LDSModeller

Hi Ash, Yes, I would agree overall NMF, with exhaust staining/metal discolouration around the the exhaust. The Vertical Stabilizer certainly looks Silver, may very well be a replacement from an airframe Struck off Charge, and reduced to produce, that had been painted with HSS? Regards Alan

Hi Ash, Just looking at your photo above (couldn't see them on the kit sprues) the Rocket Stubs can also be utilized (just remove the rockets) to add to your RNZAF Model A colour photo I manged to find (from when Photo Bucket went pear shaped), you can see the stubs under the wings (Image used for Illustration purposes only) Regards Alan

Hi Mike, The Kiwi's are good, but these little guys have no respect for the law I'll have more on the Sunderland and Kittyhawk's soon Regards Alan

Hi Mike Most photos show USAF birds with a mix of spoke/solid USN birds mostly spoked (on carriers anyway) You may have (or not) seen these before? USAF Skyraiders 1 USAF Skyraiders 2 USAF Skyraiders 3 USAF Skyraiders 4 More here Skyraider Association Hope that helps? Regards Alan

Hi Ash, RNZAF P51D's were pretty much stock, exception being they all ( bar one NZ2413) had cuff-less props (NZ2413 has standard cuffed prop) Hard to tell from the photos, but the airframe may have been natural metal or painted in High Speed Silver (HSS), if HSS then the area around exhaust shroud was natural metal. Prop nose cone most likely NM Hope that helps? Regards Alan

Always nice to see an RNZAF (TAF) Mustang A little bit about your particular airframe (2nd page in link) NZ2419 ( I have No connection to Ventura products what so ever) Look forward to your build Regards Alan

Well for one thing, where the link has SEAC Variation FAA/RNZAF, RNZAF never used those type of Roundels in WWII When it comes to RNZAF Roundels, myths continue to perpetuate...... Regards Alan

Really Cool Callum, my favourite Wellington Mk Ic Aircraft, looking forward to how your model turns out (on my list to do one day) 75 Squadron Wellington's Greg, from RAF Feltwell in Norfolk Jimmy Ward 75 Squadron Regards Alan

Hi Ced I knew a WWII Mk III Sunderland Pilot, who told me what it was like using the Mk II ASV. Many of the "Operators" became quite good at using the equipment, but there was always a certain amount of "Grass", which the operators had to discern between the sea and "target" The receiving aerials, rear side of fuselage had electric motors which selected each aerial in turn as a pulse was detected. The display tube similar to my photo below, showed a single Vertical beam, and an "echo" would momentarily deflect the beam in the direction of the receiving aerial When a "target" was detected the Upper Cabin aerials and wing aerials then helped to home in on the target, which necessitated turning the aircraft in the direction of said target, until the "Blip" was of equal length on each side of the centre line, and all going well you got to make life difficult for the Vessel you were hunting. Of note the switching motors didn't like the tropics so well.... (The above is a very simplified version of how the MK II ASV system worked) Regards Alan PS the kit Mk III ASV blisters are a bit too shallow in depth

Considering that at least one Dutch NEI (KNIL) Squadron shared Kallang with RAF Buffalo Squadrons, that would not be unsurprising. 488(NZ) Squadron records, record training flights between Dutch/488 Squadrons personnel/aircraft. Later the few surviving RAF 339E's were passed onto NEI forces in Batavia. Regards Alan

The RAF had some 160 odd 339E Buffalo's spread across RAF and and Article XV Squadrons (Commonwealth manned squadrons under RAF Control) the aircraft arriving (circa) mid 1941 in the Far East. Some were lost due to operational attrition from then to December 1941. When one thinks of the Pacific War against Japan starting Dec 8 (an hour or so before Pearl Harbour) and the eventual capitulation/surrender of British/Dutch Forces early March 1942, I would say the 160 odd Brewster Buffalo did quite well given it was close to three months fighting. A number of Pilots from various Squadrons became Aces, other pilots gaining 3 or so kills, so the Japanese AAF got a bit of a Bloody nose so to speak. Regards Alan

Hi Mike Phillip Treweek (Kiwi Aircraft Images) puts the RNZAF versions as 30-NT P51D Kiwi Aircraft Images I have noted on occasion, Joe Bauer's site has used RNZAF info, so, perhaps a check with the RNZAF Museum might of use to check what records they have of the correct designation? Regards Alan

Hi Mike, Yes, except one, NZ2413 was the only one that had a Cuffed Prop Regards Alan

Hi Mike, Looking through my RNZAF references, our Mustangs are really only referred to as P51D's or by RNZAF Serial and the occasional US BuerNo.. (early on, some still did wear the US BuerNo. on the Tail fin (circa 1945-46)) Books like Southern Cross Mustangs (David Muir) may have better information. Looking at Joe Bauers Website, it appears your particular P51D is a P51D-25-NT. As to your question about the puttied wing seams, yes they did. Caveat to that is though, during their brief operational life, when/if the putty became chipped/loose/fell out, it was not replaced (Got that info from someone who worked on them) Regards Alan

Hi Mike, The Mk IV designation was never used on our RNZAF P51's. They arrived too late for combat operations (meant to replace the war weary Corsairs). All the Mustangs were cocooned for storage, early 1946 and most were not brought out of Storage till circa 1950-52 (your build 1952), and retired Mid 1950 to late 50's All the Mustangs belonged to one of 4 Territorial Squadrons of the Territorial Air Force (TAF) (National Guard for our US colleagues) where they only really flew on the Weekends. Some were assigned to RNZAF 42 Sqn Ohakea for Fighter Affiliation/Drogue Towing etc. NZ4219 was assigned to 2 Wellington Sqn TAF The Checkerboard colours were to represent the Provincial Rugby Colours, No. 1 Sqn Auckland (Blue/White) No. 2 Sqn Wellington (Gold/Black), No. 3 Sqn Canterbury (Red/Black) No. 4 Sqn Otago (Blue/Gold (or Yellow)) Look forward to how your build progresses. I have a P51D underway (NZ2413) (too far along for this Group build), of No. 1 Auckland Sqn TAF Regards Alan