Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: E25280 on December 28, 2006, 07:43:20 PM

Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: E25280 on December 28, 2006, 07:43:20 PM
This month's World War Two magazine has an article about the Lend-Lease A-20s' service in Russia.  I noticed every variant mentioned, including the A-20G and Boston Mk III we have in the game, had a ventral gun position.  Does anyone know why AH modeled A-20s do not have the ventral position?

(Not that a single .30 or .50 cal MG would be that useful in-game, but it would be better than the "nothing" we have now.)
Title: Re: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: zorstorer on December 28, 2006, 10:43:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by E25280
This month's World War Two magazine has an article about the Lend-Lease A-20s' service in Russia.  I noticed every variant mentioned, including the A-20G and Boston Mk III we have in the game, had a ventral gun position.  Does anyone know why AH modeled A-20s do not have the ventral position?

(Not that a single .30 or .50 cal MG would be that useful in-game, but it would be better than the "nothing" we have now.)


I think they didn't have any good pictures of what it looked like so they left it out.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: OOZ662 on December 29, 2006, 12:02:40 AM
At the time they apparently had no proof of what it actually looked like, so they didn't include it like Zor said.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Zanth on December 29, 2006, 08:39:54 AM
http://www.flyaceshigh.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58301&highlight=a20g

(http://www.pacific-fighters.com/ss/A-20_dn_gun.jpg)
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: zorstorer on December 29, 2006, 08:48:20 AM
Not sure you would want to use that game for historical information ;)

Hell they have the rocket assisted La7R :huh
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: MiloMorai on December 29, 2006, 08:52:28 AM
Some really good drawings of the A-20

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-12/1114844/havoc_plans01-1.gif)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-12/1114844/havoc_plans02.gif)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-12/1114844/havoc_plans03.gif)
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-12/1114844/havoc_plans04.gif)
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Angus on December 29, 2006, 09:04:22 AM
I've seen a film that showed the interior quite nicely. It was from the Duxford stuff, but it could have been an A-26. Will ask around
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Tilt on December 29, 2006, 11:30:18 AM
Interesting MiloMorai.........particularl y the bomb bay capacity..................

Does that read internal ord is

2 x 1000
or
4 x 500
or
8 x 300
or
16 x 100

external

4 x 500

?
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Squire on December 29, 2006, 11:33:31 AM
Ya, its time we got the ventral guns for the Boston IIIs and A-20s.

Please. ;)
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: OOZ662 on December 29, 2006, 02:22:58 PM
You guys have to realize that they didn't have this stuff back then but they have it now. They just aren't going to make model changes to planes until they're upgraded to AH2 standards.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: VooWho on December 29, 2006, 06:13:28 PM
But we now know it true that there was a ventral gun in the Boston III and A20G. My book says the A20G had six .50cal forward, two in the dorsal position, and one ventral position. Of course for the Boston III it wouldn't be a .50cal it would be a .303cal machine gun.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: E25280 on December 29, 2006, 07:54:55 PM
Thank you everyone. :aok

Especially Zanth, who evidently has the memory of an elephant to be able to remember, find and link the zombie thread; and milomorai for the great schematics.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: OOZ662 on December 29, 2006, 10:28:15 PM
Quote
Originally posted by VooWho
But we now know it true that there was a ventral gun in the Boston III and A20G. My book says the A20G had six .50cal forward, two in the dorsal position, and one ventral position. Of course for the Boston III it wouldn't be a .50cal it would be a .303cal machine gun.


Yes, and it's planned to fix it. They knew that one existed when they first made the plane. Afterward, they got pictures and drawings of it, but it was too late to add it. Now you just have to be patient for them to remodel the A-20 to get your gun position. It wasn't worth it to them to edit an old model just for a single gun position.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Easyscor on December 30, 2006, 12:04:25 AM
Quote
Originally posted by OOZ662
Yes, and it's planned to fix it. They knew that one existed when they first made the plane. Afterward, they got pictures and drawings of it, but it was too late to add it. Now you just have to be patient for them to remodel the A-20 to get your gun position. It wasn't worth it to them to edit an old model just for a single gun position.
Just asking: How is it that you know all this?
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: OOZ662 on December 30, 2006, 12:40:03 AM
I spend way too much time here. A former thread touched on this subject.

EDIT: This is one (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=186676) where it's stated, however I haven't found one here where staff say it themselves. I believe it was said before the old "Wishlist" was deleted.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Flatbar on December 31, 2006, 02:04:55 AM
The diagram showing the gunner in his position has text indicating there's a joystick and rudder peds for him. Anybody have info about these controls?
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: Hazzer on December 31, 2006, 07:01:07 AM
Yes the A20/Boston had a stick an pedals in the rear.not sure why,but if the pilot got wounded or killed he could keep the plane level till it was safe to bale out,can't imagine you could land it from that position.
Title: Ventral Gun Positions in A-20s
Post by: VooWho on December 31, 2006, 11:51:08 AM
Maybe the pedals were used to twist the plane as in Rudder control for the gunners, so they could shoot around the tail? But that would effect the flying of the pilot.