It's a disease

Here you go, some BIGGER shots of the engine and an E. 605A E

(Link to that Catalina thread!) Or a direct link, http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Flugzeuge/Gaeste/Wolf_Catalina.html people need to see this! no modelling I'm afraid, making sparks.......

Thanks very much, it's a bit of a headache! The worst part is finding new things out after I've called a job finished but progress is progress. I may do it all over again, in a winter coat! Neither had I until that morning, the idea looked like it would work! So here we have a luggage rack, not much really but at least for me, it is a big deal, a surprising amount of work went into it, and those luggage racks have more parts than most kits I build. About the led, simple answer is yes. Fortunately for us both my brothers new hobby is electronics! Hurrah, he has a box of bits and kits of stuff, books no less on the subject, I put it to him, he is quietly excited about the idea. more to the point, you've asked this question at precisely the right time, another few days and I would've been forced into saying no. (Actually a good idea from you, I wouldn't have considered it but my brain was a bit troubled by hiding all of my effort, so your question rang the right bells.) The best effort I've seen of a light install is a 1/48 (I think) Catalina, with pretty much the tidiest interior known to man. Leagues above anything you may see here! (That's my disclaimer!) Ive got as far as this; yes it should fit (plenty of space, the WC makes a nice conduit point, already planned the curtain windows closed here, so nobody needs to see or build a 1/72 bog pan & sink!) a reed switch would be the best option, failing that, a retro fit into the prop. I like this idea but... Plenty of challenges involved in the switch. rechargeables should make the install easier (noting the effort of having a de mountable engine from the aforementioned tidy interior) electroluminescence over led, but that's an entirely new foray! (Packs THE punch long term, so that's what I'm pushing for....) If it goes wrong, I've a complete kit hiding in the wings.......what have I got to lose! (Apart from a few quid.....)

Wow! Bm makes things simple..... CHEERS.

So in a recent thread in stgb spitfires, I started talking about other types of spitfire I would like to build. Im looking for absolutely anything on the following spitfire. (log book info, Sqn records, pictures, pilots notes, evidence etc. etc.) Info from Morgan and Shacklady. Spitfire ES127, Mk Vc KJ-I (j has angle / lower part, top part flat/horizontal. I has hat and tails, like a Roman numeral. Could in fact be KJ-1) (According to colour profile) Light stone/Dark earth Azure blue. Red spinner & big chin..... (2nd seat forward of pilot using what looks like a standard spitfire front glazing unit.) Pilot would be seated on top of lower tank? Top tank removed. ES127, 39 MU 10-11-42, 82 MU 27-11, emp Clive 11-12-42 Tak 23-2-43, NA 30-11-43 261 Sqn second cockpit install Catania Sicily 1944 SOC 9-20-47 -------------------- Maintenance Unit. Empire Clive? Was a cargo ship. TaKoradi? Is in Ghana? North Africa Squadron Struck Off Charge --------------------- Thank you.

Again, no new kits (short term, depending on how quick I can build them!!!!!) yes, the pink spits certainly would be a nice (and colourful) addition to the shelf, my partner joked about a pink plane, how she was humbled when I produced evidence of pink spitfires! Heh heh heh, smile vapourised! (perhaps that's why I got a kit ban? Too much cheek!) evidence clearly shows that to be untrue, kits to the ceiling and back. ok, so I may will start a thread on the Saaf custom, we shall see what the collective world can produce.......

Nice try! (me walking in with new model) (the mrs, after discovering said kit) (me after about ten minutes of earache) Yes, I have the Eduard in 1/48th (or, two of them and a nice glass for my beer!) that has some interesting markings for sure. thing about decals is, I have a few sets I've been picking up along the way, mainly extra decal roundels, but like you, I've the Ventura 4/8 serial set, so you know, I can build anything! (Starting with sky codes! Cos that's all I got) i do have left over codes from the Italeri V, the other interesting V that I would like to build but can't find much on, the Saaf special conversion with an extra windscreen in place of the upper tank (so, I think a spotter/observer could sit, between the pilot and main fire bulkhead....) exciting for me, is as simple as something which isn't readily available! Not sure why but that's the direction my modelling is taking me, that then is an interesting model.

