Smithy1961

Thanks to one and all.

I picked up the Heller kit recently and I have no clue as to the paint references. Apart from the external scheme, what were the interior colours? I couldn't find any online material to help me.

Many thanks for the advice. As it happens I have both the above paints in my collection. I read that F-4Es were also painted in this scheme, though I know nothing about which squadrons etc.

Does anyone know a colour match for the mid-grey upper surface that some aircraft wore? One example is Serial 69132 (which I found on Airplane-Pictures.net). The underside looks to be something like FS36495. Any help would be appreciated.

I understand that from the reference material I have found online. Just need an acrylic option that will get me started.

I'm going to build a 1/72 Sea Harrier FRS.1 and in particular XV455. Can someone please recommend the most accurate option in acrylic paint to represent Dark Sea Grey? I'll be weathering quite a bit, so it's going to be more of a base coat than anything else. Thanks in advance to you ever-reliable lot!

I did think that myself. Just looking at original photos it looks like the ultimate tail sitter.

Seems like there are two options out there. Either the Hobby Boss kit, or the Dragon version which has been re-boxed a few times by other manufacturers. Anyone built both and can steer me in the right direction? Accuracy more important than price.

I've recently tried to get hold of some kits of SAABs earlier jets. As is now usually the norm, recessed panel lines are the way to go. However, kits of the Tunnan and Lansen are few and far between as it is. Within my budget, it became obvious that the Heller kits were the way to go. Both had raised panel lines and a few recessed areas, but having viewed images of both planes on the internet it seems both are virtually 'smooth'. Why therefore, do manufacturers release kits that are either one way or another without looking at physical examples?

Finally managed to obtain a 1/72 kit of this great looking aircraft. Any idea what is the best match for this for this plane? Not entirely convinced about Revell's guidance.

Well the model is nearing completion and I have one last question. Did the Mk xix PR Spitfire have a gunsight? The kit instructions say fit the one included, but I'm sure I read somewhere on t'internet that they were removed due to lack of guns and to save a little weight. Thankfully Fujimi got the curved front canopy right.

On inspecting the contents of the box I was impressed by the quite fine detail. Panel lines etc looked to be in scale, so I was looking forward to the build. Drilling out the holes for the camera windows was straightforward, but getting the clear parts to fit was a nightmare. I finally got them in and the fuselage halves went together very nicely (no filler required so far). The wings went together very well and after fitting to the fuselage there was only one minor area that needs a bit of filling. For some reason Fujimi decided to mould the forward upper fuselage in two halves. Maybe other manufacturers have done the same, but to get the parts to contact the fuselage correctly, so as to get a nice flow between the two, I had to flare the parts apart by a millimetre or two. This means the top has a slight dip in it which will need filling. I can't think of any reason whatsoever why these parts were just not included as part of the fuselage halves. The final gripe so far into the build is the rear upper fuselage part. Thankfully this is moulded in one piece, but there is a slight step where it joins the two fuselage halves. The next stage is to try and sort the above, then source some decent decals as the stock ones are shot to pieces. I managed (just) to get the instrument panel decal onto the part, albeit in 4 pieces! More updates to follow.

Thanks for all the advice folks. I've ordered the Fujimi XIX off ebay that included an extra set of decals for £15. Just need the paint and I'm ready to go!

Which kit is best OOB (though I don't mind paying for decals) and also what is the most accurate acrylic version of PRU blue? Many thanks in advance.

I've been looking for decals of just the nose numbers (in various colours), but have had no joy. I plan to build some Aggressor aircraft in the near future, but have failed to find the 1/72 Microscale Top Gun set among others.

Looks at least 1/48 scale if not 1/32. What a fabulous kit and superbly built!

As a follow on, how about cab interiors/dashboards?

My father (still living) was a driver of the DD Sherman with 25th Dragoons in India from late '44 to the end of the war in the East. Operation Zipper was planned to re-take Malaysia from the Japanese in late '45. The bomb was dropped and the mission was cancelled. However, any thoughts of a swift return home were dashed as the 25th Dragoons were disbanded and he was transferred to 4/7th Dragoons. Next stop, Palestine!

Thanks everyone for some great advice. Looks like loads of weathering options too looking at the photos. No need for 'tyre black' by the look of it!

Can anyone suggest acrylic colour matches for RAF vehicles? Re-fuelling trucks, tractors (bomb trailers), ambulances etc. I'm looking to create a diorama and need to get this right. Many thanks.

After returning to the hobby after a break of nearly 40 years I immediately went 'big' as all I could afford in my youth was 1/72 aircraft and 1/76 armour. During the pandemic I built lots of 1/48 aircraft and 1/35 armour and thoroughly enjoyed all the new options available to me. The one thing that didn't change was space to display my models. I have now decided to revisit 1/72 scale aircraft, so see no harm in any of Airfix's releases, even their classic range, which is what I cut my teeth on as it were.

It's a Hasegwa kit (no 09067) and both versions are in the same scheme. One is 22nd Flight Regiment, the other is Hitachi Training Flight Division if that helps. Thanks for the links and I will certainly check them out.

Bought myself a Nakajima Ki84 Hayate in 1/48 scale. Never built anything Japanese before and I'm looking for advice on acrylic paint matches. The plans call for metallic blue green for the interior, dark green (Nakajima) for upper surface and gray green for the lower surface. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Started work on the Airfix 1/72 Heinkel HE 111 and would like to finish it off as the North African variant. What is the most accurate upper surface acrylic paint out there (prior to modulation)?

The finish looked like different shades of silver had been used in various areas. I was using the model air version.