LDSModeller

Hi Alun, What decals are you using, if you don't mind me asking? The P3B's arrived circa 1966, but the RNZAF Roundel didn't officially change from the Silver Fern to the Kiwi till early 1971. Here is a photo from my Dads collection of NZ4202 at Whenuapai - sorry the Roundels are obscured, but looking at other colour photos of RNZAF aircraft from the same collection it may have the Silver Fern Roundel. If you’re interested the below link from the RNZAF Museum gives a good history of the Post War Roundel Post War RNZAF Roundel History Regards Alan

😁Hi Alun, I'm picking you mean the Albatross? 😄 The delivery scheme wore the Fern Leaf Roundel, and didn't have the Albatross applied till later, the below photo is circa 1998, with the Albatross/05 emblazoned, that's about the time frame your model is centred on I think? Your P3 is coming along nicely, I have a 1/72 Hasegawa P3, I should really finish in RNZAF markings Just a piece of trivia re: the out board search light, it began life on the most outboard pylon station, but due to vibration through the wing, the glass/pexiglass shattered, so the search light was moved in board (3 million candle watt power) Kind regards Alan

Nice to see a Kiwi P3 🙂, One of my favourite aircraft, my Dad served on them with 5 Squdaron. If it's of any help to you, the cockpit seats were orange red in colour There is also a curtain behind the Engineers seat (rear seat) leading to the cabin area, though probably not so noticeable in 1/144 You may already have thought of it, but there is a dicernible exhaust/vent lower forward starboardside between the rear cockpit window and forward observation window. Look forward to your build Regards Alan

Yes, I remember your build of NZ3036 Given that BALM was the same company for both sides of the Tasman, I would have to say yes. Industrial Chemists were responsible for either design/creation of paints or copy of some US manufactured paints. NZ Sky Grey, is I believe a direct copy of DuPont Paint 71-021 Sky Type S - Grey, but just called Sky Grey. I also belive that NZ Blue Sea Grey, is a copy of the US Blue Greys, but the darker version of them Additional Edit, some infor on Blue Sea Grey form our RNZAF Museum Historian "We now know that this paint was officially called Blue Sea Grey camouflage, Section/Reference No. 33B/N118, and BALM reference No. S13-934, and was manufactured to specification DTD 308 (Air Ministry), BSS 2D-101, and BALM Spec. W-21". Edit Here is a photo of a restored P40E at the RNZAF Museum, painted in NZ Foliage Green/NZ Sky Grey (albiet modern facimiles of those colours) (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Hope that's of help Regards Alan

Hi Dennis, The Pacific Scheme is a Green/Blue Sea Grey with either a Sky Type S lower or a New Zealand BALM produced copy of US DuPont Sky Type S - Grey, a Green/ Blue colour. I'm picking that given the DuPony colour was "Trade Marked" it had to be called something different, and knowing Australian/New Zealand perepencity to shorten things, Sky Grey was a logical choice 😀 It's my humble opinion, that the RNZAF Pacific scheme was a copy of the RAF Day Fighter Scheme, but altered to suit the Pacific area of operations. This is a P40K I built some time ago in the Pacific Scheme - Blue Sea Grey is a little light I think In this RNAF Museum Photo, you can see in NZ3060 (far left) in thr Pacific Scheme, NZ3072 Wairarapa Wildcat is far right. (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The RNZAF Hudsons first painted in such a scheme, had the Dark Earth painted over with NZ Blue Sea Grey, and later P40E-1's similar. The P40K's and some early delivery M's had the NZ Sea Blue Grey painted over the US Olive Drab in a RAF Type "B" Scheme as in my photo above. Later in the forward areas, the later delvery P40's (K/M/N') just wore US Olive Drab, they arrived in. There is evidence that the Tongan P40E-1's after arrival back from the forward area's had the Dark Earth painted in Blue Sea Grey, or just painted in all over Foliage Green/Sky Grey BALM (British Australian Lead Manufacturers) were involved both sides of the Tasman. I have seen Foliage green described as similar to Humbrol 30 Dark Green to a more darker Green with a blue-ish tinge akin to Humbrol 117 Hope that's of help? Regards Alan

