[Graf]

Would it be possible for the AVG Hawk 81s to have a ring and bead gunsight? Most used by the AVG had only these. Only a handful were equipped with the reflector sight until the arrival of P-40Es.

For realism sakes I think this would be awesome!

[Th!rdeye]

It does have one already but i cannot get to it in my TrackIR 6dof.

+1 for this. Just the ring and bead would be a great realism upgrade.

[Trooper117]

The arrival of P-40E's with factory fitted sights, was the first 'official' aircraft with a correct integrated sighting system.. All Hawks had the ring and bead sight, however, the Group Adjutant, Charles Mott, had through CAMCO aquired N-3A optical gunsights that would be fitted to all aircraft in Burma.. The resulting problems from these 'in house' modifications were not ideal, but they were fitted non the less.. some pilots didn't get on with it and resorted to just using the ring and bead sight.. One of the problems was that the refector image was projected from the floor of the aircraft directly onto the armoured glass plate in the front of the cockpit.. Pilots soon found they would knock the sight out of allignment because they hauled themselves out of the aircraft by pulling on the top of the plate..
A hundred brackets were procured from a local British firm in Rangoon to make this mod available to all sqns in the group, so its perfectly feasible to have a reflector type sight in the old Hawk..

[poncho]

I have always had a weakness for obsolete gunsights- ring sights and telescopic sights. Upgrading the quality of the ring sights on the P40 and making the telescopic sight on the SBD3 functional were projects I considered doing but I didn't think there would be much interest. Both of these are feasible.

[Trooper117]

lol!.. Go to it mate..

[Graf]

(In my best Ben Stiller voice)

Do it...do it...come on, do it!

[poncho]

Just wanted to bump this up to keep track of it. Posts can drop fast these days without nurturing.
I needed a break from Java. So I removed the reflector equipment from a Hawk 81 and installed an iron sight. I am assuming that when the iron sight is the only one that it would be mounted on the central axis. Do you know if this is correct? I think I saw a photo of an AVG a/c once and it had an iron sight of the double ringed type on the central axis.

Poncho

[Graf]

Yes, thats correct.

[poncho]

Graf,

I have downgraded the gunsight for a version of of the Hawk81a to reflect the shortages of equipment and supplies encountered by the AVG and the Chinese in occupied China. I know this will not be everyones cup of tea- but for me it adds immersion.

The Reflector sight equipment is removed, iron ring and bead centered as primary sight, some work is still needed. Some areas need to be alphaed out or removed.

[Carnagexxx]

Looks nice !!

But was it not more right ??

[Bee]

Crap plane lovers rejoice!

[Graf]

Awesome!!!!

[poncho]

Looks nice !!

But was it not more right ??

Most of the photographic evidence I have seen suggests a center mounted sight.



I could still alter the apparent size of the ring sight. In the current screen I was trying to match the default 100 m reticle size. I'm not sure what size is closest to what Hawk pilots actually saw. I'm sure it would be variable based on the pilots preference to lean forward or not. I will be removing the old sighting post when I find where the mesh is located.

Poncho

[poncho]

Crap Plane Enthusiasts,

I just put the finishing touches on this mod, please check it out and see if I missed anything.


Poncho

viewtopic.php?t=6613

[Balto]

Looks nice !!

But was it not more right ??

Most of the photographic evidence I have seen suggests a center mounted sight.



Poncho

The picture you posted shows that the ring is right lane, not centered : the center is the highest part of the engine and the base of the ring is lower than the highest part of the engine.