fishplanebeer

Dear All, After all the debate I have ended up buying both the Zvezda and AZ 'Marseilles' kits and just compared both to the scale plans I have by Lloyd and Carrick in the Aircraft Archive publication from 1988. Assuming these plans are reasonably accurate then both are spot on for me, the only difference being the lack of aileron balances with the Zvezda version which is no major issue. The AZ kit does have a very nicely moulded trop filter, my preferred option to accompany my Special Hobby Kittyhawk Mk1A, so I will start with this one although it will not be in 'Marseilles' livery. However in this scale both are excellent and will produce convincing replicas for a modest/moderate modeller like myself. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread to date as it has been very educational and added greatly to knowledge bank of this particular type. Thank You. Colin.

Dear All, No kit is ever perfect so I think a call out is due to Revell for producing this kit, which has been on many a wish list for several years. Thank you Revell, and others, from all modest and moderately experienced modellers for now allowing us all to build pretty much every type that flew in the BoB almost straight out of the box. All we need now is a decent He111- H1 to 5 (any) although for the time being the P from Airfix & Hasegawa will be more than adequate to meet my needs Colin.

Mike, Two absolute beauties! To a Spit nut who has only had a casual interest in the Seafire up until now I'd have said on first impression that this III was a Spit 9b, how wrong I would have been. Kind Regards Colin.

Just to say that after much rummaging I've just found a copy of 'Aircraft Archive - Fighters of WW2 - Volume 2' by Argus Books from 1988 in a dusty corner of my book shelf which includes plans for the F-2 etc.. as well as other real classics such as the P51, Me262, Corsair, Tempest, Me163 etc... so now well armed. This is still available via a VERY well known on-line book seller with ISBN 0852429452 if interested Colin.

Sorry just to add, courtesy of the excellent book on the Spit by Morgan & Shacklady. The MkIII Seafire had the Merlin 55 series engine which offered certain advantages over the Merlin 45 series installed in the Spit V but which otherwise looked the same externally when installed in terms of overall length of the fuselage. The intake under the port wing also remained the same as the Spit V, being circular in profile and not the later symmetrical 'flat' arrangement adopted for the Merlin 60/70 engine variants of the Spit. All very confusing at first glance if you are a novice, like myself, when it comes to Seafires and their nearest Spit equivalent as Seafires seem to have also used/adopted various Spit related modifications during their production by Supermarine. Colin.

I've always found the Seafire III a bit tricky as although it had the Merlin 50 series engine, similar length as the 45 fitted to the Spit V, there are lots of photos which show it having a 4-blade prop, individual exhaust stacks, enlarged carburettor intake and later style tail planes all of which suggest it was a variant of the Mk8/9 Spit - but obviously not. Thanks for clarifying this for me. Colin.

Dear All, Thank you for the feedback which has now changed my mind! I have plenty of spare code and unit decals for both the 109 and Fw190 and wasn't overly wedded to the 'Marseilles' finish. As such I'll now go for the Zvezda (Revell) option instead although from what I gather it does not include a trop filter to allow a desert subject which is a pity. I'll dig out the plans I have somewhere for the Bf109F from a very ancient copy of Scale Modeller (?) from the 70's, unless anyone can point me in the direction of a more current issue/version of plans for this type please? By the way I do have the old Frog kit which was great when I built it back in the late 60's but clearly it is now pure nostalgia. Regards Colin.

Dear All, Many thanks as I wasn't aware that the Revell was just a re-box of the Zveda kit. I think I'll go for the AZ 'Marseilles' option which is fairly cheap at the moment on a well known web site and seems to have pretty good feed-back in terms of accuracy. I did think about Fine Molds initially but these are like hens teeth and very expensive if you are ever able to find one. Thanks again and will use lower case in future. Colin.

Dear All, After my 'Emil' build I will be looking to add a 'Friedrich' to my collection as well but would appreciate some thoughts on which is the best from those reasonably available at present. I know AZ and Revell do current ones, plus the rather older Italeri kit is still obtainable but not sure which to go for as my modelling skills are fairly modest so not looking for a kit that requires major surgery or correction. Apologies in advance if this has previously been covered in another thread. Kind Regards Colin.

