LDSModeller
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Posts posted by LDSModeller
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5 hours ago, 112 Squadron said:
One of the original 30 Squadron Avengers NZ2505 is still preserved today:
Actually apart from the one at Gisborne there are two more TBF-1's
preserved here in New Zealand
One is NZ2504 (TBF-1) with the RNZAF Museum Collection at Wigram
(RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions)
The other is NZ2527 (TBF-1c) at MOTAT here in Auckland
Both NZ2504 and NZ2527 can still fold their wings
Of Note NZ2505 at Gisborne is also a TBF-1
Regards
Alan
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Hi Macalain,
Nice RNZAF Avenger.
Just as an FYI, the Academy TBF-1 is really a hybrid Avenger, as the
TBF-1 and TBF-1c were two different beasties.
The main difference are the cowlings and the middle cockpit section.
The TBF-1 has an observers seat, whereas the the TBF-1c has a radio section for
equipment.
The RNZAF received both TBF-1 (6) and TBF-1c (42). Only the TBF-1c served overseas, while
the TBF-1 stayed in New Zealand for training
Your rendition of NZ2518 was a TBF-1c, initially flown with 30 Squadron but belonging to
30 SU (Servicing Unit) who "owned" the aircraft.
The pilot was a Flt Lt Fred Ladd as seen in a the RNZAF Photo below
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions)
Most RNZAF Avengers were adorned with some character on their cowlings
Fred Ladd chose his motif "Plonky" a flying beer/liquor barrel with the liquid
coming out, as he knew the Japanese took great offense in liquor spilling on them
from above.
NZ2518 became known to Tokyo Rose, who uttered threats in her radio propaganda broadcasts
of Plonky being shot down.
NZ2518 was eventually lost with all crew over New Britain 05 June 1944, but only after 30 Squadron had handed over their
aircraft to 31 Squadron/31 SU and rotated home (Fred Ladd survived the war)
Thanks for sharing your build
Regards
Alan
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12 hours ago, Spookytooth said:
She is gradually coming together with a few more parts to paint before some gluing .
Simon..
Hi Simon,
Nice Choice
I'm currently building a 75 Sqn Mk III in the WWII Twins Mega GB, and have some
RNZAF Museum photos in my WIP that may be of help to you interior wise?
Regards
Alan
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Hi James,
Sorry I have missed this one, but reading through your build post - all I can
say is Nice
I have a couple of these in the stash, (Frog and Mono/Revellgram Promodeller one)
Looking forward to see how you paint yours
Regards
Alan
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On 2/12/2024 at 9:40 PM, modelling minion said:
Great to see this underway Alan, and looking very good too.
Thanks Craig, been a bit of a slog getting to where I am now, but should be a little more straight forward
(sound like a recipe for plans of "Mice and Men"
)
On 2/12/2024 at 11:11 PM, 81-er said:It looks like you've mananged to get a good result still, even if it was a bit more work. I should have mentioned that my pen had a fairly fine rounded tip, rather than a chisel. Sorry about that
James
Hi James,
Nothing to apologise for, your tip was a good one (no pun intended). When I started using the pen, it only took a few moments
to realise, you were using a fine tip.
On to the Build
Hi all sorry for the lengthy time between posts.
Right in to it
I have managed to paint all sub parts ready to assemble
So Assembly begins
Ammunition storage
Rear gun mounts
Flare tube
Rear wheel housing
This photo is from the RNZAF Museum, it appears there is some type of material behind the pilot's seat,
possibly to make the partition darker. So I decided to add similar to the wood partition behind him
I do note that all these RNZAF Photos below, do look to be a Mk I/1a Wellington
(RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
Below is the cockpit frame and partition, with a black painted material (A4 copy paper) in the fore ground
In place (good old white glue - a must for all modellers)
I have painted the "Wood" sections Grey Green, my reasoning is that by the time the Mk III came off the
production line, natural wood items would have been painted over.
( Note that in the Short Sunderland, wood.balsa partitions were painted)
The below photo again from the RNZAF Museum show the Wireless/Navigator stations ( you could really
caption this photo (Trekkies and Star Wars fans we are) - the Nav - "To go where No man has gone before"
the WAG - "Luke Use the Force"
Notice the partition the WAG is leaning against....
