LDSModeller

Hi Anthony, Great to hear from you - awesome snippet of information - thanks for posting it. Interestingly as am FYI for modellers, the "Apparent Dark Edge" has made it onto decal sheets as you well know but as a RED Line Off Topic, I hope all is well in the South - Temp wise you must now down in single digits? ( we sure have been....) Thanks/regards Alan

Hi John, I'm just in the throes of finishing one of these - not too bad of a build, few places required some putty (though that could be my own cause). The Exhausts are a bit fragile. I added wheel well walls and made the offices a bit more busy... Look forward to your build Regards Alan

Hi Ryan, Happy to help. The "Object" under the P 40 above, I believe is either a life raft/supply canister, there was some discussion earlier this year on an RNZAF Forum about it. It's too short to be a 450lb Depth Charge, which the RNZAF became quite proficient at using. Thought you might be interested in this NZ Archives clip, has a number of RNZAF Aircraft especially 40N's which has some good shots of wing strips. Of Note the Dauntless's are SBD-5's of 25 Squadron, TBF-1C's are of either 30 or 31 Squadron. NZ Archives RNZAF Clip Another clip - just get past the tennis ball and Die casting first - some great clips of RNZAF P40 E-1's.K's and N's 1943 Film clip Regards Alan

I would be very happy to do that Regards Alan

Hi Julien, I would have sort first, did you want any type of annotation to go with them ie bow section etc? Regards Alan

Hi Ryan, Bear in mind everything you read in books, magazines etc may not necessarily be true or factual, referring to the above posted diagram The Drawing refers to NZ3072 which indecently is Geoff Fisken's "Wairarapa Wildcat" it did not wear 072 on the cowl lower but rather "19" as this photo link attests to, the drawing has incorrect Roundels and stripes NZ3072 Other issues are the comment about use of Grey Codes, overseas RNZAF Pacific based aircraft wore "Sky" codes. The above article certainly is correct in the use of SU's (Serving Units) which "owned" the aircraft, and "loaned" them to the operational squadrons. The Introduction of the Stripes/White tails certainly was for Identification purposes, Bryan Cox (author of "Too Young to Die") flew RNZAF P40's in the Pacific, and lamented that on more than one occasion RNZAF aircraft were on the receiving end of a hail of bullets from our erst while Allies who mistook the identity. The issue of SU's will also (hopefully) answer your query about the variation of stripes especially lower. Each SU maintained its own aircraft, decisions on "Theatre" markings came down to the SU CO, so some will apply the lower some won't, but you will find all (later P40's) will have the upper stripes In my above post and yours after it, you mention sharing of the P40E-1's . The USAAF 68t PG/FS in Tonga flew the P40E-1's since receiving them at least early 1942, and as I commented one that I have seen a photo of still wore it's RAF Serial, but with US Star. October 1942 these P40E-1's were handed over to RNZAF 15 Squadron, who flew and fought with them at Guadalcanal/Solomon's. As I mentioned earlier, these flew with the US Star for some 6 months before receiving the RNZAF Roundel as in this photo here (now with RNZAF 16 Squadron) Of note is NO Stripe P40E-1 Circa April/May or later 1943 RNZAF P40E-1 Solomon Is NZ3094 (P40E-1) incidentally is also the aircraft I mentioned earlier with USAAF 68PG Tonga with RAF Serial NZ3094 The P40E-1 were not the only "Camouflaged" P40's flown by the RNZAF, early delivery P40K's were also camouflaged, arriving in RAF TLS Camouflage and repainted prior to departure to the Islands in RNZAF Pacific Scheme - you commented on not seeing the upper wing stripe in this photo, but at another angle you can just make it out (second aircraft from bottom lower) RNZAF P40K's In this photo link from Pete Mossong's site, P40K (camouflaged) you can just discern the stripe port wing, but certainly can see it on Starboard Stabilizer lower left RNZAF P40K repair You can't see a lower wing stripe on the K's (LHS), but you can see it on the M's (RHS) RNZAF P40K and M's Finally N Model You can see the Stripe lower wing in this photo But not on these P40N Esma Lee 4SU P40N's P40N This probably doen't answer you wholly but, but if you need more info, I can contact my buddy at the RNZAF Museum? Regards Alan

