LDSModeller

Hi Patrice, Nice Choice Just an FYI, 75 Squadron was based at Ohakea not Whenuapai, though 75 Sqn did frequent many other Stations/Bases on visits. Below is NZ5709 visiting Wigram (frequented those hangars many times ) - note the "Dayglo" rear tail/boon section, sans the roundel stripes (RNZAF Official 0 Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Another shot of NZ5708 and 5709 on exercise sans dayglo, but with the 75 Sqn roundel stripes (RNZAF Official 0 Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Look forward to your build Regards Alan

All three P40N's would have been in Olive Drab/Neutral Grey, however NZ3259 when it arrived back in New Zealand was one of the P40's that was repainted in Foliage Green/Sky Grey. Below are a couple of paint swatches in my collection from a RNZAF P40 (would be either a K, M or N) Olive Drab Neutral Grey (very weathered) Hope that helps? Regards Alan

So here in order of the Ventura Decals Sheet NZ3184 Coded 75 on lower cowl Serving with 2 SU (Servicing Unit) Torokina - Given Torokina was shared with US Forces, note the 3 USAAF P38's overhead I have yet to find the next P40N on the decals sheet as shown, named "Leslie" NZ3259, but here she is post WWII at RNZAF Station Rukuhia open storage, wearing her final markings/colours being NZ Foliage Green/NZ Sky Grey coded on lower cowl 259 NZ3259 Rukuhia And finally NZ3274 which served its operational life in New Zealand as an advanced trainer. This is taken after an "oops" at RNZAF Station Ardmore (south of Auckland) Hope that's of help to you? Regards Alan

Which P40N from the Ventura Decals are planing for your model? Regards Alan

Just bear in mind that these were Dutch Ordered Buffaloes, that were diverted to Australia, after the fall of the Dutch East Indies in March 1942, so the internal colours will have been of a Dutch requirement. Regards Alan

Hi Dennis, Glenrowan, Victoria, which is where the shoot out occurred is North East, Victoria (State) and in June 1880, it was the beginnings of Winter, so would have been reasonably cool on that day (median Temperature around 13C or around 55F) This is a link to a wiki page on the place/area Glenrowan Victoria Australia Regards Alan

Hi Kyle, That's a very nice find, thank you Given that of the 55 Catalina's operated by the RNZAF in the SW Pacific, 33 were PB2B-1's (about 60% if my maths in correct). then it's very possible, that the painting of a Catalina interior may well be a PB2B-1. Thanks/regards Alan

Hi Calum, Really nice RNZAF "Tongan" P 40E-1 I have this same aircraft (NZ3064) under construction too. Personally I disagree with Ventura's colour call for the Roundels. The RNZAF was essentially at the time, a "Mini Me" of the RAF and using RAF standards for colours like Roundels etc, so I really doubt a Light Blue. On top of that, the RNZAF Roundels were painted over the USAAF roundels which were Insignia Blue, so the darker under colour would have affected the lighter blue over the top. The two photos for NZ3094 are taken from an angle where the sun "washes" out the darker colour of the Roundel/tail strip. Your choice of the underside colour to me is fine, the 16 P40E-1's were originally from a RAF order, so would have been in RAF colours anyway Thanks for sharing your model with us Regards Alan

Hi Guys, Alain's P40N is NZ3148, the first of the P40 Gloria Lyons (there were four (4) Gloria Lyons, 3 P 40's and 1 F4U) This is NZ3148 at Torokina (Bougainville) with 4 SU (Servicing Unit) - it was damaged in a crash landing while with 18 Squadron, and written off at Torokina (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The P 40N in the posted link above is NZ3220, the last of the P40 Gloria Lyons as in photos below Torokina (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Back in New Zealand and repainted in NZ Foliage Green/NZ Sky Grey - used in war bonds drive - this photo taken at Cathedral Square, Christchurch circa 1944 (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The link photo shows NZ3220 in her final colours per photo above. Regards Alan

Hi Dave, Sorry, should have read your post a little better (put it down to only a few hours sleep ) RNZAF did use SBD-5's, which only had the RNZAF Pacific Roundel in 4 stations as opposed to the usual 6 stations RNZAF SBD-5 flying from Bougainville (NZ5049) (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Regards Alan

Just bear in mind, that the SBD-3's were only used in a training basis, and only operated in New Zealand. The aircraft wore their US Star insignia with which they arrived in for a number of months SBD-3's with 25 Squadron at RNZAF Station Seagrove (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Regards Alan

Hi Thomas, It's really not too hard to do This a P40E-1 at MOTAT here in Auckland )I knew I had this, just had to find where) Note the canvas liner When I built my RNZAF P40E-1 some few years ago, I manufactured my own liner form painted paper towel I measured the distance around the wheel well inner and cut a strip, and glued the ends, then glued the ring to the outer well rim Then cut a circular piece and glued it in place, and viola a "Canvas Liner" I think it quite looks the part Hope the above is of help? Regards Alan

All good Peter, Your post has a good illustration of the exterior colour, which I only mentioned ( I can add though, great minds think a like ) Regards Alan

Hi Thomas, Wheel wells were the standard Curtis Green/Yellow (more brown colour) as in this photo below However the wheel wells also had a canvas/rubber cover/liner, that you can also see, which covered and protected the wheel well interior, they were attached to the wheel well stringers by brass press studs The rear cockpit quarter panels, the area would be painted the exterior colour, likely Dark Earth on arrival though could change if the airframe was fully repainted?? HTH Regards Alan

Hu George/Dennis, Given that NZ5307 (F4U-1A) was in USN 4 tone before its repaint in Glossy Sea Blue (GSB), that would be white, I haven't found anything definitive that the RNZAF SU (Service Unit) who "Owned" the aircraft would have repainted the main UC wells in GSB when the repaint was done, still it could be a possibility though Here is a photo of NZ5307 in formation (rear aircraft) "Pre" repaint, and prior to its prang I believe this photo was when NZ5307 belonged to 31 SU at Guadalcanal, operated by RNZAF 18 Squadron Regards Alan