No no no, kind of nothing! It has worked for you! (a lot of this thread will be the basis of my colour selection! When I get around to the build) I always enjoy my modelling time, except when I stab my finger, or feed the carpet beast! Im backwards in that I'm trying to find a use for the kit! Sort of the only thing I could (reads wanted) buy from my local hobby shop (which keeps getting smaller every time I go) basically in the upstairs of a toy shop, if I need glue or plastic I know where to find it without the hassle of posting/POSTAGE! I normally grab a kit while I'm there. Yes there will be pictures! Eventually........ I simply cant buy another kit, orders from above, fair enough as I have a ridiculous stash, well, that's how she sees it anyway......... I'm trying to reduce the box count so I'm allowed more new boxes! Im also looking into a few Mk IXc spits, so I may build that type as I can't see it being done by anybody else yet! But I may have missed it? (went mad with the az joipack + plus another kit, so that's four az Mk IXc spits I need to do something special with. MK210 with p51 drop tanks. Interesting and slightly unusual, that's one! (Started, sort of, I've got the bits! And the research is done) another (slightly less) interesting mk IXc MA254 74sqn coded Y (no squadron codes) (not a lot of research, just a colour profile, that was the inspiration!)

FW 200 c-4/U2 condor Baggage rails! Overhead storage. 0.5mm square strip fitted to fuselage then the rail was fitted to this. Set with blutac to hold position while each return post located and fixed with polystyrene cement. Spacing set with vernier. Mesh shown for an idea of how it will look but it needs rotating through 45 degrees. Stbd side was the most difficult as the fuselage tapers aft. Last two posts were cut in (in situ) after the main bar had set up properly. Im really pleased with how this looks.....

Spitfire L1004 From the Morgan and Shacklady Spitfire book; (Mk I serials listing) L1004 218 FF 5-6-39 10MU 7-6 602S GAL 12-9 58 OTU 13-1-41 SAL 2-6 con to F VA M45 57 OTU 6-8-41 FACB 26-8 ASTH 5-9 HAL 4-8-42 inst cameras and accessories VA 10-12 con to PRXIII 2nd proto Hal 16-2-43 mods BDn March '43 Mer 32 wts and CG load, cool trls with trop mods. Climb and level speed and dvng trls. HAL 14-5-43 VSM 15-5 con to Sea MkIII proto RNDA 3-3-44 HAL 23-5-44 SOC 28-3-45. (Indirect translation using Morgan Shacklady book with further info from Osprey book Spitfire Mk I/II aces) From the first contract of spitfires L1004 was the 218th spitfire off of the production lines and was built at Southampton. It had quite a long life and an interesting history virtually spanning the war. It started life as a Mk I, with it's first flight on 5th June 1939, after passing through 10th Maintenance Unit on the 7th June, it was posted to 602 squadron who at the time were defending Scotland, L1004 was flown by Squadron Leader Alexander "sandy" Johnstone, Commanding Officer of 602. (A popular scheme exists!) On 12th September General Aircraft Limited had the airframe (presumably for repairs beyond the scope of frontline units? How long they had it is also unknown but it was back with 602 shooting down Germans during the summer of 1940.) On the 13th January 1941 it was posted to 58th Operational Training Unit where it remained until 2nd June when the airframe was sent to Scottish Aviation Limited for conversion to Mk Va standard. From here it was transferred to 57th Operational Training Unit on 6th August 1941 where it remained until it had a flying accident resulting in category B damage on the 26th August. Air Service Training (Hamble) 5th September. Heston Aircraft Limited took charge of L1004 on the 4th August 1942. At this time they installed cameras and accessories, one F24 5"vertical and two F24 14" vertical and oblique. On the 10th of December it was transferred to Vickers for armament and fuel system modifications. (I assume this is where/when inboard pair Brownings (4 guns) were removed to leave the outer 4 Browning .303 machine guns and the facilities to use drop tanks were installed, as per PRXIII standard.) L1004 was converted to PRXIII standard and became the 2nd prototype aircraft. When weighed at Worthy Down on 12th December? It had a Merlin 32 engine, De Havilland propeller, 4 guns and the camera installation. The airframe was then transferred to Boscombe Down for weights and centre of gravity loadings during March 1943. The airframe underwent a series of tests trialling temperate and tropical radiators, climbing, speed and dive trials. For handling and spinning trials L1004 was fitted with an enlarged elevator horn balance. The type record 367/1 was issued on 30th September 1943 followed by certification of design on 5th October. (The armour for the PR Mk XIII, bullet proof windshield with special gunsight stencilled on the inner surface and a bead sight on the fireproof bulkhead) Vickers Supermarine had the airframe on the 15th May 1943 when it was converted into the sea fire MkIII prototype? (MA970 sea fire Mk IIC converted to prototype MkIII, first PR seafire MkIII MB194) Royal Navy Deposit Account 3rd March 1944. Heston Aircraft Limited 23rd May 1944. The aircraft was struck off charge on 28th march 1945. (Type Obsolete) The main error is the seafire prototype conversion but also it is slightly confusing with the information surrounding it's time during conversion to PR Mk XIII. I've unravelled it the best I could! Mk v a, a wing has no cannons and has 8 Brownings. (EDIT-this was how I was going to start my RFI post, a few additional notes would've been removed, I simply copy/pasted from my research file on this type)

