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Old 13 January 2008, 01:30 PM   #37 (permalink)
Joe Perkel
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Miami / Sebring, Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joegertler View Post
Hi Joe;
Here are two photos copied from originals in a private album. I don't know if you already have them, as they may have found their way into publications, over the years. In the first, it is interesting to see how large the cut-out for the top wing Lewis gun is.. and the second shows another oddity of the float gear collapsing toward the front. You would think that a sticky landing would collapse them toward the rear. Probably just a very hard landing. The first one is a Blackburn-built Baby on the Isle of Grain. The second is labelled, "Sopwith Baby,collapsed chassis, Dundee /16"

Hi Joe,

Thank you very much for those! I am quite certain that yes, I have seen the first cradle photo but, the second,...now that's interesting. Nice to see the reserve of buoyancy, doing it's thing!

Too bad the story is likely lost to time but, I think John may be right. The sea state doesn't look bad enough to do this. Would love to know what let go!

As for the cut-out. I've not forgotten Jim Bruton's statement once about "layers of authenticity." In the back of my mind, I am considering a small departure from authenticity in favor a fairly larger transparent section (ala strutter) in the interest of "see and avoid" safety.

Thanks again for the photos! Should you have anything regarding the tail float, that would be most helpful.
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