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lasermonkey

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Posts posted by lasermonkey

    guns through canopies

    in Aircraft WWII

    Posted

    I just cut the barrel off, at the point where it would be half way through the transparent part. I glue the rearmost part to the inside of the transparency and attach that as you normally would. This leaves an easy to mask surface. You can add the barrel(s) later right at the end of the build.

    Airfix 1/72 Hurricane Mk.I A02067 (new Tool)

    in Work in Progress - Aircraft

    Posted

    I started mine this weekend and for some reason my upper wing appears smaller than the lower wing. Sounds strange written down, but there's a ledge all around the outer edge of the upper wing where it mates to the lower. Not a big deal as I can fill it, but cleaning up the edge is going to remove some detail. I've got another and will try again, but I hope it's a one-off.

    Other than that, it's a lovely build.

    Tim

    Hopefully you won't have done anything to the wing yet....! To quote Tony OT...

    "Also,...the lower wing halves are longer than the upper halves but they are supposed to be like that so don`t trim them to the same size!"

    Hope I'm not too late!

    Latest Walkaround Updates

    in Chat

    Posted

    ps you'll find them in the sub albums menu. Some of the sub-folders, such as "Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc" have their own sub-folders for individual aircraft. It's worth checking all the folders, just in case! The Tiger Moth ones should keep you busy for some time!

    Latest Walkaround Updates

    in Chat

    Posted · Edited by lasermonkey

    You're more than welcome to use anything that's on my Photobucket site. There's a lot of walkarounds on there and a number of interior photos too. You can find it here.

    Hope this helps,

    Mark.

    ps you'll find them in the sub albums menu.

    Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant

    in Aircraft WWII

    Posted

    I did one in the past and although it was ultimately quite a rewarding experience (and I certainly learnt a lot doing it!) it really is a case of "open box and insert new kit!"

    I used an Airwaves replacement nose, Aeroclub prop, Falcon Clearvax canopy and turret (guns came from an Novo Blenheim), Airwaves etched brass set (heavily modified to get it to fit, as seems to be the case for Airwaves stuff), a new tail built from plastic card and a load of filler.

    It came out looking like this- airfix-defiant-mk-I-1.jpg

    I'm reasonably happy with it, but could do a lot better. I wouldn't mind having another go some time, just for the challenge. I've always had a soft spot for the Defiant.

    1/72 Airfix Spitfire Mk.1a New Tool

    in Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary Group Build

    Posted

    Looking good, Rowan!

    I toyed with the idea of sanding off some wingroot to get the dihedral, but in the end I did the same as with the old Airfix Mk I, which is somewhat convoluted! I cut the lower wing into three parts (I know!), glueing the centre-section to the fuselage first. I then attach the upper wings to the fuselage, getting the required dihedral and then, once dry, attach the lower wings. I've done it so many times now it's second nature. It does involve some filling and sanding, but I'm happy with the outcome.

    One of my new Mk Is is ready for the upper surface colours now, having painted the undersides Sky Blue. This one is going to be K9953/ZP*A of No 74 Sqn.. The others are just about ready to have their wings fitted. These will be P9323/ZD*F of No 222 Sqn, R6626/XT*Y of No 603 Sqn and good ol' P9495/DW*K from No 610 Sqn, although I'll be using Modeldecals for the codes as I'm not happy with the Airfix ones.

    I'm still trying to complete all nineteen for the end of October. We'll see!!!

    Cheers,

    Mark.

    1/72 Airfix Spitfire Mk.1a New Tool

    in Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary Group Build

    Posted

    As far as I know, there aren't any "off the shelf" decals for No 66 Sqn aircraft, so you'll have to resort to generic markings from Modeldecal, Xtradecal et al. I'm doing R6800/LZ*N (amongst many) at the moment. Interestingly, No 66 used Medium Sea Grey serials during 1940 (and possibly earlier) and at some point during the BoB switched to red spinners.

    I used 30" codes from the Tally Ho RAF codes set, as these seem to match the photo I've seen of R6800 best, even though I suspect the codes were closer to 28". The Modeldecal 30" codes are a bit too "thick", if that makes sense. I used Ventura's light grey serials. The fuselage roundel would have been 35" and probably with a 7" red centre. It would appear that the red centre on the 50" underwing roundels was larger than standard.

    The undersurface colour is open to question, but IMHO could well have been Sky Blue No 1 or possibly Sky.

    Here's a couple of links to Mark Styling's profile pages which may be of some use. Please note that the yellow leading edges should be ignored, as should the black serial numbers. R6800 had the pilot's headrest deleted.

    http://www.markstyling.com/spitfiresmkl_ll_2.htm

    http://www.markstyling.com/spitfiresmkl_ll_3.htm

    Hope this helps,

    Mark.

    Lysander In TSS

    in Aircraft WWII

    Posted

    Thanks all for this, sounds like TSS is OK then from what Edgar has come up with. I sort of hoped that might be the case. I recently picked up a set of decals which has marking for the Spitfire ASR Mk IIc or whatever, black stripe along the belly, but in DG/OG/MSG rather than TSS, pity that but there we go. John, I'll PM you with an email addy, I'd like a copy of those pics if poss, I have some info already on Defiants, I think one of the ASR squadrons went in for a non std camo pattern from what I've read, but I'll stick with whatever has std pattern as being easier to reference. I've got some sketches with the Life Rafts on Lysanders but not Defiants, my next quest, AFAIK, the Spifires had their flare chutes adapted for dropping these life rafts. I'll bet now that the Airfix Lysander is the wrong Mk, a Mk II from memory, with a Perseus rather than Mercury motor. :(

    Steve.

    Hi Steve, I think it's the Matchbox kit which is a Mk II, with the Airfix kit being a Mk I/III. That said, I prefer the Matchbox kit and bought a Mercury engine/cowl from Aeroclub to convert it.

    Cheers,

    Mark.

    favorite acrylic paint

    in Paint

    Posted

    Another Lifecolour fan here. I still haven't found anything that gives a smoother finish and although it does have its idiocyncracies, once you've got those sorted, it is great.

    For spraying I thin with water to the consistency of semi-skimmed milk and add a couple of drops of Liquitex Slo-Dry. For brush-painting, which is all I can do at the moment, I thin to the same consistency, but add a drop or two of washing-up liquid. This seems to break down the surface tension and makes it far easier to apply.

    Battle of Britain

    in Real Aviation

    Posted

    I watched a very interesting programme about the BoB some time ago. In it, Bungay (at least I'm sure it was him) challenged the generally accepted view that it was only the switch from bombing Fighter Command airfields to bombing London which save the RAF from defeat.

    Using computer modelling alongside known tactics, weather conditions, loss-rates, etc, it showed the Luftwaffe running out of aircraft within weeks, whereas the RAF could sustain aircraft and pilot losses indefinitely. I can't remember all the detail unfortunately, but it was certainly food for thought.

    Did anyone else see that programme and have any views on it?

    I think I will have to get hold of that Bungay book, it sounds fascinating.

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