I've been researching this exact aircraft! I planned on using the revell Mk Vb kit. Turns out I need a Mk Va. During my research I found this and a few other pages (most of which are linked here) so you pipped me to the post. (I have the wrong base kit for a start, so I looked into using it for an ASR type, again, somebody is working on that one too) A few names keep popping up, time and time again, (Edgar appears everywhere in name or in person!) So for all the spitfire fans...... here are my notes on this aircraft. Edit. (So, after reading the Gb for the spitfire, I've just learnt that Edgar brooks has passed on, that's a real shame, almost every spitfire question leads to a page with his name on) it seems I spoke too soon, it wasn't intended to be out of turn) RIP E.Brooks.

VERY NICE! Obviously...... just one thing.... I love how you say home made! Like in your factory! Fnaar fnaar...... this is the first build I've seen of yours. Yeah, it's a tasty treat.....looking forward to more of the same (quality).

1/72 fw200 condor interior+ Pic top left. Der Rotameters! After looking at the operating manual, I've finally discovered what these items are! They are readily visible in the window of these machines. Strange layout? A vital part of the fuel system behind a sheet of glass or even Perspex. You have one for each engine, and each is fed by a fuselage tank, they can be switched by valves to direct the fuel feed around the system. My bracket is a fairytale affair, it's helpful for the construction of these parts, an aid to uniformity, but it is make believe. I may keep the bracket for future builds (as I have done with the master seat side blank) and fabricate something smaller......and with a better (wider) spacing. They are usually located in the window that forms the toilet cubicle, I'm guessing it would be easy to move them forward to this location but can find no positive evidence as references on this variant are scarce. It is possible that this system is reduced as there are only one or two fuel tanks in the u1/U2 subtypes. Pic middle left. Items in place. They were made from 0.4mm brass rod and 1mm rod drilled out. It would have been better to make the brass section from one piece, got to love hindsight! It seems I have previously incorrectly identified some parts! Pic bottom left. Oil tank mods, also with what I now believe to be part of the oil pump system, between the tank and wc cubicle, a guess based on the fact it appears in the drawing related to this tank. I've made up some valve parts so I can add fuel/oil lines. They're a bit clunky in this scale but..... It's a learning curve, and a mostly hidden one at that! Top right pic. Fuel cell valve mods, made up from spare and stretched sprue, cut/filed and drilled. With brass to accept the pipes (which will be from brake line hoses from a bike kit). Pic middle right. Brackets to hold up de-icer tank and oil pressure system tank. Pic bottom right. Port side installed. Just need to add straps to tanks and fuel lines, this area is finished! Hopefully I can paint/assemble the interior over the next week.

Wow. and not in a so what type of fashion. this is monumental.

That bomb bay is worthy of note! my favourite part of this by a long shot...... makes me want a Vulcan!

