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A Baker's Dozen of Stearman Repaints

I think I swapped the originals out (including the rudder nav white) using MCX/Notepad++ CJ.. a relatively straight forward job taking only a few minutes. The only downside (on some models) is the lack of positional control which, had these all been in the cfg, could have been tightened up a bit more. The nav red/green aren't too bad but the nav white could do with coming back a wee bit.
Didn't realise adding bloom would kill the 'oversize' look.. I never have it on.

ATB
DaveB:)
 
The George Bush Stearman

Thank you all again for the replies/feedback!

My initial interest in doing a repaint for the Vertigo Stearman was in making a repaint of the N2S-1 BuNo. 3347, as restored to full original factory specifications by AirCorps Aviation, owned/operated by Paul Ehlen. Fortunately, thanks to Robert41, I was able to get some great detail shots of the aircraft from Oshkosh 2015, and then back in October, I actually got to visit AirCorps Aviation, where the Stearman was undergoing its annual inspection, and I was able to photograph every last stencil and other detail I could find (such as the stenciled numbering system for the strut mountings). During most of the year, when not flying, the aircraft can be seen publicly displayed at the new Wings of the North Museum, at Flying Cloud Airport, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota (where Paul Ehlen also keeps his P-51D "Sierra Sue II" (the most period-authentic flying P-51D), his Craig Army Air Field AT-6D (the most period-authentic flying AT-6D), his TBM Avenger, and soon to be added, his F4U-4 Corsair). Having already made repaints of Ehlen's Mustang and T-6, by doing the Stearman too, I thought I'd be able to cover the full collection (only that it keeps getting bigger!).

This particular aircraft was assigned to Naval Air Station Minneapolis, which consisted of "A Base" Wold-Chamberlain Field (which is today KMSP-International, named after two Minnesota pilots killed in WWI) and "B Base" Fleming Field (the South St. Paul airport, named after a Navy pilot from South St. Paul who was posthumously awarded the congressional medal of honor for his actions in the Battle of Midway). One of the Naval aviators to train here during WWII was former president George H. W. Bush. His first introductory flight was in an NP-1, from Minneapolis, on November 21, 1942, and by February 9, 1943, he completed his primary flight training in Minneapolis, having logged 82.5 hours in that span of time and passed all checks with no extra time or rechecks.

(Some sources will only state that Bush trained at Wold-Chamberlain Field/Minneapolis, while some other sources state that he trained at Fleming Field - since it was all-encompassing, he could very well have flown from both locations. I grew up visiting Fleming Field just about every weekend, which is also where the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is based (with their B-25 and other WWII warbirds), and being told as a small child that a former president trained there during WWII, only added to the lore/attraction.)

32315945592_3a559f24c0_o.jpg



One of the aircraft he flew during that time was Stearman 3347. George H. W. Bush flew this aircraft on January 28, 1943, and again on February 5th, 1943. This span of time took his open-cockpit flight training right through much of the coldest portion of a Minnesota winter - the average temperature on January 28, 1943 was only 16-degrees Fahrenheit. Two other Stearmans he flew during his flight training are on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola and at the Pearl Harbor National WWII Museum. (George H. W. Bush logbook scans courtesy of AirCorps Aviation)

1419363577573


1422570182258


31623992544_330d879005_o.jpg
 
This is the way the Minneapolis International Airport/Wold-Chamberlain Field looked during WWII when Bush was a Navy cadet. (At the time, Northwest Airlines also had its main base of operations here (which is also where the Doolittle Raiders B-25's were sent for their top secret modifications prior to the mission). During WWII, it was a hub for Naval aviator training, and post-war was a combined base of operations for both Naval Reserve and Air Force Reserve units. In 1938, Howard Hughes made a stop here during his around the world flight.)

31655703423_6ba3eb15b0_o.jpg



This is a classic photo of the South St. Paul/Fleming Field airport ("B Base"), taken in 1942, as the last of the Navy hangars were still being completed (hangars which still stand today). (My childhood home would be built, a couple decades later, somewhere in the background of this photo.)

32315944892_ee38c64063_b.jpg


And another photo taken of Fleming Field, in the 50's, illustrates all of the WWII-era hangars, control tower and barracks. (Unfortunately, in more recent years, the barracks were torn down (in my eyes, and absolute crime), as well as the hangar that is closest in this photo (which pre-dated WWII), where as the 7 main Navy hangars still remain in use today - the third nearest hangar is used today by the Minnesota Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.)
31655707993_356687138e_b.jpg



If you install the freeware ORBX North American airports addon, it includes a very well done, very accurate depiction of the way the airport looks as of today.

