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Hugh Thomson

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Posts posted by Hugh Thomson

  1. 9 hours ago, Vingtor said:

     

    Quite understandable.... 👍

    I would not use a profile drawing in the Warpaint booklet as only "evidence", though. These drawings are packed with errors. The earlier titles, with David Howley as house artist, were much more reliable.

    I completely agree.  So it's fingers crossed.  Though knowing my luck someone will now produce a 1943 photo of FP536 when in service with 131 OTU which clearly shows the aircraft still in USN colours.

     

    Regards

     

    Hugh

  2. 3 hours ago, Scott Hemsley said:

    Hugh, you mentioned that you were open to doing an RCAF Canso A (PBY-5A)?   Aviaeology does a full 72nd sheet on RCAF Canso A (PBY-5A) covering the sub-killers from 162 (BR) Squadron ... all in RAF Coastal Command schemes. 

     

    Scott

    Hi Scott,

     

    Thanks for your suggestion.

     

    I looked at the Aviaeoology set for my PBY5A but (a) the kit is in black plastic so building a white Canso would have been quite a challenge; and (b) Cansos seem to have operated with a profusion of radar aerials all of which I would need to scratch build and I just don't have those skills (in particular to do the towel rail aerials on the fuselage sides).

     

    But I do have two Revell PBY5 kits so a Catalina MkI with 413 or 422 Squadrons using the Aviaeology set is definitely on the cards.

     

    Regards

     

    Hugh

     

    Hugh 

  3. 7 hours ago, 72modeler said:

    Does this help in any way?

    Mike

     

    https://cockpitrevolution.ecwid.com/Consolidated-PBY-Catalina-Mk-IIIA-p196320538

     

    FP529 arriving at Prestwick from  the U.S. I am guessing the markings were factory applied and appears to be painted in blue-grey/light gull grey overall; guessing scheme and markings were both changed after the ferry flight?

    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Aircraft_in_Royal_Air_Force_Service_1939-1945-_Consolidated_Model_28_Catalina._CH5948.jpg

     

    Excerpted from a discussion on Catalina IIIA's on the Airfix/com community forum- no colors info but interesting that FP536 was converted back to flying boat configuration! (Did some sleuthing- evidently converting a -5A back to a 5 was fairly commonly done.)

     

    Just FYI I have obtained a copy of the Aircraft Movement Card for FP536 from the RAF Museum. This confirms that FP536 was with 131 OTU from September 1943 to early 1944 (the exact date is indistinct) when it was written off (Catageory E1).

    The curious thing is that the form also states "Conversion to flying boat Beaumaris SRoe 14.5.43". and the 'A' in "Catalian IIIA" under 'Type' has been struck out.

    Saunders Roe seems to have had a facility at Beaumaris for modifying Catalinas for RAF service. But it sounds like they converted FP536 from an amphibian to a pure flying boat i.e. they removed the undercarriage. 

    That is the first I've ever heard of converting Catalina amphibians to pure flying boats and I'm making enuiries elesewhere.

    Meanwhile my Airfix Catalina is awaiting a few detailed parts from Hannants and ebay - some brass barrels for the machine guns and a metal undercarriage. I had decided to plough on and build FP536 as an amphibian in the original Airfix markings for 131 OTU but this development has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works.

     

    There was evidently a Catalina IIIA from No. 131 OTU posted on November 7, 2009 in the RFI section- you might look for it. Since he;s done several PBY-5 models, perhaps @tonyot might be able to help?

     

    I'm not much help, I'm afraid!

    Mike

     

     

    Hi Mike.

     

    My Catalina IIIA FP536 is now in the paint shop with an EDSG and DSG uppersurface so the die is cast. With the benefit of hindsight I should not have tried doing this using an old Airfix PBY5A - its been a very slow process not only in building a new interior, sanding off the rivets and dealing with fit issues but also loss of motive, a sense of what's the point plus other commitments and life generally. I admit that there are always other kits to do which don't offer quite such a challenge so its easy to get diverted.

