72modeler

Since Sabrejet is about to wrap up his outstanding build of the 1/72 Sword FJ-2, I thought I would post some photos that might be of use for those of you contemplating the FJ-3/3M kit; a few are good profile views to help improve the appearance of the nose section. Please feel free to add to this post! Mike http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Marines/North-American-FJ-3M-Fury/4706773/L?qsp=eJwljEEKwkAMRe/y191YQWF21QPowguEmdAWqhmSLCyld28cd4/34G3I8nH%2B%2BmutjARj0jyhQyWltyFtqJO43Ml5FF2R%2BmsHE/VbMEroIWeuzgV//9DC%2BktsuX3G%2BJ4CWJ%2BNcb6EL7PVhdqDneYF%2B34AMzUusA%3D%3D http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/North-American-FJ-3-Fury/2698075/L?qsp=eJwtjDEKAkEMRa8iqbWQBYvttNjCRgsvEJKPLq7OkInosOzdjYPd4/3Pm0nS0/HxS82gngrY5EZrymz8KNTPdEd9J9NgGo6bbjW8rMahJPNDDans2IsgO/TvT6aw34QirXWN9jYAdm5M3S68jiVP3BpwHidali%2BvSi9R http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/North-American-FJ-3-Fury/2517584/L?qsp=eJwtjDEKAkEMRa8iqbWQBYvttNjCRgsvEJKPLq7OkInosOzdjYPd4/3Pm0nS0/HxS82gngrY5EZrymz8KNTPdEd9J9NgGo6bbjW8rMahJPNDDans2IsgO/TvT6aw34QirXWN9jYAdm5M3S68jiVP3BpwHidali%2BvSi9R http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Marines/North-American-FJ-3-Fury/2373537/L?qsp=eJwtjDEKAkEMRa8iqbWQBYvttNjCRgsvEJKPLq7OkInosOzdjYPd4/3Pm0nS0/HxS82gngrY5EZrymz8KNTPdEd9J9NgGo6bbjW8rMahJPNDDans2IsgO/TvT6aw34QirXWN9jYAdm5M3S68jiVP3BpwHidali%2BvSi9R http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/North-American-FJ-3-Fury/2033356/L?qsp=eJwtjDEKAkEMRa8iqbWQBYvttNjCRgsvEJKPLq7OkInosOzdjYPd4/3Pm0nS0/HxS82gngrY5EZrymz8KNTPdEd9J9NgGo6bbjW8rMahJPNDDans2IsgO/TvT6aw34QirXWN9jYAdm5M3S68jiVP3BpwHidali%2BvSi9R http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Navy/North-American-FJ-3-Fury/1248846/L?qsp=eJwtjDEKAkEMRa8iqbWQBYvttNjCRgsvEJKPLq7OkInosOzdjYPd4/3Pm0nS0/HxS82gngrY5EZrymz8KNTPdEd9J9NgGo6bbjW8rMahJPNDDans2IsgO/TvT6aw34QirXWN9jYAdm5M3S68jiVP3BpwHidali%2BvSi9R

Now, this is what an RB-57A should look like! I have attached a photo of one of the 363rd TRW Canberras; they replaced the RB-26's that were in the same scheme and markings, and were in turn replaced by RB-66's in 1957-58, which was taking place when we were stationed at Shaw AB, SC. RF-101A's arrived shortly thereafter, replacing the RF-84F's. This is how I think the Lackland AB example should have been finished. Mike https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rb-57-363trw-shaw.jpg

What TOT said, and he should know, as he's done a ton of them! Very nice build, Nick, and a great choice of schemes! Mike

Awesome build! The black spine looks like it was painted over real metal- did you put a silver basecoat down first? What you have done looks like painted metal, not painted plastic! Well done, sir! Mike