31623988884_ca4ee1409d_o.jpg
 
PT17 or N2S or PT75 which is it

John,

I like your collection of paints for the Stearman however, I am a little confused with the different designations and variations of the Stearman. I am interested in the Navy version and I know that the ARMH
had its version and then I seen this info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75 and as I read it, I wonder what are the appreciable differences (if any) between the ARMY PT-17 and the
Navy N2S version. I see that the engines in each version were basically the same R-680-8 engine vs Continental R-670 engne (they sound the same any way).....

So, they (PT17 vs N2S) both were bi-wing and made by Boeing so is it just a matter of what the Army's designation is vs the Navy's N-2S that is the difference?


Edit: I found this link for the Stearman and wonder if it would be authentic enough for the N-2S or PT17?
 
Yeah, there were a few different engines used on the aircraft throughout production, which provided some of the reason for the different designations, although each of the engines produced about the same amount of power (roughly 220 hp each) and all of the aircraft, no matter their Navy/Army designations, were "Model 75's". During WWII, the Navy and Army both had their own ways of designating the exact same aircraft (like the AT-6 vs. SNJ, A-24 vs. SBD, A-25 vs. SB2C, etc.), even when they were manufactured side-by-side/from the same production block. For the Navy, there was the N2S-1, -2, -3, -4, and -5. For the Army, there was the PT-13, PT-17, PT-18, and PT-27 (designation given to a USAAF contract sent to Canada), as well as a select few other derivatives.

The N2S-1, like the George Bush Stearman is, is a very early variant, so they didn't even have an electrical system on-board (no lights, no electric starter, no radios, etc.) - that came on the later variants. There were of course other production differences/improvements throughout the manufacturing of these aircraft, such as different cockpit and panel/instrument arrangements.

The Stearman Wiki page shows that the N2S-2, N2S-5 and PT-13 were powered by Lycoming R-680's. The N2S-1, N2S-3, N2S-4, PT-17 and PT-27 were powered by Continental R-670's, and the PT-18 fitted with a Jacobs R-755. This was likely due, as can be referenced in many other circumstances during wartime aircraft production, to the production of engines not keeping pace with the production of the aircraft (in other words, Boeing could produce more Stearmans in a given amount of time than manufacturers like Lycoming and Continental could produce the specific engines). With either engine, you're looking at the same amount of power/performance, with about 220 hp. Post-war, a number of Stearmans have been modified with bigger engines, producing as much as 450 hp up front (this is why when John Mohr performed his amazing aerobatic routine in his Stearman, it was always highlighted as being a "stock Stearman", since it still retained its original 220 hp Continental engine, unlike most of the other Stearmans performing aerobatics at airshows).
 
Vertigo Studio PT17 Vol 2

John,

I am thinking about getting the VS PT17 Vol 1 but need to know if the cockpit panel turns red like my attached picture when you turn on the VS PT17 panel and navigation lights?
I have the GAS PT75 version and when I turn on the lights, all of the panel turns red. Would like to see a pic of cockpit panel of your VS PT17 when panel lights are on for comparison.
It would of been nice if just the instruments were illuminated instead of a red panel.


Lights on panel is red:

red.jpg



Light off panel is black:

black.jpg
 
The GAS cockpit and lighting seems more modern. The VS night cockpit is more authentic IMHO.

2017-1-22_18-25-55-932_zpsy8zgzk8h.jpg


The cockpit lighting for the VS Stearman is variable. This shows the maximum lighting available. Looks better in the sim, BTW.

And yes, the soundpack from Immersive Audio for the Stearman is great. It adds a whole new dimension for both the Vertical Studios and the GAS Stearmans.
 
Fantastic history lesson, I love that diagram too. I grew up in south MSP just north of Ry 12L. Later we moved to the south suburbs and you can still drive by the old munitions storage (or so I think it was) in Rosemount, MN (referred to as "Gopher" on that diagram). My late grandfather flew Aeronca Champs out of MIC and then went to war in Korea. I wonder if there is a northern half to that diagram anywhere? Anyway I think he's the person responsible for making me excited about aviation. And also my father who frequently took us to the old Post Road, and the road that used to wind through MSP airport before they closed it, and started on the new runway. I think Post road was a dirt road in the late 80's? Or maybe it wasn't I just can't recall I was a little guy then.
 
