Essex Dave

Hi All, Am currently building the Tamiya 1/48 Mossie, and as usual am modeling a specific aircraft that was based in Essex, in this case NS838 UP-J 'Wags War Wagon' which flew out of Bradwell for a time, piloted by Alan Wagner. It was delivered to service between Jan and May 1944 and was fitted with Merlin 25 Engines I have struggled to get many images of the aircraft itself mostly close up nose shots with pilot and navigator. My question is, there are two types of propeller in the Tamiya kit both three blade but one is a paddle type and the other a much sharper looking blade, does anyone have any idea which version this Mosquito would have had fitted ? Regards Dave

Hi All, Am looking fir some help with a couple of questions before I start to make the Italeri 1/72 Stirling. In October 1944 190 and 620 Squadrons moved into Great Dunmow, which is the period i'm interested in Q1, would the Stirling still have had invasion stripes top and bottom of wings and fuselage, ive seen pictures with the wing either painted out or worn away and only the bottom of the fuselage stripes showing. Q2, Would the fuselage have had smaller ID markings, again I have also seen pictures where the first two identifies are smaller that the third ie QS- P & QS- B, was this because of the invasion stripes or just a particular squadron 'standard' I am very interested in either of the above planes so if anyone has any pictures it would be appreciated. Regards to all Dave

Another vote for Halfords gloss aluminium, just used it on my 1/48 P47 and very pleased with the result, very fine spray, 3 coats was fine,panel lines still stood out and very good coverage.

Hi all, can anyone recommend the best rattle can paint to simulate a bare metal finish on a P-47D razorback Thunderbolt ?

Hi all, am in the process of a 1/48 Tamiya P51B build and have seen a problem ahead: The stars and bars decal part covers the RGO lights on the tip of the wing, so do I place the decal and then paint the light lens or do I try to cut the decal to expose the light, before or after laying it down ? I'm sure someone has hit this problem before so just looking for your advice and experience

Hi All, am just about to start the Tamiya 1/48 P-51B, have decided to paint the Don Gentile version, my question is around the decals, I have read on various build forums that the supplied Tamiya decals are very thick, brittle and will not settle so am looking at some aftermarket ones, there are two choices stocked at Hannants either the Kits-World KW48008 or the Microscale SS481113. The Microscale also has the stars and bars so looks the better buy but I would be interested in your opinion either way or even if you think I should have no issues with the Tamiya ones. Cheers All

Thanks for the info, it certainly looks a fantastic finish, think I will give this a go on a spare Airfix 1/72 mustang I have first before doing my expensive 1/48 Tamiya

Hi my next project is going to be an early P-51B that flew out of Boxted in December to march 43/44 I want to do Buzz Beerbowers "Bonnie B" of the 353rd FS but all photos of this have been Bonnie B II with the Malcolm hood,does anyone know of any original Bonnie photos ? Also does anyone know when the spinner and cowling were painted white and if the original Bonnie would have had them ? appreciate any help you can give, cheers Dave

Hi All Following advise on this forum I have just ordered a 1/48 Tamiya P-47 Razorback, I've decoded to paint it the colours of Pengie III which has a bare metal finish and red Cowling and rudder. I don't have the luxury or the permission to be able to paint with an airbrush so: 1. Can anyone recommend an alumimium/bare metal paint in a rattle can that I can use ? 2. assuming that I should prime the model, what primer/colour would you recommend? 3. I intend to do some panel lines after painting would black be too obvious or would you do something more subtle ? Im sure these wont be the last questions on this but the advice so far has been very helpful and when you are only just getting back into this modeling lark after a fair few years its invaluable, and incidentally, its the reason I joined. Cheers Dave

Hi All, Having taken advice on this forum I have just ordered a 1/48 Tamiya Thunderbolt Razorback, i'm looking to paint this in the colours of Pengie III, which has a bare metal finish and red cowling and rudder, and flew out of Boxted which is not far from me.I don't have an airbrush as I dont have the needed permission to spray indoors so: 1, can anyone suggest a good aluminium/bare metal rattle can paint that I can use in the garage ? 2, assuming that I should prime the surface first can you recommend a good primer/colour for bare metal 3, after painting I intend to do some panel lines, I have a feeling that black might be a but much on bare metal, can you recommend a colour that my not be quite so obvious ? would grey be better ? I'm sure this wont be the last question on this subject but all the advice given so far has been very informed, which when you haven't done this modeling lark for a good few years is invaluable, which incidentally is why I joined Cheers Dave

Thanks all, looks as though Its pretty unanimous, so have taken your advice and just ordered a tamiya 1/48 razorback, am now looking for a suitable subject plane to model to add to my Essex collection, which shouldn't be a problem as the 56th fighter group were based about 10 miles from me at Boxted. Cheers

Hi All, Am contemplating building a 1/48 scale P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback depicting one that flew from RAF Boxted in 1944, there are aftermarket decals for this, but i'm a bit stumped about which kit to buy - Tamiya ? Revell? etc. Can anyone help that has built these before ?

Thanks All, plenty of food for thought, am new to this weathering lark so I guess I will need to try them all to see what works for me, I saw some of the Humbrol weathering powders on Youtube so I think I will be investing in in a few of these in key colours, for this build i'm going to try a wash and see if I can get the hang of it, then move onto the powders and even the pastels. Cheers for all the advice Dave

Hi All, Just completed a 1/72 GMC truck, which looks fine but its a bit clean... can I ask for some advice on how to dirty it up a bit ? ie mud in the wheel arches and a worn/shabby appearance ? What would be the best method ? Its painted in OD at present. Cheers Dave

Hi, like you I have just returned to model making after a 30 year gap, taking advice from the web and on this forum, I made the call to use the Future/Klear/Pledge approach before and after decals. Obviously this is only my experience but I found the Klear went on perfectly even with a brush and it made the application of the decals using Micro Set/Sol easy, I have honestly never had decals look so good, I sealed the decals with Klear and am just about to apply the satin coat to dull it down a bit. I got the Pledge from Sainsbury's if you want to go down this route, I certainly will be using this method again. Good luck, things have certainly changed a bit haven't they ? Cheers Dave

Thanks very much fro the advice everyone, plenty of choice, so will take the plunge with the knowledge that at least I wont ruin what I have already done, if I can get my head around the IT bit i'll send in a couple of photos when its all done. Cheers All

Hi All, Just joined today, and inevitably have a question (s) Ive just started building again after approx. 30 odd years as now have the time and some space, for various reasons including local history I have been building a 1/72 Marauder, this is an old 70's kit and have been looking at the web and this site for hints and tips, originally intending to build it, slap some paint on and go but looking at some of the examples on here have decided to see if I can make a better job of it - things have certainly come on a lot since last I picked up my polystyrene cement. Floor cleaner - who knew ?...... Im trying to make a passable job of it and am also trying to incorporate some of the new techniques found on the internet So to my questions I have used Tamiya and Humbrol acrylic paint for the upper and lower parts on the model, used Pledge Klear as a base for the decals, fitted some kitsworld decals of the plane i'm interested in and put another coat of pledge on them. 1, Am about to apply Flory models dark dirt to give it some weathering [hark at me !] and i'm hoping that this will dull down the sheen especially on the upper surfaces which the Pledge has produced, can anyone tell me how permanent this wash is once dried ? ie will it stand some handling without coming off on my hands ? 2, If the wash is not meant to be a final coat or it dosent dull down the sheen can someone recommend a decent matt varnish that would not ruin the work already done, I would hate this to react with the layers already down, I don't own an airbrush yet so it will have to be a rattle can or one that is easily brushpainted Appreciate an help you can give me Cheers Dave.