NG899

Graham, I’ll reply to you tomorrow. Busy day. Cheers, Nick

Personal Message me with your direct email address and I’ll send you what you need. Which scheme / aircraft have you decided upon? Let me know and I’ll dig out photos to help you. Cheers Nick

Phew! Thanks Selwyn! The Lepus flare info came from email discussions with Cdr Tim Gedge while helping Rowland White out with his new Harrier 809 book. A few years ago I asked 801's SENGO from 1982 about the sorties with flares described in 'Sharkey' Ward's book. Unfortunately, before he could finish his answer he got purloined by man old friend wanting to buy him drinks and the conversation was left hanging. At least a Lepus is an easy scratch build - in 48th scale: a 1.6" (41mm) length of 0.17" (4.2mm) rod, with 10-thou (0.254mm) plasticard fins. Cheers Nick

Thanks for the clarifications Selwyn. Yesterday was a long day and I just plain got them back to front Or oversimplified things! Doh.

Hi Marc, The Kinetic kit's ordnance is: 190-gallon tanks (7A), 100-gallon tanks (7B*), AIM-120 AMRAAMs (7C-D), Sea Eagles (7E), AIM-9L Sidewinders (8F*-G), ADEN gun pods (8H*-I*), Rocket Pods (8J) and BL755 Cluster Bomb (8K) units included. The rocket pods and CBUs are a mess. Of the others, a Sea Harrier FRS.1 in the first half of 1982 would have used the items marked *, with the caveats detailed below. The single-mounted 9Ls are useable from May 1982 onwards. The gun pods are poorly detailed and can be improved as they miss a lot of surface details. All the other weaponry is left over from the previous Sea Harrier FA.2 kit. Before reading further, the best advice I can give you is to think which Squadron markings you wish to use and then decide which side number and serial combination you wish to use. Once you have done that... Right, 1982 here we come! Before April 1982, the SHARs were in the EDSG/W scheme with full squadron markings, e.g. schemes 1-3 in the kit. They usually but not always carried gun pods. When they did not have gun pods fitted then they would have had the strakes fitted (E22) as lift improvement devices for when hovering. The 100-gallon tanks (stencils always on port side only!) would be carried on the inner pylons and, if carrying Sidewinders, these would have been AIM-9Gs on the outer pylons; not the 9Ls in the kit. 9Gs had white bodies and the triangular front fins, Oh, and the intake interiors would have been EDSG overall, not white as seen on many completed models! Centre line pylon rarely fitted. On the journey south, the white undersides were overpainted with EDSG using a 4" brush on Hermes 800 and 899 NAS FRS1s as there air-con in the hangars could not cope with sprayed paint. The white parts of the roundels were overpainted roundel blue, though ZA193 kept R/W/B under-wing roundels. On Invincible the 801 and 899 SHARs were sprayed - better air-con! Whichever, the once white undersides being painted over white were a bit lighter than the upper surfaces. Schemes 4-5. The Medium Sea Grey and Barley Grey SHARs joined the carriers in mid-May. A few AIM-9Ls were on the carriers and more were air-dropped to the carriers. Once the fighting began the 9Ls were preferred over the 9G as they enabled head-on shots to be made; AIM-9Gs could only be used for attacks from behind or the side. 9Ls had double-delta front fins and their bodies were US Ghost Grey in colour. On the journey south, overall EDSG SHARs on training flights or anti-shadowing aircraft sorties are often seen with AIM-9Gs fitted. That said, Lt Simon Hargreaves had two AIM-9Ls fitted when intercepting Argentinean Boeing 707s recce aircraft; he was flying XZ460/26 which had an odd DSG patch on the intakes on both sides (scheme 4 top). From 1st May, 1,000lb free-fall bombs with the Mk.117 free-fall or Mk.114 retard tail fitted were used, some were fitted with the Mk.117-tailed boys had an extended air-burst fuse fitted to he nose. BL755 Cluster Bomb Units were also used during the war. ResKit do very good resin examples of all of these. The aircraft in the 1st May attack on Port Stanley and Goose Green airfields carried a mix of ordnance - I can provide lists of which carried what and was flown by whom. One SHAR FRS.1 ZA191/18 did carry a 1,000lb with LGB nose fitted one on occasion, relying on a Harrier GR3 to try and mark the target... it didn't work. As is mentioned above, aircraft from both carriers departing for Combat Air Patrol after 1 May often carried not just AIM-9Ls but a 1,000lb bomb with a the Mk.117 tail fitted to 'toss-bomb' from distance onto the airfield at Port Stanley as a nuisance factor. During the War, a few SHARs from Invincible did carry out Lepus flare drops. I believe a single flare was carried on the port outer pylon, with an AIM-9L being carried on the starboard outer pylon; if two Lepus flares were carried individually on the outer pylons. The FRS.1 could have used the 2-inch RN rocket pods which the GR.3s on Hermes had to use - their electrics were insulated unlike the RAF's GR.3's usual Matra 155 rocket pods - but, as far as I know, they did not use these during the conflict or on exercise until 1983; they would have been carried on the outer pylons. ResKit also do good 2-inch rocket pods. I hope that helps. If you need more information and some ideas to improve the Kinetic kit, please PM me with your direct email and I'll wing some things over to you. Good luck, have fun! Nick