Thanks for those GAS cockpit pics. I am in the opposite position to gray-eagle: I am thinking about getting the GAS Stearman because although I have the VS I find the cockpit very sparse indeed - no turn and slip, no climb/descent, not even a clock, just blanks on the panel, and I simply cannot believe that's authentic.
 
Jump into the front cockpit Dave and you'll find it slightly better appointed. Agree with you though. A clock and a turn & slip don't seem of much use in the front when the pilot is in the back.

ATB
DaveB:)
 
A clock and a turn & slip don't seem of much use in the front when the pilot is in the back.
Click to expand...
Quite. Presumably the instructor was in the front seat, as solo flight was from the rear, so did pupils really learn to fly without even basic instruments? It's a shame, because apart from that the Stearman is a real favourite of mine.
 
Well mate.. looking around the interweb at shots of real Stearman's.. both cockpits seem to have a full set of instruments. The only shot I found of a panel with blanks happened to be in the front which kind'a makes sense. I think VS dropped a clanger!
ATB
DaveB:)
 
gray eagle said:
John,

I like your collection of paints for the Stearman however, I am a little confused with the different designations and variations of the Stearman. I am interested in the Navy version and I know that the ARMH
had its version and then I seen this info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75 and as I read it, I wonder what are the appreciable differences (if any) between the ARMY PT-17 and the
Navy N2S version. I see that the engines in each version were basically the same R-680-8 engine vs Continental R-670 engne (they sound the same any way).....

So, they (PT17 vs N2S) both were bi-wing and made by Boeing so is it just a matter of what the Army's designation is vs the Navy's N-2S that is the difference?
Click to expand...

Gray eagle,

one of the differences between the army and navy versions is mentioned in the AVSIM review of the Golden Age Simulation Stearman model:
I can't vouch for the accuracy of the statement, but it seems the army version had a steerable tailwheel , while the navy went for a
free castoring tailwheel with a lock mechanism.

Here's a link to that review, the difference is mentioned somewhere in the middle of it.
http://avsim.com/pages/1209/GAS/Stearman.htm

Hope that helps,

Kind regards,

Oliver
 
DaveB said:
Well mate.. looking around the interweb at shots of real Stearman's.. both cockpits seem to have a full set of instruments. The only shot I found of a panel with blanks happened to be in the front which kind'a makes sense. I think VS dropped a clanger!
ATB
DaveB:)
Click to expand...
Well, yes. It appears that the VS version has a few missing instruments. Still, its fun to fly and I appreciate the additional repaints by Bomber_12th.

I like the GAS as well, but it is limited on available repaints and it lacks an amphib model. There are times I like to take the VS amphibian up to Canada to explore the scenery.

--WH
 
I wish there was a way to do away with that red panel. I've sent a email to the GAS support questioning this and hoping for a patch or work around to eliminate the red panel.



WarHorse47 said:
Well, yes. It appears that the VS version has a few missing instruments. Still, its fun to fly and I appreciate the additional repaints by Bomber_12th.

I like the GAS as well, but it is limited on available repaints and it lacks an amphib model. There are times I like to take the VS amphibian up to Canada to explore the scenery.

--WH
Click to expand...
 
Is it not just the VC lighting? If you don't use the 'L' key for your lights.. you should be able to not switch the panel lights on and thus avoid the red panel. I wouldn't want to be flying that thing at night anyway!!:biggrin-new:

ATB
DaveB:)
 
There are two toggle switches on the right side of the cockpit; one is for instruments and the other is for nav lights. Dark night scenario, instrument switch = off = a very dark panel and no instruments visible.
Instrument lights toggled on = a very red glowing panel. So, I think this feature was wired that way but I'm interested in GAS's take on this issue and why they did it this way.



DaveB said:
Is it not just the VC lighting? If you don't use the 'L' key for your lights.. you should be able to not switch the panel lights on and thus avoid the red panel. I wouldn't want to be flying that thing at night anyway!!:biggrin-new:

ATB
DaveB:)
Click to expand...
 
OK. To have a red pedestal light for cockpit lighting on an aircraft of this age is common but I have to say it does look a bit too bright on the GAS model. You would (in reality) be able to turn either a rheostat or the end of the light to control how much light you wanted to see.. something you obviously can't do with this model. Without having the model at hand to fiddle with, It's difficult to advise what to do but as you've opened a ticket with GAS.. you're well placed to get a good answer;)
ATB
DaveB:)
 
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