Many thanks and humble apologies for not viewing the previous thread which basically confirms that all, Tamiya/ICM/Airfix will be a sound basis for the kit. Still confused about the canopy variants though and also whether a later E1 could have had cannon wing guns as all my sources on the Me/Bf 109E are vague here, namely Squadron/Signal, Augsburg Eagle, Harleyford Press, Mombeek and Janes, so down to a specific photo for my final choice and hope the photo caption is correct. From my experience many photo captions are not which adds further to my confusion on the subject. Many thanks Colin.

By the way I forgot to mention the much newer Airfix Bf/Me 109E4 which I do not have but from reviews I suspect has less delicate moulding of the smaller parts than the Tamiya and ICM kits which are both excellent? However it may still compare very well and be the best of the bunch possibly given the past review in Airfix mag of September 2012 of which I have a copy, or were they being a little biased here possibly? Colin.

Dear All, My next project will be a BoB Bf/Me 109E but need some help please. I have the Tamiya E3 and the ICM E3 as well but not sure which would be the better and if either can also represent the E1 or E4 version? In this scale the difference between an E3 and E4 would presumably be almost 'invisible' so it should come down to identifying a specific subject from research and applying the relevant decals? As for the E1 my basic understanding is that this variant was armed with wing machine guns so lacking the under wing cannon bulges but could also have had the later cannon installed as well, plus the more heavily framed canopy possibly retro-fitted, so again a question of research and decals for a specific example I guess. My knowledge of the Bf/Me109E is not minimal but neither is it exhaustive so I've always been somewhat confused by the differences seen when it comes to the canopy framing as I'd always assumed the early style was on the E1 and early E3's only and also that all E1's only had wing machine guns. However I have many photos which entirely contradict these assumptions, such as E4's with early style canopies and examples described as E1's but with guns (cannon) protruding from both wings. Kind Regards Colin.

All I know is that I bought a Spit 1b a while ago in a box from a non-UK or German/American maker and it was very poor in my IMHO, and as I really can't see a big appeal for this version it must be the same one. Luckily I managed to sell it as a job lot as it was well beyond my skills, especially given the very poor canopy and crude moulding, so I'm still of the opinion that the KP version is the same one. My modelling skills are very modest and I prefer to build 'out of the box' if at all possible but also happy to invest if the basic details are there, such as the Special Hobby Kittyhawk Mk.1A (my current project) which is well worth the effort and quite superb. However this 'unknown' Spitfire 1b' was well beyond my level of skill when I bought it and I seriously doubt it has been radically improved given its niche appeal so my interest is now at an end. Just think, how many decent Spit Mk1a's are out there at the moment (a big seller)? Not that many given that the Tamiya kit has a major long standing issue with the canopy and the Airfix kit has over sized panel lines, and let's not even mention the recent Revell Mk2a which is/was a major disappointment. So logically new up to date Spit 1b and 2b moulds seem rather unlikely given their very niche appeal and limited sales volume/revenue, especially for folks like me who expect a reasonable level of accuracy for £13 quid, so I will keep my wallet closed for the time being. Of course KP/AZ/Airfix etc..etc.. could always issue a nice MkXII as well, long over due and just as significant.

Many thanks for all the inputs, greatly appreciated. My interest is primarily in the Spitfire 1b (KPM7255) and IIb (KPM7256) which are described as 'new moulds' but I have my doubts as I previously bought a 1b (can't recall the brand but suspect this is the same kit as nobody else has ever done this version) and it was awful with rubbish canopy and very heavy handed moulding. Poor even when I compared it with my vintage Frog and Revell Spitfire kits from the 60's! I'm also interested in their Vb's (7274 and 7258) but at almost £13 a pop from a well known retailer I'm loath to end up with a bin filler when the Airfix Vc is due out later this year (but any ideas as to when as Airfix have not replied to my recent enquiry). This will be at a much lower price with presumably pretty good moulds, accurate outline and well defined detail, albeit probably with deep panel lines. Kind Regards Colin.