You need to bear in Mind that the RNZAF was attached to the USN in the Pacific during WWII, That being said, generally the RNZAF followed US conventions such as stripes and white tails. I also need to say that the RNZAF flew P40E-1's , P40K's and as mentioned by you M's and N's The only aircraft "Inherited" were the P40E-1 from the 68thFG/FS in Tonga October 1942, interestingly the USAAF flew these with RAF serials and RAF camouflage. When RNZAF 15 Squadron took these over, they actually flew them for some 6 months in US markings before applying the RNZAF Roundel in the Solomon's These P40E-1's flew up until the P40's were replaced by the Corsairs in 1944 All the K's M's and N's were brand new Lend Lease. On occasion replacement aircraft came from USAAF reserves. I will need to search through photos to link here, but there are photos of at least P 40K's en-route to the Operational areas with Stripes applied in New Zealand (circa July 1943) as per below RNZAF P40K's More later Regards Alan

Hi Tweener, The RNZAF received quite a number of B34's in the Pacific theater WWII that were/had been in use by USAAF - these were Ex RAF orders Here in New Zealand at MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) have a preserved B34 see link attached RNZAF B34 I would take the external colours with a grain of salt, but interior is original colour - you can see are not US Interior Green It has the glazed nose. There are NO FS numbers for RAF paint colours manufactured by US Companies to paint aircraft ordered by the British Air Ministry in WWII immaterial what some folks might tell you. Britain and US came up eventually with ANA colours for Lend Lease aircraft, but again no FS numbers (that's post WWII) Regards Alan

Hi Dennis, The author could be any number of those who flew and then wrote. One Author that comes to mind who flew for both 10 and 461 Squadrons with the Sunderland, was/is a gent by the name of Ivan Southall. He wrote "They Shall Not Pass Unseen" and "Fly west", both centered in/around the Bay of Biscay. I have/read both - good reading! Regards Alan

Hi All, next Installment. Before anyone asks, Yes I am still doing my Original Mk III as in the link below - Yes I know it has been a long time in gestation, but I must point out that was personal choice by me, to protect my "Intellectual Property" and leave it at that I hope to finish both in or around the some time, all going well Airfix Mk III Sunderland WIP The Italeri Sunderland Mk III Kit - I'm not going to drone on about the kit short falls, that has been addressed in other forums I will show what I need to do to "Convert" the kit, and if/as required point out some issues that are one of those "Pick Your Fights" type thing First off - Please pardon my attempts at "Graphic Illustration".......... Fuselage First off the "Additional" windows under the bomb bay should be further along (my mistake), but as you can see the lower forward "Portholes" , need to be removed/converted into "Airliner: types or equivalent for those times. Also additional ports on Port side aft of wing training edge. The Stern keel is way too thick, and when comparing to the Airfix kit you can see the difference - the Airfix kit is a little more accurate - one of those pick your fights.......... What the stern keel should look like on the real thing The annotated photo shows where I will have to add to the bomb bay doors and fill in with some styrene the hole where the upper turret was replaced with a hatch as in photo below Yes, I have been up through here when the Sunderland's were in service and on the water I have started to take care of the horrid panel lines and rivets using Tamiya putty (applied very sparingly) and sanded - results thus far - more sanding - I will try putty and nail varnish remover to "spread" the putty more evenly next "Puttying" session. I also tried applying paint thickly - epic fail.......... While waiting for putty and paint to dry, I decided to begin to remove locating pins and fictitious internal ribbing, as I will build a proper Interior (like my Airfix Sunderland build) - need to sharpen my chisel though....... Anyways, thanks for looking in, more soon (Time for tea (dinner)). Regards Alan

