Peter Roberts

Thanks for the tip Kev. I'll chase that one up. I do want to do a fair bit of rigging - that's one of the main attractions for me to these models, but I admit my ignorance when it comes to this. That book sounds just the ticket! Thank you PR

Thanks for the link Kev. I did see that build but it looks to have progressed a fair bit so I will revisit it. Amazing work, and great inspiration. Some really good reference. I think I had started collecting pics and details from this build, but my laptop chucked a wobbly and I lost a lot of stored info. Re: words. ALL of them I'm afraid. I'm not very nautical but Google helps. There may be more posts here as I progress, along the lines of 'What is a .....?' but I suspect progress is going to be slow with thus build. PR

Just checked out planking butt shift - more brilliant information! Thanks so much Kev! PR

Thank you Kev, just what I was after. Appreciate the information. Yes, exactly what I had in mind. I am thinking of covering a prepainted deck with strips of masking tape planks, then lifting batches to subtly vary the colours, finishing off with a ruler and lead pencil for the packing between planks, with maybe a wash over all to blend and tone down. That's the theory.... The Victory keeps calling me, along wth a CLK-GTR Merc, several AFVs and a cupboard of Spitfires. Think I need to clone myself! However, this will give me a start. I have the book on detailing the Airfix Victory; just need to translate it into words I understand (!) because I think there is work I need to do on the decks before I start planking, er, painting. Thanks again for your help, PR PS - not blind yet, but the daft bit fits!

Hi guys I have started the Airfix 1/180 Victory, I have removed the raised moulded plank lines from the decks and intend to represent them with paint but not sure how wide or long the planks should be. Does anyone know the dimensions of these planks? I am not wanting to be 100% accurate, but do want to give a reasonable representation of how they would look. Thanks PR

There is some great discussion and period photos on Large Scale Planes Work In Progress forum - look up the HK Models B17 'Bit O Lace' build. It seems to be typically NMF, some with interior green stringers. PR

Great thread and info gentlemen, thank you! Graham, hope you are going to post pics of the finished model, would love to see it. I have a Defiant (1/48 variety) to do as a night fighter, but an ASR version may creep into the To Do list. PR

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I hope all is well with Tim, maybe have to keep trying by phone. PR

I placed an order with Grey Matter Figures 6 weeks ago and still haven't received it. I have rung twice and left messages each time because they didn't answer, and I have sent two email enquiries, all without response. Any body had recent experience with Grey Matter orders? Is this typical of Grey Matter - are they still in business? Is there some other way of contacting them? PR

Thanks Nick, very helpful info re: D-Day stripes. Clear and concise, much appreciated PR

There is also the effect of filters to be taken into account here, something Peter Malone and other researchers more qualified than I have spent a lot of time looking at. I believe many wartime photographers made wide use of filters on their cameras to give better results, which of course will effect the appearance of colours in genuine colour photographs. As James points out in the post above, the appearance of the sky (and other features in a photo) or known colours such as national markings can sometimes give a hint. PR

Steve, there was a good serial-code match up done on this forum a little while back (the first page is also worth checking out - lots more info). http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234942579-asr-spitfires-revisited/page-2 If 1/48 is your scale, I may be able to help re: yellow code decals. PM me if you are interested. Cheers PR

Hi Rick and Kev My grateful thanks to you both for the help with this. Great pics Rick. I wasnt aware of the different finished effects of carbon fibre - very interesting. My understanding is that the chassis was carbon fibre (?) - in your estimate, do you think the weave would show under the car, or would it assume more of a consistent black colour? I wouldn't have picked that box structure as carbon fibre..... tricky. I'll have a crack at posting a WIP - havent done this before, my work aint that great and is pretty slow, not to mention my photography (lack of) skills I have some decals from Pattos place to compliment the Tamiya decals and let me do the Schneider/Webber car. I'm going to have a crack at the 1998 car, used for a few races at the start, using wheels taken from the DTM car. I have a bit of cutting and splicing to do to get the width right. PR PS I am going to have a crack at doing some decals for the coaming over the dash - there are some sponsors decals there that don't seem to be in the Tamiya kit. Happy to send on a set if you are interested

Hi Injidup - either I need a new computer screen or new eyes! Thanks for the tip with the paper patterns - I think this is the way I'll go. Appreciate the post and link (s). Great job on the McLaren by the way! PR PS Had another look at that pic - yes, should have looked closer. I can make out the weave on the uprights, and at the front and rear edges of the wing, but the end plates look black with no weave - metal?