Hi All, This is a second build I have planned for this GB After receipt of the P40E-1's, the next shipment received by the RNZAF were P4OK's (long tails). My model will be of NZ3052 a P40K-10 which was assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot (a Service Unit), Hobsonville, and BoC (Brought On Charge) at Hobsonville on 30th January 1943 among the first 20 odd P40K's, put on 14 Squadron strength. NZ3052 had a bit of a checked life, but survived the war. On 26 March 1943, NZ3052, along with 5 other P40's began a ferry flight from RNZAF Station Whenuapai (later part of RNZAF Base Auckland Whenupai/Hobsonville) where I grew up, my Dad was with 5 Squadron. Below 14 Squadron P40K's taxiing at Whenuapai ready for take off (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The flight flew North to RNZAF Station Waipapakauri (which is part of the Far North settlements) (Phonetic spelling Why - Papa - Cow - Ree) From Google Maps RNZAF Station Waipapakauri - Notice the Vickers Vildebeest's/Vincents on the flightline (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Later Waipapakauri was used for return ferry flights of war weary aircraft returning from the forward areas Notice the RNZAF Hudsons's that were used for Navigation to and from the forward areas (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Link to a Memorial at Waipapakauri Waipapakauri Memorial From Waiapapkauri the ferry flight flew to Norfolk Island to rest and refuel - Note the Norfolk Pines 🙂 (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The flight was then to fly onto La Tontouta, New Caledonia, a large-ish US base built there (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The base reverted to the Frech post WWII and is now La Tontouta International Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Tontouta_International_Airport The above sounds pretty straight forward and simple right? - Wrong🙃 The 6 aircraft were escorted by two RNZAF Hudsons for Navigation, however during the final leg one of the aircraft had to turn back, then a really bad storm developed and everything went down hill fast. The Hudsons were experiencing radio issues, which affected their ability to navigate, and the remaining 5 aircraft had to set down on a beach near Noumea S/L Quill bailed out. I have attached a link to a discussion I had with an RNZAF Historian Dave Homewood where Dave gives a more in depth account of what transpired on that last leg. (Dave also served in the RNZAF), who is also a member here on BM (scroll down about half way (or read the entire thread)) RNZAF P40 discussion Squadron Leader Stan Quill as mentioned the above link (2nd row, middle with RNZAF side cap) (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Flying Officer Pat Morpeth, pilot of NZ3052 on the ferry flight (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) NZ3052 survived the hellish forward areas, and was eventually flown back to New Zealand and rostered with 4 FOTU (Fighter Operational Training Unit) at RNZAF Station Ohakea In the below photos, NZ3052 has been repainted in NZ Foliage Green/NZ Sky Grey, with a red spinner and red Codes (OD-12). - Note the replacement upper cowl, and the NZ Sky Grey peeling away Starboardside lower wing, revealing the US Star underneath I was initially going to build NZ3052 as in these photo's, but decided to do her in the full Pacific Scheme. I will need to find another P40 K to build this though (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) OK I'm guessing by now you are either bored to tears or just want to see some plastic? This is an old AMT kit I purchased off a local Auction site some time ago, no instructions or markings Kit sprue shots - The P40K fuselage is the lower of the two Cockpit parts off the sprue Clear parts As far as instructions go, I have a Esci kit that has comparable parts, so I will use that as a guide and marking I will source locally. Ventura POublications has a decal sey with NZ3059, which is a similar scheme to NZ3052 Ventura Decals Well that's all for today, thanks for looking in, and more soon 🙂 Regards Alan

Hi Dennis, If the first colour photo, good question? I looked at a larger expanded photo, and could be a gun pod?? It really is a little large to be a fuel tank Really not clear enough to tell IMHO Regards Alan

Yes, I remember that one 😁 Though if you really want to go all in, this photo of NZ6365 at Farnborough air show shows the possible types the blunty could carry 😄 (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Regards Alan

