bull-nut

That's a lovely looking big cat, well done.

Tracks look great Stix, they going to be getting any more grime?

Decals for infantry units in 1/56th as well, including shoulder titles, divisional patches and NCO stripes. Already thought about using some for my 48th builds.

Might be easier, if anyone in the UK is after wheels for either of these, to try Red Zebra models, they carry stowage sets for them as well.

Looking good, I wonder if the colour looks a little pale, but its your model (and my moniter ) I think mine has just moved up the build pile a few places. I managed to get the ITA etch for it before they closed up shop, but I'm still undecided how I will build it. What I would really like is for Airfix (or anyone else for that matter) to do an injection Austin K2 Ambulance in 1/48 Edit. Just found out that Red Zebra have resin stowage for both Army and RAF versions of this little beauty.

Dartmoor Military Models do two sets of British western desert tank crew in 1/48. Cast in white metal,they are a little bigger than Tamiya or Revell 1/48 figures, but look fine next to my Crusader Mk III. You can find mine Here when I can get back to it.

Looks like a good start. I've built one of these myself, and it went together like a dream, typical Tamiya fit. I do like 1/48 armour, got several in the stash, to the wifes dismay (she much prefers things with wings).

Looking good so far, and an interesting turn around, as you say. Just got the Bedford for Christmas, so I'll be following along with this one.

Hi Styx, any chance I could get in on this one please?

National Archives results for 99sqd Operational Reports from 1944-45. Here And for 159 sqd Here Afraid I didn't have any luck finding reports for 1673 HCU, would a conversion unit have filled them, anyone? Grab the appendices as well if you can, they gave me just what I needed for the wife's great uncles Whitley IV (thanks again to Bengt for the pointer). You should be able to get plenty of info from those.

Nice to see the H2S radome, but what about the retractable H2X?

Bladder: Nice idea. I had a thought of something similar, but more of a Then and Now thing with Tamiya's Cromwell and British infantry, coupled with Airfix's Warrior and British infantry. All in 1/48 obviously.

Tony: Not tight, just a case of not spending money unnecessarily. The wanted section is a good call, thanks. AWFK10: Thanks for the clarification, I can relax about replacing that now. Ivor: Thanks for the info. DP: Found that one after posting here, but thanks for the link anyway, I'll likely pick one of those up if other avenues don't bear fruit. Bengt: You star, have a Cookie! That's just what I was hoping for. Having now bought that record, thanks for the tip, it shows the relative in question flying on N1407/H on 13th March, filling a different role. Retrained in the meantime I guess. Edit. Aargh. Need 100 posts to start a thread in the Wanted section. Don't have time to make the next 82 posts right now, maybe I'll try scratchbuilding the fins instead.

Tony: Yes, I'd already found the Yorkshire Aircraft site, That was one of the reasons I thought the MkIV only had the one turret, the crew manifest only shows one air gunner, rather than the two I would have expected. I guess the observer would have done double duty as an air gunner? Already had a quick look at the National Archives, but thought it was worth trying here before I pay up for the record download, this month has been expensive enough already . David Earl's Hell on High Ground apparently has a good report of the incident, so I've got a copy on order from Amazon. I may have to get the code from the NA after all though. VV: Thanks for the tip, I'll try over there if nothing else comes up AWKK10: 15"? That amounts to about 5mm off of the fuselage rear doesn't it? I'll have to take a slice out between the turret mounting and horizontal stab then? Rounded fin leading edges could be more of a problem, depends where they adjusted the leading edge line I guess. If the tip was moved forwards, then I could maybe reshape the kit parts, but if the chord of the fins was reduced, I'll need to replace them with new? Edit: According to uboat.net, the Mk4 used a 2 gun tail turret. Also, does anyone know if the flightpath conversion for the Frog kit is still available anywhere, it seems to have a set of early fins.

Hi all, since the members here have proved so helpful with my upcoming liberator build, I thought I'd put a request for another family link and see if it can be as productive. The aircraft in question this time is an AW Whitley Mk IV, serial K9039, 51 sqd that went down in Yorkshire on the morning of 1 May 1940 after getting lost and running out of fuel after a raid on Norway. I've tried multiple google searches but had no luck determining the aircrafts squadron letter, I do know it was MH-? Best chance for a build I think is to backdate the Airfix Mk V, so what changes would I need to make? fair over the rear turret? Standard RAF DE/DG over Night scheme would be right I guess?

Got the same set of decals in the post for my upcoming build of NG986/F in which my great uncle lost his life. Cost me £5 including shipping within the UK, but I think the spares department are having a busy period. I ordered them 3 weeks ago, and only got an email saying they were in the post yesterday after 2 calls chasing them a week apart.

Nick. I hadn't noticed the tonal variance in the fin flash, though I can see it now. As you say, the same difference in visible on the 'H' aircraft, maybe just painting out of the red portion of the roundel, but leaving the fin flash as is? or maybe the shots were taken before the painting was finished. Byron. Thanks for the Ebay link. Though I've already taken delivery of a 'dragon and his tail' boxing of the academy/minicraft kit that will serve as the base, and the decals, less the aircraft codes, but including a good selection of airframe stencils, should be here in a few days from Airfix (it was cheaper than buying multiple aftermarket sheets, most of which I will be unlikely to ever use). Graham. Thanks for the additional confirmation re the two tone uppers on KG serial aircraft, makes me a little more sure that I can get it mostly right. By the way, if anyone wants the Dragon and Tail decals, drop me a PM and I'll see what I can do as I'll never use them. I've only given them a cursory look, but they seem ok.

Tony: Interesting shots. The fuselage roundels on '945 peeked my interest since they don't appear to be standard SEAC colours, having a lighter outer ring. Standard 4 colour RAF roundels with the red centre painted out maybe? Thanks for the 'Dumbo' shots, I may have to build one of those in the future. Regarding my question on the 'Leigh' light, squadron record transcripts from Rquirk say that they were removed from all of 203's liberators in December '44, therefore would not have been fitted when the sqn resumed combat operations in March '45. Guess I'll have to save the light for a Catalina or Dumbo build (Edited to correct typo.)

Little update, I've found this image in a book that claims to be an ex 203 sqn aircraft. I know the 'G' suffix indicates that the aircraft was to be under constant guard, but would this apply to all H2X equipped aircraft, or would there be another reason? Edit: Also, this is the only image I have found claiming to be of a 203 bird that shows any black fin markings, would the ground crew have painted them out for some reason or could they be a Post war addition? Rquirk does not list KH342 as belonging to 203sqn.

Nice idea, though pretty much every image I've found of rural Tunisian walls shows them to be fairly rough, almost like hand rendered mud, or like the buildings in Tatooine in the original Star Wars, (not a surprise really as that's exactly were it was filmed.) I think I'll dig out a few of the blocks I have precast and see how they look. Other issue now is whether I use the DMM models, which are wearing short fatigues, or other figures in longer battle dress. Google shows crews in Tunisia wearing the both.

Couple of pics of a small dio being worked on for a Tamiya 1/48 Crusader Mk3. Tank still needs a matt coat when I can get back to the airbrush. Still need to add a lid, bucket and line for the well, a shallow layer of water, and two crewmen from Dartmoor Military Models. Groundwork area measures about 200x150mm. Crewmembers will go next to the tank, just by the well top, or a little further back by the number 3 & 4 wheel stations. Glue was still wet when these pics were taken, hence why the ground work around the foliage looks darker in places. I also know I need to clean up the sides, that will come at the end. Not sure whether it needs a small tree or low wall at the back to finish it off, I have some of the Hirst Arts Egyptian moulds I could use to make a stone wall, but I'm worried they would be too big and heavy looking.

Inside the Armour have etch sets for both the Bedford and Albion: http://www.insidethearmour.com Better hurry though as he has announced he is closing up shop to new orders on Dec 14th this year, and will not be selling on any of the molds etc, so once he closes, the entire range will be gone for good. Shame really as he also does a rather nice set of etch for the 1/48 Tamiya Dingo (which includes a No19 radio set) and a set of generic hand tools and tool boxes. Only just noticed the new deadline for orders, previously it was the 31st, ordered what I want while typing this, just too make sure I get it. Good luck. Someone really does need to make a set of etch bar armour for the Warrior, how to go about the lattice though I think is the problem. Edit: Hauler http://www.hauler.cz also do etch sets for the Albion and Bedford. Images are pretty thin, so not sure exactly what each includes.

I'd mask off the affected area and very carefully remove the white/blue paint. I would use a cotton bud dampened slightly with Acetone-Free nail varnish remover, make very sure it's acetone free and rub gently. (check the ingredients list on the bottle, you should find it says something like Isopropol Alchohol as an active ingredient) You can get it from your local chemist/pharmacy, or ask one of the women in your life if they have some you can borrow briefly. Paint the fin flash area white first. If you can get it locally, I'd suggest Citadel Ceramite White, from Games Workshop, which seems to cover well. Then mask the central white stripe and paint the red/blue afterwards. White paint is generally very thin on pigment, so doesn't cover well, but the citadel Ceramite is formulated to go on opaque in only 1 or 2 coats.

Found this site that confirms NG986 was a GR VI, rather than a Bomber Command spec B Mk VI, which also confirms the presence of the retractable radome. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b24_21.html That's a relief since I already ordered the B-17 H2X radome from Blackbird models! Oddly, his list of CC Liberator squadrons omits 203 sqn. I'm choosing to ignore this on the grounds that it could merely be a mistake on his part. Further reading shows that some CC Libs were fitted with a Leigh light under the Stbd wing, does anyone know if this included those in SEAC use? I haven't found anything concrete either way. It's possible I suppose, though as an ASW item, how useful would it have been out in the far east? If no facts come to light (pun intended), I may get the pavla set and use it anyway since it will add something else that bit different on the model, and a crewman cleaning the lens will make a nice use for the trestle I have in the Airfix resupply set that's sat in the stash. This project seems to be getting less and less OOB, next thing you know, I'll be building a full interior

Thanks for your help everyone, if I can summarise very quickly then; Two tone EDSG/DSLG uppers with white lower surfaces (probably with a hint of grey/buff since I have failed every time I've tried to paint a smooth pure white) SEAC two tone roundels on all surfaces except wing undersides, Aircraft letter codes in MSG or SLG, need to search out some decals for those and the roundels. Xtradecal? I think I'll check the some auction sites and see if I can pick up the Academy/Minicraft kit, I may even pick up some replacement engines and superchargers as well. That image of KG849 seems to show the ventral ball turret in place too, so, assuming '986 was equipped the same way, that saves me having to blank off the opening or fabricate the pintle gun position I've heard about. Once again, my most sincere thanks too you all for the help, time to spend some of my hard earned money I guess!