XP-39 II - The Groundhog Day Thread

[buffnut453]

So.........................what color should we paint the ground hog?

That rather depends on whether you want to build an early- or mid-war groundhog, and whether you're looking at a standard daytime pursuit groundhog or the specialized night intruder groundhog.

Bear in mind that lend-lease groundhogs given to the Brit's had standard RAF camo using U.S. equivalent paints. However, their service was short-lived because the Brits didn't like the groundhog, finding it neither useful for hunting nor as a decent Sunday roast (tastes too much like chicken).

Finally, don't forget that, later in the war, groundhogs started leaving the factory unpainted to reduce drag and eliminate the weight of the paint.

So...you takes your groundhog and makes your choice!

 

[Airframes]

anyone got any colour pics for a groundhog I'm building .......................

 

[buffnut453]

anyone got any colour pics for a groundhog I'm building .......................

Post #1693. There's even a colour video clip at post #1695, but it's a bit brief. Sadly no special markings are visible on any of the groundhogs shown.

 

[Dash119]

anyone got any colour pics for a groundhog I'm building .......................

The 'C' model, or the slower climbing, overweight but aerodynamically identical 'D' model...

 

[buffnut453]

My wife just told me I need to get out more...so I'm off to take the groundhog for a walk.

 

[Airframes]

Socially distancing, of course ................

 

[buffnut453]

Well, of course...6 ft for COVID and an extra 10 ft in case the groundhog starts tumbling. Standard safety protocols.

 

[buffnut453]

I'm lucky enough to own a Packard-built groundhog which is far superior to the original Rolls Royce groundhogs.

 

[Airframes]

But I always understood that the initial acceleration wasn't as good as the Rolls version - but they did come with a great socket set, in a handsome wooden case !

 

[GregP]

Here's their squadron emblem.

It's from the old Groundhog-in-the-Ring squadron of WWI. Mascot was Eddie Rickenbarker ...

 

[buffnut453]

But I always understood that the initial acceleration wasn't as good as the Rolls version - but they did come with a great socket set, in a handsome wooden case !

Yeah, but the Packard is much smoother and sounds better. Plus it was specially redesigned for faster production.

 

[GregP]

... faster production, does that mean they eat faster?

 

[buffnut453]

Yeah, quite a bit, actually. So much so that it presented CofG problems during longer meals.

 

[Airframes]

And I believe the Daimler-Benzackard was even better, capable of well over 450 mph at 30,000 feet, and only burning five Imp Gallons per hour, with a plug change only required after 200 hours .............

 

[buffnut453]

Well, that goes without saying. Any groundhog with black crosses on it is automatically better than any Allied groundhog.

 

[GrauGeist]

Just curious, on that particular model, are it's incisors 37mm or 20mm - hard to see in the photo...

 

[windhund116]

It is missing its armour.

Center-of-gravity modification.

 

[windhund116]

And exactly how long was a commanding officer in charge of a squadron during WW2? Months, maybe? He would see how the unit operated based on observation during combat and would make adjustments to training and leadership as he saw fit, or as forced upon him by circumstances (e.g. receiving a batch of sub-standard new pilots or losing a key flight leader due to death, injury or posting).

Most squadron commanders weren't in place long enough to focus on long-term trends. They simply made decisions necessary to get the job done based on what they observed. Frankly, they didn't have time to pore over statistical charts. They were too busy fighting a war.

In case you didn't see this from the Bail out of B-24 thread, an old family friend was a CO of an 8AF Heavies unit. He trained the unit in the US. Went over to England with the unit. Then, came home with same unit, after the war ended. According to records, he is the only CO to accomplish this, with any 8AF Heavies, in WW2.

Rackheath Aggies.

 

[BiffF15]

Yeah, but the Packard is much smoother and sounds better. Plus it was specially redesigned for faster production.

Faster production, or REPROduction?...

 

[Snautzer01]

So.........................what color should we paint the ground hog?

Pre war livery