I also (further below) added hand rails to the kit seats using the Navigators chair below as a model
(RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
I added a small partition to the Wireless station
Notice the Wireless Station equipment - only really in relief, but it won't be seen
The flight deck WAG/Nav. positions, I did add a morse code telegraph to the wireless table, notice the "Elsan"
at the rear
The Sub bulkhead with an arrow is meant to represent the "armour" The Short Sunderland had similar behind
the Wireless Station, even then the Navigator didn't have any either, to quote my daughter's favourite saying:
"That's rough buddy"
I suppose it being armour, I should have painted it black with a yellow circle on the front.........
Below Photo is from the IWM collection (courtesy of Wiki) showing a 75 Squadron crewman looking at the flare chute.
Notice the Elsan near him, I painted the top/lid of mine with gun metal and polished it. Looks good to me
Notice also the rest bunk
(RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
Elsan at the rear
The above assembly glued into position
I also added an additional walkway, notice also the added in rest bunk in stowed position Post side fuselage
You can see a 75 Squadron crew member walking on the rear walkway in this photo below
(from the RNZAF Museum)
(RNZAF Official Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
Finally, I also started on the fore and aft turrets
The Clear parts dipped in Klear and have dried for a week
Next comes the masking - I haven't bee able to locate any pre cut masks locally, so will have to do it the old
fashioned way. If you don't hear from me for a few weeks, I've either gone stark raving mad or blind or
both
As this juncture, I have decided to model my Wellington sans guns etc, the kit gun parts are way too thin, and
I know they will break off - I have had a look to see if the turrets could be positioned in after the fuselage
is closed up. but unfortunately no....
Guns, notice the kit barrels
I also had also sorted some 250lb bombs ("borrowed" from Airfix Sunderland kits
)
So that's my report for today
I hope you have enjoyed looking through?
More again soon
Regards
Alan
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3 hours ago, TheKinksFan said:
Also, about the propeller, should the front be in natural metal /painted aluminium with three coloured tips? There seems to be two versions when it comes to the backside colour, some have it entirely black, some 2/3 black. And what about the red yellow and navy tips, were they also on the black backside. I think I have seen a photo (not F2A) of a pre-war USN aircraft, and it had a black front side, the tips were not yellow, but red, yellow and navy. And to complicate things, the same 1389 photo shows the backside of the propeller which seems to be black, with single colour (yellow) tips, so the presumably the front side should have yellow tips too.
Couple of Photos of an F2A-1 showing front and back with tri coloured tips
Regards
Alan
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2 hours ago, TheKinksFan said:
Just now I realized that the kit decals are not for BuAer 1396, but for 1387. According to Starfighter Decals, 1387 was displayed at World's Fair in 1939 - 1940. Now I remember that someone here on BM wrote about that display aircraft, it having some anomalies compared to the later 3-F-I, which I mistakenly thought I were building. I'm starting to regret I chose the kit scheme, I should have made a F2A-2 and used the Cartograf decals from an Airfix kit, or Printscale decals for a F2A-1.
Jim Maas wrote some info here on Bu No. 1387
And here
Regards
Alan
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11 hours ago, Troy Smith said:
Why there were two sailors wandering around I don't know, but there were...
Possible RN Goodwill visit or War Bonds Drive during the Artist's
visit there?
Regards
Alan
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15 hours ago, SoftScience said:
I'm not really bothered by the inaccuracies in the interior. 75% of that isn't going to be visible., so I'm not even sure I'm going to bother with it. Might just focus on the flight deck, the bomb area and the space.sround the beam guns.
Where have you been sourcing markings for your West African boats?
If you want a more accurate Flight deck for a Mk I/II because you can see into the flight deck,
leave out parts J5/J6 plus the little seat next to "part 6" on the instructions, those are
for the GPI Station (Ground Position Indicator) never on a Mk I/II, found possibly on a Mk IIIa but
definitely on a Mk V Sunderland. Also omit part 123 (Aileron Actuator) tall boxy item behind pilot seat below,
found only on Sunderland Mk III/V
GPI Table
If doing a Sunderland sans Mk II ASV (Air Sea Vessel) with wing/fuselage aerials leave out parts J10/47/124/215
(ASV suite) if building with ASV then include
Mk V ASV (ASV VI) suite note colours compared to kit colours
The Mk I/II seats are wrong in the kit, as they should be parachute type seats, but if you can live with them
I wouldn't be too fussed
Hope that's of help?
