F9C Sparrowhawk

[canadair]

Hey all,

Having found a little downtime from my day-job(s), and having admired the work on here so, so often, I thought I'd give an aircraft a try as opposed to hearts and brains.

I always thought the USS Macon (the airship, not the battlecruiser) was such a neat idea, with it's fleet of biplane fighter planes - the first flying aircraft carrier! Feeling that doing the whole shebang was a little ambitious, I thought I'd at least do a fighter. The Curtis F9C Sparrowhawk

Anywho, I got all my references together with the exception of a good one for a Wright R-975-22 radial engine. The photos I have seem either grainy or have such high contrast that the engine is hidden. If anyone has any good 1930 style radial engine pics or diagrams that I can at least base my engine off of, please let me know.

Thanks in advance, I only hope my modelling does the site justice.
151

[Xizor]

nice start so far, i look forward to seeing more

[canadair]

Incidentally, that odd contraption on the top of the plane in the side view (seen in first post) is "the hook".

These planes would basically fly up and "hook" onto a trapeze on the bottom of the airship which would pull them inside. Insane. They even removed the regular landing gear when they were over the ocean. Again, insane.

[Spinner]

Incidentally, that odd contraption on the top of the plane in the side view (seen in first post) is "the hook".

These planes would basically fly up and "hook" onto a trapeze on the bottom of the airship which would pull them inside. Insane. They even removed the regular landing gear when they were over the ocean. Again, insane.


You might be interested to know that the idea didnt totaly die. In WW2 they flew Piper Cub spotter aircraft off the wire in the Pacific Island amphib ops. They had two booms that extended out from the ship, with a wire and trolley between. The aircraft had a hook on top, very similar to the Sparrowhawk's, and was lifted out and in from the trolley by crane.
The hook was extended above the prop arc on a frame. The pilot had the leangth of the wire to get to and from flying speed.
I'm hoping to model it one day.
I'll follow your progress with interest.