Thank you Jack and John. I have a feeling this project is going to be one where the end results are more a case of "Prove me wrong" rather than "Here's the proof I'm right"! Cheers Nick

Thank you Jack. Photo would be helpful, if you can work the oracle. Fingers knotted. Nick

Thanks everyone. Managed to track down an Asuka Sherman, in Frome - big thanks to Bob for that link. I've pitched in for the Asuka Firefly 1C from Frome Model Centre too, as they had one. Depending on whether I now need it - answers quickly please! - I may call them tomorrow to cancel it. The BIG question now is how to find a Dragon M4 Normandy kit... Hen's have more teeth it seems and the £151 being asked on a certain south American river is taking the Michael out for a long walk indeed. Web trawling has drawn a big blank. @ Das Abteilung - very interested in the spares you have to offer, I'll drop you a PM tomorrow, need to go and get dinner cooked just now! Best wishes to one and all. Nick (This is my first foray into armour since 1983 when I finished a Tamiya 88mm and half-track combo... I've still got it somewhere! So, please be patient with me!)

Thanks Bob. Whose resin and metal parts did you use? It would be good to see a photo of your Firefly 1C!

@ Das Abteilung - the info I have on the RSG's is very limited and comes from what I have found on websites, including images of Dan Taylor's 3CLY Sherman model and one of the RSG's Fireflies - a Vc? provided below - and at, e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Scots_Greys https://www.warlinks.com/armour/4th_armoured/chapter_5.php http://www.desertrats.org.uk/bde/4thABorg.htm http://www.desertrats.org.uk/orgarmour.htm#RSG http://www.desertrats.org.uk/bde/4thAB1944.htm - mentions... "The Brigade was were re-equipped with new Shermans, unfortunately not diesel ones, and it got their first 17 Pounder Sherman Firefly tanks. These were mostly the original Wright Whirlwind engined model, and each regiment was equipped with having twelve 17 Pounder tanks for the first time, which was enough for one for each troop. During this time 3rd CLY formed an additional 'D' Squadron on 9th March 1944. On 3rd June 1944, the Brigade received its orders to move to the marshalling areas in preparation for the Normandy Invasion and 3rd CLY move to the Marshalling Area some 8 miles to the North of Portsmouth, while 44th RTR moved from Worthing to Portsmouth, on 4th June. Meanwhile, 4th RHA, under the command of I Corps, at this time, had boarded their landing ships on 5th June at Tilbury docks." From this, any clarification you can provide on Sherman types is welcomed, especially for the Firefly in photo below. If you had to make an RSG Sherman which kit would you use, Tasca/Asuka or Dragon? @ Bob - from this your thoughts on the above photo are probably correct, the likely location being Navarion Road, West Worthing from here: http://www.desertrats.org.uk/assoc/locationmaps/4th_armoured_brigade.htm#4AB Thanks once more, Nick

Thank you for all your help so far gentlemen. Ant, I'm looking forward to what you may be able to find in the book when you make it home, the RSG's drawing sounds helpful. Of course the Asuka/Tasca M4A1 is not available on their website. Does anyone know of any UK distributors? Thanks once more, best wishes. Nick

Hi, Looking for some information about the tanks the 4th Armoured Brigade's Royal Scots Greys used after landing in Normandy on 7 June. Most references mention Sherman IIs and Firefly VCs, which 1/35th scale kits are the best for those, are there any aftermarket decals which would help and what are the must have aftermarket items to improve the kit? Any build articles in magazines would also be welcomed. Thank you. I've searched Hannants' site and Star decals cover the Greys' Sherman IIIs in Italy but nothing for Normandy. All photo references/books would also be welcomed - again www searches show their tanks in Italy but very few in Normandy. All help and advice gratefully received. Many thanks Nick

Oops. N3249 was with 610 Sqn when lost. P9434 was almost certainly GR-U from late May when it was delivered to the Sqn on the day it’s predecessor as U was lost - N3290. To clarify above comments in this thread, from all the evidence it seems fairly certain N3248 was GR-L, not N3192; and that N3268 was GR-Y, later QJ-Y, as Tuck’s log book confirms. It’s not unknown for ORB entries to not quite tally. Hope that helps. Nick

The fin device is an anti-spinning parachute guard, "a spin recovery parachute was proposed for early examples as the spinning characteristics of the new heavier monoplanes were still unfamiliar." On the cable, I believe there was a tensioner on the fin aerial mounting, and a smaller tensioner at the top of the pole, visible though not clearly in most photos. By the way, the tail number 19 is white not yellow as sometimes depicted. Annoyingly, while I have many photos of K9942 at the RAF Museum Cosford, I have none of the pole aerial mast of fin tip aerial attachment because I'm modelling a later Spitfire Mk.1a. Hopefully someone else her on BM can help. Have fun with the Spitfire! Nick