Hi All Those who know me on Britmodeller, know my passion for all things Short Sunderland That passion of course runs deeper for RNZAF Sunderland's, having grown up on an RNZAF Sunderland base. My topic is one that I have wanted to do for some time, and that being one of the RNZAF Short Sunderland' Mk III's that arrived brand spanking new from Britain toward the end of 1944. In 1944 the then British government approached the then New Zealand Government, and offered them four (4) brand new Short Sunderland Mk III's configured in a transport version. There were unarmed, having been stripped of all offensive/defensive armament, and were a basic transport version of a Sunderland, but not a Hythe Flying Boat. The 4 Sunderland's left Britain late 1944, and after an epic journey arrived in New Zealand between late November and Christmas 1944. These then plied the waters of the South Pacific between Auckland/ RNZAF Base Lauthala Bay, and of course operational bases further a field in the Pacific. This is a photo I found some time ago, I suspect it's RNZAF Official that has been cropped, showing NZ4101 at Lauthala Bay, Fiji (Used for Illustration Purposes only) Post WWII they continued to serve, having been stripped of their camouflage as in these photos from my collection Yes that a Natural Metal Sunderland!!! Over the years I have seen the odd model rendition on Internet forums, and the occasional article. Some will read either the Air Britain Ocean Sentenial Short Sunderland (information provided by RNZAF Museum), Or others will have read, is the one printed in this Book/Magazine. The Article written in this publication was written by someone who has little or no research on RNZAF Sunderland's, on the 4 Sunderland Transports the article writer wrote the following These are the types of articles that annoy me tremendously - If the article writer actually knew any history, the crews were those 490 Squadron personnel who were in Britain to train on Sunderland's, and these four, were brand new airframes. If you look at the link below, it is a page out of a log of one of the Pilot's and shows the dates when left (see upper left hand corner - see 1944) and where the aircraft flew to during their journey - they didn't start in West Africa. RNZAF Sunderland Transports Air Movements One of my treasured books in my collection, is this book, well read and thumbed It's filled with excellent text and photos, and one which is below (being RNZAF Official) which I plan to build my model and associated diorama (Used for illustration purposes only) The Mk III in the above photo is being "Warped" into a Braby at Lauthala Bay in Fiji - Yes the Braby is a real thing, used to moor aircraft like the Sunderland on the water. I have actually walked on, and boarded Sunderland's on/in the Braby at RNZAF Hobsonville, here in Auckland. The Aircraft were delivered in the TSS (Temperate Sea Scheme) of EDSG/DSG/Sky, which is what my model will wear. One day I would like to do a Post War Mk III in all natural metal. The box top - I really hope that it is only the artists rendition that shows the wings at quite the angled Dihedral of the wings (which should be 0 degrees) OK, More in a few moments, as I will fill the next post with the model parts etc Thanks for looking in Regards Alan

Hi Mike, I had a hunt through all my photos, and this one below is the best I can find showing the "Flap Well Step" Edit - I re-read my comments and your question, and realized I forgot to add in something about the "Aerofoil" Shape. I have done this in a link, so the photo is larger for you to see the detail Flap Aerofoil Couple of other things of interest, Note the Bomb Truck Rails and the sliding covers which are partially open. Also the access panel next to the tracks (allowing access to things like the flap motor - fun things to play with, truck load of torque with a small spindle to boot), and the wing jack point under my name Hope that helps? Regards Alan

Hi Mike, Thank you for your comments - yes I must profess I am a Sunderland fanatic (in a good way) I quite enjoy seeing a Sunderland model, and there have been a quite a number here on Britmodeller. Re The Special Hobby Sunderland, I must be up front and state I did supply them some technical information for the Interior. They had already molded the fuselage before they approached me, so all mistakes in that regard are theirs alone. The info supplied by me was used in some instances and ignored in others - their call Yes I have seen the Sprue shots: here we go Lower Wing SH Sunderland Lower Wing Issues No ID lights, Wing Vents (at bottom of 5 and 4) or Flap well step - photo below Upper Wing SH Upper Wing They have the Oil Cooler vents covered that's a tick No Rear Fuel Tanks (for either Mk V or Mk III) See Link ( I have done it this way see it better) Fuel Tank Diagram Hard to tell if they have the Leading Edge doors for APU SH Sunderland External rear fuslage Not all Mk V's had the Forward and rear hatch with the clear panels for Crash axe and Fire Extinguisher, but SH have done the forward hatch like that - but not the rear hatch (in link) Rear hatch is the same (Ignore Dorsal hump for now) The Mk V (and later Production Mk III) should have an external flare chute Up Close (Yes I have photos of the Internal fixture also) SH Sunderland Flight Deck and Upper hatch - my previous comments are really minor issues compared to this, the modeller will have to conduct major surgery for this - The Upper hatch is on the wrong place, and the upper bow deck is wrong also. SH Sunderland Flight deck if you look at the line I have drawn vertically in the link photo, this is where the main spar and Spar upper subsection sits. The Upper hatch is actually forward of this...... see the photo below The photo Link below shows a Sunderland Pilot (possibly "Third Dickey") fighting the aircraft from the Astrodome standing on the Access platform Astrodome Upper hatch The access Platform stowed and up note in front of main spar - I have been up through this hatch when the RNZAF Sunderland's were in service, so have first hand knowledge of this My Model build showing how it all should look The Upper Bow decking should not run straight from the flight deck, but rather drops down as in this photo of my Sunderland build - the photo is a little deceiving in that the upper deck is raised at an angle, there should be a lip between deck and curve of fuselage There are other issues, but I'll leave it as is for now, I've probably annoyed a few people with my comments. At the end of the day people can build Airfix, Italeri or even the SH Sunderland when it finally arrives. As mentioned earlier by myself and also Ed's comments OOB or with a lot of work you'll have a Sunderland that you can be proud of Regards Alan

