LDSModeller

There's always the possibility it could have happened. The IJN used the Komatsu G.40 bulldozer in the Pacific, to build Island runways/ aircraft taxiways etc. so why not tow aircraft, the weight would be there, as well as a slower speed needed for ground handling. The Allied forces in the Pacific used tractors like the M2 Tractors (M2 Cletrac) to tow Sea Plane aircraft around bases, or during beaching/refloating. M2 High Speed Tractor (Cletrac) Regards Alan

Hi Pete, Awesome, thanks for posting these. I obtained from the RNZAF Museum, a copy of the Curtiss Paint mixing ratios for Painting P40 M and N's The darker colour below, is what I mixed using the ratios to get similar to Dark Greens that you are referring to. What's also good, is the photo showing that even when close to 75 years on, the RNZAF Roundels are still a Darkish Blue (even when faded), and not those Asinine Light Blue colours colours supposed Experts/Modellers keep harping on about Thanks again for posting these Regards Alan

I believe that's the plan, and leave her in current colours

Actually, Gloria is in reasonably good nick too considering, and wearing the colours she was re-painted in upon arrival back into New Zealand 1944 I have the Trumpy1/32 P40N to build in her last/current scheme. This is her on a War bond s drive in Christchurch circa 1944 Copyright RNZAF Museum used with Permissions Before anyone asks, No there are no current decals for this scheme, and colours are Uppers NZ Foliage Green (best match Humbrol 30) Lower NZ Sky Grey - No current off the shelf match, this is the colour I mixed to match the Colour I have seen Regards Alan

Good Morning Jim, The RNZAF always used the US Nomenclature for aircraft designation, so NZ3059 is a P40K-15, not a P40 Mk III. Just bear in mind that sometimes new information does come about , which can make older information out of date The P40K is a favorite of mine, and I have researched the colours as much as possible especially given FS colours are only approximations for RNZAF paint colours WWII It's certainly my opinion that the Early delivery of P40K-15s were delivered in standard US Olive Drab/Neutral Grey. These aircraft were ordered to be repainted in the RNZAF Pacific Scheme. Now there will be SAGE's (Self Appointed Guru Experts)who will tell you all manner of stuff, based on Chinese whispers from some book, that some body's uncle Vince had overheard some body else authoritatively state "This or That", and many Chinese Whispers later its Gospel truth. Charles Darby's (who I have actually met) Book "RNZAF The First Decade", was for Decades the go to Book for all things WWII RNZAF. We now know that some of his information was mistaken/spurious, yet has been quoted Ad nauseam - Even I believed it too, until I started asking questions - Don't get me wrong Charles's book still has some great nuggets, and I still refer to it often. The RNZAF Pacific Scheme This seems to have gone through a few incarnations: The first is NZ3036 (Middle P40E-1) in link below, circa late 1942, early 1943, where the US DuPont colours of RAF Dark Earth and RAF Dark Green have been over painted in NZ Dark Green and NZ Sea Blue Grey, lower is US Version of RAF Duck Egg Blue aka Sky - I have added as a link show you get a larger resolution NZ3036 in RNZAF Pacific Scheme NZ Pacific Green/Dark Green, best match is Humbrol 3 Brunswick Green Second - RNZAF Lockheed Hudson's I believe these simply had the US Version of RAF Dark Earth painted over with NZ Sea Blue, while the rest of the airframe remained in US version of RAF Dark Green, and Lower Colour, US Version of Duck Egg Blue aka Sky RNZAF Official -used with RNZAF Museum Permissions Getting back to your P 40K-15 NZ3059 - the following is based on a more recent photo that surfaced over the last couple of years. This P40K-15 is believed to be NZ3056, so same batch as NZ3059. RNZAF P40K NZ3056 Note the Starboard lower wing, the lower paint had peeled off in sheets revealing paint underneath which I believe is US Neutral Grey. The colour NZ Sea Grey Blue is a BALM Colour (British Australian Lead Manufacturers) - We certainly know BALM paints were notorious for fading or peeling, this photo of NZ3056 is a case in point. When I painted my P40K, I based my NZ Sea Blue Grey on this photo from the RNZAF Museum (see link below), and painted the scheme in an RAF "B" Type Scheme as seen in Official Photos NZ Sea Blue Grey The Olive Drab based on a faded sample swatch off an actual RNZAF P40 The lower colour is a bit more of a conundrum, as I have as yet to find a change in usage in the given time period between 1943/44 as to whether the lower colour is NZ Duck Egg Blue as found on this P40E-1 at MOTAT OR NZ Sky Grey, which is IMHO a New Zealand version of US DuPont 71-021 Sky Type S - Grey. NZ Sky Grey was well used circa mid 1944 - to wars end as a repaint on RNZAF Aircraft lower surfaces. Again SAGE's on the net will tell you it's an actual grey or a Green Grey (as Does Darby in First Decade) Earlier this year I had the privilege of seeing actual WWII RNZAF colours on a RNZAF 40N that had been in storage for some 50-60 years The NZ Sky Grey interestingly had peeled off on the lower wing as in the above photo of NZ3056. The actual colour ( a substantial amount still remained) was a Blue Greenish colour with a slight grey tone to it. - Interestingly enough, Pete Mossong's site mentions this colour as Blue Green color I have attempted to replicate this colour for an upcoming build of an RNZAF P40K (NZ3056 funnily enough) This is the colour As to your query on the Roundel sizes, again lots of people will tell you lots of things Actual Wing Roundel 48 inch - Dimensions are as follows: Blue outer 48"/White 16"/Blue inner 12" Fuselage Roundel 36 Inch As far as the WWII Roundel colour, I'm sure the know it all's will tell you a plethora of rubbish about the "Actual colours" - Below is a link from some information the RNZAF Museum sent me - note the Blue Colour WWII RNZAF Pacific Roundel Colours RNZAF Museum Interestingly the P40N I mentioned above, still had the Roundels on the wings - Same/similar color to the colours from Air Force Museum, so a Rich Dark Blue Ventura do do a Range of 1/48 Decals in correct colour Hope that helps you Regards Alan

