PoPmodeller
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The Bicester airfield is now a heritage centre and I'm pretty sure that the tractor will be saved. You can arrange a visit outside normal opening days - well worth a mooch around as there are plenty of interesting WW1 and WW2 buildings still in good repair. I understand that the first Halifax was broken down and shipped to Bicester for it's maiden flight, although as it never had concrete runways it was never used for the heavies.
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Hello, Yes, I've been busy over the last 2 years, punctuated by Covid and its aftermath! Your plans were very helpful and the main structure is basically finished. I have been in contact with the base historian and the images he lent me indicate that the tower was never painted, so I have left it brick using Scalescenes paper - what a brilliant resource. I have detailed the spiral staircase - what a job that was, and did a bit of fictional embellishments in the main room using rescaled photos of maps and plane recognition posters off the internet. The devil is in the detail - contemporary photos show some climbing foliage on the top part of the tower, so my next job is to see whether I can make a passable rendition of climbing ivy! I also want to build the fire tender shed next for my Crossley fire truck. There is still a lot more to do to complete the diorama, the final positions of buildings and planes etc and the backdrop. I have a small motor in the Spitfire so I hope to suspend it using acrylic rods to depict the take off of EN343 to photograph the dams after Operation Chastise – with a spinning prop! https://www.flickr.com/photos/192966903@N02/albums/72177720306999416 Did you find the photos I took of RAF Bicester useful? https://www.flickr.com/photos/192966903@N02/albums/72157719604436638 Regards Martin
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835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
I have uploaded to Flickr, so I hope this works? -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
I have finally finished the Wildcat respendant in the correct markings -
PoPmodeller started following 835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana , 'Fort' Type 1959/34 watchtower , Sqn Ldr Frank Fray Spitfire PR. Mk.XI and 2 others
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Hello, I'm building a Diorama of RAF Benson c1943 and I'm looking for advice on scratch building a Fort type watch tower. Has anyone attempted to make a 1/72 scale replica, perhaps there are plans around that can be scaled from? What are the best techniques for creating the large windows? I would appreciate any advice and guidance. Martin
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835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
Thanks for this, it will be a lot easier than mullering the Airfix kit!! -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
It's been a while responding, but many thanks to you all for all this valuable information. I'm now trying to pin down the correct roundals and serial number details for both the Swordfish and the Martlets of 835 NAS. I have the Airfix Swordfish kit - it's very old as it has a price sticker for £1.99? The two schemes are either for the 842 Taranto raid, or for RAF119 Coastal Command. The roundals measure approx:- 18mm (50") overwing - 'B' type, and 12mm (35") 'C1'? type with narrow yellow band for the fuselarge. What would the correct type and size be for 835 squadron Swordfish? The picture I posted previously would indicate no underside roundals? What colour and font (Sans Serif?) was used for the 'Royal Navy' and serial number? The squadron markings are in red, but again the painting would indicate black? The Martlet kit is Airfix Martlet MkIV with Operation Torch decals - overwing 18mm (50"), Fuselarge 12mm (35"), underwing? Would these be correct for the 835 Squadron Martlets, and would the missing 'Royal Navy' and serial be black and the same size and for the Swordfish? The 835 Martlets were Mk VI, is there an easy way to modify the Mk IV kit ( i.e. a larger tail and exhaust details? As ever I'm very grateful for any help or advice you can give me. Regards Martin -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
The link should take you to the photo of a Wildcat from E E Barringer's book -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
Hello ClaudioN This is the photo I was refering to- https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgo0r0oqkatjc10/2020-10-24 14.04.59.jpg Rgds Martin -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
Firstly, thank you all for the fascinating insights and comments my last post and photo generated. I'm now after some more help. I appreciate that this thread is swordfish focused, however I am also interested in the 835 Martlets that flew from HMS Nairana. Looking at plate 37 in the E E Barringer book, the Wildcat (Martlet) depicted would imply a MK IV? It is difficult to determine what camouflage scheme is used and whether it is the temperate sea scheme or the lend lease (ANA) scheme? have anyone any ideas? http://www.theworldwars.net/resources/resource.php?r=camo_rnfaa#tempsea2 Also is the 'N' shown on the plane's fuselage the squadron identifier for the Martlets and are there records of plane serial numbers, as I want to replicate the correct identifiers for both a Swordfish and Martlet? Who would you recommend I contact ref getting the correct decals made? Any help and ideas greatfully welcomed. Martin -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
Hello Chris. Funny, I have just clicked on my link and it worked for me! Glad that the image is is now available - I must master the art of uploading images correctly. Is the image of any interest though? My kit does not contain the correct squadron letters, are these available anywhere - I want, if possible, to replicate the plane my father-in-law would have flown in. Regards Martin -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
I read the post above -ta but could not replicate the ease of inserting photos This is the link to the image though, perhaps dropbox is not supported? I did delete the text following ,jpg Regards Martin https://www.dropbox.com/s/ahvyt53v191pdb5/20200708_183246.jpg -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
I tried to! It is a dropbox url which I thought I had inserted correctly using the 'insert image from url' button. Is this the correct proceedure or is there another way - all help gratefully received Martin -
835 NAS Fairey Swordfish Mk.II and Mk.III, HMS Nairana
PoPmodeller replied to Ragtag's topic in Aircraft WWII
Hello Ragtag I was surprised when I came across this thread when looking for Swordfish camouflage schemes. My late father-in-law was a navigator in 835 squadron ’44 – ’45 and was lucky to have been on through the Russian convoys! I was given this photo which I believe shows an 835 Swordfish overflying HMS Nairana - I hope it got inserted OK? Did you complete your build? Regards