72modeler

Dennis, Go to Cybermoder and open up the updated F-100 website- should be enough there on Misty FAC’s to get you started. Pretty sure Caracal did a 1/72 sheet on WW Huns. Mike

Chris, We have had a couple of detailed discussions regarding B-17iG interior colors, which included photos. IPMS Stockholm also did a three-part article on WW2 US aircraft interior colors, and you can do an internet search for it- a well researched and pretty accurate article. You will find some areas were finished in dull dark green, some in unpainted aluminum, and some in untinted zinc chromate primer. In addition, there were parts of the flight deck and bombardier/navigator station that had canvas insulation/sound deadening panels that were in dull dark green or OD. In the unpainted section aft of the radip conpartment, you would also see the stringers and some supports finished in zinc chromate primer. Hope this helps! Mike

Great news, Ed! I would like two sets. BTW, your F-86F slatted wing sets are the bee’s knees! Did I see somewhere that ypu are working on the same for the F-86D? I guess because the belly section is a different contour than the F-86F? Hoping everyone at Red Roo are safe and well! Mike

Actually, Dave; I think it was seven exhsust stacks on each side- that’s what my kit had! Mike

Very nice job on a kit that is not the easiest to build! Only the 2nd one I have seen completed, and it’s a winner. BIG flying boat! Regarding the beaching gear- IIRC, they were painted just like the nav lights- red for port and green for starboard- not a biggie, but some squid is going to see your RFI photos and let ypu know! Mike

Yep- Chris is correct! Mike

Jay Gee, There was a BM’er who was doing the very same build, using the Airfix kit a while back, and a couple of us posted photos and details of both installations. He had to graft on the waist gun blisters from an Italeri kit I sent him, but that wasn’t all that diifficult; modifying the B-25J tail gun position was the hardest part of the buiild. You could do a search for the topic, as it had a lot of detail period photos and text. You will also have to alter the shape of the top of the waist gun blisters, as they were not the same as the ones on the H and J, but the info in the discussion will show this. I have no success using the BM search engine, but I bet one of our regulars will be able to pull it up- good luck on your project! Mike

I am having to use my smartphone to perform any functions on BM, and I’m not familiar with it- either ATT is blocking BM’s server again, or the Russki’s are hacking me. Thanks for having my six, Steve! IIRC, we had a discussion on this topic , and I posted photos of the antenna and fairing; the OP could do a search for it! Mike

I think you can build a P-47D-30 from the Tamiya kit, but you will have to find a non C-series R-2800-59W engine. The -30 had the compressibility recovery flaps as well as the relocated landing light like the M, so you should be good to go, there. IIRC, the -30 used the Curtiss Electric paddle blade prop with the assymetric blades, which I think comes as one of the kit choices. (Not my scale, so I’m not totally familiar with what comes in the box.) You might ask @Tbolt for confirmation/clarification, as he is our resident Jug expert! Mike

Antti is correct- the antennas were part of the Rebecca Beam Approach system, and also appeared on the Mk VIII. Not every aircraft had them fitted- it appeared to be a factor of where the aircraft was used. If you go to The Spitfire Website and look at the mast and antenna section, you can find a description, usage, and photo of the antenna and its fairing.

@lesthegringo, You might try this: they make very tiny flat cotton pads that are attached to small plastic handles that are used, IIRC, to clean the optical heads on VCR's and record/playback heads on cassette recorders. If the Tamiya primer you used is acrylic or water-based lacquer, you should be able to put a few drops of Windex or some other ammonia-based cleaner on the pad, and rub on the windscreen's inner surface to remove the overspray. I forget what the little beggars are called, but you can get them at electronics stores or online. Failing that, find some photos of aviation charts and maps and reduce them down to 1/48 scale, and plaster them all over the top of the instrument panel shroud, especially in the corners, as so many aircrew do when flying cross country. That should help break up the reflection on the inner windscreen surface enough to hide the overspray. Failing that, you could always make a 1/48 scale airsick bag and place it on the BN's seat and blame him for barfing all over the inside of the windscreen! (Yes, I know- I am one sick puppy, but that'ls what you get for gluing that windscreen on so well! Mike

For such a short run, like the IFF wires that go from stabilizer to fuselage, I either use sprue or very fine nichrome wire that I got from a friendly orthodontist. Mike

Dennis, Pretty sure both EP401 and BR329 had Rotol props with Jablo blades and the long, pointed spinner. See the link below for text and photos. Also pretty sure that both Spits had the fittings for a slipper tank, but I didn't locate any photos that showed them carrying one; guess it would depend upon the range required for a given sortie. There were a couple of discussions/RFI's on these two Spitfires ere on BM- you could look for them. Betting @tonyoth as built one or both, but for some reason, I can't seem to flag his user ID so he will see this- weird, as I can pull up everybody else! (Russian hackers?) Mike https://allspitfirepilots.org/aircraft/EP401

I thought some of you tailhook types might find this film footage of interest. An hour loing and no sound, but worth watching. Watch for a VA-174 Scooter carrying LGB's! Those were golden days, before the many types assigned all got replaced by F-18's! (Old school and I don't care who knows it!) Footage via YouTube. Mike

I thought all of you Jug fans (and you know who you are!) would find this photo collection of interest; it shows the current status of the P-47D razorback that the Dakota Air Museum is restoring to flight. IIRC, it is an actual Republic-built P-47D, not a Curtiss-built P-47G, as are the other flyable razorback Jug survivors. Note that it will have a functioning turbosupercharger, which is very rare among all the flyable P-47's. The quality of the restoration looks to be top notch- can't wait to see her fly again! Mike https://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/dakota-territory-air-museum-p-47d-restoration-update-december-2021-january-2022.html