Tail-Dragon

I've got some color on the interior parts now, getting to be time to close the fuselages on both ... Voughts use of Dull dark green on the interior make for a very dark cockpit! I've just noticed that the leather padding on the observers backrest is absent on the real photos, I'll have to refinish that!

Thanks, that answers a lot. Interesting that they would have stub wings OR Leigh light, but not both! The particular machine I was after is BZ792 - G, 224 Squadron. It is illustrated on the Aviaeology decal sheet as having the stub wings, Leigh light and the BP turret. But, F/L K. O. Moore's June 1944 victories were at night, using depth charges (according to some action reports I have read) Since it was a night action, with the light, this more or less confirms that Moore's aircraft did not have the stub wings, and most likely had the BP turret. Things I was unable to confirm until now. Thanks much, Colin

I was always interested in doing a GRV with the rocket carrying stub wings, but my research seemed to indicate that this was a trial installation and wasn't adopted. Too much drag, and the extendable rocket rack in the bomb bay offered the same punch without the drag penalty.

A suggestion, don't fill in that wedge shaped gap at the bottom of the rudder, it's supposed to be there. It was left so that heat expansion of the tail cone from the afterburner wouldn't jam the rudder!

Here's what the Tamiya acrylic mix looks like ...

A bit more work on the OS2U Kingfishers ...

A little more scratch building on the observers deck ...

That is absolutely magnificent, and museum quality! I hope it on public display, perhaps at a naval museum. It deserves to be seen by the masses, and is a wonderful tribute to the brave pilots and seamen of the merchant marine!

I cemented the leg together, and, when solid, I drilled a .020" hole half way down. Then I cut the leg above the top flange, cemented the top trunion into the wing, and brass pinned the lower. gear can be installed after painting and aligned by bending the pin (if required).

Here's a very good write up ... https://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?28932-248-Sqdn-Mosquitoes-Tsetse-A-A-patrol-11-04-1944-information-required and this is one of the Mosquito's, 'O', NT225, flown by Flying Officer William Cosman, DFC, (RCAF), and Flying Officer L. M. Freedman, navigator ...

Some of the old Otaki kits can still be contenders with a little work, and a well stocked spares bin ...

I still have 2 of the Aeroclub wing inserts that I will never use, if someone is looking.

We should start an Otaki build tribute page to see some of the builds!

There have been a number of Spitfire Mk XIV highback kit bashes here (You'd think Airfix would take the hint!), and this is among the best!

Does the Special Hobby Mk XII also suffer from the same tail 'canted up' problem (rudder post leaning forward) as other SH Spits? Corrections made and tail canted down (on SH Mk V - same problems) using Troy Smith's info and suggestions

The Otaki Spit issues that I'm aware of were the lack of a 'gull wing' on the lower surface - Aeroclub used to make a resin insert to correct this (V189), and generally simplified details - radiators, exhaust, cockpit etc.) What sort of kit bash are you doing (mine is destined to have the spine removed to use on an Airfix Mk XIV to create a highbacked Mk XIV)

If it's of any help, I just weighed the Brass weights in my original issue AM B-25b, and they are 44.74 grams. I assume that is enough, though I haven't built one yet.

If I recall, the things to be aware of are; - Missing the armor plate behind the seat, - Requires a square topped seat with (if I recall) a British Sutton harness, - Pistol grip stick, not spade grip, - Wrong prop in Ultracast set, rob a spare prop from and Eduards P-39 kit, if possible. - Air deflector in front of bellyscoop applicable to only certain serial number ranges, - Seat, armor plate, and instrument panel shroud in Gull green, all else in tinted Zinc Chromate. - Oblique camera and open side window fitted after Dieppe raid. - On at least this aircraft, 2 small radio cooling vents on either side of radio mast.

Here's a link to my Mustang Mk 1 build I did with the Ultracast convesion set, quite a nice resin set, and fit very well ... https://www.ultracast.ca/product-p/ult48031.htm Link to my build: Mustang Mk 1, 414 Squadron, RCAF

The problem is obvious - you should stick to 1/48th! (just kidding)

Lovely Anson, finish and weathering are spot on! You make my want to start one! Also, the photography and backdrop are excellent!

Lovely Buchon, congratulations! While the flying Buchons had the 4 bladed prop, almost all the aircraft filmed on the ground had the 3 bladed props, as in this build.

This is Czech Models 1/48 limited edition Grumman Goose JRF kit finished as an RCAF Goose Mk III. Grumman Goose 941 was flown by No. 13 Operational Training Squadron based at RCAF Station Sea Island, British Columbia. Prior to military service the aircraft was on the Canadian civil aircraft registry as CF-BQE. It was built with a full interior (which can't be seen), Vector resin engines, and my resin copies of highly modified kit props (11 brass, aluminum, and plastic parts in each prop!). Trailing edges thinned a lot, many details, panel lines, extra vents rescribed or added, trim tab and aileron actuators added, nav lights carved from colored bingo chips, and stretched sprue. Float rigging with .010" Phosphor-Bronze wire into predrilled holes. Painted with Tamiya acrylics, weather with oils and pastels. Some kit decals used, wing roundels, and tail flash masked and painted. All and all, a fun kit. hope you like. (Many thanks to Carl V. and 'Dogsbody' for all the help) Colin

Flat coat and light weathering completed, now all that's left is the radio antenna and the nav lights. As I suspected, none of my cabin interior is visible, oh well ...