My eyes! My eyes! Mike

John, This discussion reminded me of the RB-57A 52-1482 that has been on display here at Lackland AB for many years. It has been moved to several different locations around the base over the years and was always in natural metal/silver paint until recently. It seems that when a new base commander takes over, he has some of the aircraft on display re-painted, and the colors and markings get farther and farther from the original each time. The real travesty, as I did an article on modeling one in 1/72 many years ago in the IPMS Quarterly, was an RP-63G Pinball, which was the only remaining WW2 era aircraft still in its original paint, which was international orange overall- now stripped of its original paint and repainted silver! I have attached some links to photos of the RB-57A as it looked then and now. Don't think any USAF 'fishbowl' canopy Canberras were ever painted in SEA camouflage, but you can see what I mean about accuracy. You probably already have seen these- if so, I apologize for the duplication, but maybe some of the other BM Canberra lovers will enjoy them. I have color slides of her when she and several other 50-60's era aircraft were all parked together on either side of a simulated ramp, as an aid for the security police training program based here for all the services. Sigh... Mike https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1368037 http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3BZ2_RB_57A_Canberra_Lackland_AFB_San_Antonio_Texas http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/52-1482.html https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RB-57A_Canberra.jpg Her history, from what I have able to find is: served with the 1st TRS, 10th TRW; also with the 172nd TRS, Michigan ANG; later converted to an EB-57A

Martin, Well, I'll be- that's the one I remember! The fence in the foreground separated the Dee Howard ramp from the yard in front of my late grandfather's house- he was director of airport maintenance in the 50-60's, and the city provided a house on the airport property. I used to get my bum snacked by my parents for getting out on the ramp to check out all the surplus military types parked all around, and the Dee Howard people used to haul me back to my parents when they caught me. Couldn't get away with that nowadays, but it was heaven for a young airplane fanatic...A-26's, B-25's, Lodestars, J2F's, C-45's, T-6's, and BT-13's parked all around...sigh, those were the days! I also remember a two stage Merlin-engine Mossie in pale blue paint with an N-number that was used in the filming of 633 Squadron that used to be parked outside and sometimes in the American Airlines air freight hangar; as I recall, it had fake .303's attached to the clear nose cap, which had been painted over to resemble an FBVI! Mike Did some research, and I think the Mossie I described above was a PR34, serialled FG300, which was derelict in San Antonio in 1969, purchased by the then Confederate Air Force, and broken up in 1975 for parts. The Mossie's original owner was Amman Aeronautical, a photo mapping/survey outfit based in San Antonio that evidently had several Mosquitos of various marques. IIRC, American got title to the airplane as the owner could not pay the storage fees for the use of their hangar, and put the airplane up for sale....I'm guessing it had deteriorated so badly that it was only worth scrapping for its Merlins and other useful parts.

Wow- so much for the 'doped patches' school of thought! Looked like the WW2 equivalent of duct tape! The 20mm cannon muzzle cover was very interesting, as well. Yes, thanks Troy for sharing the videos! Mike

Yep- good eye, Troy! Those are definitely F-86 wheels on the Belgrade Hurricane Mk IV; I'm betting they are off of an F-86D, as the Yugoslavs flew that version of the Sabre. Mike

Martin, Good deal- glad to help, even if it was in a small way. BTW, I have always used 'arctic markings' to describe the insignia red/international orange/dayglo orange painted surfaces used on the aircraft that flew in those areas, but never heard to the color referred to as 'arctic red' until fairly recently. I remember a lot of discussion regarding this on F-89 Scorpions. Giorgio- you must be sitting on all the T.O.'s, you lucky man! Thanks for sharing the documention- I will file this topic away for future reference. I should have known Dave Menard would have the answer; he was nice enough to loan me the manuals and other written information on the F-51H years ago from the AF Museum library when I was doing research for a modeler in New Zealand who was working on producing a vacform or injected kit- we have one preserved here at Lackland AB and I took a lot of photos, made measurements, and scale drawings for him. I guess the project never saw the light of day, but it was fun doing the research. Thank you again for sharing your references and knowledge so freely with the rest of us. Ciao! Mike

Martin, Looks like dayglo orange, FS12197 and insignia red, FS11136 for the fin/rear fuselage; the color of that area seems like a match for the red bar on the national insiginia, which would be insignia red. I have also read a written reference for arctic read that listed FS11120, which was a lighter shade than FS11136. I had always thought that arctic red was the same as insignia red, but have seen reference to a light and a dark arctic red- Maybe Dana or Nick can be more informative on the arctic red issue. (This wouldn't be an ex-Chilean AF Invader, by any chance?) Ha! FWIW- I sure wish Special Hobby would release the new-tool 1/72 Invader that has been announced by them since forever! Mike

