tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423050459919800481.post3677891794797383435..comments2024-03-04T05:26:22.273-08:00Comments on Propnomicon: Wings Over Antarctica, Part DeuxPropnomiconhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02073463298965255652noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423050459919800481.post-8062018492931788162011-12-03T14:51:16.305-08:002011-12-03T14:51:16.305-08:00Hi, regarding which Dornier, I attach the followin...Hi, regarding which Dornier, I attach the following link to a photo of the front of the Amundsen Wal which shows reinforcing skids or 'skis' on the hull (other photos also show them on the sponsons). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B006F93ZBG/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=1055398&s=home-garden<br />I would argue that, with its association to the Amundsen expedition and its track record that this is the aircraft Lovecraft had in mind in the story. The German 1938 expedition used an evolution of the Wal, the Do 18.<br />http://www.ddghansa-shipsphotos.de/schwarzenfels300.htm<br />Many thanks for this great blog.Charles, Belfastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423050459919800481.post-537101029246937992011-11-28T01:55:48.610-08:002011-11-28T01:55:48.610-08:00Some skis (or "skids") added at the ends...Some skis (or "skids") added at the ends of those lower sideways projections that the wing spars go down to would make landings on many surfaces (ice, thin snow) much more stable; you don't want the plane supported only on the keel, which would tip it sideways, making takeoffs a problem. And the Wal is such a nice looking plane....Don Simpsonhttp://donsimpson.deviantart.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423050459919800481.post-44846930910135536362011-11-27T18:36:03.011-08:002011-11-27T18:36:03.011-08:00Nice scholarship. Lovecraft was not always the mo...Nice scholarship. Lovecraft was not always the most precise in real-world or archeological detail. For him, it was about a bolster for the story which needed large doses of reality to support a truly wild creation. I take my hat off to you Propnomicon for your good detective work and careful research. <br /><br />Interestingly enough, I have been putting together some information on period flying boats for game play and a post.CoastConFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07250561260148656254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-423050459919800481.post-86407278162288800532011-11-27T17:09:18.497-08:002011-11-27T17:09:18.497-08:00I cannot find the reference at the moment but I re...I cannot find the reference at the moment but I read that Amundsen re-inforced the hull of the Wal with longitudinal, wooden, skids. However these were not separate skis as such. This makes sense to me but also ties in with Lovecraft's description.Charles, Belfast.noreply@blogger.com