FN4A Bungees,

Hi folks,

My theory about the bungees is that the gun pins are loose, so would be secured to stop them falling into the drum and then down into the aircraft works through the holes in the drum, causing goodness knows what damage. As Walter says, you can see the hoses are already fixed to the gun cradles, so why put a loop around something that can’t fall?

Well just to back-up my theory, I seem to remember a comment on the ‘Gun Turret Drill’ training film, when talking about the gun cocking tools, ”taking care not to drop the tools…….” Anyway, it’s only a theory, though it actually works, as I’ve proved when trial fitting my replica guns. I had to make the pins from scratch, but couldn’t replicate that off-centre ‘plunger’- I made four clevis type pins instead, only ‘turret-heads’ will know the difference!(Thankfully I’m probably the only one in N.Ireland)
That’s it for now chums, cheers
John

FN4a Turret bungees

Hi Walter and Mike!

Mike, Walter and I have been debating this subject for a while, and my theory was that the bungees were used to retain the rear retaining bolts on the gun brackets, to stop them falling into the floor drum during re-arming, so if you can solve that one, that’s another(probably the last) piece of the jig-saw!

By the way, on the ‘Ulster’ turret, there were no clips or rings on the existing firing hoses which would have suggested an attachment to the bungees, but I’m looking forward to any pics. which will prove the point!

All the best to you both,

Cheers
John

Thats true but if they are made to never fire then that should be ok. Our FN5 has real ones fitted!

You don’t live in the UK my friend- new laws going through Parliament aim to make it an offence to own, manufacture, sell or buy replica weapons, and this may include aircraft weapons!

John

Thanks Mike,

No, they’re not real Brownings, I made those with the help of some drawings from a most helpful chap in the MOD pattern room, as well as some detailed photos sent to me by a friend associated with the FNa in Brussels.
I’m glad you had to ask though
(only turret nerds like us would notice)!

Cheers,
John

Turret pics

Hi Folks,

Hope these come out OK,
Cheers,
John

PS:Mike, did we communicate before, a few years ago?

Hi Cees,

When completed, the turret will hopefully be put on display at our new(still secret!) museum location, but that’s a few hundred hours of work away yet!
I regularly correspond with some friends at the Belgian Royal Army Museum in Brussels- they intend to build a mock up rear section of a Whitley for their FN4a. Previously we (the Ulster Aviation Society) thought we had the only one, but now there are two!.All we need are two Whitleys to mount them on!

Best wishes
John