Grizly

I'm currently building the Trumpeter P-40B as KH*H as flown by 403 Squadron. My best reference source available is the old "Camouflage & Markings - Tomahawk, Airacobra and Mohawk" that has both photographs and line drawings of the specific aircraft. Modifications that I am aware of include the addition of the radio mast antenna, the relocation of the anti-collision light from the tail to the fuselage and the addition of a reflector gun sight. I am, however, uncertain about the identification (?) lights located either side just aft of the cockpit. Does anyone know if these are applicable to RAF aircraft? Also, if anyone is aware of other changes applicable to this kit, I would be very grateful should you share this information with me.

That would be greatly appreciated.

I recently purchased the 1/32 Special Hobby RAF/RAAF P-39F kit. Very nice kit indeed. In researching the model, however, I found a number of cockpit shots of P-39Qs all of which showed there being an elevator trim wheel to the left of the pilot's seat. Was this unique to the "Q" or is it a rather glaring omission by Special Hobby?

Since Special Hobby has now released their 1/32 Airacobra Mk.I / P-39F, I approached Czech Master to see if they were planning to issue a modified version of their resin armament set (item 5031) which currently has the 37 mm canon as carried on the P-39D with one having a 20 mm canon as carried by the RAF Mk.1. Their response, "There's possibility that we'd make another sets for P-39F but only when we get references for the armament used". Anybody interested/able to assist them in this endeavor?

Galgos, I agree completely wrt Jostle IV equipped aircraft and in the photo of the Jostle installation (see link in my initial entry) there is no evidence of other equipment installed in the bomb bay. The aircraft I am modelling, however, did not have Jostle but rather ABC and was wondering if the bomb bay was used for ABC (or other) equipment or was the ABC transmitter small enough (unlike Jostle) to be squirreled away in some other area of the aircraft. As you have probably gathered, I am building the model with the bomb bay open, hence my concern for what may or may not have been installed in the bomb bay.

Hurrinut, what tweaked my interest in the project was Murray Peden's book, "A Thousand Shall Fall". In it, the B-17 missions that he flew are described in some detail and there is no mention of bombing runs (unlike his description of his previous tour flying Stirlings). Instead all related missions are simply EW flights flown in concert with bombing raids that were designed to confuse the enemy.

Further to my last plea for help, as I mentioned I am in the process of converting the Monogram/Revell’s B-17G to the 214 Sqn Fortress III, HB774/BU*G. This aircraft apparently was fitted with, as part of its EW kit, ABC (airborne cigar). As part of my research, I have since found the Scale Models articles in the April 80 and August 81 issues as well as the Fortress III build article in Quarter Scale Modeller No 19 (never throw good magazines away!). At the risk of muddying the water, I understand that Jostle IV (which replaced ABC) equipped aircraft had the large Jostle IV transmitter installed in the bomb bay (see http://www.ekco-radar.co.uk/jostle/jostle950.php for an excellent photo of the installation). While Jostle is not applicable to my project, my question is; did ABC equipped aircraft have a similar installation in the bomb bay or was the bomb bay empty?

Thanx for the info Dave. Another step forward. Iain

As noted in a previous post, I am building Tamiya's 48th Lanc as Andrew Mynarski's Lanc VR*A as flown on it's last raid to Cambrai. Given the raid was against the marshalling yards and, as indicated by Pat Brophy in Bette Page's "Mynarski's Lanc" book that there were 20 bombs on board, it is quite probable the load was 20 500 lb gp bombs. Short of buying a bunch of Trumpeter Wellingtons in order to acquire the required number of bombs, does anyone know of a source for the required ordinance???

As previously noted, I have "A Thousand Shall Fall" plus the April 1980 Issue of Scale Models that has the article on the 100 Group B-17s. The picture of 6G*B in the latter (Pg 187) does tend to confirm the radio operator's windows (on that aircraft) were not painted over. Thanx for the Scale Models tip.

