fishplanebeer
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Posts posted by fishplanebeer
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I'm reasonably confident that the E individual letter is yellow as the machine had very recently been transferred from 9/KG55 to 4/KG55, although strictly speaking it should have been in white. However it also retained yellow spinners as well from its 9 staffel days so a bit of a hybrid in terms of colour.
The only photo I have of a Heinkel during this period with all the codes letters in a light colour is a H-5 on test at Rechlin but as yet no image of one on active duty with anything other than black Geshwader code letters so I'm not sure which way to go with this one at the moment. I may have to default to black, even though the photo would suggest otherwise, or go with white toned down with a black overspray.
Regards
Colin.
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My understanding has always been that the Geshwader code letters on Luftwaffe bombers were generally painted in black, with a few exceptions, however in this photo of a Heinkel He111H-8, G1+EM, which crashed in May 1941 the code appear to be in a light colour possibly.
The temporary distemper has been partially removed after the crash to reveal the cross, swastika and codes and as such the GI is now just visible but it definitely doesn't appear to be black so does any one have any examples/photos where another colour was used? I've gone through all the books and photos I have of Heinkels during this period and can't find any which have anything other than black code letters although I know there was considerable variation.
Regards
Colin.
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I'm not sure if the B.IX/XVI version provides both the normal and bulged bomb door so worth just checking as the former would be for the B.IX and the latter for the B.XVI. although the good news is that the clear parts seem to provide both the correct pressurised (B.XVI) and non-pressurised (B.IX) options.
Building a PR.IX or PR.XVI would also be an option as well if you add the relevant cameras so quite some kit and I have to say I'm rather envious.
Regards
Colin.
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My next project is a Heinkel He111H-8 which had codes that do not fit any that I have in my spares box or came with the kit so can anyone suggest where/who might make the appropriate codes that I can then use and which are good quality please?
The aircraft crashed locally in May 1941 and was coded G1+EM if this helps.
Most of the codes need to be black but with the individual aircraft letter either white of 4/KG55, or the yellow of 9/KG55 from which it had just been transferred. The photos I've tracked down suggest yellow as this was also the recorded colour of the spinners but at this time there seems to have been considerable variation of both the code colours and the top camo scheme so it would be good to have the choice.
Regards
Colin.
Ps. have tried using Peddinghaus decals previously for the unit/KG badges but these are quite poor as the backing is so transparent that the underlying camouflage colour distorts them so hoping there might be another supplier out there somewhere.
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The sprue shots are highly impressive so which ever one you go for you will have a quite superb model.
Regards
Colin.
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As with all such requests, and there are many, there is no definitive right or wrong answer given all the vagaries of light, shading, fading, interpreting b/w photos, scale effect etc....just to mention a few.
Sorry I can't be of more help but this is the usual minefield or COW (can of worms).
Regards
Colin.
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Sadly I don't have the funds or the space for either but from what I can see on the Hannants site one is a B.IV/PR.IV with the single stage Merlins and the other is the B.IX/XVI which had the two stage Merlins so quite a difference. That's just for starters as there may be other differences that those more learned may add.
Regards
Colin.
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Looks like it's the kit prop plus any refinement you personally feel is necessary I'm afraid.
Regards
Colin.
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Just to add that SH are also planning a release of the North-American AT-6B/C/D/F/G Texan at some point which I assume will also be based upon the Academy kit so will have the same prop.
Regards
Colin.
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Is the Texan prop the same as other variants?
I've no knowledge of this particular type but the Special Hobby kit of the Harvard was well received and I think it is based upon the Academy Texan kit plus some extras, so presumably the prop was considered to be OK as I've not seen any comments to suggest otherwise.
I may be wrong but this would suggest that the prop is reasonably accurate in this scale even if it may need a wee bit of refining with fine grade sanding sheets and/or a sanding stick to make it more crisp.
Regards
Colin.
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Fair enough as I'm not in this camp and I am just happy that my spraying and masking works out OK so that the finished article looks half decent.
I know that more gifted and expert modellers have mastered these skills long ago so can concentrate on such finer details but for me if Colourcoats say it's RLMXX (or any other colour) then I'm happy to go with it and just hope that my spraying, masking and varnishing end up looking reasonable.
Very much horses for courses I suppose.
Regards
Colin.
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Of course I forgot to mention that Colourcoats put an awful lot of research into their paints to make them as close as possible which then saves me the time and worry about getting a paint that is correct. So no messing around debating multiple brands against multiple chips and other sources.
Some may see this as a short cut or cop out which I accept is fair but if someone far more knowledgeable than me has gone to an awful lot of trouble to get their colours correct then I am ready to bow to their superior knowledge and then spray and brush to my hearts content.
Regards
Colin.
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Really depends on just how accurate you want to be in terms of then running a spectrometer over the colours and then adjusting to get a perfect match, but matching with what?
I accept I'm perhaps in a minority but personally I've never get that hung up with any colours that I use in terms of getting such a perfect match, even if such a thing exists given the effects of weathering and all the issue of interpreting both b/w and colour period photos. As such I just go with a colour/colours that give the right effect and for me Colourcoats always seem to deliver every time. I'm sure other brands are also worthy but for me as an enamel user I always go this route and have been extremely pleased with the end results.
Entirely up to you of course but as with all other historic posts (of which there are many) about best colour matches there is no panacea or absolute truth so sadly there is not a definitive answer to your question.