     

    Some Australian contacts suggested that the RAAF converted PBY5As to PBY5 standard and if you look at the adf-serials.com.au site you will see photos of a number of aircraft that are said to be PBY5As but rather more resemble a PBY5 i.e. there is no sign of an undercarriage. Apparently, it was all about getting rid of unnecessary weight - the RAAF didn't need the undercarriage and with no undercarriage there was an opportunity to improve performance, in particular increasing the range.

     

    I must admit that I rather enjoy these little problems. Working out why an aircraft is as it is can be more interesting than building the kit.

     

    Regards

     

    Hugh

    • Like 1
  4. 16 hours ago, Vingtor said:

    330 (Norwegian) Squadron operated a number of the Catalina Mk.IIIAs while based in Iceland during WWII. Photos show that these were painted in the standard USN camouflage.

     

    Nils

    Nils,

     

    Thanks for your input.

     

    Yes. Got that.  I have a USN PBY5A and didnt want another aircraft in the same finish.  There is some indication that the RAF may have repainted at least one PBY5A/Catalina MkIIIA (FP536) in extra dark sea grey and dark slate grey in 1943 so I went for this option (with my fingers crossed).

     

    REgards

     

    Hugh

  5. 16 hours ago, P-3s rule said:

    Hugh,

     

    I am contemplating building the Academy 1/72 PBY-5A AND 1/72 Airfix PBY-5A and wanted to finish one as an RAAF 'Black Cat' and the other as one of the 18 RAF Catalina IIIs (or maybe a Canadian Canso in Coastal Command scheme). I have been searching the internet and britmodeller and other forums over the last few days and have found much interesting info on the amphibian variant of the Catalina as used by Commonwealth AFs during WW2.  I notice your thread concerns mostly 131 OTU, so I guess a 330 Sqn RAF/Norwegian Cat was not your main choice?

     

    Did you end up completing this kit, and if so, which scheme did you choose? 

     

    Jason

    Hi Jason,

     

    I ended up doing PBY5A/Catalina MkIIIA FP536 in service with 131 OTU in 1943, with an EDSG and DSG uppersurface.

     

    The photos of FP536 in the RAF Museum seemed to confirm that FP536 was at least initially delivered in 1942 in standard USN colours with some oddly placed national markings (that must have been done in the US as they are so inconsistent with RAF practice e.g. the fin flash was placed on the rudder).  The few photos I found of other PBY5As in service with the RAF - where it was known as the Catalina MkIIIA -  in 1942 all seemed to point to the aircraft being then finished in USN colours. 

     

    However it seemed logical to me that after over a year in service the aircraft would have been repainted in RAF EDSG and DSG.  The Airfix model of the PBY5A/Catalina MkIIIA issued in the 1970s included this option while the Hall Park book on the Catalina has a coloured profile of FP536 in exactly this finish. However I admit that I have not obtained any other confirmation of the aircraft's 1943 appearance.

     

    I used the old Airfix kit for this purpose - I remember building this kit as a young boy in about 1970 and I wondered how it would build now.  Not a good choice - I suggest you stay with the Academy kit. I've sanded off the rivets, built an interior and battled with various fit issues. So FP536 is still not finished  - though to be honest I'm a slow modeller as I have other commitments and there were times when I regretted my decision and the kit was put to one side. Anyway she is now in the paint shop but I doubt whether she will be finished for another couple of months (life is going to interfere yet again and my presence will be required elsewhere for a few weeks).

     

    Way back when I started this I was originally going to build a white RCAF Canso. However research showed me that these aircraft were equipped with radar when very early in service and this involved a whole host of radar aerials including some 'towel rail' types on the side of the fuselage, all of which were well beyond my scraatch building skills. Add to which the old Airfix kit I bought on ebay was issued in black plastic which would make a white finish very difficult. Mind the Academy PBY5A suffers from the same problem i.e. its finished in black plastic. At that point I began to look at other alternatives.

