Charlie Hugo

The SAAF Museum have done some research, along with the RAFOC (Royal Air Force Officers Club) and have come up with it being a Spitfire MkIX JK769 ( with the codes as given by Tamiya in their MkVB kit) SAAF Museum PE Spit replica

Puma has been on my wants list for some time, at least three for me

The Stirling did have wing bomb bays

Early warning lookout

There was also a F.21 so possibly common parts

White metal and photo-etched parts. They looke dquite good but were expensive, never seen one completed though

Hasegawa tops my list of built kits, as well as unbuilt and wishlist. Now if Hasegawa would on;ly look at some of their other aircraft in their back catalogue (1/32nd scale P-40's), especially the special schemes they did I would be happy.

Ok pulled my Airfix and Matchbox kits, Both are MkII's with smooth cowlings and at least a Perseus in the Matchbox kit, Airfix one is indeterminate. The Airfix gives an SOE aircraft whichis labelled as a MkIIIa (although an early relase gave those markings as a MkII) so the supplied cowklng is incorrect. The Frog kit is correctly a MkI/III and the kit instructions show the correct cowling bumps for a Mercury version, my kit is deeply buried at the moment so cannot confirm. BTW the original Airfix kit was also a MkII

I need to dig my kits out of storage but IIRC when the Matchbox kit was released it was commented that the cowling had the bumps of a Mercury motor version BUT had a Perseus engine, the frog and Airfix kit (IIRC) whilst having Mercury motors had smooth cowlings. Don't recall if any comment was made back then about cowling length. I will need to check kit reviews from that era for more info.

The book says immediate requirement was to change the throttle to match RAF/USAAF standards, (French did it the opposite way) and left instrumentation etc as is.

Faan Reading Listerman's book it says that all the Hawk87A-4's (Mohawk IV in RAF) were built and completed to French standards to expediate completion. Does this imply they were finished in French colours ex-factory? They were delivered to the UK (in 1940) where they were converted to RAF specs (most likely getting their RAF colours applied then) and placed in storage. After decision to release to SAAF and India (in 1941) they had further work performed to bring them to RAF standards (strange two updates to RAF spec. Wonder if first was to change throttle and guns and second upgrade fitted RAF instruments and other equipment and repainting?). The profile in Listerman's book shows dark earth/dark green with sky underside. I am not sure if any Mohawk IV's were ordered by the RAF itself. I always thought that the Mohawk IV was an RAF order. Hopefully this does not muddy the waters

You could always paint it. Take your Eduard sheet and blow it up 200% and cut a mask from that

Humbrol used tro do it as an enamel as well, I have a tin. It was too dark though\ In any case here is discussion right here on Britmodeller about it Azure Blue discussion

The 262 in SA has RLM 66 cockpit and natural metal main wheel wells, especially the cockpit tub portion. I need to check my pics on the nosewheel well but IIRC it is RLM02

Hi Eli The Spitfire MkV attributed to him (pic of him standing in cockpit (AGM) with a mkIX in the background) was built as a MkV but completed and delivered as a MkIX I have the serial as JK769 (according to research) He apparently had a second MkIX (Also JK???, cannot find the details at present) . I would love to ascertain which aircraft he flew on D-Day As to him flyin a MkV I have found nothing to confirm this His flight log is in existance but access to it is restricted to the author who is supposedly writing a book on Sailor If you can locate the serial number of the Spitfire he collected for 74 it would be great A south african modeller did put together a series of profiles of his early aircraft at least but never seen it published