72modeler

Luvverly! Wonder why they don't fly it, like they do their other heritage jets. Bang seat certification, perhaps? A real shame. Thanks for posting the photos, BTW. Mike

I did some quick research, and the museum's Ju-86 was produced in 1938 for Sweden as a Ju-86K-4. It was later converted by the Swedes into a transport, and was not retired from service until 1958! It was put back in bomber configuration before being put on display. I would guess that since it was manufactured by Junkers it would have had the cockpit, wheel bays, and bomb bay in RLM02. The dorsal gunner's position, I have no idea- could be RLM02 or aluminum? Best I can do, but it is an attractive machine, in either diesel or radial configuration! Mike

Wish that were me! It's an F-5, I think. I do have a color slide of me sitting in the cockpit of the 8th FBG C.O.'s F-86F-30 with his helmet on when I was nine; as soon as I figure out how, I will replace my avatar with that one! Thanks for asking. Mije

@Troy Smith, Never realized that the bar under the fixed part of the canopy was unpainted/painted aluminum- I would have thought the upper part of the bar would have been painted to match the corresponding upper surface color. Thanks for the posts! Mike

"Never in the course of human conflict has something so big been flown by someone even bigger!" (I know-go to the corner and think about what I've just said. ) Mike

@Sky Keg, Slightly off-topic, but I love your avatar, even if it's not a Finnish B-239! So cool! Mike

Yep- you are right! Should have gone back and looked it up in my photo archives! I will go back and correct my post- don't want to be the bearer of incorrect information- thanks! Mike

Damn- Winnie's cigar is huge- looks like a Mk XIII torpedo! Guess the headphones wouldn't fit over his bowler! (Yes, I know I am one sick puppy, but it had to be said!) Mike

IIRC, the Oakland Aviation Museum in California is said to have a Solent 3 that was once owned by Howard Hughes in their collection. You might visit their website to see if there are photos you could use. From the photos I have seen, I think the Solent used the same props and spinners (Lots of photos show no spinner fitted.) as the ones fitted to Centaurus-powered Tempest Mk II's or early Sea Fury FB11's, as well as Bristol Freighters Pretty pricey way to get four props/spinners as you would need to rob four Matchbox or Heller Tempest kits, off the top of my head, as I bet four Aeroclub metal ones would be impossible to obtain! Hope this helps a little. (P.S. You can't use Hamilton Std. four bladers like the ones fitted to Corsairs or Thunderbolts, for the aircraft that had no spinners, as their rotation is opposite that of the Hercules!) Mike

According to the text on the IPMS Stockholm website on USAAF/USN WW2 interiors, the cowling interior surfaces of Hellcats were painted Grumman Grey, interior green, or zinc chromate yellow, depending on the production batch. I have also read discussions that mentioned some F6F-5 cowlings were finished in flat black on the interior, but some sources stated that this might well have been sea blue on F6F-5's, as the entire cowling was a separate assembly and was painted inside and out at the factory - the interior then being dark and appearing as black in photos. My personal opinion is they (the cowlings) were never painted black on the interior surfaces. Maybe @Tailspin Turtle or @Dana Bell would be the go-to sources, but betting they both might be pretty busy at present. Do you have photos that show French Hellcats to see if the cowling interiors are light or dark? That would narrow the choices down a little! Mike

I think he's referring to the wing fitted to the GBU-15. Mike

Oh, my! Gorgeous Destroyer! The best build of the Italeri kit that I can recall! Interesting size comparisons, too, especially with the Thud- half as big, twice as fast, and three times the bomb load! Mike

That's a beautiful Ta-152- colors and weathering are bang-on! Mike

What the others have said needs no duplication- a 4.0 job on the Academy kit. I really like the restraint on the weathering and panel lines. Well done! Mike

Both are beautiful builds and wonderful tribute models. I had the honor and pleasure of spending time with Robbie at a 4th FG reunion at the Air Force Museum many years ago- a class act, an awesome fighter pilot, and a real gentleman, so seeing your Sabre really tugged at my heartstrings! IIRC, I read somewhere that the ground lovin' F-84 was said to have a sensor on the undercart that detected the gravel on the runway overrun on takeoff and sounded to tell the pilot it was time to pull it off of the ground! Good thing you put the RATO bottles on your build! Mike