     

    I didn't want to do a Catalina in service with 330 (Norwegian) Squadron. These aircraft appear to have been operated in USN colours and I wanted my aircraft in to look a little more different and 'British' (I've nothing against the Norwegians).

     

    If you are going to try for an Australian Catalina try and get the DK Decals set for RAF and Commonwealth Catalinas or another DK Decals set for the Catalinas used by QANTAS during the war for the long and safe roundabout route from Western Australia across the Indian Ocena to Ceylon - might be difficult in the case of the former as they are no longer in print but Hannants has copies of the latter in stock. The RAF and Commonwealth set includes markings for a PBY5A/Catalina MkIIIA in service with 330 (Nowegian) Squadron or 321 (Dutch) Squadron in 1942 (the 321 Squadron aircraft were ex-Dutch East Indies machines, the squadron operating out of Ceylon doing a lot of work in particular for SOE in Asia ) both of which are in standard USN colours. But the set also includes an all over foliage green PBY5A used by the RAAF in the air sea rescue role out of Cairns in 1944/45. In fact I have this set and a foliage green RAAF PBY5A is on my 'to do'' list using an Academy PBY5A in my stash. 

     

    If you go to the site:

     

    adf-serials.com.au

     

    you will see the serials for all RAAF Catalinas with photos of each aircraft where available. Imterestingly you will find that although many Catalinas are listed as being PBY5A amphibian types, the photos shown for these aircraft appear to indicate a PBY5 type i.e. a pure flying boat. My information is that the RAAF coverted many PBY5As to PBY5 standard i.e. they removed the undercarriage, thereby lightening the weight and improving the performance with ability to carry greater fuel (thereby offereing greater range).

     

    Sorry for the long email. I'm out all tomorrow so tried to get this done tonight though after a good meal at a little local restaurant I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box.

     

    Regards and best of luck.

     

    Hugh

     

     

     

     

  6. 19 hours ago, Jure Miljevic said:

    Hello Hugh

    No, I think ES257 had yellow leading edges. PM me if you would like to have a scan of the photo.

    Super Aereo, thank you, thank you, thank you! For years, well by now probably decades, I have been watching the video and have never noticed all these. Soic also appears in the video several times and at 8:05 he can be seen climbing into the cockpit of his airplane. As a RAF Squadron Leader (although in a Yugoslav partisan army he held a rank of mere lieutenant) privileges of his rank allowed Soic to fly his 'personal' aircraft. Around here it has been taken for granted that MH592 wore a desert scheme. Photos of this aircraft are plentiful, and yet nobody ever questioned her camouflage. Nobody noticed clipped wingtips either ... Thanks again. Cheers

    Jure

     

    Thank you Jure.

     

    That was a bit of a dumb question by me. Sorry.  I really should have read your comments more carefully. A good reason not to try and multi-task in the evening after a long day.

     

    Yellow leading edges it will be. 

     

    Many thanks to everyone for commenting. It always amazes me how many people are prepared to help with questions like this (and it reassures me that there are other people out there who find this interesting so I am not alone!!).

  7. 12 hours ago, Jure Miljevic said:

    Hello Hugh

    Which one of those Balkan models Vb decals are you going to use, ES257/X Slovenec or EP886/G Hrvat? Examining the photo of the former under magnifying glass, one can just discern bright leading edge on the port wing.

    In general, it does seem that in early period some of the squadron aircraft had had yellow leading edges, and these can be also seen on photos of some other RAF Spitfires. However, none can be seen on photos of the squadron's aircraft from early 1945 on. Also, with one exception all of the 352(Y) Sqn. Spitfires had Fighter Command tail band. The one without it was Major Hinko Sojic MH592/G, and even in this case that was due to overpainting in desert scheme, with the original band colour showing under the serial. Cheers

    Jure

     Thanks Jure.

     

    I was going to do 'X'. Does that mean no yellow leading edge?