If you look at this WWII Film of USN Black Cat Ops, about 6 min in, are some ground crew dealing to some skin damage on a Catalina. The last Sailor is applying a "Patch". it appears to be painted - obviously important in a Maritime environment USN Black Cat patch repair Some years ago there was some photos of the Spitfire (Spitfire Mk Ia R6915) at the IWM, posted here on BM showing repairs to the bottom of the Elevator fabric, which were not painted over Some "holes" I have seen repaired with metal tape. It really depend I guess on how bad the damage is and types of repairs carried out. Few photos I have managed to find P 40 Fuselage Multiple holes/repairs F4U Fuselage repairs Hope these help? Regards Alan

Hi Guys, I checked my SH Mk V, and can confirm that the FN11 Turret Glazing is there, see red circles (parts 11 & 12) SH Mk V Instructions Kit Sprue includes Rear Turret Glazing for Mk I/II also The actual Kit parts (11 & 12) for the FN11 Turret which has the single slot for the VGO .303 MG If you checkout the SH Sunderland Mk III Kit instructions link below (from the Special Hobby Site), show the Kit parts on Page 5 crossed out with red X, but for some inexplicable reason would have the modeller build the kit with FN5B Turret, which is fine for a Mk IIIa, but not a Standard Mk III which used the FN11 Turret SH Sunderland Mk III Kit Instructions Unfortunately you will have to work out which kit parts fit the FN11 Turret (gun mounts etc) Just a warning for other modellers, if you build your Mk III according to the SH Instructions, you will end up with a Mk III/Mk V "Bitza" Hope that helps? Regards Alan

Short Answer to your question is No. The SH Mk V only has the engines/cowling/Propellers for a Mk V. It seems in the Mk III boxing, they have supplied the Propellers/Cowlings/engines for a Mk III. That being said, the instructions in the Mk III box would have you use the Front Turret glazing for a Mk IIIa/MK V (FN5B Turret). I'll have to check, but the SH Mk V may have the FN11 single VGO turret on the transparency sprue which means it may well be on the Mk III sprue too (that will be later today after work) Regards Alan

Hi All, Apologies for not getting my build finished, family illness and mine, plus this whole Covid Level three lock down here in Auckland has put to rest any completion for this GB Thanks for having me along especially our GB Hosts. I'll put this in the WIP Forums, as I want to get it finished (man on a mission), so I like to invite you to join me there Thanks/Regards Alan

Hi Jim, I'm picking by the Roundels and name on the aircraft you have used the Ventura Decals sheet? Ventura Decals NZ5485 was a F4U-1D, and should actually look like this NZ5485 Kohimarama IX If you remove the Verna and replace with the Kohimarama, and Ghost and Tiki emblems, you'll have a great looking Kiwi Corsair "Verna" was the name of an RNZAF FG-1D with RNZAF 14 Squadron in Japan as part of the British J Force occupying Japan circa 1946-48, and per Ventura Link above was NZ5617 FYI, RNZAF F4U-1D's never carried Rockets, (didn't have the plumbing for it) Regards Alan

I have both the Frog Kit, and ICM kit, to build at some point. This YouTube clip has some good footage of the SB-2, which you might find useful WWII Russian Bombers Regards Alan

It's a Mooring Bollard, you can see it in use in the Photo link (Pete Mossong's site) below. RNZAF Catalina with rope on Mooring Bollard Regards Alan

