Chris Preston

Many thanks everyone - excellent information that I didn't have access to. FYI - 443 Sqn is still in existence, here in Victoria, as a Maritime Air (Anti-Submarine) helicopter squadron, hence my interest in doing a 443 Sqn aircraft. Cheers, Chris, IPMS Victoria

'Afternoon All, A question for those more knowledgeable than myself on Spitfires............was Spitfire 2I*E, serial MK636 (from 443 Sqn RCAF, circa June 1944) a Spitfire Mk IXc or Mk IXe? Cheers, Chris Preston

Mark and Jerry - Many Thanks for your replies. Excellent review and I'll try Above and Below Graphics for the decals. 443 Sqn is still flying, and here in Victoria and that. Cheers, Chris

'Afternoon All, I finally caved in and purchased the new 24th scale Airfix Spitfire Mk 9c, and just completed an initial inspection of the kit.........beautiful! For those of you who have already purchased and built this kit, is there anything worth replacing with after-market, or is the kit good out-of-the-box? Normally I like to replace at least the Instrument Panel, exhausts, and possibly the the wheels with aftermarket. Thoughts? Also, I'd like to finish the model in the markings of the aircraft flown by S/L Wally McLeod, 443 Sqn RCAF, flying Spitfire 21*E, Ser # MK 636, but I'm unable to locate a decal sheet in 24th scale for this aircraft - would anyone here know of a source for these markings? Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria,BC

Many Thanks Jack. Chris

Good Day All, I finally purchased Thunder Models Scammel Tank Transporter, and am wondering if Resicast is still in business. I'm thinking of purchasing their aftermarket update set for the radiator and steering, and their wheel sets (unless I decide to modify the kit parts). Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC

Good Day All, I finally purchased Thunder Models Scammel Tank Transporter, and am wondering if Resicast is still in business. I'm thinking of purchasing their aftermarket update set for the radiator and steering, and their wheel sets (unless I decide to modify the kit parts). Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC

Thanks Greg and Kingsman, Apologies fr the lateness in my reply - very useful information that you've both provided. Cheers, Chris

'Evening All, I have two 35th scale kits for a 6 Pdr A/T Gun - one by Resicast, and the other by Riich, and two significantly different tire diameters. According to information from another knowledgeable site, the tire diameter (inflated) for the tires on a 6 Pdr should be 27'5", which scales down to 1.995cm in 35th scale. The tires in the Riich kit measure 1.842 cm, and Resicast are significantly bigger at 2.343cm. Can anyone here confirm what the correct diameter should be? Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC

'Afternoon All, First post on this forum.........I'm currently building Tamiya's newer 35th scale Matilda Mk III, with a now out-of-production Tiger Model Designs after-market set that includes a P-E rack and Flimsy POL/Water cans for the rear engine deck of the vehicle (for desert vehicles). Were these cans left in their natural metal finish, or were they painted, and if painted, what ere their colours? Many Thanks for the assist. Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC Canada

Good Day All, Last week I received a 3-D printed update set for Monogram's 48th scale OS2U Kingfisher, from Flightline engineering. This set is superb, and includes a correctly sized main float, fully detailed Pilot's and Observer's cockpits, and a new cowling, engine, and propeller, along with other details. This is a great set, and well worth getting , if you're planning on building this kit. Link here: http://www.flightlineengineering.com/item_48_os2u_kingfisher_set.html . Cheers, Chris Preston, Victoria, BC

Hi Jackson, One more supplier I forgot to mention is William Blackmore, who owns Cottage Industry Models in the States. He also does 96th scale Kingfishers, along with USN pattern ships boats and fittings. Cheers, Chris

Hi Jackson, My starting point for the Kingfishers are resin "kits". the first batch of three is from the manufacturer of the hull - Lee Upshaw, of The Scale Shipyard, in LA, California. In addition to producing the fiberglass hulls, he does a lot of the fittings, including aircraft, in resin. The second batch of three Kingfishers is also in resin, from John Haynes in the UK. His products are now available through the Floating Drydock. Not quite sure which set of Kingfishers I'll use, as I'm still working on the hull. They're simple kits but look the part. Hope this helps. Give me a shout if you need more info. Cheers, Chris

'Afternoon All, I'm building a 96th scale USS ARIZONA, circa late 1941, and in the near future will be starting the three Kingfisher Spotter Aircraft she carried. The aircraft were finished in the then standard USN Blue-Grey upper surfaces, and USN Light Grey for the undersides. The few photos I have of the aircraft being recovered by the ARIZONA (in SEP/OCT 1941) show the cockpit and radioman/rear gunner's positions to be a dark colour, but I'm unable to confirm the colour(s) for either position. The information I have suggests it was a Bronze Green colour, rather than a US Interior Green colour - can anyone advise further, and confirm? Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC Canada

