Andrew Mackenzie

Aha! I had assumed that there would be differences in set up of the internal bomb bay fittings themselves. Thanks for clearing that up Syd

Thanks Jerry - they're really interesting

Nice build Mark - and a great story. I've currently got the AMT/Italeri 1/48 which I'm planning to do as one of the Boston IIIa's my dad flew - he was a nav/bombardier with 88 squadron and I'm planning to do it as BZ 264 'B - beer' that he flew on a number of occasions. I know now I've got a lot of inaccuracies in it - I used the Eduard B25 bomb bay which I modified to fit for example, and the bomb sight is wrong, but hey ho. But I've been eyeing the new HKM 1/32 A20G which sounds like a fantastic kit and I know that they're bring out an A20J/K version which I'm hoping I can build as a Boston IV, which my dad also flew a number of times. So, I'm getting as much research done ahead of its release as I can! I may have to tap on @Sydhuey's door also! Thanks for the tip!

Well, I hope he sees the post! What kit were you building?

Hi all. I've been trying to find some reference for an RAF Douglas Boston bomb bay. I know that the British Purchasing Commission ordered them from Douglas with various modifications including RAF instrumentation and bomb racks/bays, but I can't find out what the actual differences were. Having had no success so far, I'm thinking that the Boston set up would be pretty much the same as for the Mosquito for which there's plenty of reference - what do you think? Or has anyone any other suggestions?

Late to the game I'm afraid. But, if it's not too late, it depends what height they were bombing from. They typically bombed from one of three heights: 'on the deck' below 500ft; 8,000 - 9,000 and 11,000 - 14,000. For the two higher levels they had a 4 man crew: pilot, bombardier/navigator, radio operator/rear gunner with twin 303s in the top position and a gunner with a single 303 firing through the bottom entrance hatch, just behind the top gunner position. In all but 6 of my Dad's 50 ops they had a four man crew.

If you look at Homebee's pics, the 2nd one seems to show an A-20J nose in resin in the bottom left - I really hope that follow up with that! Just noticed that there's a close up of it further down the page too, I'll be hanging on for that one I think

Definitely some 'doctoring' going on in my view. AL680 (foreground plane) was assigned to 226 Sqdn - not 88 Sqdn as shown. It crashed on the disastrous Dieppe raid 19/08/42 http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=AL680 If the 2nd aircraft is AL693, that would be correct for 88 Sqdn - but the fin flash is wrong for that plane (a shown here https://airpages.ru/eng/img/a20_01.shtml). If it's AL683 it was assigned to 24 Sqdn SAAF and not 88 Sqdn at all! So, the censor's airbrush saw some judicial use on this pic I reckon.

Hi guys Does anyone have a colour reference for the red identification letters (squadron and aircraft ID) used in 1944 for RAF aircraft (88 Squadron Boston to be specific). Cheers, Andy

Thanks SM. All that makes sense. So, it seems they could have a legitimate reason to be in there at least!

Hi guys I'm planning on using some of the elements from the ICM Models RAF Pilots and Ground Personnel 1939-1945 Building Kit (https://icm.com.ua/pack/wwii-raf-airfield-spitfire-mk-ix-spitfire-mk-vii-raf-pilots-and-ground-personnel/ ). I'll be using them for a diorama of an Italiari 1/48 scale Douglas Boston circa 1944. My problem is that I can't find any reference fro what the gas bottles on the trolley would be used for, so I can't decide ion they'd be appropriate for inclusion on a med bomber line. I realise that the kit is aimed for use as a fighter airfield setup - are the gas bottles specific to Spitfires/Hurricanes? I first thought that they might be for topping up on-board oxygen bottles, but as far as I can tell, these tended to simply be replaced on the front line and the empties, presumably, refilled in the main hangars. Also, my understanding is that ammo boxes would simply be swapped out on the flight line, and refilling would be done back in the armourers block too - so the ammo 'evener' bench would unlikely be seen on the flight line. Thoughts please? Andy

Thanks guys! That's Interesting Mick - I was wondering about the 1/24, how are you finding it? Graham - I just read some interesting pieces in 2nd Tactical Airforce Vol 1 - didn't realise that the stripes had been used before for Operation Starkey. The white nosed Bostons were painted that way for that - not D-Day. So it turns out that the picture painted of my Dad's plane by Micheal Turner laying smoke on D-Day morning is completely wrong!!

Hi all Many thanks for letting into the group. I've recently returned to modelling after many years. I'm just completing an AMT Douglas Boston as flown by my Dad in WW2. I'm now thinking of moving on to another great 2nd TAF aircraft - the Typhoon 1B, car door version. I was thinking of doing it in post D-Day colours, but can't seem to find much info on whether the car door versions flew post D-Day or whether they were all replaced by bubble tops by then. I came across this one picture https://live.staticflickr.com/5615/15474365956_8d94382015_b.jpg. But can't verify it's origins or authenticity. Anyone out there know anymore? Thanks Andy