rossm

A number of photos of 97 squadron Manchesters in the second edition of Robert Kirby's book on the Manchester. I'll try to scan them but no time just now.

The best I can do is the drawing below from the Ducimus Camouflage and Markings booklet, really covering Fighter Command but as the squadrons with MkIs transferred in to Coastal from Fighter I imagine it would be valid for the short time MkIs were used in Coastal Command. The Osprey book Blenheim Squadrons of World War II gives details of dates,

Does this help, a couple of minutes in Photoshop elements. https://www.hrmtech.com/text.jpg Can't post the image for some reason even though it's hosted on my own site.

You could try the squadron Operations Record Books in the National Archives. Available online, free if you register for an account (also free). This may (or may not) give both serial and code letter for the aircraft on a particular mission. Otherwise why not just choose a photo and build that one, don't worry about others. Scale Aircraft Modelling recently featured Operation Firedog across several issues.

See and https://www.scalemates.com/kits/the-guano-aeroplane-and-zeppelin-works-1-dornier-do-217k-2--163589 and https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airwaves-sc7264-fritz-x--281610 Both sets have replacement tailcones and underfuselage rear parts. I have one of each so I can post photos if there is interest. One day I will use them to build a K-2 and an M-11, both victims of S/L Williams and F/O Kirkpatrick of 406 Sqdn, along with the their Mosquito XII and XXX.

The Italeri kit is well known for inaccuracy in this area. Long ago there was a replacement part made by Guano. Also maybe one in the Airwaves K-2 conversion. I'll check the ones in my stash to see how they match up to the video.

White aircraft had Light Slate Grey codes and serials - Medium Sea Grey is noticeably different but probably as near as you will get without the appropriate (and long out of print) Modeldecal sheets.

Owen Thetford in Silver Wings gives the dates as 18th February for K4086 for trials and 25th May for re-equipment commencing, completed by July.

I'm away for a few days before I can check, from memory the B set has the early seats and the G the Escapac. There are probably differences in the instrumentation but I don't remember for sure. I think both of mine have canopies.

I'm sure I've read it's a rubberised coating but I'm away in Norfolk for a week so can't check. PM me a reminder on Thursday if no answer has appeared by then. I've got the "Complete Record" book by Robert Mikesh which must contain the answer (mustn't it?). I'm trying to figure out the best way to mask and paint that scheme with the red lines as well as the two blacks.

They did sets for B-57B and B-57G. I have one of each so should have a kit canopy spare when I can find it. Not in the first two places I looked so I need to go into the loft.

I might have a spare kit canopy if you need one, I'll check.

Falcon Clear Vax set 43 includes one

Thank you for looking, I don't think there is much available.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205219353 Shows two exhausts but not enough of them to see the style.