AEG C.IV in progress

[+Stephen1918 1,474]

I've been working on an AEG C.IV. The plane itself is close to being finished, still a few tweaks to do. I've started skinning the cockpit and making decals. I am also planning a green and brown skin. 

[Heck 496]

It's beautiful.  The more two seaters, the better.  Thank you for all your work.

[+whiteknight06604 934]

NOW THAT IS BEAUTIFUL!

[+quack74 329]

I always liked the AEG planes. This one is beautiful. I've been so caught up in my move to our new house and work that I haven't been able to work on the StratigicNodes for the new Verdun terrain. I feel like I'm so far behind now with FE. I'm missing out on the new handful of awesome planes and objects. Thanks Stephen1918. Any "J" types in the future? AEG, Junkers, or Albatros armored "J" types? Pitty the gunners cant train their fire on ground objects. Straffing trenches would be great.

[+Geezer 3,569]

NOW THAT IS BEAUTIFUL!

 

I second that - beautiful!  Nice camo scheme too.

[+Geezer 3,569]

 Any "J" types in the future? AEG, Junkers, or Albatros armored "J" types? Pitty the gunners cant train their fire on ground objects. Straffing trenches would be great.

 

My first 3D model worth talking about was a Junkers J1.  I am willing to consider dusting it off and updating it.  However, the reason I set it aside was that - to be historically correct - the gamer would not have much fun.  J1s were primarily used to maintain contact/communication with Stosstruppen - special assault troops who had broken through the trench line and were operating in the Allied rear - and did not carry forward firing guns or bombs.  It was also slow and clumsy, and usually operated at an altitude of roughly 100-200 feet.  The J1 would only be interesting if historically inaccurate guns and bombs were added.  Shots below are of the old model with a new gunner. 

 

 

 

[+quack74 329]

That's awesome Geezer. It could still be used as a "Recon" and/or "ArmyCoop"  aircraft in missions and campaigns. It's a very cool looking late war plane. the wings were huge. And it was tough. Of course I say yes to this project.

[+ojcar 157]

And you can add some hand grenades....

Windsock Datafile 39 says the plane had fixtures for holding signaling flares, hand grenades or 1 Kg Fliegermaus bombson the side of the fuselage.

[+Stephen1918 1,474]

And you can add some hand grenades....

Windsock Datafile 39 says the plane had fixtures for holding signaling flares, hand grenades or 1 Kg Fliegermaus bombs on the side of the fuselage.

 

The Fliegermaus (Type GR 16 in First Eagles) looks like a small bomb, with fins on the end. This is a loadout I made for Laton's Pfalz E.III for the Eastern Front. There are six Fliegermaus grenades racked next to the cockpit.

[33LIMA 972]

As I've said before, what FE needs most now, along with a Famman F-40, is a 1918 German 2-seater like the LVG C VI or Halberstadt C V, or perhaps a Rumpler C IV like the excellent WOFF version.

 

The Junkers J I is interesting and would be welcome and a useful AI foe even if not popular player-flown but its slot could be filled by an AEG J I which, with an angular, armoured nose, would be an easy adaption of the C IV.

 

The AEG is a great new addition; with its arrival, we will have plenty of 1915-17 German 2-seaters. A general purpose model that's really suitable for the last year or so of the war is arguably the last biggish gap in the FE planeset, along with the very common F-40 from the mid-war period. Next most important would be some of the many other French 2- or multi-seat aircraft like the Dorand AR 1 and the Caurdon R XI, and an AW FK-8.

[+quack74 329]

My first 3D model worth talking about was a Junkers J1.  I am willing to consider dusting it off and updating it.  However, the reason I set it aside was that - to be historically correct - the gamer would not have much fun.  J1s were primarily used to maintain contact/communication with Stosstruppen - special assault troops who had broken through the trench line and were operating in the Allied rear - and did not carry forward firing guns or bombs.  It was also slow and clumsy, and usually operated at an altitude of roughly 100-200 feet.  The J1 would only be interesting if historically inaccurate guns and bombs were added.  Shots below are of the old model with a new gunner. 

 

 

 

Geezer, What happened to the First Eagles WWI planes you were teasing us with? This Junkers sure would look cool over the trenches.

[+Geezer 3,569]

I'm not ignoring them, I'm just phasing in the 1930s stuff I like.  I'll get around to finishing the Halberstadt sometime, and maybe the Junkers.  I'm still a little lukewarm about the J.1 because - to be ACCURATE - it carried no forward gun or bombs.  Just grenades and a rear gun. 

 

I can tell you have been thinking about strafing trenches from your recent post.  Your terrain looks really good, so I can't blame you for wanting to fly low over it. 

[+whiteknight06604 934]

far from an ideal solution but maybe a side fireing "invisible" gun can be mounted and fired by the pilot AC-130 style?

[+quack74 329]

That could be done. The AEG J.I and J.II had two forward facing, and angled down, machine guns that the observer could operate. He would look through holes in the floor to target ground objects. Ideal for trench straffing.

