Issue No.21

AUSTRALIAN MODEL NEWS

Special issue featuring

CLASSIC FIGHTERS Omaka 2013 May 2013

Contents From the Editor On returning from my second visit to Omaka I sat down at the computer to start work on the next newsletter. It was my intention to make a feature of the Airshow together with the usual coverage of model events but, with more than 1100 photographs to select from, it quickly became apparent that the June issue would be extremely large and require a lot of download time.

3.

CLASSIC FIGHTERS OMAKA 2013

26. OMAKA AVIATION HERITAGE CENTRE

At this point I decided to put together a special May issue covering only the Omaka Airshow and keep the modelling news for the June issue. With additional photos from Brett Reaby and David Anderson I have tried to show as much of the event as possible and I hope that everyone enjoys my pictorial presentation. Once again I recommend that anyone with an interest in aviation, particularly WWI aircraft, should make the effort and travel to New Zealand in 2015 as this is an event that should not be missed. John Lamont.

This newsletter is published bi-monthly to feature scale model building and flying together with other modelling events in Australia. Contributing material and requests for inclusion on the distribution list may be forwarded to —

John Lamont Unit 5, 1326 Main Road, Eltham, 3095 Ph: 03 9431 0044 E-mail: [email protected]

On the Cover. Seven Fokker Dr.1’s of Jasta 11 take to the sky over Omaka. (One little Fokker was dragging his feet and had to be dropped from the cover picture)

page 2

Australian Model News

Picton sits at the top of Queen Charlotte Sound surrounded by mountains on three sides and with the deep water of the Sound right up to the doorstep.

After thoroughly enjoying the stunning Classic Fighters event in 2011 I suggested to David and Isabelle Anderson that we might attend again this year, joining Bruce Hearn and his family who had also decided to return for a second time. Further discussions convinced Barrie Reaby that he should come, together with his son Brett, Brett’s wife Jo and their son Luke. Tony Farnan of Model Engines had also expressed interest so, together with Ian Lamont, we had a party of thirteen travelling from Oz. Easter was a month earlier this time so we had high hopes of fine weather for our short stay. Friday was windy and kept the WWI aircraft on the ground but Saturday was perfect with sunshine and a light breeze allowing the full programme to be presented. A little light rain and low cloud at Picton on Sunday morning seemed to threaten that day’s flying but on arrival at Omaka the sky cleared and we again had an excellent display, culminating in some extraordinary pyrotechnics. The Marlborough Region of New Zealand. Long known for the stunning Marlborough Sounds and famous sauvignon blanc, Marlborough is a region of beauty, where water, wine and wilderness combine to create a relaxing escape. The Marlborough Sounds is a recreational haven, with winding waterways, sheltered bays and native forest. At the centre of Marlborough is the Blenheim, Renwick and Wairau region renowned for its vineyards, culinary experiences, art, gardens and heritage. Blenheim, Marlborough’s main centre, is a great base for exploring and indulging in the leisure and lifestyle attractions of the region. North of Blenheim is Picton, the seaport gateway to the Marlborough region and the entry point for the inter-island ferry services.

The early risers of our group at breakfast. Tony seems to be making a point.

Blenheim is also home to one of New Zealand’s greatest treasures, the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre which showcases WWI aircraft in scenes created by Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop, the set creators for the Lord of The Rings films. The Omaka aerodrome, adjacent to the Aviation Heritage Centre, is the site for the Classic Fighters Airshow, held every second year over three days of Easter and alternating with the Warbirds Over Wanaka event. The Airshow. Having seen the event in 2011 there were few surprises, (at least not until the big finale on Sunday), but it’s hard to tire of the sight of the various aircraft performing their routines close-in and very low. Some are slow, some are very fast, and all are flown with plenty of flair. The WWI aircraft potter around at low speed making tight turns in their simulated dogfights while the WWII aircraft display their aerobatic capability at high speed and with lots of noise. To sit in the grandstand as a Corsair, Spitfire, Yak or Mustang rips around from behind the stand, hurtles down the flight line in a near vertical bank, and climbs away to a couple of thousand feet in the blink of an eye makes the trip across the Tasman well worthwhile. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere created by these magnificent aircraft and the final flypast on Sunday, with twenty nine aeroplanes flying in formation, is a sight to behold. The Aeroplanes

Australian Model News

page 3

CAMS are making a batch of five Gnome rotary engines. Priced at $50,000 each they’ll probably sell like hotcakes. Crankcase halves are milled from a solid block.