For my Sunderland builds, 490 (NZ) Squadron - Old Model Decals
95 Squadron - Italeri Sunderland Mk I kit has markings for this.
I forgot to mention, I also have under way a RNZAF Sunderland Transport (operating in the SW PTO)
Sunderland Mk III - one of 4 Transport versions (ML793 later NZ4102) at RNZAF Station Hobsonville,
(Where I grew up/lived) after arrival in Auckland, December 1944
Also using Old Model decals (well some of
)
Regards
Alan
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4 hours ago, SoftScience said:
I'm ramping up to do a Sunderland (Special Hobby Mk I/II kit) but I was hoping to do something other than the north Atlantic U-boat Hunters that usually get modeled. Im very interested in aircraft (not just Sunderlands) operating in southeast Asia, India, and over the Indian Ocean during world war Ii.
I thought a 230 machine would be appropriate. Bit now I'm learning about squadrons operating from Kenya and Madagascar, which might be cool to model as well
I have a 490 (NZ) Squadron Sunderland Mk III (RAF Jui West Africa), and likely a 95 Squadron
Sunderland Mk I (RAF Freetown West Africa) to finish.
Just bear in mind Special Hobby has included instructions for MK V parts in all their
other Sunderland Instructions which just adds to the fiction of their interior.
The Sunderland Mk I/II/ Early Production Mk III had a Flange System in the Bomb room for the
bomb doors, as you can see in this IWM Photo (Likely a Late Production Mk II or early Mk III
(has the Mezzanine floor, meaning the upper turret)
As opposed to a Magnetic system with bungy elastic in a late Mk III (a) or a Mk V as in this photo
Rear ward room of our Mk V Sunderland
If you would like a list of Mk V parts not needed in the Special Hobby Mk I/II, just let me know?
( note SH got the rear wardroom bunks sooo wrong, they are actually shorter than the forward wardroom bunks,
yes I have measured them
)
I found this film just recently, with Sunderland's and Catalina's based in Ceylon
(either Kogalla or Tricomalee), you might like
Kind regards
Alan
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7 hours ago, SoftScience said:
Can anybody point me towards sources of paint schemes worn by No, 230's Sunderlands when they were stationed at Seletar in Singapore, and then right when they first relocated to Ceylon? I understand they wore overall aluminum right before the war, and I assume a repaint would have been ordered as with the Vildebeests and several other types.
There are a few photos floating around of the Ceylon based Sunderland "Black Peter", but those seem to be from later in the war after the establishment of SEAC and all that that entailed.
Any help would be appreciated. All my efforts to find info on Sunderland operations in the area ultimately leads me to photos of postwar ops at Seletar, and not really what I'm after.By 1941 230 Squadron were in the MTO
October 1939, a Detachment of 230 Squadron Sunderland's were at Koggala Ceylon, and the
rest of 230 Squadron had left Seletar by February 1940 to join the detachment.
May 1940, 230 Squadron were on their way to Greece.
Sunderland's were Mk I/II (early production Mk II's)s
230 Squadron Sunderland photos from IWM collection
Greece - 2nd Sunderland, 230 Sqn Sunderland Mk I, L2160 (NM-X) - 230 Sqn Sunderland's assisted in evacuations
230 Sqn Sunderland Peggie Engine Change on the water - Malta
Are you just doing research, or looking to build a model?
Regards
Alan
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3 hours ago, Karearea said:
I’ve seen the controversy that seems to follow the RNZAF pacific schemes, so thankfully this will be the postwar all over gloss blue Japanese scheme with conventional RAF roundels.
I really don't get this "controversy". We New Zealander's do know our Air Force's aircraft,
especially with RNZAF Corsairs.
Our RNZAF Corsairs were stock standard USN Schemes, and served on the same airstrips
as their US counterparts, weathered the same as their US counterparts, and you really never see
controversial muppitism on US schemes.
Granted the RNZAF Pacific roundel did weather differently (due to the paint) but not to a point where the colour is light
blue. I had one foreign muppet tell me once that RNZAF Roundels were convoluted. Convoluted to Who???
I have come to see that people in Model building land use these terms to save face or hide their true ignorance.
There are a couple of well written papers written by New Zealander's (shock /horror) that give a very concise and
expert history of our RNZAF WWII Roundels, that I have read, it's really not that difficult a concept to grasp.
Anyways rant over, I had a discussion with the RNZAF Museum experts on the Roundels used on
the 16 FG-1D's sent to Japan, (as I too are planning a Post War RNZAF 14 Sqn Corsair)
Whilst for all intents and purpose they resemble RAF Roundels, they were termed by the RNZAF
as "Post War" Roundels
Graham Clayton Author of last Stand Singapore (story of 488 Sqn), his Father Bert served with both
488 Sqn in Singapore, but also went to Japan with 14 Sqn too.
In a discussion with Graham I mentioned that must have been a Bitter Sweet moment in his Dads life.