Actually OOb, none of the current Sunderland Models, Airfix, Italeri and yes I'll say it, the long awaited SH Mk V can be built as an "Accurate" model It really depends on your definition of what is "Accurate" is also? Yours, Mine and Someone Else's may/can/will differ. All marks of the Sunderland differed, all different beasties, and I've said it once and I'll say it again "You Cannot build a one size fits all Sunderland kit. I have both Italeri kits However Short list of Issues for both and I have not mentioned everything: Externally Bow cross section too narrow, As Occa comments on in his post above Italeri have molded the area around the main canopy with a bulge, which then causes a narrow profile to the fuselage. If you look at this Mk I, it has a similar profile around the main canopy base, but not a narrow bow cross section - Not not all Mk I's (I have seen, have this) Both missing the "Tenth Porthole on Starboard side see photo On a real Sunderland - count the Starboard forward lower Ports - 10 Italeri Mk I /III has a extra Porthole on Starboard side upper fuselage section (near wing leading edge) that should not be there Mk III still has the "Panel/Hatch" on Port/Starboard sides from Mk I which is wrong as in above photo, and photo below Mk V/MR5 Sunderland see No hatch panel on real aircraft (Note Mk III and Mk V fuselages are same bar a few differences such as additional hatches etc) The Forward and Rear main hatches are wrong dimensions Italeri Mk I/III hatches are too big, the above annotated photo gives you the forward measurements. Rear hatch should be about 20mm in height. If you check my first photo, you can see under the fuselage, a page with "General Arrangement", this is from the Mk III M&E Sunderland manual and has hatch etc measurements in Feet and Inches... Portholes, both the Italeri kits have porthole issues with the appearance of Porthole rings on all portholes Not all Port holes open on a Sunderland (all marks), only some do as in this photo only opening have "Rings" The Sunderland Porthole Transparency in 1:1 scale is 30.5cm or 4.2mm in 1/72, so the actual hole is correct, but you will have to fill in the rings that are "Non Opening" The "Opening Rings" are about right size Italeri would have you put a porthole in for the camera hatch on the lower section of stern fuselage as in photo below In reality the Camera hatch was covered as in this photo. Also not all photos were taken through here, on Mk I/II and early production Mk III's the cameras were mounted above the rear crew bunks as in this photo from the IWM collection (used for illustration purposes only) Wings/Bomb Bay doors Bomb bay doors are a little short heightwise see photo below The lower wings are missing a number of items or are incorrect as in this photo And before anyone challenges the step in the flap see this photo, you can see the step readily, along with the fact the wing tip lights are clear not coloured as Italeri have supplied Step in Flap well - note the hardwood spacer to which the flap tucks up to Additionally the main Flaps are wrong upper and lower, No extra Fuel tanks on Mk III on wings Internally the only part of the Flight deck Italeri actually got right is the radio Bulkhead and balsa sub bulkhead Just noticed didn't annotate the molding on the Radio Station forward bulkhead (it's wrong), there is actually a lot more that goes on there in the Real Sunderland. Some Model magazine Editor did an Article a few years back on building the Mk i and stated Erroneously that the Balsa Sub bulkhead was not used - WRONG! All marks had them, and they were for the Blackout curtains that were hung during night operations (press studded to frame) to cut down light from Navigator and radio stations. Just so you know I have some Provenance in my comments, I grew up on an RNZAF Sunderland Base, my Father maintained them and I got to go on board and see and do things most can only dream about, not to mention learn all about Sunderland's from him, and actual WWII flight crew. Secondly I have manuals for the Mk I/II III and V Sunderland's - just a tidbit If you have any other queries please ask, especially about the interior or other external items Regards Alan

Hi Zac, Yes the "restored" P 40. I believe it is (was) a P 40F, a model never flown by the RNZAF, which then was, supposed be converted to be an E-1 as flown by the RNZAF (after reading that, try saying that fast, 3 times). Interestingly the surviving E-1's in New Zealand would more likely have worn the Pacific Scheme as opposed to Olive Drab/Neutral Grey, which RNZAF P40E-1's never wore ever. The closest scheme to that, would have been re-paints circa 1944 in Foliage Green/Sky Grey. I saw the change over of the paint scheme, at least we have some pictorial evidence of the Pacific Scheme. If they wanted a "Representative P40" why not go for a early"K" which we know Serials for, that wore the Pacific Scheme? Regards Alan