As I’ve mentioned earlier, Czech Model’s new 1:48 Ryan FR-1 Fireball is an outstanding kit. I’m about halfway through it and so far it’s been a joy to biuld. It even comes with not only a bunch of great Squadron/True Details resin and a fine, clear vac-form canopy with a spare, but also a copy of the Squadron/Signal “In Action” book on the type. Unfortunately, this book has no cockpit photos, nor have I been able to find any on the web.
Does anyone know where I might find any photos of the instrument panel, at the very least, or any other part of the cockpit? I’d hate to think that all the Ryan Aircraft archives were trashed, what with all the interesting a/c they made, from jet drones to the Vertijet to the follow-on to the Fireball, the Dark Shark. I don’t have the time or money to order the Ginther book on the type, though that might be the only source.
TOM
Steve Ginter’s Naval Fighters #28 does have the FR-1 cockpit detail along with lots of other photos and drawings…
I’m not much help on the original question, but I’ve gotta ask: where was the air intake for the jet engine on that plane?
Regards,
I tell you, this is one of the cleanest designs I’ve seen from this period in aviation history. It’s amazing. There’s not even a hint of plumbing or wiring in the wheel wells on the real thing. To answer your question, the jet intakes are those two little louvered intakes in the wing roots. They look just like oil cooler intakes. The J-31 apparently didn’t need much air to put out only 1800 lbs. of thrust. And the thing has only a single bank nine-cylinder radial. They figured a small recip and a small jet would add up to big performance. It did not, and the thing was not even in the same league as the Corsairs and Mustangs of its day.
TOM
Do you have FS 2002, 2004, or CFS2?
I can’t vouch for the authenticity, but the 5th item down the page is a download for a FR-1 which includes a virtual cockpit.
Thanks, Tom.
From what I understand, regarding performance, the Fireball’s climb was twice as fast as the piston fighters of the time, but otherwise, the plane was no great shakes.
I’ve also read that Fireball pilots would freak out pilots of other planes by flying by with the propeller stopped and feathered. [:)]
Regards,
sharkskin;
look into Bones-coa’s : Post WWII cockpit & wheel well colors post I gave him the info I’ve researched a long time ago and this is basicly the same information he was asking but for other type of A/C