The Ship Model Forum

Maarten Schonfeld wrote: I have also studied some years ago the option of creating a complete conversion kit for the Bonnie/Maggie, including those Banshees, but apparently there was too little interest winthin the Canadese market for such a kit.

Dave Rowe wrote:

Maarten Schonfeld wrote: I have also studied some years ago the option of creating a complete conversion kit for the Bonnie/Maggie, including those Banshees, but apparently there was too little interest winthin the Canadese market for such a kit.

I hope that the situation changes, I have been hoping for such a set for a long time.

Maarten Schonfeld wrote:Hi,

Very nice built! You have attracted my admiration.

I suppose you borrowed the S2F Trackers from the Dutch MW-Models kit of Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman (Dutch Navy ex HMS Venerable)? I had the pleasure of making the masters for these Trackers, the rest of this kit being a nice conversion to the Heller Arromanches, along similar lines as the Bonnie.

I have also studied some years ago the option of creating a complete conversion kit for the Bonnie/Maggie, including those Banshees, but apparently there was too little interest winthin the Canadese market for such a kit.

Regards,
Maarten Sch�nfeld

Paul O'Reilly wrote:Ryan,

Alas, I only had one flight from her deck - one cat shot! I had just got to the squadron and had just started the OTU when they took all us new guys to sea in B We onaventure to watch what was to be the last CARQUAL session. We watched for five days whilst everyone and his dog, except us, got a shot at the deck. Then, on the last day, they said we could all go up for a flight. We climbed into our assigned aircraft to join the pilot, props already turning, and his instructions were very brief "Sit down, strap in, don't say anything, don't touch anything and for Christ's sake don't wave at anyone or anything". On the cat stroke the low fuel lights came on so with a deckload of aircraft behind us we headed for the beach (Shearwater). The ship then went on her last operational deployment and I finished my conversion course. In December 1969 Bonaventure returned and I had graduated from my training and we all flew out to join her for her final sailpast. Twenty-three Trackers flew overhead her as she tied up for the last time and I was Number 19! That was the biggest formation I was ever in. At least I got to see what a B-17 formation must have looked like!

Two small details on your model need comment. The screws are reversed left and right. Looking forward from a point astern of the ship, the starboard screw rotates clockwise and the port screw rotates counter-clockwise. This eliminates mutual interference as the highest blades "throw" their water away from the hull (and the other prop). The other point is the orientation of the props on the Trackers. Once the engines are shut down the props are "dressed" (positioned) such that one blade is parallel to the deck and pointed directly at the fuselage. This makes the aircraft narrower. Otherwise, should a blade be pointed directly outboard the aircraft would be wider and possibly hit something on the elevator or in the hangar. However, aircraft left on deck (there would normally be six left on deck) may have the props left undressed if they were on alert or awaiting a short turn around.

Great model though. Your usual superb workmanship. I guess if I ever have to compete with you I'll have hire a hit man!! <g>

Paul