…a kind of anti gravity bubble…..that the spitfires were able to fly. I did wonder how long the oxygen would have lasted with the merlin using it up?

It wouldn’t matter anyway; Spitfires can’t propel themselves if they are in an atmosphere sealed in a ‘gravity bubble’. 😀

I think I’d be tempted to run the propeller from a car (or truck) starter-motor for the next attempt (assuming you do try again).

Starter-motors come in all sizes and selecting the right ring-gear should give you a fairly realistic speed, balanced against the air resistance of the propeller, plus the system could be run independently of the engine (and wouldn’t risk damaging it). I know it wouldn’t look quite right with the propeller and engine speeds not synchronised but at least you shouldn’t be able to hear the starter-motor over the sound of the Meteor! 😀

…seems to have handles and trigger ‘paddles’ like the one in CD’s link.

Yes, definitely hand-trainable, and the belt-feeds designed to allow a lot of elevation.

It is highly likely that the PT-Boat version was derived from an aircraft mounting such as the rear gun on an SBD.

My Argentinean isn’t that good…

How about your Spanish? 😉

Why do you say that, CD – out of interest? I have always believed that it was the shock wave caused by the explosion which caused the damage rather than the impact, which would produce a crater, depending on the force and the location.

That raises a rather interesting question doesn’t it; why were (and are) 1000lb bombs casings as thick as they are?

Didn’t the programme state last night that only half of the weight of the SC500 (and SC50) bomb was the explosive filling? If the damage is done by the explosive and there is no need for the bomb to bury itself underground before exploding why bother with the expensive and difficult manufacture of the casing at all; why not just drop twice as much explosive in thin casings?

I know the RAF did this with the 4000lb ‘cookie’ but the idea there was to blow off roof tiles and blow in windows and doors to improve the chances of incendiaries starting major fires.

This was filmed at Spadeadam – which explains all those loud bangs we heard!

I did wonder; it looked a bit hilly and ‘forestry commission’ for the average ‘RAF base’!

The programme was fairly decent effort I thought and anything that brings this period of history to life for the younger generations has got to be a good thing.

I’m not sure I agree that exploding the bombs above the ground would accurately reproduce the effects of the real bombs although the ‘SC500’ explosion would have been pretty accurate for a ‘land mine’ and possibly could have been done as such (would have been quite interesting to see one come down by parachute). The production company were obviously under instructions not to damage the concrete ‘pan’. 😉

Isn’t it four episodes? I think they may need a few more houses.

…I can only remember Amelia Pond…

I bet the length of her skirt would have raised a few eyebrows in 1940…

…cracking pair of legs though! :diablo:

As for the rest of Dr Who…..sorry, utter tosh! :rolleyes: