wyverns4

Ah, gotcha! Thanks for the info! Having another look through the two tomes mentioned above there are not many images that show this particular area in any clarity. In, Kightly & Wallsgrove, 2004, on P. 17, there is a picture, taken from the starboard quadrant looking back at the airframe that shows nicely defined ridge-and-furrow, (archaeological description!), across the empennage. The image is cut just before the hinge line, unfortunately... The limited area visible in the transparent covered section on P. 59, shows the structural element at the hinge line to be as wide, if not a little thicker, as the ribs making up the empennage. The section in front of the aerodynamic balance on the elevator resembles a rib and appears to be of equal thickness to those present in the empennage. Those ribs, (1 & 1/2), visible in the image appear to have slightly less depth than the hinge line sections, but if so, not by much. As the fabric cover would be doped, it is difficult to see how the ridge and furrows would show. Unless the fabric was old/well used and starting to loosen, thus sagging... Christian, exiled to africa

Hi Aeronut, I am slightly confused. Do you mean the fixed empennage, or the movable elevator, or both? Both elements were constructed of plywood with metal fixtures and fittings and covered with doped fabric. Looking in Kightly, J & Wallsgrove, R., 2004, Supermarine Walrus and Stranraer, Yellow Series No. 6113, Mushroom Model Magazine Specal, Stratus, Poland, ISBN 83-917178-9-5, on P. 59 there is a picture of the starboard empennage of A2-4 that has been covered in a clear film to allow inspection and illustration of the internal frame work. A thin metal frame/wire is shown. P. 57 has 2 images, one looking along the trailing edge of the elevator, the second from a lower 4 O'clock position and neither show anything other than a straight trailing edge of the elevator. Looking through the photographs in that tome and Hall, A.W. and Sturtivant, R. ?, Warpaint Series No. 39, Supermarine Walrus, Warpaint Books Ltd., Luton, ISBN ?, there are no clear indications to a 'wavy' trailing edge. However, there are many images showing the ripple effect of taunt fabric over the ribs, etc. that form the skeleton of the airframe here. HTH! Christian, exiled to africa with blanky, (A.K.A. my library!)

Fingers and toes crossed, thumbs held, (its a Swedish thing...). Cracking build and quality save. Makes me want to go and tickle the stash monsters tummy so that it can regurgitate one of these! On-On, Christian, exiled to africa

I agree with you, biplanes without rigging just do not look right! Hmmm, open cockpit and no seat belts... Crack on and enjoy yourself! Looking forward to the end result. Christian, annoying extraterrestrials from africa, (is that far enough to be safe, or should I start fashioning a tin foil hat???)

Tales of the Golden Monkey, per chance? Early eighties?? Nice start Ced. I started one of these a few years ago and, (stupidly), decided to correct as many of the errors as possible, (pretty much everything needed modification...), whilst building a second OOB to show the differences. Got about half way through and became distracted... Shall have to dig it out and take a look. Hope the weather behaves and enjoy the flight. I am soooooo jealous! On-On! Christian

Yup, as predicted, there goes the OOB concept! Crack on, oh many-tentacled-one! Christian, gazing out over the Indian Ocean

Oh yum! and at the ready! As a youngster this was my favourite Matchbox models and one that I have often mooted about having a crack at again. Sitting comfortably and awaiting the imminent, rapid and total collapse of the OOB concept... Christian, exiled to africa

Not to mention that there is an extant airframe for lidar work... But, most likely, a typo for Hasegawa/Eduard Christian

NO, no, no, no, Yes, YYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Quick check to make sure that it is not 01/04... Nope. YES!!!!!!!!!! IIRC The Mosquito Museum has some of the concrete moulds used to form the fuselage. Oh, boy, a REAL Hornet, (none of that vulgar sucking and blowing), in the air again! One happy man Christian

Hi Troy, The book is rather good. Pages 1 - 37, (of 96), cover the Hurricane. As just over a third of the tome is devoted to the Hurricane it might be viewed as an expensive luxury. But in mitigation to this it is a niche subject and the author is an acknowledged and thorough expert in the field of Finnish Aviation. Kari Stenman has retired from publishing and it is unlikely that there will be a better book published, (but we can hope!). Picture count-wise, there is one colourized photo, (front cover) and 65 black and white; a couple are on one page and the rest are distributed between 2 - 3 per page. In addition there are 6 colour plates. Two of your images, (first and third) are reproduced within the book and there are others of Z3577. Incidentally, this airframe is noted as only used to provide spare parts. Whether that means the whole fuselage is unclear. There are a number of images of HU 456, including two on P.11 taken at Malmi in April 1940, (also P. 16(?), 17 and 20). In comparing the second of these two with the images you posted above it appears that the relationship between the landing lights and armament matches that of L1936. HTH, Christian

Hi Lawzer, Great Continuation War Hurricane! Tony, I have that book! Keskinen, K. & Stenman, K., 2005, Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia No. 25, Hurricane & Gladiator, Painoyhtyma, Loviisa, PP. 96, ISBN. 952-99432-0-2. 1. There is at least one Hurricane with the rectangular panel on the starboard side. P. 30 - 31 contain four images of Hurricane IIA, (ex-RAF Z2585), of the Soviet Air Force after crash landing at Tuoppajarvi in mid February 1942 and its subsequent recovery on 19/02/1942. The caption states that it was returned to flying condition and joined the Finnish Air Force as HC-465. Spinner, on 'landing' is the more pointed, thinner type. Undercarriage unseen! 2. HU-456. P. 7 lists the received Hurricanes with fabric wings, HU 451, 455, 456 and 462. HTH! Christian

Oh happy days XL please!

Does that mean I have joined the club at last!? Are there t-shirts?? Christian, exiled to africa and in the Fruit Cake Club at last!

I am glad you asked...

Well, copper wiring has a multitude of uses and it would be a shame to let it go to waste, especially as Martians nearest LMS is 249,000,000 miles away! Christian, exiled to africa

Hi, Purchased from Squadron/Signal in 2002. I think it is a re-pop by Williams, but there appears to be some wear to the moulds. Hmm, blue and yellow plastic, that almost has a Matchbox ring to it. Later this year I think I might excavate it from out of the stash and crack on. Unlike yours my intention is for an Argentinian finish. Christian, exiled to africa

Very interesting! and Christian, exiled to africa

and Christian, exiled to africa

Epic! What a nice looking model. I have one n the stash, moulded in white semi-translucent plastic with rather a lot of flash... Christian, exiled to africa

What! No! Three weeks No! No! No! No! Safe travel and hurry back, please...! Christian, exiled to africa

Looking good! Go on prove SWMBO wrong, I dare you! So, and ready to watch battle commenced. I think the decal quandary might be clarified by the presence of two sets of production serial numbers on the bottom left-hand side of the sheet. Perhaps the other kit covered by this dual decal sheet was intended to cover other nationalities that used the T34/85, (looks like North Vietnam and Syria/Egypt to me), ? Christian, exiled to africa

Oh goodie, a Rareplanes! This range consisted of some of the best thought out and simplest to construct vacforms and are a great way to bust that vacform cherry Take your time, test fit, go slow on the sanding and have much fun! So, and ready to watch the fun. Christian, exiled to africa

Looking good! A nice save and explanation on how to go about it. Hand painting markings is something that I have been thinking about, as close, (and closer), study of images of WW 1 airframes really shows how rough some of the markings were, in comparison to all those lovely, geometrical evenly pigmented decals that make life so simple. On-On, Christian, exiled to africa

Hmm, , that does make some sense. Usually they are reffered to as lazy, idle XXXX, (insert expletive of choice)... Christian, exiled to africa

Nice oxymoron there! Fingers all the way; pliers? (cue spaghetti-western Mexican voice-over), "I need no stiinkiing pliers", so I guess the next blade that is replaced will be a stinger... Christian, exiled to africa