Brian J

Many thanks, guys, for the help. I notice on part 12 of the Black Buck kit there are two vents/openings on each side of the recessed area where the missile would go. Should they be left opened or are there caps that cover the openings? One more question for Adam. Can I build a 617 Squadron Vulcan using the above mentioned part (D12) without a weapon or did they always fly 'armed for bear' as I plan on doing my build-up in-flight on a stand?

Holy Cow! Now there's a Vulcan fan. Many thanks, Adam. for your detailed response. Allow me to give a more detailed background to my situation. The Avro Vulcan has long been my favourite British jet bomber since the late 1950s when I started buying my monthly Royal Air Force Flying Review at my local newsstand. Long ago I picked up the original Airfix Vulcan but after reading about so many issues I put the kit in the back of my stash. I was gun-shy about purchasing the reissue of the kit until it was no longer available but finally decided on the Black Buck version. I purchased the Fundekals Vulcan sheet (FUN72003A revised) on Ebay and found out that Fundekals no longer has the downloaded markings for the sheet available. I did go on the Ebay site and viewed the profiles of the following aircraft. I'd enjoy reading your take on the following decal sheet subjects (all white versions): 1. Vulcan B.2 XL321 w/ blue steel weapon 617 Squadron 1963 -can I build this a/c without the Blue Steel weapon? This is my first choice if I can build it without the Blue Steel weapon. 2. Vulcan B.2 XL426 w/blue steel 83 Squadron 1964 -can I build this a/c without the Blue Steel weapon? 3. Vulcan B.2 XM597 12 Squadron 1963 4. Vulcan B.2 XH555 w/ Blue Steel weapon 27 Squadron 1963 -can I build this a/c without the Blue Steel weapon? 5. Vulcan B.2 XM607 35 Squadron 1963 Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

I am interested in using the titled kit to convert it to an earlier all white painted version i.e. early/mid 1960s era. What modifications would I have to include or delete? I will be constructing the kit inflight on a stand. Also, does the white in the intakes extend all the way to the engine facings?

Thought I'd close this story with an update. Tommy's son sent me a somewhat fuzzy photo of this dad's Spitfire, taken from a 3/4 starboard front view. It verifies that NH320 had the 'C' wing armament and solid wheel covers. It was also loaded with 3 bombs. It also had lower wing invasion stripes and appears somewhat weathered. One final comment that many modelers often fail to consider. All photos of Spitfire IXs and XIVs I've seen have an IFF antenna on the lower starboard wing about 1/4 way from the wing tip. Check your photos. Thanks to all the members who took time to help clarify my problems.

You're quite correct. Tommy Brannagan's son mentioned that his father was shot down in NG233. I haven't had a chance to sit down with him and go over his father's logbook and any other references he has collected over the years. Will get back if I find out anything worthwhile. He did relate his father's release/escape at the end of the war. It's unfortunate that more WWII veterans failed to relate their personal experiences in detail.

After going over numerous photos again, I agree with the above comments. In the field I believe that when the modified kit to add the two .50s was installed they just reversed the location of the C wing cannons. I found that when placing the Master 1/32 Spitfire C wing cannon fairings (32-017) next to their 1/32 Spitfire E wing early cannons fairings (32-019) at the ends of the barrels, they are the same length excluding the extended part of the rear shaft that is inserted in the wing. The above photo showing Johnnie Johnson sitting on the wing verifies the above for me. I am also building a 1/32 PCM Mk IX for a former student, the son of Tommy Brannagan (he was downed by flak on 15 August) and was uncertain if his Spit IX would have the upgraded wing armament as in the above photo. After viewing numerous photos it appears that many Spit IXs did not have this upgrade even by later in the summer of '44. The colour profile 13 of his a/c, NH320 can be found on page 37 of Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 122 as well as a photo on page 51. The colour profile shows the a/c with the C wing armament. By the way, that is not Tommy Brannagan sitting under the tree in the foreground in the photo. As to my PCM Spit XIV, because my subject a/c was built in August of '44 I am going to arm mine with the late E wing cannon fairings...unless I can be convinced otherwise. I'm kinda like the comic strip character, Charlie Brown. I'm absolutely, without a doubt, positively, positive about it...but I could be wrong.

Whoa! I thought my question could be answered without issue. Maybe it has and I just need to be slapped upside the head. The above responses have only raised more questions for me. Bear with me. First off, the above highly detailed drawings seem to illustrate the 'C' wing armament i.e. 20mm cannon and 2 x.303 machine guns. The Master brass gun barrels that pertain to my problem seems to be MR32-019, 'early E wing (straight conical Hispano fairings)' and MR32-081 'Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXe/Mk XVIe early version (conical fairings'). The following comments have to do with what I have gleaned from reading material and photo examination. The first version of the Mk XIV was armed with the 'C' wing guns as was the Mk IXc Spitfires. During the summer of 1944 it was decided to rearm/upgrade the Mk IXc version with the 'new' heavier armed 'E;' wing i.e. eliminating the outboard .303s and introduce the .50 cal machine guns. Were the 'C' winged Mk XIVs rearmed/upgraded with the 'E' wing at the same time as the Mk IXc's? Was the same type of 'early' barrel fairing used for both aircraft and were they maintained as such until the end of the war? Again, my modelling subject is from late August, 1944. What was the difference between 'early E wing (straight conical Hispano fairings)' and 'Mk IXe/Mk XVIe early version (conical fairings)? For modelling purposes, is there much of a difference between the two? Did the Mk XIVe (high back as in my model subject) and the Mk IXe/Mk XVIe retain the same barrel fairing? I realize the low back Spit XIVs all seem to have the shorter more streamlined barrel fairings. Gotta take a break, I'm getting dizzy. My education continues... Brian