Reference up(over)load. FW 200 condor, operating manual. Bedienvorscrift-Operating manual. Page loosely translated from...... http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/f/FockeWulf/Fw 200/Fw200 C3 Bedienvorschrift.pdf FW 200 condor Further references, these are some of the amazing pics that eluded me for some time. I've just worked out the importance of them. Top 2 shots are inside of a standard maritime fw200 c3 with all the tanks fitted. (Left pic is what I've partially scratch built, right pic from further aft, shows the shape of the doorframe at frame 5.) Now here's where it gets interesting, this is a part of the 2nd world war I don't know much about, intrigued I started looking around for information, and this is why builds take me so long! Very easily distracted..... Middle left, (and subsequent pictures) fw200 c3/u9 KE+IX vip transport (markings in trumpeter box, as you can see, the kit is not correct!) Bottom left, shows Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim exiting the aircraft! Commander in chief of the Finnish defence force, see the "continuation war" for more details. As I've said, this is an area I know nothing about. Middle right, originally this pic was used to show the overhead storage and the new/revised door frame, but, facing the camera we have, (on the right) Erik Heinrichs, finlands chief of general staff, and, (sitting next to him on the left,) Aladár Paasonen, who was the chief of intelligence during the continuation war. Bottom right, is Adolf Hitler (no intro on him) with Risto Ryti, the chap in the hat/civilian clothing, who was the 5th president of Finland.

THANK YOU! I'd say I'm quietly pleased with myself but that's a lie! (I am well pleased, so far!!!) My mrs is bored of my excitement/commitment..... But she gets it! Although she doesn't fully understand how or why, but then that's a modellers secret! (Actually I think she's bored from watching but she is encouraging my progress. Love.....funny old thing!) I'm surprised with her reaction, as she's seen me create this from nothing, she is strangely addicted to my progress but still doesn't quite understand why it's taken several weeks to get nowhere. Still, there is joy on her face, for now!

Fw200 C-4/U2 interior etc. Top left pic. The yellow dashed box. This area has a lot of parts in it. I was thinking about adding stringer and frame details to the sidewalls (both sides) , plus the brackets to hold up the de-icer? bottles above the window. There is a smaller fuel cell (a guess from the blueprint) and a toilet cubicle (WC) which also need to be fabricated. Between the WC and the oil? tank there is the flow meter? box. The green outlined box (repeat opposite) is the area for the overhead storage which I've made some progress on, this can be seen in the bottom two pictures. I will lay some mesh in to complete the look (mesh from a tamiya car kit). The frame is a piece of brass rod (originally intended for a chinook interior which is on the shelf of doom) and some 1mm half round. After gluing (and waiting for the reaction) the plastic is pinched around the brass with pliers to close the gap. It slides along the rod allowing me to position later. I think it will work! Still a bit of effort needed on this....... The white dashed box. This area has had the internal frame/stringer details removed, a few holes (for the wind deflectors at the waist position) to fill and it's ready for paint. The white arrow points to the brackets for the waste gun, these need removing, this area needs the frame work reinstating as the window cut out would not have been cut out! The seats are looking a little too large, this was an error on my part. They should have a slightly curved edge to fit in with the contour of the fuselage side. This would increase the corridor width slightly. I've also noticed (from my new reference pics) the doorway at frame 5 is the wrong shape/size, I copied the civilian airliner as they, at the time, were the only reference shots I had. Right pics, top 3. Window trials. I got some clear fix, as it's a new product I thought I'd test it. Unhappy with how tough the bond was I decided I need to beef up the joint around the windows. The last thing I want is a window pushing through after fixing the fuselage halves! The red arrows point to original kit windows (before and after mod). A piece of plastic was glued in and whittled down to give a frame for the glazing to push against. This was tested with the clear stock plastic sheet. I just need to mod. all of the frames I cut out! I've decided to replace all of the side glass with the sheet material. I need to make the curtains up for the windows. Fw200 C-4/U2 interior! Nearly there! Top left, oil tank was slightly too big, cut down to allow room for rotameter box. 2nd left, after. (Rotameter installed) 3rd left, modified frame 5, this variant has a half leaf door here, which is different to the civilian type. It bugged me, a new frame made up from 0.5mm square rod, and the full door was also cut for this opening. I only modified the cabin side as you will not see much of the other side! You can also see the main spar boxing here. Top right, alternate view f5 area. 2nd right, all plastic in! The various parts that stick to the floor pan. 3rd right, showing floor pan fitting to port side, with de-icer tank and oil pressure tank installed. Bottom pic, shows the modified window frames, my cut outs had 0.5mm strip glued in and once dry, a scalpel was used to remove most of it to leave a small lip. Also worth noting the melted wing root! This side is the worst.... More filler here. That's about it! Just need to finish the overhead storage and make up the curtains, maybe add a few pipes to the tank area and it's ready for paint!

