LDSModeller

Hi Alain, Thank you for having an interest in my country's Air Force, and building models to show case it's history Regards Alan

Actually apart from the one at Gisborne there are two more TBF-1's preserved here in New Zealand One is NZ2504 (TBF-1) with the RNZAF Museum Collection at Wigram (RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) The other is NZ2527 (TBF-1c) at MOTAT here in Auckland Both NZ2504 and NZ2527 can still fold their wings Of Note NZ2505 at Gisborne is also a TBF-1 Regards Alan

Hi Macalain, Nice RNZAF Avenger. Just as an FYI, the Academy TBF-1 is really a hybrid Avenger, as the TBF-1 and TBF-1c were two different beasties. The main difference are the cowlings and the middle cockpit section. The TBF-1 has an observers seat, whereas the the TBF-1c has a radio section for equipment. The RNZAF received both TBF-1 (6) and TBF-1c (42). Only the TBF-1c served overseas, while the TBF-1 stayed in New Zealand for training Your rendition of NZ2518 was a TBF-1c, initially flown with 30 Squadron but belonging to 30 SU (Servicing Unit) who "owned" the aircraft. The pilot was a Flt Lt Fred Ladd as seen in a the RNZAF Photo below (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) Most RNZAF Avengers were adorned with some character on their cowlings Fred Ladd chose his motif "Plonky" a flying beer/liquor barrel with the liquid coming out, as he knew the Japanese took great offense in liquor spilling on them from above. NZ2518 became known to Tokyo Rose, who uttered threats in her radio propaganda broadcasts of Plonky being shot down. NZ2518 was eventually lost with all crew over New Britain 05 June 1944, but only after 30 Squadron had handed over their aircraft to 31 Squadron/31 SU and rotated home (Fred Ladd survived the war) Thanks for sharing your build Regards Alan

Hi Simon, Nice Choice I'm currently building a 75 Sqn Mk III in the WWII Twins Mega GB, and have some RNZAF Museum photos in my WIP that may be of help to you interior wise? 75 Sqn Wellington Build Regards Alan

Hi James, Sorry I have missed this one, but reading through your build post - all I can say is Nice I have a couple of these in the stash, (Frog and Mono/Revellgram Promodeller one) Looking forward to see how you paint yours Regards Alan

Thanks Craig, been a bit of a slog getting to where I am now, but should be a little more straight forward (sound like a recipe for plans of "Mice and Men" ) Hi James, Nothing to apologise for, your tip was a good one (no pun intended). When I started using the pen, it only took a few moments to realise, you were using a fine tip. On to the Build Hi all sorry for the lengthy time between posts. Right in to it I have managed to paint all sub parts ready to assemble So Assembly begins Ammunition storage Rear gun mounts Flare tube Rear wheel housing This photo is from the RNZAF Museum, it appears there is some type of material behind the pilot's seat, possibly to make the partition darker. So I decided to add similar to the wood partition behind him I do note that all these RNZAF Photos below, do look to be a Mk I/1a Wellington (RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Below is the cockpit frame and partition, with a black painted material (A4 copy paper) in the fore ground In place (good old white glue - a must for all modellers) I have painted the "Wood" sections Grey Green, my reasoning is that by the time the Mk III came off the production line, natural wood items would have been painted over. ( Note that in the Short Sunderland, wood.balsa partitions were painted) The below photo again from the RNZAF Museum show the Wireless/Navigator stations ( you could really caption this photo (Trekkies and Star Wars fans we are) - the Nav - "To go where No man has gone before" the WAG - "Luke Use the Force" Notice the partition the WAG is leaning against.... I also (further below) added hand rails to the kit seats using the Navigators chair below as a model (RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) I added a small partition to the Wireless station Notice the Wireless Station equipment - only really in relief, but it won't be seen The flight deck WAG/Nav. positions, I did add a morse code telegraph to the wireless table, notice the "Elsan" at the rear The Sub bulkhead with an arrow is meant to represent the "armour" The Short Sunderland had similar behind the Wireless Station, even then the Navigator didn't have any either, to quote my daughter's favourite saying: "That's rough buddy" I suppose it being armour, I should have painted it black with a yellow circle on the front......... Below Photo is from the IWM collection (courtesy of Wiki) showing a 75 Squadron crewman looking at the flare chute. Notice the Elsan near him, I painted the top/lid of mine with gun metal and polished it. Looks good to me Notice also the rest bunk (RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Elsan at the rear The above assembly glued into position I also added an additional walkway, notice also the added in rest bunk in stowed position Post side fuselage You can see a 75 Squadron crew member walking on the rear walkway in this photo below (from the RNZAF Museum) (RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Finally, I also started on the fore and aft turrets The Clear parts dipped in Klear and have dried for a week Next comes the masking - I haven't bee able to locate any pre cut masks locally, so will have to do it the old fashioned way. If you don't hear from me for a few weeks, I've either gone stark raving mad or blind or both As this juncture, I have decided to model my Wellington sans guns etc, the kit gun parts are way too thin, and I know they will break off - I have had a look to see if the turrets could be positioned in after the fuselage is closed up. but unfortunately no.... Guns, notice the kit barrels I also had also sorted some 250lb bombs ("borrowed" from Airfix Sunderland kits ) So that's my report for today I hope you have enjoyed looking through? More again soon Regards Alan

