XV104

I've got the Lincoln style rudders, can make the modified tailwheel & the dual control column & I have the decal sheet but where can we get the deeper radiators so that PA474 can be modelled accurately ?

Some thoughts on the Hasegawa UH-1D --- I'm trying to get back into aircraft modelling. Thought I'd start off with a part finished Hasegawa UH-1 started in the early 70s. Price on box is 50p. At the time I thought it was quite a nice kit. It's been rehashed a few times by Italeri & Revell. Anyway, with too much time on my hands I thought I'd improve the model somewhat. I was not happy with the fitting of the skid supports on the belly - I've deepened the "grooves" so the supports now lie flush. The supports are in error where they meet the skids - so I'm pondering how to sort that. Care with the sit of the model on the ground is needed - should be slightly nose up. I've cut out the lift hook opening and the oil cooler outlet, both in the belly. I've fitted a lining to the cabin roof to avoid a see-thru look. I want to improve the rotor head & the tail rotor gearbox too. I notice that some of the later mouldings have seats for the troops. It would be nice to scratch build these but that's getting silly. Little additions like antennae, airscoops on the roof, windscreen wipers & other bits & bobs are no problem. One of my wise modelling friends says I'm looking too deeply and should just get on with it. In the old days we did not have all the references now available on t'internet and we just enjoyed the modelling out-of-the-box ! As for colour scheme it's likely to be a ubiquitous US Army olive drab machine. Noseweight ? Yes it's a bit marginal - a little bit of freight just behind the pilots' seats will sort that.

Procupius - I'm sorry to hear about your Lysander model. I've got the Dora Wings kit and maybe I'll start it soon. I put all those pics on Flickr to help you guys who build models. A bit of news from UK which may be of interest ... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/28/spy-becomes-first-woman-of-south-asian-descent-to-get-blue-plaque-in-london

The wing attachment looks rather delicate - my first thought is to drill out canopy side panels C9 & C10 and remake the centre wing spars part E25 in brass wire (soldered together) - with extended spars that can attach into inner ends of wings, in suitably excavated holes! Second thought is to extend the slot in C9 & C10 and make a brass replacement for E25 that fits into the slot - the wings could be epoxied to this.

A very interesting thread - I've just acquired the Dora Wings Lysander myself. I've uploaded a LOT of photos of the RAF Museum's MkIII (SD) to "Flickr" --- here's the link --- I don't know if pics can be downloaded, if not a "screengrab" works.

Bob - just browsing on Britmodeller. I'm pleased to see you are still building great models. Keep the skill going ! Mike H SNWMS

Flickr photo album for the Roden Super VC10 :- https://www.flickr.com/photos/56210108@N04/albums/72157667297080331 BZN20's info above is real good - only bit I disagree with is that there is no titanium in the beaver tails, They were a VAAS stainless steel spec. as originally built. Not that this matters for modelling of course !

A bit off topic & specific ...... Regarding the FE Lancaster kit by Airfix - I inspected one yesterday to determine if it had the deep radiators and as stated above it does not. Rather disappointed at Airfix for that. I wish to model BBMF's PA474. I can't find any "aftermarket" bits on the Hannants website to fix this. Any ideas ???? Appropriate wheels, rudders, control column & decals etc have been sorted.

The Andover's offset fin is noticible if you look for it, head on or tail on. The 748 with lower power & smaller props did'nt need it. The ATP, also with big props & high power, has a system to offset the rudder under assymetric power. Don't ask for details as I'm not a mech systems person.

I was given a Formaplane Andover a few years ago. I've also now got the S&M kit. Scores out of 10 ---- 1 & 9.5 respectively.

Interior of gear doors - what colour indeed ? Looking at photos of Boscmbe Down's XS606 interior of main gear doors is gloss light grey - but they MAY have been black with the black underside colour scheme. However, from memory the door interiors as produced may have been pale bluey green. Looking at recent photos of XS596 (incidently the last a/c to have the Middle East camouflage scheme) the door interiors are gloss light grey. Cosford's Andover nose gear door interior is gloss light grey. RNZAF with black undersides seem to have dark (black ?) u/c door interiors. We can be certain of the following though --- U/C legs are glossy light grey. Interior of the bays themselves are all pale glossy bluey green for all 748s and Andovers. To give an idea of what the glossy bluey green looks like see https://www.flickr.com/photos/56210108@N04/17288069145/ Yes, I've just nipped out into the sunshine to take the photo of bits that are to hand. The S&M kit looks pretty good. One interesting feature of the aeroplane has been missed though - the 2 degree offset of the fin (leading edge to starboard). If I ever get to build mine (as XS596 in 60 Sqn colours) I'll fix that if I feel enthusistic.

Seadog --- a magnificent model. I came upon your build thread by accident this evening and read it all. In my opinion 1/96 is a difficult scale, not miniature and too big to omit detail.

A bit more confirmation of "silver" or more correctly "aluminium" paint --- see this photo on the Air Britain website. http://www.abpic.co.uk/popup.php?q=1305223 It certainly looks like silver.