stever219

"Fairy" is indeed a colloquial term for the electronics trade(s) in the RAF.

I've an idea that, initially, the French jets had a Mk. 4 seat (commonality with the Mirage III/V fleet perhaps?).

OK, thank you @Enzo the Magnificent; I've just done a quick and dirty web trawl and got an entirely different answer (please see my now-modified original post). Mech9 doesn't give a Tamiya equivalent fo H86 and H94 on their chart is very different to XF88.

Nearest matches to Humbrol appear to be 74 and 81 respectively (Mech9 conversion chart on line).

Sorry my post was a bit blunt: I was half-way through and got dragged away by the present Mrs Stever for something less important than modelling. I hope you enjoyed your sarnie more than I did mine!

@Mike the "centre line tank" that you refer to is the EMI reconnaissance pod and is only pertinent to the II (AC) Squadron and Operation Granby options in this boxing. 31 Squadron in RAF Germany and 41 Squadron at Coltishall both used this piece of kit but we'll have to wait for the "Recce Jags" boxing or aftermarket for their markings. Airfix have given some duff gen when it comes to the painting instructions; Jaguar cockpits are black or black, not dark grey, and they'd have you paint the nosewheel bay black during construction, but the colour painting guides show the correct yellow zinc chromate. However the weapons computer cover located just aft of the nosewheel leg trunnions is black(ish). Also specified in the destructions is the use of Humbrol 27 Sea Grey for the legs; this looks like a typo for the correct (or nearest equivalent at least) of Humbrol 127 for these items. Minor grumbles aside this looks very like the 1/48th Jaguar we've all been waiting for, nearly, as it isn't the two-seater!

Sorry to gatecrash this thread as I've no realistic way of participating in the GB at present, but does anyone have any good images of the Mosquito T. III cockpit please? I'm trying to convert the Airfix 1/48th FB. VI to a T. III but decent images of an in-service example appear to be rarer than rocking horse poo on the interwebnet thingumy. Any help will be greatfully received and acknowledged.

Best guess would be that as every Javelin squadron probably had at least one T. 3 on charge at any one time you had a far greater choice of unit markings to play with, something on which Heller themselves failed to capitalise!

The grey used on the Chinooks, and other RAF aircraft, was Dark Sea Grey; Ocean Grey was discontinued as a camouflage colour not long after the end of World War II but many aircraft could be seen wearing it for some time after as and when major servicing, repainting or withdrawal from service fell due

You're welcome! I've a B. IV waiting for me to get my finger out and do that mod. on.

The wings can be modified slightly so that they can just be slid ove the spars; there are two small rectangular panels with locking pins under the wing roots, if you amputate the pins before fitting them you can just push the wings into place and remove 'em at will. You might need some packing for a really tight fit but probably very little.

The Merlin installation on the 2.111 is more akin to that of the Lancaster than the Mosquito, you'd need to scratch build the entire radiator duct and carburettor intakes.

A swift and dirty trawl through the Haynes "Supermarine Spitfire" manual shows 3 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfires, P7350 (Mk. II), the recently destroyed MK356 (mk. IX), and TE311 (Mk. XVI) all fitted with the later, Mk. 1A panel but the Mk. V pilots' notes depict the earlier Mk. 1 panel. For now I'd be inclined to take wmcgill's word and go with the Mk. 1a panel.

Thanks @noelh I did consider the gunsight, but there was a change in the shape of the panel containing the basic six; in some period images you can see the top of a rectangular opening in the main panel onto which the blind flying panel was mounted. I'll away and hide bravely just the now......

The use of the day fighter scheme was a jolly ruse to potentially dissuade the Luteaffe's finest from having a go, thinking that they might be taking on a fast, manoeuvrable and heavily armed opponent who could run away very rapidly. Also the grey elements of the scheme were more effective camouflage at the Mosquito's normal medium- to high-altitode operating environment (shades of the air defence grey schemes of more recent years).

@Vlada87 Do you mean the "basic six" blind flying panel in the centre of the main instrument panel with either curved or straight top edge?

Hi @kitchentable from memory they're all closed except when there's high mass flow demand (take off, overshoot, etc.); however I am prepared to stand erected if someone also knows more. I seem to remember XF375 being at Duxford a decade or more ago: does she still have an FR. 10 nose and 58 Squadron's owl emblems?

No, VC-10.

From my experience this is a very eas6 kit to assemble; my biggest sticking point has been deciding on the colours for the body interior. Biggest let-down is the lack of even a basic engine block above sump level. @davecov has produced a lovely example there, some of which I shall shamelessly plagarise.

If I'd thought for a bit longer I might have considered that in-theatre re-paints might be a case of "what have we got in stock that's close enough?"

How about NX611 in her delivery Tiger Force colours?

Sorry to be the wicked fairy at the party here, but Montex describe the alternative in their set, HR559, as being from 82 Squadron RAAF when, in fact, it's wearing 82 Squadron RAF codes. Proceed with caution re. HR402's colours perhaps? Could they be faded RAF Dark Green and Dark Earth instead of the RAAF colours? How long would it take the UK colours to fade/discolour in the Indian climate? Is there a possibility that the colours are faded RAF Dark Green and fresh RAAF Dark Earth?

The last activity on that thread was in October 2015 so I suspect that the chances of getting a set are about as high as finding rocking horse poo in a Tesla factory.

@Bassgreg I like what you've done with this kit so far; I certainly concur that painting and dry-brushing the cockpit detail produces an entirely satisfactory result. It's a shame that there aren't any replacement engine intake ducts available for this kit: on one of mine I've used some rolled 5- or 10- thou plasticard inside the outer wall and trimmed to go over the wing structure and form a semi-circular shaped "opening" at the moulded bulkhead at the back of the intake (thanks for the note about the length by the way).

Very handsome job, beautifully done.