Spanish Skies

[+Geezer 3,569]

Thought I'd start a new thread dedicated to the Spanish Civil War mod that Steve and I have started working on.  We intend to make all new figures, guns, buildings, vehicles, etc so this is going to take a while - at least a year.  Spain was a fascinating blend of late biplanes and early monoplanes.  At that time, the superiority of the monoplane was not clearly evident so both Italy and Russia developed new biplane fighters based on their experience in Spain.

Edited May 17, 2016 by Geezer

[Wrench 9,846]

is that a Northrup Gamma I spy?? Looks very nice!!

[+Coupi 4,388]

A sort of transition era for military technologies!

 

Very good!

[Nicholas Bell 117]

Your models are outstanding.  This is a huge undertaking that will be warmly welcomed when complete.    Hope others with skills I lack will give you a hand.

[+Geezer 3,569]

Your models are outstanding.  This is a huge undertaking that will be warmly welcomed when complete.    Hope others with skills I lack will give you a hand.

 

Steven1918 has developed an interest in 1930s stuff, so he and I have agreed to work together on this.  It will take a while, but there is method to the madness.  The WOFF developers have achieved an outstanding mod by carefully controlling the models and artwork to maintain a uniform appearance.  That's what Steve and I hope to do.

[+ojcar 157]

An interesting site (if you read Spanish. If not, use some translator). The planes come with number used. This is important, beause for example only two Dewoitine D-510 were used.

 

http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerzas/Armas/Armas.htm

[jeanba 1,920]

Nice link, thank you

[Crawford 570]

An interesting site (if you read Spanish. If not, use some translator). The planes come with number used. This is important, beause for example only two Dewoitine D-510 were used.

 

Yes, you are right about Spain. But 24 fighters, ordered in August 1937 by the Chinese, were the largest party D.510C sent abroad. Since the summer of 1938 two squadrons of the Chinese Air Force fought on these aircraft against the Japanese invaders.

Edited May 18, 2016 by Crawford

[+Geezer 3,569]

An interesting site (if you read Spanish. If not, use some translator). The planes come with number used. This is important, beause for example only two Dewoitine D-510 were used.

 

http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Fuerzas/Armas/Armas.htm

 

Thank you - excellent link.  The republic operated many types of aircraft, sometimes in VERY small quantities.  The models of the Gamma and Dewoitine were made for a different mod but can be adapted to work in a SCW mod - sometime in the distant future.  I already have a number of Italian aircraft that can be used in a SCW mod, plus Steve wants to make some new aircraft.

 

Initially, we will work in FE1.  At some point in the future, I would like to make an FE2 version with high-res trees, ground tiles, etc.  This will keep us busy for years...

[+ojcar 157]

Another very interesting site.

 

http://www.fjavier.es/aire1936-39/

 

Tell me if you have problems with translation

[+Geezer 3,569]

Another very interesting site.

 

http://www.fjavier.es/aire1936-39/

 

Tell me if you have problems with translation

 

Muchas gracias!  Recuerdo un poco de Espanol.  But...only a little. 

 

These sites will really help Steve and I make ground objects.  For instance, we want to make lots of guns/artillery.

[+Geezer 3,569]

Shot below shows what I would like to accomplish, but have not tested the concept yet.  I hope to use high poly heads on the figures that the player will see around airfields, while other figures will have lower poly heads.  I also would like to make low poly versions of some aircraft so some decent maintenance scenes could be placed around airfields.

 

 

[Wilches 1,172]

Is taking shape! Guys, please don´t forget the He 51 and the He 112 largely operated by Legion Condor.

[+Geezer 3,569]

The Adler Tanker is pretty much done.

 

 

[+Stephen1918 1,474]

For the Spanish Civil War. The Polikarpov I-15 was one of the primary fighters for the Republican forces. Many were bought from the Soviets, and a lot more of them were made in Spanish factories. It was armed with 4 machine guns and could carry a light bomb load.

 

The model is nearly complete, but I'm still tweaking the upper wing. I have a lot of work to do in the cockpit. And I will have a lot of learning to do to bring the data into the 1930s.

[+Geezer 3,569]

Magnificent!!!!

[Silberpfeil 363]

For your reference, I've got two of them just down the road from me...

[+ojcar 157]

Beautiful! But they are an I-153 and a I-152.

[+Stephen1918 1,474]

Good catch Ojcar. I knew practically nothing about the Spanish Civil War when I started this. I've had to do an incredible amount of research. I've discovered that there were many versions of nearly all the planes used, different engine cowlings, different landing gear, different wing tips, etc. Many times, the export version was different from the domestic version. For example, the Hawker Fury used in Spain was not the same as the British Hawker Fury.