Hi Bill, thanks for the clarification. This lockdown must be getting to me. The reason I asked the question is that I could have sworn your post said "..BOTH the IFF aerials from tailplane to fuselage AND the early pole mast..." rather than what it actually says "..BOTH the IFF aerials from tailplane to fuselage AND the early radio cable from mast tip..." To see both the IFF aerials and the early pole aerial mast on the same Spitfire Mk.1 would be unique. Right, if that's what my eyes are doing with words, I'd best put my scalpel and model making tools down! Nurse! Take care all. Nick

It is indeed a very good book, excellent quality photos. Bill, just been through it 3 times but not seen the photo of the pole aerial plus IFF. Which page is that on? Thanks Nick

Hi Daryl, Your sizing is right. It may be worth tracking down the old AIRframe 'Harrier End of Era' decals which covers those aircraft which flew in Kestrel Formation back in December 2010 - hard to believe that is 9+ years ago! All serials and fin numbers covered except 8. Let me know if you need any help via PM, I may have spares for what you need. You'll also note below that I'm part way through a model of ZG511/82; and have been for a few years! Cheers Nick

Standard fit on Harrier GR1/3, Sea Harrier FRS1/FA2 and T2/4/8. Also in another recce pod carried by the 1st generation Harriers. BFN

Hi Dennis, I know this doesn't answer your question but, for clarification, the photo of P9434 GR-U with the three pilots shows 92 Sqn's Blue Section, L-R - P/O Bob Holland, Flt/Lt Robert Stanford Tuck, P/O Allan Wright. It was taken at RAF circa 7 June at Hornchurch / Northolt. The GR-U which was in Paris (N3290) had been shot down and replaced by this aircraft which Tuck flew a lot from 7 June to 11 July. I'm super-detailing the Airfix 24th scale Spitfire, within reason, as P9434, to be finished by November. There are lots of watch-outs with Spitfires at this time, and 92 Sqn's fuselage roundel proportions are on of them (as are 610 Sqn's). PM me with your email address for some info which may help you. Let me just say that most colour profile and painting illustrations of GR-P N3249 are wrong! Check our decals for GR-P at www.fundekals.com and you'll see what I mean. If I'm delayed replying, apologies - in the middle of business continuity management for you know what. Cheers Nick

SHARs were overall satin Dark Sea Grey at that time with Light Aircraft Grey inside the intakes. Being a brush-painting traditionalist, I always use Humbrol enamels thinned 10% and with a dash of white added for scale effect. For the final satin varnish coat, Vallejo acrylic. Hope that helps Nick

GR3 Falklands period - Matt DG/DSG. T4N - Satin DSG. GR9 - Matt. Whether MSG overall or DSG/DCG depending on the airframe serial you make and when. Please note intake interior colours are as follows: GR3 - Starboard side - DG all the way back to the blades; Port side DSG all the way back to the blades. T4N - Matt Light Aircraft Grey all the way back, the DSG overlaps the lips into the intake. GR9 - Matt white all the way back. Intake paint usually gets a very matt finish and can be quite dirty due to the airflow; best to check photos. Who said Harriers were easy?! Please contact me if you need info on specific airframes of any Mark. Cheers

Hi Selwyn, Happy New Year and many thanks for the info. In Alfred Price's book "Harrier at War" there is a photo of a GR3 with Blue Eric and a shortened airbrake on pages 105 and 106. Speaking with Dr Price many years ago about the pictures, he told me they were taken before the GR3s with Blue Eric and ALE40s fitted flew south; so at least one of the GR3s had been modified locally before MOD1703 came into effect. Photographs show that many GR3s after the mid-80s still had the long airbrake fitted; meaning that the Scale Model-Making Rule 1 applies: ALWAYS CHECK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC SOURCES Cheers Nick

Uncy! (Don't you just hate it when someone adds a Y to your name. So Uncool!) Yes, the Blue Eric addition under the gun pod was a half-disc - I made mine from styrene sheet and strip. PM me with your email address to get ALL the information you need on which Falklands GR3s had Blue Eric, ALE-40 fitted, sorties, load-outs, etc. Simples! On my Monogram GR1 I'm using a Kinetic windshield, an MB.Mk9 seat from a Kinetic T-bird and leaving the canopy open; and adding scratch-built ferry tips - its a Transatlantic Race airframe. Cheers Nick

Hi guys, I no longer use an internet photo hosting service, so I cannot upload things directly here to help. Drop me a PM with your direct email in it and I'll send you something in addition to the above which will help answer your question Gondor. Cheers Nick

Hi guys, Sad to say, but the Freightdog item is quite inaccurate. I have all the information you need on the Blue Eric ECM fit but I no longer use an internet site for photo hosting, so I cannot put anything directly up here for you. As a start, try these links for the Harrier SIG's website however... http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/gr3buildnotesv2.pdf http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/gr3diagram.pdf There are lots of other Harrier modelling notes on this page: http://www.harriersig.org.uk/models/index.htm If you send me a PM with your email address in it and I'll send you a 40+ pages document over to help you with all the Falklands War Harrier GR3s including images of the real things. Cheers Nick