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Seeking info on US early WWII Target Towing Equipment

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  • Member since
    June 2007
Posted by jrb53 on Monday, November 23, 2020 9:08 PM

Squadron Mini Series No.1607 (by Tim Hosek) has your photo and confirms its a "tow target winch."  Book has one other recruiting styled photo with the winch barely showing that is of little value for scratchbuilding.  Ginter Books No.84 "Grumman JF/J2F Duck" is also listed as a good source in several articles, but I have not seen it personally.  This request has been tough and its getting under my skin, so I'll keep looking!  Smile

Jack

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Monrovia, CA
Seeking info on US early WWII Target Towing Equipment
Posted by bjohns5 on Sunday, November 22, 2020 4:07 PM

I would like to do a model of this Grumman J2F-5 said to belong to US Navy Utility Squadron 2 (VJ-2) stationed at Pearl Harbor soon after the Japanese attack. The squadron was pressed into service for anti-submarine patrols along with their normal mission of towing target sleeves for gunnery practice. I'd appreciate any info on this particular aircraft or other VJ-2 Ducks from the same time period of around April 1942 as well as answers to my specific questions below.

I'm seeking better detailed photos or other documentation on the air-driven generator/winch (not sure which) installed on this aircraft as shown in the detail photo so I can fabricate one. Also, were there other modifications were made to the standard J2Fs when they were used as target tugs? I'd appreciate it if anyone can suggest reference sources to go to.

I also have a question on the likely color scheme for this aircraft. For the time period I would expect it to be in the standard blue-grey over light grey scheme. But it kind of looks like the cowling might be a different color? Could it be red perhaps? I appreciate any input you might have.

J2F-5

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