Couple of Photos of an F2A-1 showing front and back with tri coloured tips F2A-1 front of prop F2A-1 back of prop Regards Alan

Jim Maas wrote some info here on Bu No. 1387 And here Regards Alan

Possible RN Goodwill visit or War Bonds Drive during the Artist's visit there? Regards Alan

If you want a more accurate Flight deck for a Mk I/II because you can see into the flight deck, leave out parts J5/J6 plus the little seat next to "part 6" on the instructions, those are for the GPI Station (Ground Position Indicator) never on a Mk I/II, found possibly on a Mk IIIa but definitely on a Mk V Sunderland. Also omit part 123 (Aileron Actuator) tall boxy item behind pilot seat below, found only on Sunderland Mk III/V GPI Table If doing a Sunderland sans Mk II ASV (Air Sea Vessel) with wing/fuselage aerials leave out parts J10/47/124/215 (ASV suite) if building with ASV then include Mk V ASV (ASV VI) suite note colours compared to kit colours The Mk I/II seats are wrong in the kit, as they should be parachute type seats, but if you can live with them I wouldn't be too fussed Hope that's of help? For my Sunderland builds, 490 (NZ) Squadron - Old Model Decals Old Model Decals 490 Sqn 95 Squadron - Italeri Sunderland Mk I kit has markings for this. I forgot to mention, I also have under way a RNZAF Sunderland Transport (operating in the SW PTO) Sunderland Mk III - one of 4 Transport versions (ML793 later NZ4102) at RNZAF Station Hobsonville, (Where I grew up/lived) after arrival in Auckland, December 1944 Also using Old Model decals (well some of ) Regards Alan

I have a 490 (NZ) Squadron Sunderland Mk III (RAF Jui West Africa), and likely a 95 Squadron Sunderland Mk I (RAF Freetown West Africa) to finish. Just bear in mind Special Hobby has included instructions for MK V parts in all their other Sunderland Instructions which just adds to the fiction of their interior. The Sunderland Mk I/II/ Early Production Mk III had a Flange System in the Bomb room for the bomb doors, as you can see in this IWM Photo (Likely a Late Production Mk II or early Mk III (has the Mezzanine floor, meaning the upper turret) As opposed to a Magnetic system with bungy elastic in a late Mk III (a) or a Mk V as in this photo Rear ward room of our Mk V Sunderland If you would like a list of Mk V parts not needed in the Special Hobby Mk I/II, just let me know? ( note SH got the rear wardroom bunks sooo wrong, they are actually shorter than the forward wardroom bunks, yes I have measured them ) I found this film just recently, with Sunderland's and Catalina's based in Ceylon (either Kogalla or Tricomalee), you might like RAF Flying boats in Ceylon Kind regards Alan

By 1941 230 Squadron were in the MTO October 1939, a Detachment of 230 Squadron Sunderland's were at Koggala Ceylon, and the rest of 230 Squadron had left Seletar by February 1940 to join the detachment. May 1940, 230 Squadron were on their way to Greece. Sunderland's were Mk I/II (early production Mk II's)s 230 Squadron Sunderland photos from IWM collection Greece - 2nd Sunderland, 230 Sqn Sunderland Mk I, L2160 (NM-X) - 230 Sqn Sunderland's assisted in evacuations 230 Sqn Sunderland Peggie Engine Change on the water - Malta Are you just doing research, or looking to build a model? Regards Alan