I was planning on completing the model to represent BU*G/HB774. The information I have indicates the cheek windows were painted out as were the lower half of the aft cockpit windows. The reason I raised the question regarding the radio operator's windows, given the navigator's windows were painted out, one would think that the same reasoning would have applied to the radio operator's station and they too would have been painted over. The aircraft also had the ABC transmission mast, the LORAN trailing antenna, the Carpet III aerial, and Airborne Grocer and Monica aerials on the tail. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Iain

After having read Murray Peden's "A Thousand Shall Fall", I resurrected my Monogram B-17 and am slowly working towards a 214 Squadron Fortress III. While I understand no guns were carried in the nose or through the skylight window in radio operator's station and the cheek windows were normally painted out black as were a portion of the cockpit side windows, is there any evidence to indicate that the afore mentioned radio operator's skylight and side windows were also painted out as a means of containing internal light?

I already have Bette Page's book. Indeed, the book is rather special as it is signed by five of the original crew members. I also had the good fortune of meeting Flt Lt Pat Brophy many years ago when he was stationed at Senneterre, Quebec (a radar station).

I’m currently building Tamiya’s 48th Lanc as the Canadian Mk-X, VR*A. Unfortunately, while the Canadian Warplane Heritage have a flying rendition of VR*A, no pictures of the original aircraft (that I know of) are in existence. Accordingly, I am having difficulty determining its probable configuration. The general consensus is that she had bulged bomb bays, needle props and H2S installed as shown in the illustration found at http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/bombers/lanca...files/index.php. While the drawing also shows the longer pitot tube and the absence of Rebecca antenna, is there any general guidance as to the installation of Rebecca, the Lorenz beam antenna, the different pitot sized pitot tubes and/or H2S on Lancasters?

Thanx for the info. As for the link, for some reason, it doesn't work. Iain

I recently dusted off my Trumpeter 48th Wellington III after having set it aside in favour of other projects only to renew past frustrations over what colours to paint the interior. While I understand that all surfaces readily visible from the outside were painted 'night', is it the general consensus that the rest of the interior was red oxide primed fabric with aluminum structure? How about the fuselage floor - specifically the inside diamond pattern on top of the bomb bay roof (part G17) and the walkway Part G2)? Any assistance regarding interior colours will be greatly appreciated.

Be assured that the Aires wheel well set can be made to fit, all-be-it with some difficulty. I had to remove a considerable amount of resin from the outer top surface of the well casting as well as plastic from the inside upper wings. I even broke through the upper surface of the wing in one spot but the damage was an easy fix as there was no scribed detail in the immediate area. They do look good once installed. Be advised, however, that once the wheel wells are installed, the rest of the Aires conversion is not exactly a walk-in-the-park. Getting the various landing gear components aligned and glued is also a bit of patience testing chore. Fortunately, the end results are worth the effort. As for the gear doors, I used the kit parts in favour of the resin equivalents. It is unfortunate that I have yet to figure out how to post photos here (assuming it is possible) as a picture is worth a thousand words.

I'm currently building a 1/32 model (Trumpeter kit with the Black Box cockpit and Aires wheel weel sets) of Hammy Grey's FAA/BPF Corsair IV and while all appears to be progressing along nicely, I seem to be raising more questions than answers. For example, I recently discovered pictures of the Corsair currently preserved in the FAA museum (see http://www.fleetairarm.com/restorationindex.htm). Were the yellow dashed line round the canopy and red surround around the leading edge gun ports and ejector chutes standard finish on RN Corsairs?? Also, I have acquired Aeromaster's 1/48 sheet 48-400 RN Corsairs (for the Tamiya kit), Techmod's 1/32 32009 Vought Corsair II and Arrow Graphics F-9-32 sheet for Grey's Corsair. When the BPF roundels and the fuselage numbers "115" on these sheets are scaled up, there is no apparent similarity in size. Does anyone know the true dimensions of the FAA BPF markings used on the Corsair? As always, any assistance greatly appreciated.