Odd P-39L RPM gauge

[chris455]

Does anyone else find the RPM gauge on the P-39 somewhat less than intuitive? I haven't spent a lot of time with it yet, but at idle, it seems to read "7", and when I increase MP it shoots to "0" or "3." Also, the red indicator lines are oddly placed based on what we know about authorized power settings. I'm sure I'm just not reading it correctly. Can anyone help me see what I'm

overlooking here?

 

Thanks, Chris

[StG77_Kondor]

12 minutes ago, chris455 said:

Does anyone else find the RPM gauge on the P-39 somewhat less than intuitive? I haven't spent a lot of time with it yet, but at idle, it seems to read "7", and when I increase MP it shoots to "0" or "3." Also, the red indicator lines are oddly placed based on what we know about authorized power settings. I'm sure I'm just not reading it correctly. Can anyone help me see what I'm

overlooking here?

 

Thanks, Chris

If you look closely - from memory I think it's at the 9 o'clock position of the gauge (zoomed in all the way) you'll see a small window. In that window will either be a '1' or a '2'. That's your indicator for thousands of RPM. To me it's pretty intuitive as during most phases of flight you'll either be a cruise RPM or combat RPM. Then the only thing you need to keep an eye on in either case is the MP. 

[chris455]

Well, I'm at work right now , so I can't confirm just how bad my eyes have become to have missed something like that. What does the 1 or 2 indicate? Which redline indicator is at play?

Thanks for the response -

[migmadmarine]

Don't feel too ashamed, I'm 22 and I hadn't noticed the little thousands window yet myself. Given the needle whirls round past the zero, I always assumed that it was implying one or two thousand, and worked with it from there, inferencing from lever position and needle, but much better to know of the window now.