  8. I am finishing a Spitfire VB (trop) of 352 (Yugoslav) Squadron in late '44 using the Balkan Models decals. The Squadron was operating in the Mediterranean region at that time (particularly an island in the Adriatic). The instructions show the aircraft in the 1941/45 day fighter scheme of ocean grey, dark green and medium sea grey, which I believe is correct.

     

    However the instructions also show the aircraft having a port and starboard yellow leading edge. That said I understood that the yellow leading edge was only adopted by UK based aircraft in Fighter Command. As 352 Squadron was operating in the Mediterranean I assume the yellow leading edge was not applied to this aircraft and the instructions are in error. Though I guess its possible that the aircraft were delivered 'second  hand' from the UK where the yellow leading edge had been applied.

     

    I cannot find any photo evidence either way. Photos of 352 Sqdn Spitfires that I have seen don't show the leading edge.

     

    Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? 

  9. Does anyone happen to know of any obvious external difference between the He-111H-3 and He-111H-4? 

     

    I have the Italeri 1/72 'Battle of Britain' He-111H and the kit provides for an H-3. However, Printscale does some decals for an H-4 in France in early 1941, with a black undersurface, and I do like the idea of building an a/c engaged in night operations over the UK.

     

    Sadly, I cleared my He-111 references out in a house move 3 years ago so all I have are some photos to consider on the internet. It doesn't look like there are external differences but I don't trust the internet and bitter experience has taught me to check and check again before I commit myself.

     

    Thanks

    • Like 1
  10. 20 hours ago, Hook said:

    X325/326/327 are the Xtracolor Kuwaiti Skyhawk colors.

     

    HTH,

     

    Andre

    Looks like these are no longer in the Xtracolour catalogue.  But I'll check my enamels.

     

    Thanks

    23 hours ago, Rob de Bie said:

    If you're using Humbrol, I would try mixing 72 and 121. Try various ratios of droplets, my best guess is 3:1.


    Rob

    That looks doable. Thankyou.

  11. 1 hour ago, Rob de Bie said:

    I checked the 'IPMS color cross-reference' guide by Dave Klaus, and copied the following:

     

    Kuwait: Desert Storm update page 2: Y3251 Sable Jaune (FS30219 exact match), 1280 Beige-Verdatre fonce (FS 33303 should be slightly darker) , 1290 Beige-gris verdatre (FS 36408 close match). The source is not mentioned.

     

    Qatar: page 71: 3019, 20400, 35231, approximate matches, from reference Aerofax Minigraph 17 'Dassault Mirage F1'

     

    Rob

    Thanks.

     

    Its the Kuwait aircraft that seems the more difficult. The FS33303 colour is a bit of a challenge as I've never been great at mixing paints.   There is always a mess, 'She who must be obeyed' gets annoyed and I get into trouble. Still, I will give it a go.

  12. 23 hours ago, Viasistina said:

    Morning Gents..I believe extracolor did the Free Kuwaiti colors. I built up the Kuwaiti A-4 as such and it is quite pleasing.

    I did a word search of the Hannants site (using 'Kuwait', 'A-4' and 'Skyhawk') but nothing turned up - I have some old tins of Xtracolour (I stopped using enamels a while ago) so will dig them out and see what I have.

  13. 23 hours ago, Jabba said:

    I have found a Kuwaiti Mirage F-1 decal by Crapena on sheet 72.36, and it states that the colours are a follows:

     

    Sable, Celomer 3251 FS30219.

    Beige, Celom. 1280 FS30227.

    Gris Clair, Celom. 1290 FS36496.

     

    Hope that thisis of some help.

    Thanks VERY much for this.  This is extremely useful.

     

    FS 33303 looks a bit of a challenge but hopefully I can get something near enough to be good enough.