Steven in Winnipeg, Just took a good look at the Hurricane Mk IV photo you posted that showed it in storage, A lot more makes sense, now- I didn't realize that the armor plate was in one piece that bolted to the outside of the radiator housing...makes perfect sense, as the armor plate could be fitted and/or removed, as needed, which also explains why its outline is proud of the contours of the radiator fairing. (Does that make sense? Hard to describe!) Anyway, thanks for posting the photo...now I can pull my Mk V conversion off of my OOTD shelf (One Of These Days) and begin figuring out where all the correct panel lines need to go...then there's those two pesky little warts (blisters) on top of the wings that IIRC were finally determined after discussion to be fitted in the event that a different version of the 40mm cannon was installed, which never materialized. Much obliged, podnuh! Mike in Texas

Mark, Great photography! Thank you for sharing these! The P-8 is pretty impressive looking, but I will be sad when the P-3's are all gone- they have given sterling service for many years. Surprised the Prowler is still in the centennial scheme, too! Mike

I think I remember seeing that one- was it blue and white? When Dee Howard was still in business, he did Lodestar, Ventura, A-26, and B-25 civil conversions, plus the Howard 500, which was a heavily modified Ventura/Harpoon...one of the fastest corporate prop jobs, IIRC. Do a search on the internet for it to see photos and details. I seem to recall there was some topic discussion a while back on doing a Howard 500 conversion. Hope you enjoyed your time here in SA! Did you get out to Lackland AB to see all of the aircraft they have parked all around? Some pretty rare birds- wish they could get them inside and put into accurate colors and markings. Mike

Meant to tell you- nice avatar! I have a new internet modeling friend who has flown everything from F-86's to F-101's and he flew A-1H's in SEA with the 601st SOS, and he loved the old brute....the stories he has told me about his flying career are unbelieveable! Mike

Oh, good grief Martin- I was just yanking your chain! I've got no room to criticize, as the only Invader I have built so far is the good ole Monogram box scale kit when I was nine- that was 60 years ago...you do the math! Mike

After the Chilean Tow Target Invader fiasco, tell Martin I ain't speaking to him....ha! Seriously, there might be something in the B-26/TB-26 manual link that was posted by another BM'er a while back. (I still love ya, man!) Mike

Jeez, Louise, Martin- I spent all my time searching for that bleedin' badge on the 'net and it's for a Chilean Invader? I'm going back to sleep! Mike

Graham, Didn't I read somewhere that a site like GAL would break down damaged aircraft into major components and repair/replace those that needed it; IIRC these same components would not necessarily be refitted to their original aircraft, so I am assuming that upon reassembly, a repaired aircraft would most likely need to be repainted, as paint would have been removed during the removal/repair/reassembly process, and also the camouflage patterns and even colors would not match, having come from an airframe or airframes other than the original. Mike

Yes! Thanks for sharing them with us! (LOVE your avatar, by the way!) Mike

Damn, SJ- you be jammin'! Looks a lot more like a Fujimi or Hasegawa kit now than a Sword- the wing fold hinge assemblies are inspired; I would think the same technique could be used for F-18's, too! Outstanding workmanship across the board and I really like how you detailed the speedbrakes. You are a steely-eyed modeler, sir! Mike

Oh, well- one for two ain't bad, especially for a Yank! That's what I get for playing in somebody else's yard, I guess. Thanks for the correction- should have picked up the accident and category abbreviation....after having read so many in the Spitfire "Bible!" We're having our Thanksgiving today, so will be offline while I go about stuffing my face! Mike

FAC2 might be forward air controller squadron 2, and GAL might be General Aircraft Limited- found these by searching under 'RAF xxx abbreviations.' Not going to stake my life and reputation, such as it is, on these, though. Bet Graham B will know! Maybe this Spitfire was repaired or refurbished by GAL, thus the notation? I leave this one to my distinguished fellow modelers! Mike

Ettore, Bellisima! You should be proud of this one- not a version very many know about and very surprising for MPM to do this version. A-20's seem to be ignored by modellers and have never gotten the praise or recognition they deserve, unlike the B-25, B-26, and A-26. Very clean workmanship, beautiful paint job and colors, and very subtle weathering. I hope when I get around to doing a Boston/Havoc, I can do half as good a job as you. Thanks for sharing your work. Mike

I echo the praise the others have heaped upon both builds- very nice modeling! I think both would look killer in Finnish AF colors and markings, but would have to be 'what-ifs' Every once in a while, a Starship flies over my house, and they have a very distinctive sound. Thanks for sharing your work! Mike