Hi Mike, The two surviving Martin Mars are right here on Vancouver Island, north of Victoria, BC, on Sprout Lake. I last saw one of them demonstrating it's fire-fighting water-dropping capability at a display during the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 - very impressive. These aircraft will be missed here once they're gone. Chris Preston Victoria, BC, Canada

Hi Massimo, I built this kit earlier this year, just to renew some old skills and try out the new Vallejo range of paints. The kit itself is typical Tamiya - very well engineered, with no fit issues. The dedicated Spitfire experts all know of the kit's shortcomings in shape, etc, but these are only noticed if you start placing kit parts against accurate plans. The kit itself is a joy to build. I did replace the pilot's seat as it's just noticeably wrong in shape,, but otherwise built it out of the box, and used the kit decals with no issues. For paints, I used Vallejo's paints for the first time, to try them out and once I get the hang of them, was very pleased with the end result. The colours recommended for RAF aircraft during the Battle of Britain were two US colours (surprisingly) - Vallejo Model Colours US Dark Green 70.893 for RAF Dark Green, and US Field Drab 70.873 for RAF Dark Earth, based on recommendations form other modellers on this site. I have photos of the finished build, but haven't figured out how to post them yet here. They're on Facebook (somewhere). Hope this helps. Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC, Canada

Many Thanks for the help Chris (AKA "Dogs-body"). Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, Canada

Hi Chris, That would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks - Could you PM me and I'l give you my e-mail address? Cheers, Chris, in Victoria, BC

Thanks WIP - order placed. Chris

'Evening All, I'm looking for three back-issues of the Airfix magazine (my copies disappeared under mysterious circumstances!) : APR 2020, with the re-release of their 48th scale Spitfire Mk I, MAR 2015, with the release of their 48th scale Hurricane Mk I, and NOV 2018, with the release of their 48th scale Blenheim Mk IF. Would anyone know where I can purchase a copy of each, or have copies I could buy if your done with them? Cheers, Chris Preston Victoria, BC Canada

Now............if we could just get one in 1/48th scale, with Battle of Britain markings, life would be great! 😃 Cheers, Chris

'Morning John, Many Thanks for you reply, and as you've noted, there's not too much information out there. I contacted the Manitoba Naval Museum some time ago, and received some excellent line drawings they had made up for a full-sized replica bridge for a BPB Co MTB, and these have been very helpful, but I don't think they have any other plans. The John Pritchard plans aren't too bad, so I'll carry on with what I have from those. If you ever get the chance, this Museum is worth a visit. Cheers, Chris

'Evening All, I'm currently building a Dean's Marine 24th scale kit of their BPB Co. 71' 6" MTB and working on improving the scale accuracy of the kit during the build. I'm currently working on deck details, specifically the wooden no-slip "toe rails" running the length of the upper deck. The kit plans are very basic, and and a better detailed set by John Pritchard for the Model Boats Plans Service don't give the actual dimensions for the height and width of these toe rails (or their correct description). Would anyone on this forum be able to assist and advise me of these dimensions? Sincerely, Chris Preston Victoria, BC Canada

Hi Michael, From what I've found out, and as I indicated above - the camouflage colours applied to Kate upper surfaces (the other carriers also used brown for a two-tone pattern), were applied on-board ship during the transit to Pearl Harbor, and most likely "at the rush", on surfaces that weren't properly prepared (clean, etc.). Coupled with exposure to a harsh marine environment, this could lead to paint pealing after several months of operational service. The IJN Grey was a factory applied finish, with all the necessary surface preparations. If you're able to locate a copy of the Model Art books, particularly the first one, they're excellent! Feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] if you need more help. Cheers, Chris

'Morning All, Further to my last regarding Fuchida's Kate - the photos one usually see's of this particular aircraft were taken around April 1942, after the aircraft had seen a lot of operational service. Keep in mind that this was in a tropical marine environment, with the sun beating down on the upper surfaces, which were painted green on-board ship, during the transit to Pearl Harbor, and not a factory applied finish - IE - it was done quickly! The bare-metal patches on the upper surfaces were due to paint-peeling/fading/weathering, and the abuse paint takes during servicing by deck crews and aircraft handlers. The light grey under-surfaces were not exposed to the same amount of harsh tropical sun or abuse, etc. For the Grey and Green - make sure you use the IJN colours and not IJA. If you have access to them, the In K. Baker and Model Art publications are EXCELLENT sources of reference (IMHO). Hope all this helps. Feel free to contact me off-line if you need more detailed info. Cheers, Chris