Just what was placed behind the pilot seat under the canopy… :confused:
I have various cut-away drawings that say it was storage for the AC’s Accumulators (Although they never show them very clearly) I’ve also seen modellers put the wireless up there, which according to the AP go aft of the cockpit, tucked away in the rear fuselage.
Just what did the batteries look like? And how many were there?
Does anyone have a photo of the type that were used…
The only thing i’ve really got to go on is this…
By: MrBlueSky - 29th December 2008 at 18:58
It never fails to amaze me, the knowledge that people have that frequent these forums… 😀
vacb, thank you very much for this, I’d just about given up finding anything about WWII British Accumulator’s and certainly not a photo of one…. 🙂
Brilliant!
Cheers
By: MrBlueSky - 29th December 2008 at 18:07
NiallC… I think I Love you! Well, nearly… 😉
Thank you NiallC, thats another piece of the puzzle to making this Whirlwind model perfect… 😉
Check your PM’s as I’ll be sending you a little something for your trouble.
Again, thank you… 😉
By: VACB - 29th December 2008 at 15:31
Here’s an image of the Type “D” Accumulator.
By: NiallC - 29th December 2008 at 10:51
Hi Stuart
As originally conceived the TR9D radio was intended to occupy the space on the “parcel shelf” under the canopy – so the modellers are not entirely wrong. The Whirlwind seat back was simply two dural poles with a leather cover stretched over them. It was intended that this cover could be removed to gain access to the accumulators, oxygen bottles and other kit behind the seat. When the requirement to accommodate the TR1133 VHF set was introduced (Mod 8) together with the need for armour behind the seat (Mod 33) – which prevented access to the components behind the seat – the rear fuselage was substantially redesigned to incorporate a hatch on the starboard side – where previously there was none. With the further requirement to install R3003 IFF and the tropical ration tray the hatch was enlarged. As a part of this rearrangement the accumulators were moved up onto the “parcel shelf” and the radio relocated to behind the pilot’s seat with the oxygen bottles, Plessey revolver signal pistol, R3003 etc.
I’ve never seen a photo of this part of the aircraft with the accumulators installed, but I seem to recall the wiring diagram for the aircraft shows them installed one behind the other with the longer sides running port-starboard i.e. as per your model picture but with each accumulator rotated 90 degrees. There were always 2 accumulators (The Whirlwind had 24 volt electrics – maybe the 1st RAF aircraft to do so????) but the type changed during the aircraft’s life from 2 Type “B” accumulators to 2 Type “D” ones from P7106 onwards (and presumably retro-fitted to earlier aircraft). These accumulators are standard issue components so there should be photo in one of the generic electrical APs.
Note also that on very early aircraft the remote contactor for the TR9D was also installed on the accumulator tray, but was soon relocated when it was realised that it would be more useful if placed somewhere where the pilot could actually reach it.
Hope this helps
Niall
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December 28, 2008 at 2:27 pm