Hi Dennis, First Strikemaster arrived circa 1972, so a couple of years after the A4K's. Given that at the time most of our RNZAF aircraft were a mixture of UK/US, you would likely find both types of munitions, but I would probably lean more to US supplied NZ3632 in a sort of 14 Squadron publicity shot (showing support personell who keep the plane flying) Note the munitions. Two Blunty's with different types of munitions Blunty just with external tanks (Photos - RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) Hopefully gives you some idea? Regards Alan

Having delved into these machines myself, it's my undersatanding that those specific Mk I's carried only the cannons and the .303 openings on the wing were either not there or covered over, along with the .303 shell chutes under the wings. The book "Aircraft of the Aces, Spitfire Mk I/II 1939-1941" has some 1/72 drawings at the rear for a Spitfire Mk Ib/wing but the drawings show both cannon and .303 MG openings, so possibly a later version illustrated, and not sure of their accuracy? Regards Alan

Hi All, Finally plastic has been cut and some glue applied..... 🙂 The photo below shows the port fuselage halves, the portside is a little warped. but nothing that can't be sorted with good glue abd elastic bands 😁 The fuselage and lower wings - lots of room for improvement - I plan to build up the cockpit, with a floor (upper part of wing) as in the real thing View of wings upper and lower together, again room for improvement. I am going to replace the bogus wing guns. My plans are to improve the wheel wells, as I have done for my 1/32 Revell P40E-1 build Add internal ribbing for the wells And of course fill in the section of the wing, as the main gear is installed as in the photo nelow of the P40E-1 at MOTAT hewre in Auckland I have started the process by adding ribbing to the upper wing area where the well sits The ribs look a little crooked, but as they dried I straightened them using a metal ruler Looking at the ribs with the lower wing sitting in place Finally I opened up the scoop for the carburettor intake. using progressive drill sizes So that's that's all for today, more soon Thanks for looking in 🙂 Regards Alan

Hi Wez, The answer to part of your question lies in the tail wheel photo by Nick in the post above. The colour would be (and I'm also going off preserved P40 examaples here in NZ which still have the original Curtiss applied paint) the brownish yellow/green primer, for both main gear doors and tail wheel doors interior surfaces The actual part of the wing surface wher the main gear retracts to lie flat would be the lower wing colour (Sky), as the main gear doors/appendage doors are added on post wing painting. Edit You can see this on the P40E-1 at MOTAT here in Auckland I took a few years ago The main landing gear struts/tail wheel strut, would lilely be Aluminium paint, the oleo polished metal. Hope thats of help? Regards Alan

Hi Antoine, Decals, hmmm, please take my comments in the spirit intended, and it's your model build and colour choice However, please note the following: NO RNZAF aircraft ever wore those light blue coloured markings - they are totally fictitious The RNZAF at the time was a "Mini Me" of the RAF, and were also using RAF AMO's for colours, including Roundel colours, have you ever seen a Spitfire or any other WWII RAF aircraft with light blue roundels, no, they were dark blue. However a picture (or two) paints a thousand words, these two screen shots are from a rare colour movie in my collection, filmed during WWII by US Marine Corps construction engineers - Note the RNZAF Roundel colours, Not light blue The books I referred to are written by RNZAF pilots who flew P40's, and flew alongside PO Fisken US Navy/USMC flying kit would be appropriate, as the RNZAF was attached to the US Navy in WWII as per this photo of an RNZAF Pilot (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) A jeep ( or two) would not be out of place (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) Regards Alan

ADF Serials and discussion with other RNZAF Historians, and these really rare things called books😉 regards Alan

NZ3072 on 31/08/1943 suffered damage during landing at Segi (Western Province of the Solomons (New Georgia)) where it collided with a water tanker. Pilot, Sgt M Willis suffered minor injuries (ADF serials). So quite likely the Port wing/aileron - P40's can take a truck load of damage 🙂 Just bear in mind repainting a stripe on the aileron was most likely not an urgent task for the SU (Service Unit) who owned the aircraft, as opposeed to keeping them flying/fighting. hence seeing it in the photo with FO Fisken sans aileron stripe. About a year later, back in New Zealand NZ3072 suffered a mid air collsion, but the pilot was able to land back at RNZAF Ardmore (South Auckland) Regards Alan