I really don't get this "controversy". We New Zealander's do know our Air Force's aircraft, especially with RNZAF Corsairs. Our RNZAF Corsairs were stock standard USN Schemes, and served on the same airstrips as their US counterparts, weathered the same as their US counterparts, and you really never see controversial muppitism on US schemes. Granted the RNZAF Pacific roundel did weather differently (due to the paint) but not to a point where the colour is light blue. I had one foreign muppet tell me once that RNZAF Roundels were convoluted. Convoluted to Who??? I have come to see that people in Model building land use these terms to save face or hide their true ignorance. There are a couple of well written papers written by New Zealander's (shock /horror) that give a very concise and expert history of our RNZAF WWII Roundels, that I have read, it's really not that difficult a concept to grasp. Anyways rant over, I had a discussion with the RNZAF Museum experts on the Roundels used on the 16 FG-1D's sent to Japan, (as I too are planning a Post War RNZAF 14 Sqn Corsair) Whilst for all intents and purpose they resemble RAF Roundels, they were termed by the RNZAF as "Post War" Roundels Graham Clayton Author of last Stand Singapore (story of 488 Sqn), his Father Bert served with both 488 Sqn in Singapore, but also went to Japan with 14 Sqn too. In a discussion with Graham I mentioned that must have been a Bitter Sweet moment in his Dads life. Graham's book has some great photos and history of the Japan Corsairs, if you want to read it. Regards Alan

As Ed says above Mk III's operated in SEAC markings (230 Sqn) You have the options (from Ocean Sentinel - Short Sunderland), operating from Kogalla, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Mk III EJ143 "S" ML865 "J" ML868 H All had Mk II ASV aerials and no upper Turret If you can give me a couple of days, I can see what I can find about Mk V's in SEAC markings (though don't hold your breath ) If using the Special Hobby Mk V, and you mostly (by 1945) will find that the upper turret had been deleted from production (Mk III/V) the Kit part of the Special Hobby Sunderland is pure fiction (a lot of the SH Sunderland interior is fictional) Actual shape in real Sunderland Mk V/MR5 Regards Alan

Hi Edger, Asked some questions, did some digging and found your mystery RNZAF Mossie As per attached Link, NZ2308 is a former RNZAF Mosquito that has been rebuilt/restored at Avspecs at Ardmore South Auckland (Ardmore is a former RNZAF Station/Base). Avspec Mosquito NZ2308 I actually got to see this Mosquito on a visit to Avspecs about a year ago. So some issues with the marking, the aircraft. Codes should be Black, not red. and IMHO the D-Day markings are more artistic License than actual, you can see NZ2308 (YC-Z) in this Photo from the RNZAF Museum (third aircraft in), no D-Day stripes (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) From information my friend at the RNZAF Museum supplied to me, the serial is Ohakea type, and should read NZ 2308 Interestingly NZ2308 being a former RAAF Mossie, is the sibling to our Mosquito NZ2305 at MOTAT here in Auckland, also a former RAAF Mossie Hope that helps clarify your query? Regards Alan

Hi Edgar Do you have a source stating that 75 Sqn Mossies had black and white stripes added? - I have never seen any photos of that. Some (not all) had "Black" anti glare areas painted on the inner panels of the engine cowlings, and nose panel when in the HSS paint scheme. Thanks Alan

They were not Half White and Black When the buffaloes arrived, they were painted in Upper colours (US Manufactured) Dark Earth/Dark Green with lower colour Duck Egg Blue (aka Sky) The Black was painted on half of the fuselage/wing (portside) as an Identification measure, lest the air defenses at say Kallang decided to shoot the them down. In this Life magazine photo, you can see them being assembled with Duck Egg Blue (aka Sky undersides) The wheel covers would have been the same as the undersides Duck Egg Blue (aka Sky) as in this Life Magazine photo When the time came to paint the half black colour (portside) the wheel cover was also painted black The below photo is of a 488 (NZ) Squadron Buffalo (W8191) at Kallang circa 1941 - note the black wheel cover (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand Used with Permissions) Hope that answers your query? Regards Alan

