Dominic McEvoy

@Colin @ Freightdog Models Colin - are you still selling your F4 conversion set?

Dick definitely had friends in all sorts of places, especially when it came to getting the inside skinny on aircraft markings. I can't recall which particular schemes were involved, but I do recall my father telling me that modellers in a few RAF squadrons invited Dick to help design their special or anniversary markings. As Des says, Dick's decal instructions are exceptional references in their own right.

Mark, Page 36 of Andy Thomas' excellent book https://www.wingleader.co.uk/shop/dh-vampire-wpa8 shows 2 views of WR120 with the black nose, but I don't seem to be able to upload a scan of it. However, it looks like the black wraps around the underside of the nose totally, either just clipping the front of the nose wheel door, or just avoiding it. Hope this helps. Dominic

EE also looked at other weapons options, including a fighter ground attack version. Assuming that you are looking to model something, then Freightdog have this 1/72 conversion kit to which you could add Genies or similar. https://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/product/freightdog-1-72-bac-lightning-fga-project-conversion/ Hope this helps.

Unfortunately I don't have the book in question, so am punting blind. My vote would be for a Hawker 1134. Failing that, an EE P1A or B in 1/72 or, better still, this beauty:

M, Further to above, Tony Buttler's Warpaint 22 (pg 24) has an illustration of a metal WH378/N from early 50s with solid backed canopy. I've gone through the rest of my reference books but can find nothing definitive for you. However, photos of ac from other sqns at or about that time show a mix of canopy types on a mix of natural metal and camouflaged Meteors, so it's perfectly possible that his memory was correct. Hope this helps, and happy modelling! Dominic

M, CWS Vol 1 shows 54 Sqn F8s with finishes in both metal (with solid backed canopy) and camouflage (with clear canopy), so is not definitive. I'll have a look through other references over next day or so to see if they are of more use. Standby... Dominic

Hi Rob, Looks Light Gull Grey-ish to me, but greys are notorious for looking like the colour you want them to be, especially under different light conditions. As this is a GA platform, I would reasonably expect it to be a US FS colour. However, it's also quite possible that GA painted it in whatever colour they had knocking about in the Company spray bay! Dominic

John - further to my last, I can confirm that the RAF 146s are definitely Medium Sea Grey, in a "semi matt" finish. My source is impeccable!

John, I'm seeking a definitive answer for you from the horse's mouth....

I agree with JagRigger: if the balloon had gone up, 41 would have headed to Norway to join forces protecting the Northern flank, with 2 staying in the North German plain. By happy coincidence, I made a 41 Jag in arctic camouflage last year: you can barely see the sqn markings in the reference photos. Assuming I can work out how to do so, I'll upload a couple of model photos shortly.

Thanks John - PM on it's winged way. TVM.

Afternoon all. Does anyone know if there is an aftermarket canopy available for the Airfix PR9 in 1/72, please? I've tried Googling without success, and Airfix don't have any spare sprues. I'm after one as it appears that my dad robbed the one out of the kit I inherited, probably to replace one that his Carpet Monster devoured...

I think that the u/c bays are zinc chromate green, which was widely used in the mid-centuary US aviation industry as as aluminium preservative barrier.

Evening @junglierating. Yup, still modelling and have now inherited a lot of kits 'n' stuff from him. I think I'm going to need a bigger study!