airjiml2

Weird to see the ESCI logo on a few of the promises. Wonder if they will appear in ESCI boxes? Jim

You suspect correctly my friend. RCAF Kittyhawks...of all variants, including some early Kittyhawks...were painted in the Day Fighter scheme in Canada. As far as I can tell are were delivered in OD/NG to Canada. Jim

The were Canso props, so use a PBY prop. This is an easy option: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QB72006 Jim

Here is a better shot of AG665 from the Ken Molson Colleciton. I think that is a Mk. I airframe. Notice the very early style pitot. Jim

There is much here to digest, and I will do so and report back soon. I am 100% in the camp that something is amis with the idea that either the RCAF "Battle" Hurricanes or the Sea Hurricanes had Mk. II airframes. They clearly had Mk. I airframes and this is confirmed by photographic evidence. It is also interesting to note that Sea Hurricane BW850 (the "Gary Madore" Hurricane) was flying in July 1941. I've only started to dig into AG665, but clearly it was flying in Canada. The only other Hurricane in the early batches I can confirm was flying in Canada after the prototype was AF964. However, there was at least one Hurricane that was complete and airworthy in July 1941 (the "Philip Taylor" Hurricane), but even though many pictures exist, I haven't been able to confirm the serial. More soon, Jim

It is possible, but unlikely, if the AVG Hawks were indeed from RAF contracts. You will notice in factory photos that the US birds have natural metal and maroon props and the RAF birds have black with yellow tips. https://www.flickr.com/photos/35963591@N00/4128855799/in/album-72157622864527612/ Jim

Absolutely excellent job Andy, I love it. I was just thinking about you the other day and need to drop you an email. But to put on my pedantic hat, 5389 was never FN+M. Just M as in the picture. That little piece of info just keeps getting repeated and repeated. Jim

My knocks against the Airfix kit are misplaced wing pylons, terrible main wheels, crude cockpit, heavy scribing, and soft detail. Plus the canopy ain't the best. Jim

A long time ago I wrote up a post on the Sabres for my blog. I should revisit it. I'm kinda taken aback for the Fujimi love. Sure it is a nice kit, but the fuselage seems really fat. Maybe that is just my perception, but the Airfix and Heller Sabres look right to me, while the HC/Academy and Fujimi look half way between a F-86F and F-86H in the nose area. Jim

Yes indeed, a 1 OTU rocket equipped RCAF Hurricane Mk. XII most likely taken at the 1 ATTD (Advanced Tactical Training Detachment) at Greenwood. Sadly, I have yet to confirm which Hurricane was #69. Jim

Hi Tony, Excellent job finding a snow(ice)scape for the the OTU birds! Jim

Graham, Have you tried e-bay? https://www.ebay.com/itm/A-26-INVADER-French-1-144-F-toys-JAPAN/112557154757?hash=item1a34ede1c5:g:spQAAOSwbopZhTWH https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-144-airplane-F-toys-French-A-26-Invader-in-Black-bandai-takara-cafereo/123101682354?hash=item1ca96e9ab2:g:9gEAAOSwkvdabm0B It has been a few years since I bought any of the 1/144 Gashopons, but I was a tad surprised at the price. Jim

Saw that earlier today. Thanks for posting the RS obit - a magazine to which he was intrinsically linked. I guess I will have to reread the Right Stuff as well as build the Hunter. Jim

My feeling is that for the flying shots it was just a white painted Hunter. For the ground shots the other modifications were added. Jim

Andre, Thank you sir. PM sent! Jim

If anyone can put their hands on the issue and scan the Hunter photo, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks, Jim

Scimitar, Yep, that is the airplane. Sabrejet, I have the same memory, but no longer have the issue of Air International it was featured in. It appears it was the January 1984 issue. Thanks all, Jim

That is a very poorly done colourized photo. There is some colour video or a RCAF HWE Hurricane here: See 29:30. Jim

Yes, they were used for training. The RCAF RP modified Hurricanes were used by 1 OTU at Bagotville and its associated No. 1 ATTD (Advanced Tactical Training Detachment) at Greenwood. Modifications were done by No. 4 RD at Scoudouc. There is a photo of the installation in my IPMS Canada article series. Jim

CCF built Hurricanes were mostly aluminum paint on the interior. There is one extant aircraft in Canada in which the interior was never repainted, and it matches period photos outside of some missing items. I'll dig out my photos and report back on the green portions. Jim

I have been asked to build a Revell Hunter for a Museum display as the Hunter that was (slightly) modified to appear as a Douglas D-558-2 in "The Right Stuff." There isn't much on the net about the aircraft which was an ex-Danish US based civil Hunter. Anyone have any additional photos? I remember there was a photo in an old 1984 issue of Air International, but my copy has disappeared over the years. I'm not quite sure how the nose was modified and what the fuselage and tail markings were. I do have the movie on order, and I can't remember how much of the Hunter was seen on film. Thanks, Jim

Jack, 323 didn't get shipped to the UK until June 1940, as it had a accident in Canada and was being repaired by CCF. It spent some time at the MUs in England and arrived with 1 Squadron mid September 1940. I don't have any additional details on upgrades, but I'll tell you the photo with the Rotol prop was quite the shock when it was discovered. Jim

The only 1 Squadron RCAF Hurricane that came from Canada that I've got photographic confirmation during the BoB is 323/YO-D. It confirms fabric wing and Rotol prop and spinner. When 1 Sqn arrived in Britain, its outdated Hurricanes were quickly replaced by the RAF with British-built examples. However, for some reason 311 and 323 were updated and transferred to the squadron. 323 is a rather special RCAF Hurricane as it is the only known RCAF HWE Hurricane to fire its guns in anger in Europe. On October 5, 1940, F/L Pitcher shot down a Bf 109 while flying 323. Sadly, the serial is not visible in the photo, but is believed that none of the ex-RCAF Hurricanes were assigned RAF serials during their RAF service. Jim

Yep, sorry. 1944 is correct. Jim

Hi Chris, About 10 years ago or so I got frustrated about so much conflicting, and incorrect, information published about RCAF/CCF Hurricanes and went down a research rabbit hole that continues to this day. I decided to ignore everything previously published and rely on primary sources. (Record cards/RCAF memos/contracts/ORBs, etc.) This lead to correspondence with a few other Hurricane researches and we have all be sharing information in order to get to the bottom of a very complicated story. I published a three part article a couple of years ago on the topic in IPMS Canada's RT magazine and had always planned to follow up with a book. However, I've come to the conclusion that there just isn't a market for a book with such a narrow focus. Not to mention, more and more information keeps being uncovered on the topic by our little research group each day/week. Jim