
He had nothing but praise for the Swordfish and its engine, quote, it was called Stringbag (because it carried anything) but dont let the name put you off, this was a tough sturdy reliable aeroplane that could fly in the worst of weather over great distances and always get the crew home safe.
Easy to maintain, with a simple engine that never stopped going, despite the open cockpit all the aircrew and pilots loved the old girl.

NB there is a film in existance of Force H taken during this storm , the Ark looks like a cork bobbing about and as it runs down into the troughs it disappears from view for a few seconds and then rises up on the next huge wave.
That should give you some idea of how bad the storm was.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Agent X20

The secret larf here Capt Eddie, is that the Swordfish wings, on all of them, are 100% plastic.. but that is best for the model... metal would just droop....

Doh! Shoot, I knew that, I even have the Bismark Swordfish, just forgot......uh....eh......What was I talking about?