One thing worth mentioning after playing a bit with this bird (as flyable) is how incredibly effective those 4 tightly packed machineguns are versus early japanese planes. I never knew there was a version with 4 machineguns though, most sources seem to indicate two - one heavy and one light MG.

The CW-21 in China had one 50cal and one 303, Curtiss offered the CW-21B with two 50cal and two 303s, But the Dutch chosed to go for 4 303s instead.

CW-21




The refined CW-21B with inward retracted landing gear

quote:

Originally posted by GerritJ9:
Anyway, while the standard RAF reflector sight is nice, it most definitely is NOT the correct type for the Interceptor- the P-40E or F4F-3 type would be closer to the mark. As stated above, I hope to be able to find out more about the correct type.

Any news about gunsight, I checked all pictures I have and I can't see reflector gunsight on them, I would expect that it should be visible.

Do you have any picture where we can see reflector gunsight installed?

FC

Jeez, this plane is total nightmare offline...
So I set this QMB scenario, 16 ace CW's vs 15 ace Ki-43's + me .
We got pwned in all but one fight (if I switch Ki's for A6M's we lose even more quickly for some reason)... CW is fast, can PK and set on fire Ki-43 rather easily...

This plane if ever flyable, will be a total winner in early fights.

According to "Het verlies van Java" by Dutch air historian P.C. Boer all remaining ML fighters had received US-made reflector gunsights by mid-February 1942 (Brewsters and Interceptors, the few surviving Hawk 75A-7s were presumably not refitted). If any photos were taken of the planes afterwards, they were presumably lost during the Japanese occupation of Java, as so much was- I have never seen such a photo. I have e-mailed P.C. Boer about this, but no reply as yet; hopefully he has info as to the correct type. I can scan the relevant page from the book and send it to you if necessary.

Following reply received from P.C. Boer re reflector gunsight:

"I do not know how it was fitted, but it was a standard American N2A gunsight like the one used on many fighters of the time including Mustangs, Corsairs etc. Google can supply a lot of info. It was a retrofit on Brewsters, Interceptors and the surviving Hawks at Andir. Best, Peter"

So at least we now know the type of sight fitted.

Great info.

Thanks for your efforts Gerrit.

quote:

Originally posted by GerritJ9:
Following reply received from P.C. Boer re reflector gunsight:

"I do not know how it was fitted, but it was a standard American N2A gunsight like the one used on many fighters of the time including Mustangs, Corsairs etc. Google can supply a lot of info. It was a retrofit on Brewsters, Interceptors and the surviving Hawks at Andir. Best, Peter"

So at least we now know the type of sight fitted.

quote:

So what do you think of the new CW-21B?

I think it's a bad-*** little plane and desperately want it to be flyable.

Being the Curtiss fanboy that I am I concur U-P.

quote:

Originally posted by GerritJ9:
Following reply received from P.C. Boer re reflector gunsight:

"I do not know how it was fitted, but it was a standard American N2A gunsight like the one used on many fighters of the time including Mustangs, Corsairs etc. Google can supply a lot of info. It was a retrofit on Brewsters, Interceptors and the surviving Hawks at Andir. Best, Peter"

So at least we now know the type of sight fitted.

Excellent work Gerrit9

Gerrit9 Check your PM

For those who are interested, a manual for the N2A gunsight can be downloaded from:
http://www.bestsharing.com/k2z..._n-3%5B1%5D.pdf.html