WrightField

Yes, it is slightly longer- something around 4" which would scale out to 1/12" in 48th, so I figured I may let that be. I suppose I could cut the cowling and add some sanded 1/8" sheet. The Hurricane I kit I'd get for Singapore would be the "desert" variant by Airfix, as it has the tropical equipped Vokes. Not sure if the Sea Hurricane has that, it's in my stash, I reckon I should look!

Thanks, very much, gentlemen!

The most interesting period in WW II is the Allied collapse in SE Asia and SW Pacific at the outset of the Pacific War in '41-42. I've been considering subjects and collecting kits for the different areas for builds (Burma, Malaya/Singapore. NEI, Philippines). As you can see from the topic title, I'm looking at those subjects to represent the RAF in Singapore/Malaya. I've got many references, but for these two I'll be relying on Christopher Shores' "Bloody Shambles" Vols. 1 & 2. So... What would be required to modify the Airfix 1/48 Mk I Hurricane/Sea Hurricane to the twelve gun IIB? A little research leads me to believe there is no difference (as far as the kit would be concerned) other than probably some rescribeing and cutting for outboard wing guns. What would that entail, are there any drawings for panel references, etc.? My (somewhat) local shop has the Airfix Blenheim IF. Somewhere along the way I dimly recall that there was a day fighter version of the IF as well as the AI equipped IF. What was used in Malaya/Singapore service? Thanks, Dennis

Thanks much.I reckoned the engine itself would be epoxied, but I wasn't so sure on the metal to plastic. The engine with the crankcase and exhaust (3 parts ) is the only all metal assembly.

Delivered today was the 1990's Fine Molds A5M1/2a Claude with white metal detail parts. The metal items are gunsights, seat, anything to do with the engine from the prop to the exhausts, and a couple of other things. I've never fiddled with white metal part on a plastic kit, so I'm a bit curious about how it's done and if anyone has built this kit on the forum. Any real advantage to metal over plastic or has molding technology caught up with the white metal details? I have a few notes from the English translation sheet for finishing some of the metal items. Comments are welcome: "For more realistic finishing, inject the enameled flat black diluted by thinner after polishing the engine part with brass polish." The brass polish has me curious, I understand about a flat black "wash" (of sorts). Ergo, "Finish the crankcase as you do for the engine" "Finish the propellers (sic) with sandpaper and and compounds for more realistic finish." Do the range of of Tamiya (or similar) range of compounds work for this? I've also recently acquired the Fine Molds FA-5 D4Y2 amd FA-7 D4Y3 "Judys" with white metal parts. so white metal knowledge would be quite useful for them as well. Thank you, Dennis

Thanks, Toryu. Indeed, the pilots who brought this up in videos were veterans of the Solomons and New Guinea air battles. some spoke of flying from Rabaul. I'd expect expect such a deletion would go well on A6M2s amd A6M3 Zekes and Hamps.

I was watching some interviews on YouTube with veteran Japanese fighter pilots this week. More than one said they removed the radio equipment from their aircraft as the sets often didn't work well- if at all- with a lot of static, poor tuning, etc.. I did some more internet research and found the quality of aircraft radio equipment and components was indeed pretty poor, particularly vacuum tubes. Radio equipment was heavy, so it was ditched to improve maneuverability and performance. The pilots went back to the old hand signal and maneuvering methods to communicate in the air. So I wondered what all would have been removed? Would aerials be included? Might be a modification for some of the IJN and IJA aircraft in the stash.

I went to post some photos on here for a visit I took to the USAF Museum in Dayton last year. I used Google+ Photos and made those pictures public. I could not embed photos in the body of my post, but I did get clickable links in it and some apparently could see them. They seem to have come out quite nicely. While YMMV, you can see how it works for you:

While looking around on the net, I noticed that a vendor over here had a "U" suffix variant to certain Roden kits.I was looking at the HE-111's with a couple of the having 2XXX and 2XXXU- same plane (the civil 111 variant comes to mind in this case) . There were price differences as well. I know that little seems to fit on the Roden HE-111's, indeed they try one's patience. But I wondered if the the "U" signifies a revised kit, upgraded kit, or nothing? If the kit has been fixed, more of us would consider it for a build, I expect. Thanks, Dennis

Mike, with the opening of the new Building 4 the only thing left in the old Wright Field hangars across the way is the Restoration Facility- where the B-17's Swoose and Memphis Belle are now being resurrected. As you requested, pics of the Thunderscreech, and the Thunderceptor, with the "parasites" XF-85 and FICON YRF-84F tossed in for good measure... https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607802709777474?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607803258426626?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607803605685410?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607799817129090?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607800387546754?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607800505909266?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607800293535026?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607801783315298?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607801991400674?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607799886260706?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607801465242130?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607800925804498?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607802253225026?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391607803427702641/6391607802253225026?authkey=COqy3rOq14X7kQE

I've just ordered the Valom P-75A and SH P-59A/B for the kit pile. Last year, I visited the NMUSAF on the occasion of it's fourth wing opening to the public. My birthday was the same week so it was a bit of a present to myself. I was about dumbfounded to see a P-75 there. I vaguely recalled as a kid growing up in Dayton seeing a P-59 at the Museum. I also saw many moldy-oldy X-Planes that I hadn't seen on display since the Museum moved in 1971. I'll be making many two hour trips up the for more and better photos. Next time they have a member's friday night I can get a bit closer, maybe get photos up close and inside of things. https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586124117758770?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586125018294482?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586125199996002?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586127189176146?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586125696603730?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586124434943074?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE https://plus.google.com/photos/102458891637624633011/album/6391586126834973841/6391586126617862354?authkey=CIHyrMCR2c7T4QE Dennis