Hangar 9 Sopwith Camel ARF markings

PfalzPflyer · 2 October 2006, 06:58 PM

I realize that I risk receiving flames of wrath for even mentioning an ARF on this esteemed forum, but here goes...

My question is this: What squadron is Hangar 9 trying to represent with this aircraft. Is it 66 Sqdn? Any particular ace or pilot? I've come up blank.

Dean

PfalzPflyer · 2 October 2006, 09:09 PM

I've just been informed that the markings represent the last Camel flown by 46 Sqdn. ace

Donald Maclaren. He was the highest scoring Camel ace with 54 victories, all of which were in Camels.

Thanks, DeltaK!

best regards,
Dean

Breguet · 18 October 2006, 06:38 PM

46 was also VM Yeate's (Winged Victory) real Squadron. Maclaren gets many a mention in the book (he's called Mac).

PfalzPflyer · 18 October 2006, 08:31 PM

"No Parachute" author

Arthur Gould Lee was also a 46 Sqdn alumni. He started with them in May 1917 on Pups, and finished on Camels in early 1918 shortly after Maclaren arrived at the squadron. Maclaren is mentioned by name several times near the end of the book.

Best regards,
Dean in Omaha

20 October 2006, 03:03 PM

I've seen this plane up front and close and it is a creditable representation. The plane was being test flown for the second time and was still tail heavy.

The reality to me is; If you fly R/C then ARFs are a part of the sport now-a-days. You won't get any flaming from me! I still love to build and do so. However, I will build and fly an ARF and have no qualms about doing so!

TomVrille · 21 October 2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mode One

... If you fly R/C then ARFs are a part of the sport now-a-days.

I have to agree with Mode One's assessment. I know many capable modelers who will not go near a WW1 type because they are intimidated by the amount of time that they think will be required to get the rigging and biplane set-up halfways decent, even though they do not intend to take part in true scale competitions. If ARFs are the answer to making sport scale WW1 birds available to modelers with average building skills, let's have more of them!