After brushing off the dust and cobwebs, I'm finally getting back to finishing my Pacific Coast Models Mk XIV Spitfire. My subject is AE*G from 402 Squadron flown my F/S William G. Austin. when he was credited with shooting down a V-1 on August 23, 1944. I am unclear as to what type of cannon barrels would be used at this time on Mk XIVs. The colour profile of this aircraft on page 83 of Spitfire: The Canadians, Vol 1 show them as the later style used on low back XIVs i.e. shorter and more streamlined. Photos on pages 42 and 44 from Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, No. 81 Griffon Spitfire Aces by Andrew Thomas show that the earlier type of cannon barrels were also used. Considering the time period and that this aircraft was a high back XIV would I be correct in using the Master 'Spitfire E wing -Early cannon barrels.?

Thanks for your insightful comments. I began modifying that upper fuselage intake/vent panel on two Hasegawa kits several years ago as per the Clear Props A kit by referring to various photos of the E version Sabre. Will have to refer back to photos as to other vent openings your mentioned. I plan on doing one of the E versions in flight on a stand so wheel well/air brake detail is not so important. I agree that photo reference is important as to subject aircraft. Has anybody heard if any aftermarket outfit is planning on issuing any upgrades to the Clear Prop kits?

I have long wanted to do a buildup of the F-86E-10 flown by Royal Baker 'Angel Face and the Babes' using the AeroMaster dedcal sheet 48-449. I have photo references that confirm the markings on the port side of the aircraft in question which confirm the above decal sheet. I also have a DVD that shows a walk around by Col. Baker and the crew chief. On the starboard side there is a marking that appears to be a bullseye with an arrow just behind the squadron insignia. This is not included on the decal sheet. Does anyone know of photos that show this marking in more detail and if it was added at a later date than the decal markings? I plan on kit bashing a Hasegawa F-86F fuselage (6-3 wing with fence) with a Clear Prop F-86A (narrow wing with leading edge slats). The F-86F has the E-10 windscreen and the correct tail modifications used on the E models. I think all I have to do to the fuselage is modify the area where the leading- edge wing roots meet the fuselage, the upper opening near the dorsal fin and the lower openings at the lower wing roots. Before I take saw and knife to plastic has anyone heard if Clear Prop plan on issuing various E or F versions of the Sabre? Brian J

Thanks to both gentlemen for taking the time to verify my findings on the subject. I'll add clarification/detail for other members who may be interested in the subject. Since my initial post I did more checking. On page 150 of Rene J. Francillon's Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club the last war cruise of the Midway was from April 1972 to March 1973. On 23 May of 1972 F-4B 153020 NF 100 (the famous VF-161 CAG aircraft '100') crewed by R E McKeown and J C Ensch is credited with downing two MiG-17s. Several inflight photos show this aircraft with the larger wing insignia. The Kovaleski/Wise kill was on 12 January on the same cruise. Using the two above references and the two photos I found I am now confident that the larger insignia is appropriate. Another member is often quoted as warning to never use artwork as a reference unless it can be verified with photos. Those two Osprey covers I mentioned earlier are examples of that wisdom! Brian James

While researching the markings of the last Phantom MiG kill in the Viet Nam War I came across conflicting artwork that all photos I have on the subject can't clarify. The subject in question is F-4B 153045/NF 102 crewed by Lt Victor T Kovaleski and Lt (jg) James A. Wise of VF-161. I have the 1/48 Furball sheet 48-011 which shows the wing star and bar in the larger format used until very late in the war. The cover artwork of the Osprey publication Combat Aircraft 125 US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1969-73 illustrates the subject aircraft with the smaller late war insignia only found on the outboard wing folding area. Can anyone help clarifying when the change was made? I believe it was late '72 to early/mid '73. The MiG kill in question was 12 January 1973. I have several photos of the subject in question but they are taken at ground level and don't show wing surfaces. On the subject of wing insignia size and Osprey colour artwork, the Combat Aircraft 30 Us Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1972-73 cover shows the well known VF-111 F-4B 153019/NL 201 with the smaller wing insignia. The MiG kill for that aircraft was 6 March 1972 so the smaller wing insignia is incorrect. Photo verification and any other help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the fast response and interesting website. I found it interesting that the engine firewalls appear to be the colour of Spitfire cockpit interiors.