The main guns could just be placed in this such position. But I don't know how AI planes would shoot anything with the guns in that position.

 

 

 

[extremeone 13]

That could be done. The AEG J.I and J.II had two forward facing, and angled down, machine guns that the observer could operate. He would look through holes in the floor to target ground objects. Ideal for trench straffing.

The main guns could just be placed in this such position. But I don't know how AI planes would shoot anything with the guns in that position.

 

According to Gray and Thetford "German Aircraft of the First World War" the Junkers J.1 did carry two forward 45 degree downward firing guns in a similar manner to the AEG J.1 as described by Quack. Also read somewhere that several Junkers J.1 were fitted with a Becker 20mm cannon for use against British tanks.

Edited January 22, 2015 by extremeone

[+Geezer 3,569]

According to Gray and Thetford "German Aircraft of the First World War" the Junkers J.1 did carry two forward 45 degree downward firing guns in a similar manner to the AEG J.1 as described by Quack. Also read somewhere that several Junkers J.1 were fitted with a Becker 20mm cannon for use against British tanks.

 

I have that publication, and the more recent Windsock Datafile for the J1.  I recently moved and the Datafile is still out in the garage, but IIRC the multi-gun batteries were tested but not used operationally on the J1.   The Germans could not devise a way to aim the guns with any accuracy.  My memory could be faulty so I'll see if I can find the pub.

 

Not being able to aim the guns seems counter-intuitive, but makes sense when you think about it.  The pilot's vision along the aircraft center line was blocked by the engine, so he could only see what was ahead and to the side of the aircraft, not what was underneath it.

Edited January 22, 2015 by Geezer

[extremeone 13]

 The Germans could not devise a way to aim the guns with any accuracy. 

 

Not being able to aim the guns seems counter-intuitive, but makes sense when you think about it.  The pilot's vision along the aircraft center line was blocked by the engine, so he could only see what was ahead and to the side of the aircraft, not what was underneath it.

 

That could be true, but if you look at the entry in Gray and Thetford under the Albatros J.1 they write about the J class generally "...this class of machine was a continual thorn in the side of the Allied ground troops and artillery batteries as their downward-firing machine guns visciously probed and stabbed into trenches, gun pits and horse lines". This class includes the Junkers of course.

 

The guns were probably not always mounted in operations as the J class later specialised in critical (and very dangerous) infantry contact work flying at very low altitudes relaying info during fluid battle situations on troop postions to the army commanders. The newer class CL types became the specialised ground attack class (a sub class to the J class). But I'd guess in less fluid situations and to harry the enemy or when opportunities arose, the J class planes would have also continued to perform ground attack duties.

 

I remember now where I read about the Becker cannon - it was in an forum discussion on the Junkers J.1 by Dan-San Abbott at The Aerodrome, the "blue skies" guy.

 

The Junkers J.1 would be a great addition for FE, its a great looking WW1 plane and especially a lot of fun as so many ground objects are being developed and added. The gun could be fired by the pilot for FE, tho maybe still a problem for the AI to handle a 45 degree shot without crashing, so perhaps more of a player type plane with the Spandaus as optional loadouts like bombs etc?

 

So, hope we can persuade you to complete your already impressive looking model  .

Edited January 22, 2015 by extremeone

[+Geezer 3,569]

That could be true, but if you look at the entry in Gray and Thetford under the Albatros J.1 they write about the J class generally "...this class of machine was a continual thorn in the side of the Allied ground troops and artillery batteries as their downward-firing machine guns visciously probed and stabbed into trenches, gun pits and horse lines". This class includes the Junkers of course.

 

The guns were probably not always mounted in operations as the J class later specialised in critical (and very dangerous) infantry contact work flying at very low altitudes relaying info during fluid battle situations on troop postions to the army commanders. The newer class CL types became the specialised ground attack class (a sub class to the J class). But I'd guess in less fluid situations and to harry the enemy or when opportunities arose, the J class planes would have also continued to perform ground attack duties.

 

I remember now where I read about the Becker cannon - it was in an forum discussion on the Junkers J.1 by Dan-San Abbott at The Aerodrome, the "blue skies" guy.

 

The Junkers J.1 would be a great addition for FE, especially a lot of fun as so many ground objects are being developed and added.

 

So, hope we can persuade you to complete your already impressive looking model  .

 

Looks like you are probably right about the downward pointing guns.  I did find my copy of Woodman's Early Aircraft Armament, and it shows a test rig of SIX downward pointing guns!  They would not have tested something that heavy/complex for no good reason, so downward firing guns must have been effective.  Perhaps each gun was mounted at a slightly different angle; the result would have covered a large area to partially compensate for aiming difficulties?

 

I'm willing to put the Junkers in my stack of things to do, but it won't be anytime soon - I'm busy with 1940 desert war stuff at the moment.