Dave Swindell

There's 3 ways to build the Sea Harrier FA2 in 1/72nd scale - the Easy way, the Hard way, and the Accurate way. The Easy way is to build the Airfix kit out of the box - it's relatively easy to get hold of, it goes together reasonably well, there's a selection of good decals across the 3 boxings, and your average kitchen table modeller should be able to build something that looks like an FA2 without too much trouble (purists like @NG899 might wince and need to squint, but they probably wouldn't be going this route anyway) If you're going to make any improvements to this kit I'd probably limit it to aftermarket exhaust nozzles which improve the look of any Harrier and simplify it's construction as well. The Hard way is to build the Xtrakit/Special Hobby kit, one for the masochist, not for the faint hearted or modeller with limited skills. If you can get it finished without throwing it against the wall, dropping it on the floor and jumping on it, or binning it part way through construction, I believe there are also accuracy issues with this kit as well. If you've got the modelling skills to make a good job of building it, you likely have the skills necessary to correct any errors and add missing detail, but why make life hard for yourself? Decal schemes are more limited in these kits as well. The Accurate way is to convert an FRS1 kit - my preference for base kit is the Esci/Italeri kit which although the tooling is over 40 years old, was cutting edge for it's time and still stands up well against modern toolings. It's lacking a bit in cockpit detail, has fairings that should be removed if the outboard stores pylons are fitted, and as mentioned already, could benefit from replacement exhaust nozzles. As well as the above mentioned conversion sets, there were also conversions available from Heritage Aviation and Scalecast, these are all 30 odd years old so you won't get any of these new, but you might find one at a reasonable price through the usual second hand sources. Apart from one of the Model Alliance sets, none of them came with decals, so that's an additional cost to source these, Model Alliance have done several sets which include FA2 decals. If you haven't got a conversion kit or your preferred decal scheme, then Nick's suggestion above to use the Airfix kit as a source of parts and decals to convert your base FRS1 kit is a good economic option. If you've already got one of the conversion sets and decals I wouldn't go to the expense of getting the Airfix kit, if you can cut the nose and rear fuselage off the base kit reasonably accurately these conversions, although basic, are eminently usable. There are also detail sets available from the usual suspects to enhance the Airfix kit that could also be used to detail the conversion, some adjustment and modification may be required, but I'd suggest it would be much less difficult to go down this route than attempt to build, correct and detail the Xtrakit/Special hobby kit.

That's the old Maintrack conversion. Air-Craft Models have likely got the moulds/masters, but I don't think they've re-released it.

My understanding is all RAF Allison engined Mustangs and some early Mustang III's were purchased, later Mustang III's and all Mustang IV's were lend lease. Purchased aircraft would have been delivered in US paints matched to MAP colours, lend lease aircraft would have been delivered in ANA equivalent colours up until it was agreed to accept them in natural metal/silver. Aircraft delivered to the UK and prepared by a UK MU would have been brought up to the current standard before delivery to squadrons, including camouflage repaint if required. Some aircraft delivered to Italy appear to have retained their factory ANA equivalent camouflage scheme, but some were repainted by an MU in Italy into the so called firewall scheme. Aircraft delivered in the natural metal/silver finish would not generally be refinished. Both 112 Sqn and 213 Sqn had Mustang IV's in the firewall scheme and natural metal/silver Ideally for a model you want one or more photo's, serial blocks may give a clue as to what the paint scheme was when an aircraft left the factory, but won't necessarily help with what scheme it entered service.

My query on red was in reference to IWM A15113, where the panel in front of the cockpit is lighter than the tyres and much lighter than the gloss black undercarriage, so not black. It's lighter than the roundel blue, but similar to the roundel red and the patches over the gun ports. I'm not claiming it is red, just that it is very similar in tone to known red areas in the image. ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ILLUSTRIOUS - FLIGHT DECK SCENES. DECEMBER 1942, IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.. Image: IWM (A 15113) IWM Non Commercial License

The test pilot who flew the first free flight, Ronald Thomas Shepherd, was terminally ill at the time, having retired from his position as RR chief test pilot due to his illness 2 years earlier. He volunteered to do the fist free flight due to the perceived danger and the fact he knew he didn't have long to live, he died of his illness some 18 months after the first free flight. The second RRTMR was destroyed and it's pilot killed during a tethered flight after he lost control, hit the ground, bounced and then hit the gantry.

Note also that the undercarriage doors and the wheel hubs are the same dark colour - is this a complete circumferential band around the fuselage just in front of the cockpit? Identification or tactical marking? The shade seems similar to the roundel red? Prop spinner cap appears to be painted a similar colour with 3 stripes in 2 lighter colours?

It would help, but this type of decal really needs a white background to get the desired colour.

If you're going the Ikea Billy bookcase route why not just put full or half glass doors on it? https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/billy-doors-58290/

HF comms Aerial

@Troy Smith ????

Brigand was another Beaufighter:- Brigand:-

The basic design of hazmat placards hasn't changed, but there's lots of minor variation even today Google "class ?.? hazmat placard images" and match the images to your photos https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&hs=mLg&sca_esv=25795b5d4f09c1a9&sxsrf=ANbL-n5s-O-GGaK2-o1X5OtWk4bp6_OFWQ:1780583149259&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3o6iwGk6Iv1tRbZIBNIVs-7DjmheGwJ9kkYLzOq5Q2x5_vUa7NlVh74273t1qYj0GE0ho6nVhsso-cmN01-ufFQP8REzVq-feF20w6gO17meJiisWxm3vM4O6O7S5lKaor7UbRvojDOw3P_NgV3rZDRF7GhzWavL2n6Zc1N6ZkLlglCmTA&q=class+8+hazmat+placard&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiL7eqQ5e2UAxUWQEEAHXswNfsQtKgLegQIFBAB&biw=1536&bih=703&dpr=1.25 Size looks around 4" / 100mm (10" / 250mm is another common size)

If you have IWM photo's to post, it's best to link direct to the photo on the IWM site, it's the highest quality available, the photos are zoomable and the link is fully within their copyright reproduction rules if you use the BBCode link they provide 🙂 AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: AVRO 652A ANSON.. Image: IWM (C 2119) IWM Non Commercial License

RAF Phantoms used Cheiftain tank periscopes in the 80's for the same purpose, but it was installed in the rear cockpit for the nav, not the pilot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescopic_Sighting_System