I have also had to do a lot of research into the kinds of guns and bombs used. Up until now, I just had to go to the Gun Data ini and find the gun. Not so with the SCW. If anyone knows some good websites (with pictures!) to help me learn about 1930s machine guns and bombs, please post a link.

Edited June 6, 2016 by Stephen1918

[+Geezer 3,569]

 

I have also had to do a lot of research into the kinds of guns and bombs used. Up until now, I just had to go to the Gun Data ini and find the gun. Not so with the SCW. If anyone knows some good websites (with pictures!) to help me learn about 1930s machine guns and bombs, please post a link.

 

A very good point.  I will make some new Soviet bombs for the mod.  Nicholas Bell and VonS may be able to help with gun info?

[+Geezer 3,569]

Steve -

 

I've been looking for a good website for SCW guns but haven't had much luck - yet.  A lot of WW1 Vickers and Lewis guns were still in use in the 1930s, though most air forces were in the process of replacing them.   Many late versions of the Vickers were basically the WW1 gun with an air cooled barrel jacket and higher rate of fire, however the WW1 ammo feed probems had not been completely fixed.

 

Towards the end of WW1, both France and the US produced dedicated aircraft guns - instead of modified infantry guns - but they were not ready in time.  The guns were phased into use throughout the 1920s and were in widespread use by the time of the SCW.

- The French used several different 7.5mm Darne guns, plus the 7.5mm MAC 1934 gun - most French origin aircraft used in the SCW mounted the Darne.  https://www.forgottenweapons.com/darne-mle-1923-manual/

- The US standardized on the Browning .30 and .50 machine guns, which can be borrowed from SF1/SF2 files.

 

The British introduced license-built copies of the Browning rechambered for their .303 cartridge about the time of the SCW.  Baffmeister did a lot  of R&D for the Brit .303 guns mounted in my Gladiator, so you can use those gun files with confidence.

 

Baff also did a lot of work on the Breda 12.7mm gun mounted in the CR42.  The 12.7 Breda was developed from the smaller 7.7 Breda - the 7.7 was widely used in the SCW.

 

The Soviets developed one of the best small caliber aircraft guns, the ShKAS - used in both fixed and flexible installations.

 

Link below describes the evolution of aircraft guns in the mid-1930s to auto canons:  http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/cannon-or-machine-gun-the-second-world-war-aircraft-gun-controversy.html

[+Stephen1918 1,474]

Thanks Geezer. Over the years I have built up an extensive reference folder for WWI, with dimension drawings of the guns, detail photos of engines and gauges, etc. Now in the Spanish Civil War, I'm having to look up everything and it's slowing me down. I was sort of hoping to find a shortcut. Your references will help me start a new collection.

[Crawford 570]

For the Spanish Civil War. The Polikarpov I-15 was one of the primary fighters for the Republican forces.

I have a lot of work to do in the cockpit. And I will have a lot of learning to do to bring the data into the 1930s.

May be, it will be useful to you.

 

Edited June 7, 2016 by Crawford

[+Stephen1918 1,474]

Thanks Crawford! These are excellent photos. The plane is actually a later version of the I-15. The upper wing is not attached to the fuselage. But The cockpits were the same in both versions, so these will be most helpful.

[Crawford 570]

Thanks Crawford! These are excellent photos. The plane is actually a later version of the I-15. The upper wing is not attached to the fuselage. But The cockpits were the same in both versions, so these will be most helpful.

Yes you are right. This later version of the aircraft - I-15bis (aka I-152) was manufactured in the autumn of 1937. In addition to China, I-15bis were sent to Spain (20 copies), which appeared at the end of hostilities. Part of the remaining aircraft in Spain, among which were I-15bis, after the defeat of the Republicans joined the Franco aviation.

 

As for the I-15 cockpit, a pilot's seat is designed as a cup for placing the rescue parachute and could be adjusted for growth using the handle located on the right. On the most aircraft I-15 didn't have armored backs - to put duralumin backs, covered with leather pillow with hair padding.

The instrument panel slightly inclined and curved. Top guns visibly protrude from it closer to the pilot. Handles recharge directly on the machine guns. Reloading guns bottom by cables connected to the handles located on the sides of the seat.

In the area of the left handle reloading was a lever for dropping bombs. On four holders DER-32 under the lower wing can be suspended to 40 kg bombs (4 P-7, or 4 AO-8 or AO-10). In the conduct of military operations in Spain took bomb load more. Thus, additional bomb racks were mounted under the center of the lower wing.