HP400 skin in the works

[jollyjack]

I'd like to get this skin done (myself), but has any one more info on it? F.i. i cannot read what's written on the 'bow' of this ship ...

G-EATN ... was that a British squadron? Or a commercial company?

 

 

Edited July 31, 2022 by jollyjack

[=IRFC=Gascan]

The engine nacelles look like the longer, older O100 engines. The fuselage and wings didn't really change from the O100 to the O400, but it may help to look specifically for the O100's to see what they did during and after the war. I've got a small book on the Handleys with a few photos, but I just stayed up late finishing my personal HP skin. I'll take a look when I wake up.

[=IRFC=Gascan]

Found it! It's in the book British Bombers of World War 1 in Action, by Don Greer. It is a Handley Page O/400 that was converted for civilian use after the war. I even found a photo of the specific machine G-EATN from a different angle than yours. The description says it flew for the RAF until July 1920 with serial J2261, then was converted to civilian use as conversion number HP-43. You can just barely make out the conversion number written in white text "HP-43" on the tip of the tail, partly hidden in your photo by the G on the rudder. There are several windows in the side. The text on the nose reads "Handley Page Transport" for the first line and "London" for the second line. It has G-EATN written underneath the wings, as well as centered on the top wing, with a similar white backing like on the fuselage. Apparently it crashed on January 14, 1922 when flying from London to Paris.

Some of the HP o/400's converted to civilian use had the fuel tanks and oil tanks removed from the fuselage and added to the back of the engine nacelle, then had seats and windows for 14 passengers added. These were designated O-700, abbreviated to O-7, and mostly exported to China. Others retained the fuselage tank and carried a total of 12 passengers. Still others only received a few seats, and were used to haul cargo with the designation O-11. The photos of planes listed as O-10 also show windows and extended nacelles, so although the text from the book doesn't specify, I'd guess that the O-10's had the modified nacelles for the O-7 as well as the fuselage fuel tanks, hence the longer engine nacelles than the original O/400. I initially thought the longer engines were O-100's, but those are much pointier.

 

I wasn't able to find the specific photo I have from the book, but here's another view from Google. It looks like the serial number is split on the underside of the wings: G-EA on the starboard/right side, and TN on the port/left side. There appears to be a white backing to provide contrast for the numbers, which is squared off and does not extend all the way to the round lower wing tips. You can see how far forward the windows go.

 

This view shows G-EATN in operation. You can see the white backing of the serial number on the top wing, but cannot make out the numbers there. You can see the passenger door at the back of the passenger cabin, and there may be some text above it, but I can't make it out.

 

This drawing is inaccurate. It does not show the extended engine nacelles and is lacking a door.

 

Now for some photos of HPs other than G-EATN. This is an interesting photo showing a Handley Page with a radial engine. It clearly shows the nose text: "Handley Page Transport LTD" and "London"

 

The passenger door and ladder for G-EAAF. This plane is listed as an O-12.

 

More great photos of G-EAAF at this forum. https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/3844037-handley-page-0-400-g-eaaf

 

Here is G-EATG, and you can see the serial number on the top wing, as well as some windows on the fuselage.

Edited July 31, 2022 by gascan
Adding photos

[szelljr]

One of the last O/400's built in 1918 (No. J2261), it was one of nine rebuilt as O/10 12-passenger airliners for Handley Page Air Transport, operating between Croyden and Paris in 1920. This particular machine was used for trials with the Aveline Stabilizer, an early two-axis automatic pilot.

 

 

[jollyjack]

Thanks! Must be with a first class restaurant aboard. Now how to get them windows there ... Alpha layer totally black there?

 

There's a window in the template generated skin, but where is it located?

 

Edited July 31, 2022 by jollyjack

[jollyjack]

The feller up front with the hat looks quite Irish ..... it'll blow off if he doesn't get into the hull for a pint or so before take-off.

Nice, those engines .. some more power would be nice in IL2 too ...