Graham's book has some great photos and history of the Japan Corsairs, if you want to read it.
Regards
Alan
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1 hour ago, JWM said:
I am interesting if it is possible to do it with a SEAC markings, so with blue-blue markings
As Ed says above Mk III's operated in SEAC markings (230 Sqn)
You have the options (from Ocean Sentinel - Short Sunderland), operating from
Kogalla, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Mk III
EJ143 "S"
ML865 "J"
ML868 H
All had Mk II ASV aerials and no upper Turret
If you can give me a couple of days, I can see what I can find about Mk V's in SEAC
markings (though don't hold your breath
)
If using the Special Hobby Mk V, and you mostly (by 1945) will find that the upper
turret had been deleted from production (Mk III/V) the Kit part of the Special Hobby Sunderland
is pure fiction (a lot of the SH Sunderland interior is fictional)
Actual shape in real Sunderland Mk V/MR5
Regards
Alan
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8 hours ago, Edger said:
Just watch on social media what is happening in NZ. I can't say more than that.
Hi Edger,
Asked some questions, did some digging and found your mystery RNZAF Mossie
As per attached Link, NZ2308 is a former RNZAF Mosquito that has been rebuilt/restored
at Avspecs at Ardmore South Auckland (Ardmore is a former RNZAF Station/Base).
I actually got to see this Mosquito on a visit to Avspecs about a year ago.
So some issues with the marking, the aircraft. Codes should be Black, not red.
and IMHO the D-Day markings are more artistic License than actual, you
can see NZ2308 (YC-Z) in this Photo from the RNZAF Museum (third aircraft in),
no D-Day stripes
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
From information my friend at the RNZAF Museum supplied to me, the serial is Ohakea type, and should read NZ 2308
Interestingly NZ2308 being a former RAAF Mossie, is the sibling to our Mosquito NZ2305 at MOTAT here in Auckland,
also a former RAAF Mossie
Hope that helps clarify your query?
Regards
Alan
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On 2/22/2024 at 1:45 AM, Edger said:
Mosquitos of 75 squadron RNZAF post war. Seems that at some time they recieved black and white stripes on the wings and fuselage over the overall silver colour scheme. These are very similar to 1944 invasion stripes. I don't know the significance of these markings and wondered if you folks could shed light on them?
Hi Edgar
Do you have a source stating that 75 Sqn Mossies had black and white stripes added? - I have
never seen any photos of that.
Some (not all) had "Black" anti glare areas painted on the inner panels of the engine cowlings,
and nose panel when in the HSS paint scheme.
Thanks
Alan
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38 minutes ago, Old Phart said:
It has the early RAf colours with the underside half black and half white.
They were not Half White and Black
When the buffaloes arrived, they were painted in Upper colours (US Manufactured) Dark Earth/Dark Green
with lower colour Duck Egg Blue (aka Sky)
The Black was painted on half of the fuselage/wing (portside) as an Identification measure, lest
the air defenses at say Kallang decided to shoot the them down.
In this Life magazine photo, you can see them being assembled with Duck Egg Blue (aka Sky undersides)
The wheel covers would have been the same as the undersides Duck Egg Blue (aka Sky) as in this
Life Magazine photo
When the time came to paint the half black colour (portside) the wheel cover was also painted black
The below photo is of a 488 (NZ) Squadron Buffalo (W8191) at Kallang circa 1941 - note the black wheel cover
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand Used with Permissions)
Hope that answers your query?
Regards
Alan
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Very Nice RNZAF Vampire
Thanks for sharing your model with us
Regards
Alan
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60 Years next year, when our first Herks arrived. Not a bad innings for our first team (not out).
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
And now for our next team to go into bat
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15 hours ago, stevehnz said:
I'm completely certain that they never appeared on a Mustang, I don't think I've ever seen them modelled on one before, seems like I'm the only deviant in this way. Of course these markings or at least similar were common on all RNZAF aircraft in the Pacific.
Steve.
Hi Steve,
Nice Mustang (even if a Whif
) Your build really makes one think, where if the war had dragged on against Japan,
our Mustangs would have been deployed to.
Your Mustang and marking aren't too far removed from real, take a look at this
RNZAF Mustang below, early on in the Mustang era (you probably have seen this one I'm sure).
