Dervish

Referred to unofficially as an HAR5, the official designation was HU5.

Just noticed that a new volume in the Classic Publications Luftwaffe series will be published next year, Dornier Do 215 - Luftwaffe and other Operators 1938-1945, by Mikael Olrog to be published on 15 June 2017. ISBN 1906537526, currently listed on Amazon at £63.38 for pre-order. No idea what number in the series this will be but there is a gap in the numbering for the volumes in the series published so far.

The HAR3As also differed structurally internally below the MRGB. Frames stn 243.5 and 290 were monobloc machinings rather than being made up from numerous alloy and steel plates, capping angles and straps etc.

The strengthening at the transportation joint, stn 493, was modification 830. 6 plates, 3 each side held on with 811 Hi-Lok fasteners. Introduced to prevent cracking of the stn 493 half frames on the forward face of the tail cone and the stn 493 webs on the rear face of the fuselage. It mostly worked.

T.8M.

Post #49 of the build noted it too but you may have missed it at the time.

You asked for any errors to be noted. The two nose mounted MAWS mounting boxes should be symmetrical mirror images of each other but neither seems correct. The two nose mounted Orange Crop antennas and their mounts that should be below the MAWS mounts are also missing. Do not know if these are kit parts or conversion parts. Have a look online at various photos. Having said that it's a nice diorama.

Nice build but just one point to note. There shouldn't be any indication of a window surround, as fitted to RAF HAR3s, aft of the cabin door. HC4s had flat skin panelling in this area, the HAR3 window being a later modification specific to that variant. The 'square' sink/panel lines should have been filled.

You have the vertical panel with the fold down seat behind the cabin door aperture. It should be in front of the cabin door aperture immediately behind the co-pilot's seat and should be a flat panel rather than just a frame.

Blade leading edge tape was a black polyurethane type tape, bit of a sheen initially but soon eroded to a matt finish. Later on clear self adhesive fablon tape was put on top of the black polyurethane as additional protection, again shiny initially but eroding matt. You knew when it needed replacing as it started to lift and caused a whistling noise.

The transportation joint reinforcement plates were a later feature introduced as MOD 830.

Very nice, shame about the collapsed tail oleo.

Clear has no colour!

Re post #84, the top two photos are the same image but the top one has been flipped.

AP119A-0601-0B Chap 9-0-1 para 2 states 'Fig 1 defines the standard identification characters and shows the formula for producing letters and numerals to be used for all identification markings. Inscriptions shall be in capital Roman letters, Helvetica medium font and Arabic numerals. Specific instructions are to be issued in order to overrule this publication and any concessions formally authorised by the MOD'

Hair splitting further, it's the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

Onboard Ark Royal, 22nd February 1957.

Fig 3 is exactly the same as the current version. The whole AP may still be at 92 Amdt 4, but can't check until Monday. The AP is seriously out of date and is currently being revised. Maybe Helvetica is for stencilling with serial numbers as Fig 3.

AP119A-0601-0B Chap 9-0-1 para 2 states that all fonts should be Helvetica medium.

Just one problem with the box artwork. The Shackleton has been superimposed on a quite recent image of Gibraltar. Lots of modern high rise apartments and the new marina on the Spanish side of the border.

It's been at Boscombe Down all last week.

VW634: Ready for collection 31 Dec 48; delivered Receipt and Despatch Unit RNAS Anthorn 10 Jan 49; HMAS Sydney (in Long Term Storage), taken on charge RAN 7 Apr 49, to Australia; unloaded Jervis Bay, by road to Nowra 31 May 49; 805 Sqn Nowra (105-K) 20 Jul 49, and to HMAS Sydney 30 Jul 49; damaged Cat LX 3 Aug 49; Nowra 31 Oct 49; FAC Bankstown 11 Nov 49; damaged 15 Jan 50; 20 CAG HMAS Sydney 25 Jan 50; Nowra 4 Apr 50; FAC Clyde 17 Jan 51 (radio mods?); deck landing practice damaged HMAS Sydney, Cat HY 26 Jan 51; Nowra 29 Jan 51; FAC Clyde 5 Feb 51 (repair); Nowra 16 Oct 51; 804 Sqn Glory 7 Jan 52; Nowra 10 Jan 52; 723 Sqn Nowra 21 Apr 52; damaged Cat LQ 31 Oct 52; damaged Cat HY 4 Nov 54; declared Awaiting Disposal and Write off Nowra 19 Nov 54 and taken to Schofields 28 Jan 55; sold for scrap to Australian Aluminium Co, Granville, Sydney 2 Nov 56 [but records also state written off after being used for fire fighting Nowra 14 Jun 62]. Courtesy of Air Britain's Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft Since 1946. No mention it was 107-K.

Just to point out that all Islanders are operated by the AAC under JHC. The RAF relinquished control over five years ago, maintenance is now undertaken by Army REME technicians and aircrew are mainly AAC. As previously mentioned all remaining Islander AL1s are operated by 5 Regiment from Flying Station Aldergrove, the three Islander CC2Bs are operated by Station Flight RAF Northolt as part of 5 Regt but it is not an RAF unit as previously mentioned. Defenders are a distinct type and all are operated by 5 Regt at FS Aldergrove alongside the Islander AL1s. There is a single T3 ZH004, the remainder are all AL2s, ZH001, ZH002, ZH003 and ZH005 were built as such, ZG995 - ZG998 were converted from AL1s.