This Nieuport 11 owned by Airshow organiser, Graham Orphan, is powered by an Australian Rotec radial engine.

The Avro Anson passes in front of the French chateau as it taxis down the flight line.

That’s a big lump of wood on the Gnome rotary in the Sopwith Camel and a nice piece of wood carving.

Morning tea time in the Gold Pass marquee.

page 4

The RNZAF Kiwi Blue parachute team

Brett Reaby photo.

The Fokker Dr.1’s of Jasta 11 lined up for the Dawn Patrol.

Australian Model News

A significant part of the display is the re-enactment of ground fighting of WWI and WWII. This year it was the Pacific War on Saturday and the Battle for Berlin on Sunday. Troops dressed in American, British, Japanese and German uniforms fought it out with small arms, cannons and tanks, with support from the aircraft constantly circling overhead. The Germans seemed to have superior weaponry but were overwhelmed in the air and, as usual, lost again. It’s all rather anachronous but nevertheless entertaining.

The German troops had some superior weaponry which was put to good use in the battle reenactments.

A German staff car with the Red Baron in the background.

CHARGE!

The pyrotechnics were startling and spectacular.

The Allied WWI tank was greatly outclassed.

Cannons to the right of them, cannons to the left of them.

Allied troops move in to capture the pilot of a downed Fokker triplane.

Gen. George S. Patton, sporting his ivory handled pistols, arrived in a Piper L4.

Australian Model News

page 5

Bristol F.2 Fighter

page 6

Australian Model News

Airco DH.5

Australian Model News

page 7

Sopwith Camel

page 8

Australian Model News

Sopwith Triplane

Australian Model News

page 9

Fokker Dr.I

page 10

Australian Model News

Fokker D.VII

Australian Model News

page 11

Foyer of the Aviation Heritage Centre.

Peter Jackson’s Aviation Heritage Centre is tucked away near the entrance to the Omaka airfield so when we arrived at the field early on Sunday morning and with the show yet to start, I thought that it was the appropriate time to use my Gold Pass entry and look over the exhibits. In keeping with most of the other aviation museums the lighting is dim, which makes photography difficult, and this is a pity as the various dioramas utilising full size (and frequently flyable) aircraft are spectacular. Along with the aircraft there are many displays of WWI and WWII memorabilia from notable participants in both wars and it’s possible to spend hours looking at the items on display and reading their history.

A major exhibit that depicts the death of Manfred von Richthofen. The Fokker Dr.I has crashed and Australian troops are tearing the plane apart for souvenirs.

page 26

Australian Model News

David Anderson photo.

David Anderson photo.

David Anderson photo.

Ernst Udet memorabilia.

A Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 reconnaissance aircraft.

Australian Model News

A Pfalz D.III built in the late 1960’s for the film “The Blue Max”. The aircraft was located in Alabama USA in 1999, restored and repainted in its original colours at Omaka, and is now in flying condition.

page 27

Igo Etrich’s “Taube” first flew in 1910. The aircraft is displayed as though flying in formation with another Taube and is under fire from a British Be2.c.

Constructed in 1915 the Morane-Saulnier BB was a small two-seat biplane. It is shown with the observer dead and the wounded pilot being dragged from the cockpit.

David Anderson photo. In answer to the threat imposed by the Fokker E-III with its forward firing gun, the British DH-2 reverted to the pusher configuration to allow firing a machine gun without striking the propeller.

WWI armourers overhauling aircraft Lewis guns.

In 1915 the Fokker E-III “Eindeker’s” speed, agility and revolutionary through–the-propeller machine gun fire capability, decimated the allied aircraft in what became known as ‘The Fokker Scourge’.

A Breguet 14 A2 representing an aircraft of the US 96th Aero Squadron.

page 28

Australian Model News

David Anderson photo. A diorama representing a WWI aircraft repair workshop.

An airworthy Halberstadt D.II on display. A Halberstadt was used briefly in 1917 by von Richthofen, while his Albatros D.II was being repaired, to add another six victories to his tally.

David Anderson photo. Another airworthy exhibit, the Nieuport 24 was flown by French ace Charles Nungesser who survived the war only to disappear in 1927 while attempting to fly across the Atlantic ocean.

A reproduction of the instrument panel and seat of a Nieuport 24.

David Anderson photo. A Siemens Schukert D.IV in a snow covered winter diorama.

Australian Model News

Some magnificent woodwork in the hull of the Curtiss MF flying boat.

page 29