I know I will get contrary feedback about my approach but for me my priority is getting the paint applied in the correct way using my airbrush, as in not too much or too little, and getting my masking to work correctly to give me the desired end result.
Just my thoughts as a keen but distinctly novice modeller.
Regards
Colin.
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Hannants have now increased the CMR kit to £34.60 for some reason so think I'll now pass and wait for something better and/or more affordable as this is way beyond what I'm prepared to pay for a 72nd scale fighter. It even makes Arma and Hasegawa seem like bargains!
Regards
Colin.
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To be honest having never attempted a serious cross kit pollination I'm sort of tempted to go for the CMR kit not withstanding it's length issue (which I'm happy to live with) but importantly does it need any extra bits in terms of the prop, spinner and possibly canopy? I just need to know what else I need to find to make sure they are still available as I don't want to get 80-90% there and then find it has to be parked until a rare or OOP item appears again.
Many thanks for all the replies so far which have pointed me in what I think is this best direction given my modest but reasonable skills, plus I do have a lot of patience!
Regards
Colin.
Ps. I'm assuming resin kits need 2-part expoxy and/or ca, both of which I'm reasonably well versed in using, plus wearing a mask when sanding the resin parts.
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So would an Airfix Vc and the Ventura or Sword Seafire XV (nose) be a good start point perhaps as all are available at the moment?
That said the combined cost would be about the same as the CMR kit so I'm now a little undecided which way to go, but with the CMR presumably everything is there and quite accurate, of does it need any extra parts from another donor kit? I'm thinking prop blades and spinner especially.
Regards
Colin.
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Another vote for Colourcoats, excellent with both brush and air brush.
The minimum postage cost is quite high so best to order a few colours to make the order up to 6 tins but otherwise they are great value given their quality, although best to use the Colourcoats thinner as well.
Regards
Colin.
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I've just noticed that Hannants have the CMR kit but at an eye watering £28.83 so is it worth it in terms of accuracy and ease of building given that I've never attempted a resin kit before?
Regards
Colin.
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When it comes to the flaps I have pics of Lancs 'at rest', resting, being serviced and being bombed up, and the flap positions vary from not deployed, partially deployed to fully deployed regardless of what is happening so you have full license in this regard.
Regards
Colin.
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Although the very early Lancasters would have started life on the production line as Manchesters it is extremely unlikely that components were ever swapped between the two during their respective service lives. I can't say it never happened but as the Manchester was effectively relegated to minor duties due to its ongoing issues, and the excellent performance of the Lancaster made it totally redundant, they would have probably have been consigned to scrap or used for ground instruction when they became u/s.
Whereas the possibility of there being some degree of interchange between two basically identical aircraft (B.I and B.III) would make sense from both an operational and a serviceability perspective, even if the Packard engines had slightly different servicing requirements for ground crew.
As I say I look forward to hearing back from Avro as presumably within the bowels of their archive there will be some evidence/instructions which either say 'yes' or 'no' in terms of possible engine swaps between the two or aircraft having a hybrid combination.
Regards
Colin.
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Trevor,
The evidence I've been able to dig out so far suggests that it was the nose section which retained the aircrafts' identity when it went in for a major overhaul, as in when the fuselage was broken down into its 5 major structures (nose, front centre, centre, rear centre and rear). When an aircraft was sent to Bracebridge Heath for a re-build repair due to major battle damage they sent the log book to Langar so that it could then be matched or assigned to the aircraft again even though by this time the repair may have included very little of the original airframe. As such it is quite possible that the log book could be a B.III and the aircraft it was then re-assigned to could have been rebuilt as a B.I which adds further to the possible permutations.
I just hope Avro can shed some light on this to clarify things.
Regards
Colin.
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Although by no means proof, as reciting an error doesn't turn it into the truth, the Gerald Scarborough book on the Lancaster 'Classic Aircraft No.6' also refers to B.I's and III's being changed due an engine swap which suggest there may be some truth in this. Or is it just an enduring myth?
As such I await a reply from Avro with interest.
Regards
Colin.
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In anticipation of a reply from Avro I browsed through the Aerodata International No.10 on the Lancaster and it confirms a few interesting details, assuming it is accurate.
i) When the B.III was first introduced it was flown alongside B.I's in the squadrons as well as being operated side by side in the HCU's and Lancaster Finishing Schools.
ii) There were 'conversions' of B.I's to B.III's, and vice versa, usually when engines were changed during major overhauls.
iii) Some aircraft flew with a mixture of RR and Packard engines so becoming hybrids.
iv) The HCU's preferred B.I's as the RR engines didn't overheat as quickly so were more suited to the successive take-offs and landings.
Interesting stuff but a definitive reply from Avro is still needed to verify this information.
Regards
Colin.
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I've dropped the Avro Heritage Museum the question so will see what they are able to come back with.
Regards
Colin.
Looking for Luftwaffe He-111 and Ju-88 Specialist advice
in Aircraft WWII
Posted
I think, and I may be wrong, but when the He111 had an external bomb fairing to carry either the 500 or 1000kg bomb on the port underside the bomb cells above were removed and an additional fuel tank fitted as evidenced by a fuel filler cap high up on the fuselage just behind the port side glazing. The starboard side carried the usual internal bomb load of 250kg bombs.
HTH.
Regards
Colin.