(RNZAF Official - Air Force4 Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
I still have a 1/32 NZ2413 to finish off (but with the Checkerboards)
Thanks for sharing you build with us
Regards
Alan
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25 minutes ago, Airbusboy said:
The kit's been ordered and does come with decals for RNZAF, although their example is N6365 not N6363
Another shot of NZ6363 with Winder on outer Port Station at RNZAF Base Ohakea
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
A colour shot to help with your build camouflage
These are the final colours worn on final flight with RNZAF 14 Squadron,
before retirement
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions)
Regards
Alan
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Hi All,
An update, (been almost a month -time flies
)
So from my previous post, I was waiting on a Silver pen, which
finally arrived.
So I thought I would trial doing the interior Geodic frames before I
applied any paint.
Paint pen
This is my effort below, and I would state that in part my fault, even trying to be very careful, you can see
the paint going in places it didn't need to be
Below you can see the paint nib - maybe it was too thick for what I was trying to achieve (copying James's
post above)
Sooo, I had to resort to what I had originally planned masking of the Geodic framing, as I really didn't want
to apply the interior colour, and end up with the a fore mentioned disaster.
This took a few (okay a good few) afternoons to do
Finally the end result, prior to paint being applied
Now choice of paint - I thought I had some "Linen" coloured paint, but obviously I don't
So I had to look at other paint I had (didn't really have time to travel an hour to and from my LHS)
I ended up choosing Humbrol 71 Satin Oak - I went to spray, but I thinned the paint too much
(sigh - just accept fate
)
You can see the colour on the masking, but it was really thin
So I went to do the interior colour. I ended up choosing Humbrol 73 Matt Wine (again didn't have the right
colour) - It seems to have turned out Okay....
So time to remove the masking - though I left the cockpit masking on (mostly)
I'm quite pleased with the result, though the super thinned paint seems to have affected the silver in
places - ah well - it won't be seen so I'm not going to redo it
Removing the the forward masking strip, some of the cock pit strips came off, won't take too long to sort
though.
Well that's all I have for today, now the main interior painting has been done, hopefully building will move along
a little faster.
Thanks for looking in
Regards
Alan
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30 minutes ago, follasha said:
The final pic you can almost hear (or is it physically feel 😄!)
Hi Harry,
Very nice
- We Kiwi's are surely blessed
with some awesome aviation history, thanks for show casing
it to the model world.
Yes, the old 144,000 rivets flying in close formation sure
has a certain sound and "Shake" to it
I seem to recall SAFE Air at RNZAF Woodbourne many moons ago, though
slightly different livery I think.
Thanks for sharing your model with us
Regards
Alan
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1 hour ago, MarkoZG said:
does anyone know if Vildebeests Mk.I and Mk.II versions were still in service anywhere in the world after 1st September 1939?
Hi Marko,
Interestingly, the RNZAF (probably one of the last Vildebeest/Vincent operators)
had a Mk II (NZ117) and one Mk I that had been converted to Mk III's during its
service with the RAF - the remainder airframes being Mk III/IV's
NZ117 was allocated to 2 GR Squadron at RNZAF Station Nelson (likely Long Range patrols
checking for German Raiders) "it crashed at Nelson 09 April 1941" (per NZDF Serials)
"NZ135 served till 27 August 1941 as a time expired airframe, and reduced to produce/spares"
(per NZDF Serials)
The below photo is of Mk III's in service
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions)
The majority of Mk III/IV's remained in service till late 1942 the last few early 1943
At the time of either NZ117's demise or NZ135 being SOC, they would not have beem
wearing the peace time colours in the photo above, but rather camouflage colours as below
(RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions)
RNZAF Camouflage would have been NZ Dark Earth/NZ Dark Green/NZ Duck Egg Blue
Having had a discussion with the experts at the RNZAF Museum, it's unlikely that any Vildebeest would have
worn the RNZAF Pacific scheme - The RNZAF Museum has a Vildebeest in its collection for restoration, and
the colours I saw under the Yellow Target towing colour were Brown/Green
Sorry I haven't as yet been able to find a photo of either NZ117 or NZ135
Hope that's of help?
Regards
Alan
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TBF 1 C Avenger. 30 Sq RNZAF. Piva, Bougainville May 1944. Kit Academy 1/72
in Ready for Inspection - Aircraft
Posted
Hi Alain,
Thank you for having an interest in my country's Air Force,
and building models to show case it's history
Regards
Alan