I'm probably out of the recent look with latest manufacturers but who are these people and are their kits just re-issues of previous ones issued by others, or are they actually brand new moulds? Based upon a well know web site they are not cheap so hoping they are totally new but I have some doubts, so before parting with my cash can anyone clarify the origin of their kits please? Kind Regards Colin.

Dear All, In the process of building the Airfix MK1a Spitfire and Arma Hurricane Mk1 in 72nd scale as part of my Battle of Britain project but as usual my biggest problem will be obtaining a realistic finish to the exhaust manifolds. I'm not after any trade secrets but just a good method to avoid them simply looking obviously just gun metal or brick red! Kind Regards Colin. Ps. any ideas on when the much anticipated Revell Ju88A-1 will be issued?

Great, thanks and Kind Regards. In 72nd scale any subtle changes would be invisible. Thanks Again. Colin

Do you know if the rear fuselage fairing was changed around the turret or was it just a simple case of the FN20 unit being replaced by this new lighter version? Kind Regards Colin.

Dear All, Am I correct in thinking that the original standard FN20 4 gun turret in the Lanc was at some point replaced by a similar one later in the war that was lighter but otherwise carried the same armament and looked very similar? I'm sure I read some where that PA474,the 'BoB' Lanc, has this later mod version, always assuming it ever existed? In 72nd scale the difference, if any would be undetectable, but just interested from the point of historical accuracy as to whether this upgrade ever happened or have I just been mislead? Kind Regards Colin.

Dave, My reference source is the wonderful book by Macdonald Press, 'Fighter Squadrons of the RAF & Their Aircraft' dated 1969 and bought when new by me when I was ten years old so not perhaps the most up to date reference these days but damn good none the less. It doesn't include the serial for GE-D but your photo nails it and I agree that the tone looks more like Sky than MSG so I'll go with this instead. Plus the latest reply would also seem to confirm this as well. Many thanks. Kind Regards Colin.

Dave, Brilliant, thank you so much! I'm assuming the codes would have been MSG and not the very dodgy green in the kit and that the other score markings relate to vehicles destroyed on ground attack missions? Kind Regards Colin.

Dear All, Just bought an old Heller Spitfire XVI kit, not the original one in silver livery but the later re-boxed version with camo finish. To my mind it is still a very good kit, albeit with raised panel lines, but the kit instructions do not confirm its identity so need some help if possible please? The squadron codes of GE confirm it to be from 349 squadron who used these Spits around the time the war ended and then subsequently disbanded and became of the fledgling Belgian Air Force but the serial number is incomplete, starting with TB and ending ?0. Also the personal marking are curious as they seem to indicated a SL pennant, victory markings and an inscription of 'Winston Churchill' so no idea which SL this relates to. My only guesses are Lallemand and Van Der Velde who both flew with the unit. I'm guessing the former as he was active with the unit during WW2 but there again so was Van Der Velde before he became SL after Lallemand. Kind Regards Colin.

Chris, Sorry, I obviously confused my pneumatics with my hydraulics so you are absolutely correct on this, though still not sure which engine powered the mid-upper as all 4 seem to have had a particular role to play in powering the various systems on the Lanc. Kind Regards Colin.

Jure, Thank you but have no idea how to do this being of a certain age, but the reference is there is anyone can find a copy of the book which is well worth buying as it includes excellent 72nd scale drawings for the BI. On a final note re' colour schemes all the pics I've seen of early BI's suggest that the internals of the turrets were painted in Interior Green so that they tend to stand out somewhat. I presume at some point they were painted black to blend in with the overall colour of the Lanc but the early ones definitely seem to be in this standard interior colour. And by the way when the press were first given access to the Lanc there was a shortage of .303 mg's so apparently broom poles were used as substitutes to create the desired effect! A bit 'Dad's Army' but in March 1942 morale was vital. Kind Regards Colin.

Dear All, Sorry to pester but how can I insert a jpeg from my desktop into the post please as I've never done this before and can't find this option anywhere? Kind Regards Colin. Ps. forgot to mention that the BVII had the FN 82 rear turret fitted which housed two .5mg's