Bristol F2B interior question

davecww1 · 10 September 2005, 08:05 AM

Here is a question for anyone that has ever seen the interior of a F2B. I have been looking at the photos of the stripped F2b in the Imperial War Museum, but still can't get a good view of the rear gunner's cockpit rear wall. Is this just a fabric covered panel? It looks like there is a bag of some sort hanging in front of the rear wall. Is this a bag to catch the loose shells or something? Also is the lower floor made of wood, and what color should it be painted?
Thanks,
Dave

Lufbery · 10 September 2005, 08:19 AM

Dave,

I've been looking at the same photos, and as near as I can tell, the floor is made of wood, and the gunner's rear cockpit has a canvas rear wall with several pouches in it to hold empty Lewis gun magazines.

Regards,

Turnbuckle · 11 September 2005, 11:21 AM

If only you'd asked this last week, I was there on Monday but I didn't take any pictures from that angle. If nobody comes up with anything before I get over there again then I'll have another look. Alternatively, I can have a look at the Shuttleworth Collection Brisfit in a couple of weeks (if it's been fitted out the same way).

Rob

davecww1 · 11 September 2005, 12:02 PM

Thanks Rob.
Dave

Turnbuckle · 29 January 2006, 01:39 PM

Sorry for not responding to this earlier. The panel in question is a fabric partition, there isn't anything attached to it in the way of ammo pouches etc.

The object immediately infront of this panel is a webbing strap/sling for the gunner. This is likely to be a lap strap since it runs at the right height above the gunner's seat.

Rob

Turnbuckle · 6 March 2006, 06:09 PM

The fabric on the TFC Bristol Fighter was unlaced the other day. This provided the opportunity to confirm the construction of the partition behind the gunner:

Lufbery · 7 March 2006, 05:10 AM

Wow!

That's a great photo. I'm also curious about a few other features of the gunner's cockpit.

1) Does the gunner's seat fold down?

2) What is the box or chest under his seat for?

3) Do you have an shots of that area facing aft with a clear view of the seat?

Thanks!

Old Man · 7 March 2006, 05:57 PM

Does not fold down. It slides back and forth on a rail fixed between the longerons. When the man stood to work the gun, he could just shove it out of the way with a bit of a kick. I do not know if there was any device supplied to lock it in place.

Turnbuckle · 8 March 2006, 03:04 PM

Lufbery, here are a couple of shots showing this area that I took of the Hendon example a while ago. They're a bit dark but they show most of the bits and pieces. I can't see the wooden box that I can see on the Fighter Collection photo.

Lufbery · 9 March 2006, 05:48 AM

Great stuff!

Thank you very much.

Regards,