Rick, thank you! Great shots of the interior. A real mix in there and very helpful. I am still having trouble picking up the weave on that wing but I'll take your word (either need a new computer screen or new eyes!) - are the end plates metal or carbon fibre too? The chassis sticking out under the rear looks metallic and dark grey. Very helpful thanks again. PR

Thanks mate, but still up in the air with this. Your eyes are better than mine regards the wing supports - I cant make out carbon fibre in the pics, just black. (?) I may have to check out the flipped Merc for under chassis, even if a different version. PR

I am building the Schneider/Webber Mercedes CLK GTR, and have a few questions regards the use of carbon fibre on this car. From what I can see, the chassis of this car is carbon fibre. But if I looked underneath the car, would I see carbon fibre pattern or semi-black paint? Were the body panels made from carbon fibre? If so, would this show on the inside? From what info I could find on Google, the suspension wishbones appear to be metallic on several CLK GTRs, but does anyone know if this was also the case with the Schneider/Webber car? I haven't been able to find any close ups of the rear wing and supports. Pictures I have show this structure as black. Was it also made from carbon fibre, and would the pattern have shown or was this structure actually painted back? Any help would be appreciated Peter Roberts

Thanks Shaun I actually did that, and found a template. It is apparently for the carbon fibre decal set, but...it is in 1/20 scale according to the label on the template - I can obviously adjust the scale, but the kit is 1/24 scale (??) and the template doesn't seem to match any of the kit parts - !!?? I am stumped. Hence the request. If need be, I'll have a crack at making my own. PR

I am building the 1/24 Tamiya kit of the CLK version of the Mercedes GTR. I have found a set of carbon fibre decals were made for this kit but they seem to be out of production. I have a generic sheet of carbon fibre, but would be grateful for a template set for this car. Does anyone have a copy of a template for this car please? Or even better, know of a set of decals still available for purchase? Thanks Peter Roberts

Battle of Britain? I agree with you Graham, but the OP was talking about May/June 1940 and early production Spitfires. Not sure where Battle of Britain fits with this? PR

Mark A couple of other items to watch out for on early Spitfire I's, depending on the date: Canopy - flat sides and top, or 'bubble' top with flat sides Windscreen - armoured or unarmoured Pitot - two prong, or later single prong Prop - two or three blade Fin - anti-snare bar Gun sight - cross and bead, or reflector As you have picked up, voltage regulator seems to have been mounted lower in cockpit Hydraulic reservoir mounted behind seat on starboard side, and early undercarriage retraction was by pump mechanism, depending on how detailed you want to be Cheers Peter Roberts

Agree with you Graham, but probably not in 1940, which is the time period that has been discussed. Matusiak suggests several different schemes were trialled around this time, and that it wasn't until late 1941 that 'most, if not all, high flying PRU aircraft were finished in this colour'. (PRU Blue) PR

Thanks for the lead on the Ventura book Fernando. According to Matusiak, who wrote this one, PRU Blue wasn't introduced as a standard until 1942 (!). As you alluded to, early PRU aircraft seem to have carried a variety of experimental colours. PR

Thanks gingerbob - yes, spot on. I finally found it by trying a different search criteria to one I have typically used. Appreciate the link, PR

Thank you for the responses guys. Troy, your photos look to me to be PRU Blue. I know, interpreting B/W photos is a bit fraught, but that Spitfire looks too dark to be Camotint to me, which suggests PRU Blue in my book. If so, then in use by June 1940. Great find Fernando, thank you. Your info suggests experimentation in February 1940, so possible implementation by March/April 1940, if not February, which would match with Troys photos. Sorry Ben, I am not getting any photos with your post (?) but some interesting points. (second edit - photos have appeared! Great shots, thank you for posting. Haven't seen those before.) Edit - tried to find the post on the PRU Hudsons (it was here, wasn't it?) but failed - when was the friendly fire incident? Edit (again) - 3 March 1940 friendly fire. PR