  14. Thankyou everyone for your input.

     

    I'm comfortable on the Qatari aircraft - and I agree with Eclipse that they probably follow the markings used by their Hawker Hunters.  It's the Kuwaiti example where I am less sure. But I think I'll have to conclude that the Qatari and Kuwaiti aircraft are using different colours.

     

    I have the old Carpena set of decals for the Mirage F.1 and this includes a Kuwaiti and a Qatari example. The Carpena decals say that both aircraft use FS30219, but a different shade for the scond colour. The Kuwaiti example is said to be FS30227, the Qatari, being FS30400.  But FS30227 seems too close to FS30219 for the contrast which appears in various photos. While FS30400 looks too light to me for the Qatari aircraft. 

     

    Head scratching time.

     

    Though I like Viasistina's idea of the Kuwaiti F.1 following French colours for the Jaguar, and I thought I could use one of the Berna decals set for French Jaguars in the Gulf War as a reference point. I checked the Hannants websit and Berna decals includes a Gulf War French Jaguar in a brown/tan/sand yellow colour where the brown and tan look just the ticket (there are humbrol references for both colours but I can't quite make these out).

     

    Guess I'll have to buy the Berna decals to sort it out and then a Hobby Boss Jaguar to use the decals!!

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  15. I have two qustions:

     

    First, does anyone know if Kuwaiti Mirage F.1s were camouflaged in the same shade of sand/brown as Qatari Mirage F.1s? In the photos online they can sometimes look quite similar.

     

    Second - Special Hobby says the Qatari Mirage F.1B was Brown FS20117 and Sand FS20260. Does anyone know of a good match for FS20260 (FS30260)?

     

    Building two F.1s at the moment. One Qatari - hopefully the second will be a Kuwaiti aircraft. But if I can't get comfortable with the colours of the latter she may end up as an aircraft of the airforce of Ecuador.

  16. Many thanks for your input. The 'GG' code for 1667 HCU (based on a photo in Lancaster at War 3) looks very 'squashed', non-standard and a bit of a challenge to replicate. So I'll keep looking for now.

     

    Not sure about the reason for lack of Lancaster HCU and Finishing School photos. I did the same exercise with the Stirling and found quite a few photos of Stirlings in HCU service.  I wonder whether it might be due to the fact that (from what I have read) Lancasters were less common in HCUs, which is why they set up the Lancaster Finishing Schools (i.e. crews destined for Lancasters were operating Stirlings or the Halifax in their HCU). 

     

    Interesting subject though - that is what did the HCU course involve? What sort of exercises? What sort of number or duration? What about any class work?

  17. I found what looked like a mid/late Lancaster of 1667 HCU  - GG-X - in one of the Lancaster at War series but the photo is too blurred to make out the serial.  As you say although there were standard forms for the codes in principle, in application they could differ considerably.  'GG-X' is one such example, the codes being very very narrow.

     

    W4154 of 1662 HCU also appears in the Holmes book - but although I can see the unit code (PF) I can't see the aircraft code - and as an early production Lancaster it would have the early bomb aimer's nose blister.

     

    Who would have thought this could be that difficult. 

  18. I have one of the older mold Airfix Lancaster kits from the 1990s in my stash and (now effectively grounded at home with my wife who is in an 'at risk' group viz the coronavirus) thought I would see what I could do with this older model (though I am at best a mediocre modeller).

     

    Flicking through my Lancaster books and decals I thought I would try an aircraft from one of the less glamorous Heavy Conversion Units or Finishing Schools. But, subject to one exception, I cannot find any photo of a Lancaster from an HCU or a Finishing School which clearly shows both unit codes and serial.  The one exception is W4113 (GP-J), a BMkI of 1668 HCU, though as an early Lancaster she has the flatter bomb aimer's clear perspex nose blister which isn't replicated in the kit (this has the more pronounced and bulbous later production blister).

     

    I have Harry Holmes book on the Lancaster and this gives me the codes and serials used by a number of HCU aircraft - but no photo and without a photo I can't be sure of the font and position of the codes etc.

     

    Can anyone help?

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