Jure Miljevic

Hello, Kuro Nezumi I was not even aware turnbuckles and eyelets come with a kit, and I am a big fan of SSW D.III, D.IV and D.VI. Thank you for your description of a method to attach them; end result certainly justifies its use. Also, there is no need to worry about faded decals as this is certainly not your fault. Does the WNW method for applying decals include a hair dryer? I am more of a floor polish kind of modeller, but a friend of mine frequently places decals on models and then warms them with a hair dryer with good results. Cheers Jure

Hello Warhawk, unfortunately your list is far from complete ... So ... it has been established that Lancaster's canopies with or without external frames had been used. Is there a pattern or do we resign to fact, that this is another aircraft part for which a clear, high-resolution photo of a subject of our build is necessary to replicate it accurately? Cheers Jure

Hello, Kuro Nezumi Stubby, barrel-like appearance, combined with top performance thanks to her counter-rotary engine, what is there not to like on SSW D.III? Very convincing looking wooden (like the gloss varnish) and PE parts and do I see turnbuckles included in the rigging? I must say lozenge decals are a bit too faded for my taste, though. Nevertheless, they look fine on this semi-˝what if˝ model. For me, of course, the main ˝what if˝ question would be whether Western Front 1919 would change course of history enough to eliminate WWII. Cheers Jure

Hello, Nils FWIW ... I vote for red. Cheers Jure

Hello, Jari Thank you very much for this link, very informative WWII Lancaster film. This settles the matter of Tallboy bomb bay doors, as far as I am concerned. Thanks again, happy modelling and cheers Jure

Hello, Peter Detailed fuselage finished in a little more than a month hardly sounds like little progress. Keep up this pace and your Swiss Mosquito will land in your glass cabinet within three or four weeks. Cheers Jure

Hello Function of a metal strip, described in Lancaster Course Notes Dennis provided, is to fasten perspex onto wooden frame inside the canopy. Basically, the strip functions like a number of inter-connected washers with good part of the strip's length serving little or no purpose. Ordinary washers would work in exactly the same way and would eliminate need for a metal strip, hence no external frame. I see no reason why such method could not have been used during WWII. Cheers Jure

Hello, Nils I agree with Graham. It is possible though, that individual aircraft had had their markings modified. On two photos of 3 Sqn. Mohawk IV from East Africa campaign both fuselage dot and the leading stripe of the fin flash seems to be painted with very light colour. This, of course, is my speculation, based on b/w photos. Cheers Jure

I doubt the astrodome size is a factor here. Check the following photo of NX791: http://www.aviationbanter.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=53868&d=1328786202 Not of the best quality, still, one can discern both high astrodome and internal framing. Cheers Jure

Got it, thanks. Cheers Jure

Hello, Elger Can you please tell me, where Rebecca aerial is installed? Protruding out of fuselage just aft of ventral cameras? Cheers Jure

Not a problem, Elger, modifications like the one with fuselage sides is not difficult to remember. Less obvious ones, like fishtail exhausts and drop tank hooks usually slip my mind. And I am right back to WIP tread because I also missed the part about Rebecca/Eureca system aerials. Cheers Jure

Thank you, keep on modelling. Cheers Jure

Impressive model, Elger. I copied your list of necessary modifications as a quick reference/work order for my kit, I hope you do not mind. Cheers Jure

Hello, Jari Thanks for pointing out interesting time periods. On 3:45 one can see the extention on the lower part of a fuselage to match pinched door shape when closed. Cheers Jure

Hello, Old Thumper Agreed, doors in the footage are not pinched at the rear, but I am not so sure about the bulge at the front end. To me they look more like bomb bay doors on Jari's drawing or those from Matchbox kit. Cheers Jure

Hello, AngstROM There is footage on the web of Su-33s, operating from Admiral Kuznetsov off Syria coast, carrying one or two 500-kg bombs. While these are described as precision weapons, they look like ordinary FAB-500M-54 to me. Cheers Jure

Hello, Shalako I treat ESCI decals with caution due to unpleasant experiences, I had had with them long time ago. Decals in question were matt, so they were probably not printed by Cartograf. On ESCI Mirage III C and Kfir C2 in 1/48, about half of decals from a lower part of both kits simply fell off. Of course, at the time my modus operandi was to airbrush models with gloss varnish, apply decals and proceed with final gloss or matt coats, depending on colour scheme. Another problematic kit was UH-1D in 1/48 scale. Decals of that kit simply decomposed into small pieces the moment they touched water. A coat of gloss varnish I applied, did not really help. At that time, there was no liquid film or at least I was not aware of its existence, so there was not much more I could do about it. After such experience my confidence in ESCI decals was somewhat shaken. On the other hand ... I built ESCI 1/72 F-15A Eagle OOB and, apart from very lengthy process of applying stencils, original decals only needed some extra treatment to prevent silvering. I also built their 1/48 Mirage III E and while an untreated test decal showed no better resistance to Mother Earth's gravity force than above mentioned decals, softening solution and floor polish remedied this inconvenience. I used SAAF decals from the same set on the old Academy Mirage III E and the same treatment produced the same satisfactory results. Otherwise, I am quite pleased with ESCI's choice of colour schemes and markings, for example Pretty Penny for F-100 D and 318 FIS markings for F-15 A, both in 1/72. Instructions usually included photos of some of the actual aircraft, presented on decals, and their accuracy was usually good. On a negative note, decals were quite often off register, along with ever present silvering. All in all, ESCI decals could be made presentable, impressive even, however not without more than a fair amount of extra work. Cheers Jure

Hello, Mikehool Providing serial is black one can design and print it at home in about five minutes. For squadron codes, unless having access to Alps printer, one has to dig into spare decals folder or buy a set in suitable colour and scale, though. Cheers Jure

It does not seem all P-400s carried names or game cock squadron badge, at least not all of the time. It is not too difficult to make national markings with a ghost of a red dot still there, shark mouth and serial. Apart from white six, for which one needs to search spare decals folder, markings for BW167 would be a perfect home project. Cheers Jure

Hello, Alex Cockpit b/w photos from Profile and Warpaint publications on Whitley show interior painted Interior Green. Even instrument panel, apart from basic six, seems to be in that colour. Photos of fuselage interior in Profile indicate Natural Metal. I have no firm information on undercarriage interior, though. Not much, but someone with more information will soon drop by. Cheers Jure

Hello! Congratulations on your Tu-134 kit, Julian. Sharp looking airliner model, built in under two months, a neck breaking pace for this size of a kit. Cheers Jure

Hello, Muzz I presume we are talking about F-104G and its derivates? Netherlands, Denmark, Norway (probably converted CF-104 nuclear bombers only) and Taiwan on F-104G. I think I saw a photo of Helenic Air Force F-104G with a pair of Sidewinders under the fuselage, too, but I am not certain about it. Also, Japan on F-104J, Italy on F-104S along with tip tanks and a pair of Sparrows underwings. Turkey also had F-104S, although I do not know in which configuration Starfighters had been flown there. Not a complete list, but I hope it helps. Cheers Jure

Hello, John ESCI's kit fuselage is slightly oval, too. Cheers Jure

Great drawings, Jari, let me be the first one to thank you! Cheers Jure