evangilder
"Shooter"
I was out at the Camarillo Airport yesterday to shoot some shots for the museum. We unfolded and folded the wings on the Hellcat for some photos, so I thought I would grab some closeups for you guys.
Hellcat wing fold closeups for modelers and artists
- Thread starter evangilder
- Start date
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Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Excellent pics mate!
- Thread starter
- #4
evangilder
"Shooter"
Cheers guys. I even got to help fold them back up. I had watched it many times, but never helped before. You need at least 3 people to fold the wings on the Hellcat, in case you are doing any diorama work, one in the cockpit to hit the switches and pumps, one on the wings to swing them up or down and one near the fold to lock the wing in place.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
So, they only fold themself while the engine is running then, or?
- Thread starter
- #6
evangilder
"Shooter"
No, wing folding on a Hellcat is a manual operation, regardless of whether the engine is on or not.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
So, did this only change with the Corsair then?
Catch22
Major
The Corsairs were auto-folding, and I think the Helldiver's were as well, though I cannot be certain.
Great pics!
Great pics!
Really nice pics Eric! I'm sure someone will find them useful.
- Thread starter
- #11
evangilder
"Shooter"
I don't know what the differences in thinking were between Grumman and Vought, but I think Grumman wanted as simple and light a design as possible. The F8F wingtip folds were also manual.
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
Great stuff Erich, will definatly help out.....
marek
Senior Airman
Very usefull pictures for modeler. THank´s very much
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Great shots Eric - a question.
Just wondering what this line is and why they routed it around that hole. I would of tried to make a gentle arc and clamp the upper line to the inside of the wing. Maybe one of the A&P folks there could shed some light on that?
Just wondering what this line is and why they routed it around that hole. I would of tried to make a gentle arc and clamp the upper line to the inside of the wing. Maybe one of the A&P folks there could shed some light on that?
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Great shots Eric, and VERY useful. I guess, keeping it a manual fold, meant less to go wrong.
- Thread starter
- #16
evangilder
"Shooter"
I am not sure on that one, Joe. I will ask the guys next time I'm out there.
model299
Airman 1st Class
That appears to be part of the wing locking mechanism to me. If you'll look at corresponding part of the folded wing in the original photo, (Just to the upper right of the end of the copyright notation.) you'll see the associated mating boss that the clamping mechanism locks onto. The reason I'm guessing that the lines are routed that way is to prevent anything that might happen to come through that hole from damaging the hydraulic lines.
Oh, and wonderful shots by the way!
Attachments
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Understand that was part of the locking assy, but was wondering what would come through that hole? It would seem that the top line should be better supported but without being there its hard to really tell.
seesul
Senior Master Sergeant
What a pics! Thanks Eric.
Maybe I overlooked something but how did the locking mechanism work or look like...?
Any pic from the spare parts catalog available?
Maybe I overlooked something but how did the locking mechanism work or look like...?
Any pic from the spare parts catalog available?
could be a line to fire the guns or the bomb rack
