P-39 firepower: real and simulated

[Blitzen]

As many of you know it is difficult to catch the exact moment of bursts of fire & perhaps I needed a touch more moonlight, but you get the general idea...

[CrazyDuck]

Well, a photo above is what a photographic film sees under certain set of parameters (exposure time, aperture value, sensitivity of the film), the sim is trying to represent what human eye would normally see. 

 

Judging from the photo, the P-39 is not illuminated only by the flames of own guns, but also with some additional flashlight (probably mounted above the camera). I guess this was a static ground test of guns (convergence or interruptor) with landing gear or stand shopped out.

 

Bottom line - very hard to compare the two.

Edited March 21, 2018 by CrazyDuck

[Pict]

Agreed...it also looks like a long exposure that gives the long "laser" like streaks of light coming from the gun barrels.

 

It'd be interesting to know how the set up the photo

[Blitzen]

Yep to all of the above.If memory serves the plane was propped up on the ground to allow the undercarriage to retract, suitably lit & then the engine started & guns fired.I assume the photographer shot quite a few photos at different settings to get just the right shot & some re-touching by airbrush was done - typical in the days before Photoshop..Quite a few American Fighters were given this "star" treatment:

[[APAF]VR_Spartan85]

Wow, these are real aircraft!?  I had to stare at them each for like 20 min to be sure....     Awesome!

[easyhomewin]

So the Americans did try laser beam technology during ww2. I think Dr Evil fitted the same technology to sharks many years later 

[Lensman]

On 10/04/2018 at 10:42 AM, easyhomewin said:

So the Americans did try laser beam technology during ww2. I think Dr Evil fitted the same technology to sharks many years later 

 

A frikkin shark with a laser on its head ..

 

[chris455]

On 3/21/2018 at 2:53 PM, spartan85 said:

Wow, these are real aircraft!?  I had to stare at them each for like 20 min to be sure....     Awesome!

The last time I stared at something for 20 minutes it was the inside of my eyelids..........................

(But they are cool pics!)

Edited April 12, 2018 by chris455