Short Sturgeon – First and second Prototype

David here is a photo of Firebrand TF.5A EK621 racing no ’81’ at Elmdon in 1949. This was i believe the eventual winner of the handicapped race involving both the Sturgeon and Hornet.

So now we have three of the entries. Anymore?

Rob

Just for fun!

This Hornet F3 appeared at the same race event as the Prototype Sturgeon 🙂

Hi David

That sounds great. We have only 3 kits and I think that we will need at least 4 o 5 to represent the Hornet / Sea Hornet which belong to our collection time frame.

I will send you a PM with my email address.

Kind regards
Santiago

Many thanks Rob

Yes, you are absolutely right. We are still not sure but could be the De Havilland Hornet and sea Hortnet.

My father is also eager to build the Hadrian and he is thinking about starting with the Waco CG-13As. Two of this were used at the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment for trials in 1945.

Cheers
Santiago

Well if you do want to do these, you know where to ask for help! 😀

Many thanks Rob

Yes, you are absolutely right. We are still not sure but could be the De Havilland Hornet and sea Hortnet.

My father is also eager to build the Hadrian and he is thinking about starting with the Waco CG-13As. Two of this were used at the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment for trials in 1945.

Cheers
Santiago

Superb work, both kits must require a certain amount of bravery before embarking on them!

Well done to you both. Very fitting to see them beside the Wyvern and Firecrest prototypes too :).

Dare i ask whats next?

Rob

Many thanks Rob

FInally, my father has done these two prototypes. Here are the final photos

Short Sturgeon RK787 – First Prototype

Short Sturgeon RK791 – Sencond Prototype

Cheers

Santiago

They are beginning to look really good Santiago. Its also nice to see a lesser known type being modelled, especially the two S (Strike) Mk1 prototypes.

Rob

Hi guys

Many thanks for all the information posted here.

The kits used are the Magna models one (resin) and the TT2 of Contrail (vacum form) which was modified in order to obtain the first prototype.

Here are two photos showing both prototypes with the decals on.

Cheers

Santiago

Thanks for that David. Never seen one with the racing number on show on top of the port wing before.

And totally agree about what an amazing spectacle and sound those races would of been.
To quote from the Sturgeon book i mentioned, “the event was won by Peter Lawrence in the Blackburn Firebrand. The Sturgeon recorded the average speed of 295 mph and at the end of the first lap it was in second place, smoking and noisy but doing well, but it was eventually overhauled by the Spitfire and (possibly) by the de havilland Hornet”. 😎

Rob

The de Havilland Aircraft Company were taking their entry very seriously I believe, as the F3 used was the specifically fitted with the uprated Merlin 134/5 engines, which were later used on the Sea Hornets.

Hi Rob,

This is an enlarged extract from a larger photo that Mark12 kindly passed to me this week (as it also contains a Hornet).

This is the same “racing prototype” a/c shown from above.

Thanks for that David. Never seen one with the racing number on show on top of the port wing before.

And totally agree about what an amazing spectacle and sound those races would of been.
To quote from the Sturgeon book i mentioned, “the event was won by Peter Lawrence in the Blackburn Firebrand. The Sturgeon recorded the average speed of 295 mph and at the end of the first lap it was in second place, smoking and noisy but doing well, but it was eventually overhauled by the Spitfire and (possibly) by the de havilland Hornet”. 😎

Rob

Just to witness the event itself must have been something else, Tom Brooke-Smith haulling the Sealand and Sturgeon around the poles, Wade, Derry & Cunningham fighting to beat each other in the prototype Hawker and de Havilland jets, and the service entrants like the RAFAux Spitfires – wonderful stuff!

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201387.html

Just to witness the event itself must have been something else, Tom Brooke-Smith haulling the Sealand and Sturgeon around the poles, Wade, Derry & Cunningham fighting to beat each other in the prototype Hawker and de Havilland jets, and the service entrants like the RAFAux Spitfires – wonderful stuff!
As you say David, it would be great to find some colour pictures of these air races.

Its a shame that there are’nt colour images around showing this particular race meet. I bet it was a colourful sight.

The Hornet entered into this race was PX368. It was in overall silver dope, with yellow and roundal blue bands on the rear fuselage. Race number 84 in black on a white circle. The only area of colour difficulty we have on this is the spinners – they look gloss black or red.

Likewise, the band around the rear fuselage is very dark but it could also be yellow-ish. Post war wasn’t the normal for a silver or bare metal finish with yellow bands on the tail and wings?

The Sturgeon is in racing markings hence the fuselage band, ’80’ sported a green band.
Unfortunately I don’t know what the green shade was, but The National Air Races stipulated a 36″ band painted in an established BSC spec aero paint.
Obviously the background boxes of the numbers are either in a different colour or shade, I can’t help thinking that they’re black with white numbering though.

I personally don’t think the image is taken on orthochromatic film, such film tends to render yellow as extremely dark, as in many of the early British wartime aircraft pictures where the roundel band is black.

The ‘FLight’ photo in Dcollins pic shows the shades depicted in a diffrent way again, but this comes down to camera or enlarger lens filters.

The yellow ‘P’ on a white background was unusual, but seemed to be favoured by Shorts on their prototypes.

Santiago, the models look superb, do you know which kits are being used?
They really show off what a purposeful looking beast that the Sturgeon 1 was, I always think it’s a shame that some of the late-war piston designs didn’t get to see greater production and use (only likely with prolonging of Pacific war), can you imagine FAA and RAF squadrons of Sturgeon 1s, Wyvern 1s, Welkins, Seafangs and MB.5s!

Hi Rob,

This is an enlarged extract from a larger photo that Mark12 kindly passed to me this week (as it also contains a Hornet).

This is the same “racing prototype” a/c shown from above.

No problem, hypothesise away OEB :). The National Air Races were held between 30th July and 1st August 1949, so i guess they were taken anytime between those dates.

The colours i have are a yellow “P” on a white circle with yellow outer.

Rob

Just curious. What year were those Sturgeon pictures taken?

I’m wondering if they were taken with orthochromatic film. Reason I ask is that the prototype is remarkably dark against the circle filling it. Considering they were normally painted roundel yellow it seems very dark making me ponder if it’s the film give that effect.

Likewise, the band around the rear fuselage is very dark but it could also be yellow-ish. Post war wasn’t the normal for a silver or bare metal finish with yellow bands on the tail and wings?

There’s also very little contrast in the roundel and fin-flash.

Just hypothesising that’s all 😀

Hi guys

Many thanks for your replies and sorry for my delay. I was on vacation!!!

Please find below a photo showing the progress on both prototype. Finally, my father decided to do one of them with the arrest hook down.

While I prepare a next series my father will done both versions of the Gloster F9/37

Cheers

Santiago