Mystery Plane

[ramseyd]

Agree on #12 being a Me110. Suspect this is a wood model.

When looking at the Cruver photos from eBay/etc, I did see something I had not noticed before. In the Training room photo, the Me110 has a tail wheel. When looking at my Cruver models, it is clear they never had one. Looking at others photos, I noticed that there was one Cruver example of a Me110 that had a tail wheel. Bryan, do you have any Cruver models showing with, since this would mean we have two variants of the ME110 Cruvers? Always hard to tell from the photo if someone decided to add one to make it more realistic.

Also, tend to agree on most of the wood models, but I have seen a couple that were sold as the schoolboy program models that were a little lacking in detail.

[MichaelB]

There is nothing like that on my German Cruvers...only my Jap planes have "fixed" undercarriage where appropriate. I do not have a 110 anyway!

[BWBrown]

Hi Dennis -
I'm glad that our site is back up and working. It could have just been me, but I wasn't able to access the MAC Forum for the past week. Anyway, the "schoolboy" wood model did come with a tail wheel. I have not seen a Cruver model with one, however. As you suggest, it could be a variant produced by Cruver. It could also have been added somewhere along the way. Who knows?
Back to your test ....#30 and #31 are both TBF Avengers. #27 and #33 are both A-20 Havocs. Your turn!
Happy New Year to all! -- Bryan

[MichaelB]

#28 looks like a Grumman OA-9. That would put this pic at 1939.

[ramseyd]

Michael, I thought about the Goose (OA9) as well, but the turret on top made me lean towards the Saro Lerwick, although the height of the fuselage seems low. But then, hard to tell from just the photo. I added it along with the Saro Lerwick as an option. We can see if others think one way or the other. Might also consider its relative length to #22 which I think is a Mariner. I thought the Goose would be shorter.

[ramseyd]

Added the Claude Mitsu T-96 for #3 and 4, and He112 for no 11. Back in your court. And the easy ones are just about gone. I tried to identify #7 but the best I could guess was Val Mark II but the wheels don't seem right, a Nate but nose may not match.
Id model Candidates

1 -
2 - Hudson ?
3 - Claude Mitsu T-96
4 - Claude Mitsu T-96
5 -
6 - Hudson ?
7 -
8 - Wellington 3
9 - FW-200
10 -
11 - He112
12 - Me110
13 -
14 - B-24
15 -
16 - Nell
17 - PBY-5 Catalina
18 - Nell
19 -
20 -
21 - Short Stirling
22 - PBM3 Mariner
23 - Nell
24 - P-47
25 - P-47
26 -
27 - A-20 Havoc
28 - Saro Lerwick or Grumman OA9
29 - P-40
30 - TBF
31 - TBF
32 -
33 - A-20 Havoc

[BWBrown]

#28 is definitely a model of the Lerwick. While the Goose is similar, it lacked a dorsal turret behind the wing. Also, the vertical stabilizer on the Goose was rounded, while that of the Lerwick was more angular. And now, I return to poring over the pixels! -- Bryan

[BWBrown]

I think #5 is a Kate, and #7 is a Nate. -- BB

[ramseyd]

Agree on the Nate, but not sure on #5. I cannot tell if the light shadow above the a/c is part of the plane or just a mirage. If it is part of the plane, then the canopy versus the Kate is questionable, maybe an Oscar? Has the tail wheel that I would expect for the Kate or Oscar, though.

[BWBrown]

Hi Dennis -
#1 looks like a TBD Devastator. #11 is a HE-113, not a -112. The Cruver model is distinctively different, and they didn't make an HE-112 in the wood series. I think it can only be a HE-113. We'll never figure out what #10 is. #15 looks like it could be another HE-113. #19 is a SB2A Buccaneer. I can't see enough of #20 make a determination. Can't tell #26, either. #32 is another Mariner.
The whole thing looks like it was staged for propaganda purposes. Why else have so many duplicates in such a small space? Plus, it's weird that there are so many really significant aircraft missing. The other thing that makes me wonder is that some of the models are from Cruver, some are from the schoolboy wood program, and a couple are sufficiently crude that they are probably plaster models. Where did they get such an eclectic mix of different media? Sure looks like it was cobbled together on short notice.
Anyway, I think we've exhausted this topic. I can barely see the ships, so I don't think I can identify them, although I'll look more closely.
Cheers! -- Bryan