Very Nice RNZAF Vampire Thanks for sharing your model with us Regards Alan

60 Years next year, when our first Herks arrived. Not a bad innings for our first team (not out). (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) And now for our next team to go into bat

Hi Steve, Nice Mustang (even if a Whif ) Your build really makes one think, where if the war had dragged on against Japan, our Mustangs would have been deployed to. Your Mustang and marking aren't too far removed from real, take a look at this RNZAF Mustang below, early on in the Mustang era (you probably have seen this one I'm sure). (RNZAF Official - Air Force4 Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) I still have a 1/32 NZ2413 to finish off (but with the Checkerboards) Thanks for sharing you build with us Regards Alan

Another shot of NZ6363 with Winder on outer Port Station at RNZAF Base Ohakea (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) A colour shot to help with your build camouflage These are the final colours worn on final flight with RNZAF 14 Squadron, before retirement (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Regards Alan

Hi All, An update, (been almost a month -time flies ) So from my previous post, I was waiting on a Silver pen, which finally arrived. So I thought I would trial doing the interior Geodic frames before I applied any paint. Paint pen This is my effort below, and I would state that in part my fault, even trying to be very careful, you can see the paint going in places it didn't need to be Below you can see the paint nib - maybe it was too thick for what I was trying to achieve (copying James's post above) Sooo, I had to resort to what I had originally planned masking of the Geodic framing, as I really didn't want to apply the interior colour, and end up with the a fore mentioned disaster. This took a few (okay a good few) afternoons to do Finally the end result, prior to paint being applied Now choice of paint - I thought I had some "Linen" coloured paint, but obviously I don't So I had to look at other paint I had (didn't really have time to travel an hour to and from my LHS) I ended up choosing Humbrol 71 Satin Oak - I went to spray, but I thinned the paint too much (sigh - just accept fate ) You can see the colour on the masking, but it was really thin So I went to do the interior colour. I ended up choosing Humbrol 73 Matt Wine (again didn't have the right colour) - It seems to have turned out Okay.... So time to remove the masking - though I left the cockpit masking on (mostly) I'm quite pleased with the result, though the super thinned paint seems to have affected the silver in places - ah well - it won't be seen so I'm not going to redo it Removing the the forward masking strip, some of the cock pit strips came off, won't take too long to sort though. Well that's all I have for today, now the main interior painting has been done, hopefully building will move along a little faster. Thanks for looking in Regards Alan

Hi Harry, Very nice - We Kiwi's are surely blessed with some awesome aviation history, thanks for show casing it to the model world. Yes, the old 144,000 rivets flying in close formation sure has a certain sound and "Shake" to it I seem to recall SAFE Air at RNZAF Woodbourne many moons ago, though slightly different livery I think. Thanks for sharing your model with us Regards Alan

Hi Marko, Interestingly, the RNZAF (probably one of the last Vildebeest/Vincent operators) had a Mk II (NZ117) and one Mk I that had been converted to Mk III's during its service with the RAF - the remainder airframes being Mk III/IV's NZ117 was allocated to 2 GR Squadron at RNZAF Station Nelson (likely Long Range patrols checking for German Raiders) "it crashed at Nelson 09 April 1941" (per NZDF Serials) "NZ135 served till 27 August 1941 as a time expired airframe, and reduced to produce/spares" (per NZDF Serials) The below photo is of Mk III's in service (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) The majority of Mk III/IV's remained in service till late 1942 the last few early 1943 At the time of either NZ117's demise or NZ135 being SOC, they would not have beem wearing the peace time colours in the photo above, but rather camouflage colours as below (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) RNZAF Camouflage would have been NZ Dark Earth/NZ Dark Green/NZ Duck Egg Blue Having had a discussion with the experts at the RNZAF Museum, it's unlikely that any Vildebeest would have worn the RNZAF Pacific scheme - The RNZAF Museum has a Vildebeest in its collection for restoration, and the colours I saw under the Yellow Target towing colour were Brown/Green Sorry I haven't as yet been able to find a photo of either NZ117 or NZ135 Hope that's of help? Regards Alan

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