Hi All, A bit of an update I have removed the Italeri version of the internal ribbing and stringers. A dremel and some decent sanding discs helped out immensely A quick clean up with fine grit wet & Dry with good old H2O, and it's good to go I also added in styrene discs to cover the redundant portholes. For those of you wondering at my sanity () the ribbing/stringers were in a different positions with the Porthole deletion to accommodate the new "Airliner" type windows a covering of Tamiya putty, again Wet& Dry sanded and there we are You will note in the above photo the pencil lines, the horizontal one is for the flight deck support, and vertical is for the Frame for the Bomb room/galley rear wall (the observant will also note the wing stubs in the fuselage openings. I wanted to see how far the stubs protruded into the fuselage void (more on that later) Flight deck support in I have chosen to use kit parts where practical, so I am going to use the pilots platform sans the attached flight deck part New proper flight deck with Pilots platform and first of the main frames/bulkheads for the lower deck In the above photo you will note the opened galley hatch Here's how I accomplished that Using a Tamiya scribing template, scribed around the hatch outer Removed the kit piece and again using the template along with thin styrene rebuilt a new hatch opening What the real thing looks like from outside and inside The other thing which has been occupying my time, is the filling and sanding of the Panel lines. It's a small step by small step process, but getting there Every time I think I have it, a new line/rivets appear, so back to refilling/sanding But hey that's what modelling is right? With less than a month till finish, I'm going to need to spend all my time on this, so I can at least have something at the finish line Once the Fuselage is done, the rest will be relatively simple to complete (I think ) You will have noted too, that I have not yet cut out the Main windows. To be honest I have been racking my brain how to best accomplish this, and I have come up with a plan. More next time (soon) Thanks for looking in Regards Alan

Interestingly, the Mk I/II Sunderland Manual I have, actually has a diagram of what Italeri portrays on their Sunderland (how to remove/install, when removing/re-installing wing tanks). I too, have not been able find any Sunderland's (early marks) with the tank cross bar, in any of my Sunderland books. It's very possible it was designed as such, but in practice too cumbersome to maintain, so was dropped from production. Later Fuel tank diagrams of (Mk III/V) Sunderland's I have, show nothing of the cross bar. This photo of a Shorts Boat Wing tank shows the tank is quite tight fitting and No cross bar Regards Alan

Having read through the Special Hobby site supplied Sunderland Mk III Information, some observations and a warning to modellers looking to build this Mk III, check photos. SH Sunderland Mk III Markings 1) As far a the Lanolin Water Proofing goes, SH makes mention that Sunderland's water proofing is "Yellowish/Greyish Tint"??? Sunderland's either had a Clear Lanolin or a Grey Coloured lanolin. Generally Only applied to the Hull from below the water line . To my knowledge the floats were never water proofed, the floats had far more sealed compartments, (which doesn't mean to say they didn't have water seepage) There is a good photo of EK591 in Ocean Sentinel, showing the clear lanolin over the white paint. 2) The Warning and Safety markings around the Main Hatches/Bomb Room Doors. A Post WWII application, if you look at any period photos, Mk III's didn't have these 3) The Decal/Marking Sheets show the Sunderland (as does Box Top Art) with the FN 5B turret (dual gun), The only Mk III's to have this were the Mk IIIa. Standard Mk III's had the single VGO FN Turret 3) For Sunderland EJ168 "J" 343 (French) Sqn Dakar 1944, SH gives the impression that the Sunderland has the Top turret removed but the fairing still in place - I haven't been able to find a photo showing this. Sunderland (later Mk III's) had the upper turret deleted in production, and a the area became a hatch (I have been up through this in RNZAF Mk V's) Sunderland Mk III with Hump Colour photo showing what it looks like Sunderland Upper Hatch The SH Mk V has a piece that slots in there, but it's fictitious, the Modeller will have to scratch build unfortunately 4) Couple of comments on EK591, and SH history comments, (I have a copy of the action report)on the Sinking of the U-Boat by EK591 "U". This was Warrant Officer Morton's first Operational sortie as Captain, being screened (Read assessed) by Flt Lt Butler (who occupied at the time 1st pilots seat (port)). Butler flew the attack, dropping six Torpex Mk XI 250lb depth charges. 4 Depth Charges were seen to explode around the U Boat. The U Boat obviously fatally damaged, the U Boat crew flashed (possibly Aldis lamp type) "Fine Bombish", the U Boat crew then going into life rafts. Here's the Interesting point, SH comment that the U Boat crew climbed into life rafts, little and one large (per the report), but were never seen again. In a conversation with Allan King (Author of Wings On Windermere et al) some few years ago, he mentioned, that the U Boat crew didn't survive the night (obviously found the next day) Interestingly, the Box art should (if SH actually researched the incident) show a depth charge still under the wing, as Sunderland pilots (from my research/reading) usually liked to keep one or two depth charges just in case, they find another U Boat on the way home. Hope this is of help Regards Alan