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Posted by Loren Perry on June 9, 2025, 12:17:31, in reply to "Re: New 1/350 SM and SM-1 radars at Black Cat Models"
FWIW -
I also used Norman Friedman's excellent radar reference book when I was designing all my naval radar antennas in GMM photoetch back in the day. Alan Raven's work was also invaluable and filled many a gap, but I would give my nod to Friedman when it comes to technical accuracy in the captions. He was extremely detail oriented. I also received some official close-up photographs from the late Robert F. Sumrall showing some of these same antennas from various angles.
Black Cat's work is astounding and makes my photoetching look crude in comparison. What I made was technically pretty accurate but it demanded quite a bit of hands-on skill and patience to get the best results.
And I happen to love cats, too. (Meow back at you, Ben!)
Previous Message
Hello Andrej,
Yes, situation is a bit confusing when speaking about the SM radar and its derivatives SM-1 and SP.
In his book "Naval Radar" Norman Friedman says that SM had a 2.44m diameter round dish antenna. 23 sets built through October 1944 and found on carriers.
Then came the lighter version SM-1 with a 1.83m diameter radar antenna with a slightly different shape. 26 built for the Royal Navy. There is a drawing in Friedman's book of SM-1 with IFF dipoles on center of dish. So far, no IFF mattress array on top dish in the photo of HMS Boxer I have.
Then came SP, with almost the same antenna as SM-1, but with an IFF array on top on . What is now confusing is that legend of photo on page 48 of Naval Radar says it is a SP radar with full IFF system (Mk.III dipoles on the frames protuding from the dish, and Mk.IV mattress above the dish) that I think is correct, while
the very same photo on page 39 of Alan Raven's Essex class carriers, says it is a SM radar !
So, a bit difficult problem to solve!
Meow!!
Ben
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