72modeler

Special Hobby did an Fw-187A in 1/72, kit number 7256; I have one, and it is very nice- not in any way a Karo-As tooling.

Yep- what Graham said! Mike

One way would be to purchase a square of mat board at a craft or art supply shop. You can scribe the expansion strips in with a sharp knife and apply a little white glue in the scribing to simulate the tar strips between the joints of the concrete. Then paint and add whatever fuel/oil/rubber stains you consider appropriate for how weathered you want the ramp section. The mat boards can be purchased in many sizes, with the edges already beveled, if you don't want to buy a big piece and cut it yourself, or you can do this with a beveling cutter that you can purchase at either of the places mentioned, If desired- they are very inexpensive. You can also glue the mat board to a wooden base if you want to get fancy, or are displaying or presenting the model as a gift. The mat boards also can be purchased in many different colors. Mike

JT244 was a Corsair II, ex-BuNo 1776, the last of a batch serialed JT-220 to JT-244. BTW, I have attached a link to an excellent photo collection that shows, among other things, No. 1830 Sq. Corsair I's at New Brunswick, Maine as well as on HMS Illustrious. I thought the photos were significant because they showed F4U-1 birdcage Corsair I's with both standard and clipped wingtips- I had always believed no Corsair I's had clipped wings! Enjoy! Mike http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/402/An-Illustrious-Hero.aspx

Wow! Without a doubt, the best 1/72 Tornado build I have seen! You nailed the weathering, panel lines, and the thrust reverser exhaust stains that many times get overlooked on a Tornado model. Mike

That's one serious hydraulic system to raise wings that have that kind of weight hung on them! Neat photo, Jan! Mike

SimonL, Did you see this discussion? It might help you with the bomb bay doors and the modifications to the rear of the bay and the observer's station to house the aft end of the torpedo. Mike

Thanks so much for the photos and the information Murph! I am amazed that I guessed right...for once! The '106 is by far the most beautiful lawn dart ever built, IMHO, and served long and well. The six-shooter is my favorite variant, and now I can do one justice, thanks to your post as well as the other ones. Mike

My guess, after looking at all the photos and diagrams, is that they were fed outside air from the twin NACA-style intakes seen on the armament bay doors for purging gun gases from the gun pod/ammunition tank, as there also appear to be exhaust vents at the rear of the pod. Mike

Wez, Tony, Does this help? http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?113417-F-106-internal-bay Mike

Tony, Just discovered this...and if I thought your Martlet was good, this one is just as nice! Very nice build, and I second what the others have said about the little details! Mike

What can I add that the others have said? Best 1/72 P-12 build I have seen! Sure wish Matchbox had continued releasing biplane kits, as they were the best models they produced and are still the class of the field in 'our' scale! Bet the decaling on this little puppy was fun! Mike

Schon! My favorite '104 scheme! Great build. Mike

Wow! Beautiful build! Very nice metal finish, too! Mike

Don't be discouraged and don't give up! If you model long enough and learn from written modeling resources and conversations with fellow plastic benders, you will find each successive model looks better than the previous one. I did a 1/72 conversion years ago of the XP-40, using the Monogram P-36 and Frog P-40B; it was my first attempt at a natural metal model. Bottom line- I shot the model with Floquil grey primer and then with flat aluminum; the model looked like it was made of cast iron! Ruined a really nice build with a horrible finish, but I learned what not to do on the next attempt! One of the most difficult tasks in model aircraft building is how to make plastic look like metal, made doubly difficult by the small size of the model compared to . the real article. Mike

I don't know if this has been submitted before, but I have attached a link to some photos of the Doolittle Raid, including two photos of Edwin York's B-25B that landed in Vladivostok due to low fuel. IIRC, this B-25 was assigned to a naval unit and used as a trainer. it was reportedly scrapped sometime in the 50's. If so, what a shame, as it would undoubtedly be one of the rarest and most famous WW2 bombers ever! There was an article, which I read but neglected to save, written by a Soviet aviation enthusiast, who researched the Mitchell and had facts about its internment and subsequent use. I thought, with the Airfix announcement of their new-tool B-25C/D, that this might be of interest to some of you. BTW, the sole surviving Doolittle Raider is Dick Cole, Doolittle's co-pilot on the raid, who will celebrate his 102nd birthday this year; Colonel Cole lives very near to me, in Comfort, TX. I have had the honor and privilege to have met and talked with him on two occasions, as he used to come to our local IPMS chapter, the Alamo Squadron, during our annual contest, to talk to entrants and spectators and sign autographs. A true gentleman, class act, and outstanding airman- we will not see his kind again, I fear. Mike https://forwhattheygave.com/2011/03/26/edward-j-york/

In the Spitfire XIV photo link, notice that several of the aircraft had the late, larger rudder with the 'z' tab! Mike

Thanks, Graham- didn't realize I could edit the title, not just the text. Correction has been made. I appreciate the suggestion. Mike

Yeah, I was in such a hurry to post the link, I didn't notice I labeled it Fortress III instead of I/II/IA. Mea culpa, you all, as they say in southern Greece! Mike

Forgot all about Mike's website! Thanks for the reminder! Mike

You didn't miss anything- the photos are all of B-17E's, but I thought the color schemes and markings would be useful for anybody wanting to do a Fort in the very attractive Coastal Command colors. Maybe the links below will be useful. http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Larkins/1330L.jpg https://www.google.com/search?q=RAF+Boeing+Flying+Fortress+III&biw=1280&bih=654&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhz6HOxr_RAhWExVQKHWOfCDcQ_AUICCgB&dpr=1#imgrc=JmN1OdUyzExLJM%3A https://www.google.com/search?q=RAF+Boeing+Flying+Fortress+III&biw=1280&bih=654&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhz6HOxr_RAhWExVQKHWOfCDcQ_AUICCgB&dpr=1#imgrc=mEVt35AWmU_9wM%3A Mike

IIRC, Loon Models and Airkit did a1/72 PBJ radar pod in resin, but I'm pretty sure they are both OOP. I started a PBJ conversion years ago, using the Italeri B-25C/D, and IIRC, I used a reshaped tip tank from a Hasegawa F9F Panther. It was actually pretty easy. Maybe QB will do one when the Airfix kit comes out, along with the rectangular package gun pods that some of the PBJ's carried. Mike

Color photo interpretation issues notwithstanding, and taking the time that 601 Sq had their Airacobras into account, could the grey seen in this photo be an example of the mixed grey that was used until adequate stocks of ocean grey were available? (Back in your can, worms!) Mike

Yep- I have the MMP reference- glad you liked the link! Mike

It appears to me, if you look at the bulkhead behind the seat and the inside of the gear doors, that the paint looks too dark for RAF grey-green. I am guessing the cockpit, gear struts, and the interior of the gear doors are Bell green; can't tell if the gear bays are chromate green or yellow. However, Airacobra interior colors are not well-documented...where is Dana Bell when you really need him? Mike