Cheers, I never thought I would have a go. My thoughts, If you want this type, you've got no choice. I've toyed with etch in the past, and made odd little bits, aerials and such but this is the biggest job I've ever taken on. By miles............ A lot of the work is probably a waste of time but, well I think it's good practice, if it doesn't work out, no problem. hopefully I will have learned some things. (I have learned lots......) ---the main thing, if I had built the c3/u9 as marked in the trumpeter box (KE+IX), it would've been much easier, it has a full length gondola so all I would need to do is build the passenger cabin--- !hey ho.....too late now! So far this build has made me want to try casting...... And it's surprisingly rewarding, spending whatever length of time cutting up plastic, and ending up with a reasonable representation of a picture. Even the scratch work, I can tell I've improved on this build, time wise, things are happening faster now than they were at my virtually clueless starting point! I'm thoroughly enjoying this build, so far it's only cost just under £5 on materials I didn't already have knocking about, namely some 0.5mm square rod and some clear fix. Everything else I've had stashed or in the spares (I'll say) department! You know, things intended for other builds etc. etc. that are STILL awaiting construction!

On my bench there is a mess!

In the mean time, Fw200 condor C-4/U2 New (to me) reference material. I've searched for "Admiral Dönitz fw200 condor" and many variations on that theme in the past, while trying to solve the mystery of the rear window, (highlighted with a yellow arrow in a previous upload) I stumbled across these shots, they are previously unseen! Admiral dönitz and his aircraft!

Please hijack this thread with detailed sprue shots and the box number, this is a formal invitation! (shame about the crushing, got to be worth a salvage effort?) and at least the seller did the right thing! the bright orange Danish bird, that thing will necessitate the wearing of sunglasses! (hello mr tiger, my name is Jamie ) Thanks for the vote of confidence on the seats, truth be told they should be a bit curved on the sides to sit better with the curve on the fuselage sides but shhhh, don't tell anyone! You'll see what I mean on my next update. As for what's within your skillset, just do it! This is way above my skills, I'm chancing it! (Because I really want this type in my cabinet, in multiples.) so I advance you some luck with your build. cheers but the holiday wasn't much technically a holiday, yes. (A few days in the city of Bath paid for by my sister, lucky me, (beautiful place, architecture and what not) I had a nice time and really enjoyed a few days of worry free living. Now I'm back in the real world with all the troubles that it brings! good times! (Fortunately I've been blessed to be able to build this thing, at the end of this, really a great deal of gratitude should go to the mrs, she is very understanding......))

Cheers, my victor ain't the best out there but I'm pleased with it! It was a fighter of a kit. I found the size difficult to handle, new techniques for gripping, more work space etc. etc. cloths pegs just didn't do it! thanks for looking at my monsters! (Pleased you like them, weird as they are!) I'm a point and shoot too, your targets are good, the red flag stuff especially. One day I'll build one of those lizard scheme f16s from the 64th, love those too. By far the best modern schemes in my opinion, way better than grey on grey with grey and grey......... good luck and good health, J. (This should be at the top really-maybe this is of use, if you use regular masking tape, make your own cuts with a steel rule/scalpel, I used regular tape years ago, that's how I did it. The factory cut edge isn't excellent, at least that was my opinion.)

Read the wip, doesn't inspire confidence! The finished article looks great! Well done mate.

Gentle rub with ultra fine sandpaper/cloth will sort that lip where the paint ran. Quick touch up, sorted. hope that helps....... This is a monster kit! I seem to remember a few warped bits on mine. Wing was the worst part. Still, once built, impressive monster. more important, (you have a most excellent collection of aviation photos!) .......fan of the 65th aggressors (naturally I will be liberally dotting pink stars throughout your account over the next few days)