phat trev

thanks for the T.III details. I considered a Tamiya one had parts of an airfix Mosquito to hand and wanted a two-stage merlin so went for the Matchbox one. its am impressive model for what it is (matchbox) and leaves me plenty of scope for detailing.

1, Hasegawa. A+++ excellent but expensive and getting rarer each day 2, Frog/Novo. I guess thhis is basic I have never seen one 3. Airfix. Very basic, Matchbox is better 4. Matchbox/Revell. typical Matchbox (mould) trench line detail but the basic beaufighter shape is there, with good quality moulding also. A good base for DIY detailing and improvements I think.

thanks! I impressed myself although it is an easy model to make! I want to try the new airfix one soon, its waiting in the wings as I have a Mossie to create first

Looking at combining the airfix and matchbox mosquito kits to create a B.IV. B.IX or T.III with each kit having pro's cons, differences maybe a mashup of various parts would look good? Did the T.III have a bomber glazed nose? And has anyone tried the airfix merlin pods on a matchbox and visa-versa? Also a lot of scratch building looks to be needed which looks enjoyable!

Using the 1/72 Academy Typhoon with markings from the spares box my first attempt with an airbrush

somthing I would like is a Matchbox dooleybird decal sheet can anyone reading this thread spread some light on other 19 Squadron P-51's (at the same time as Dooleybird)

I have never really been a fan of helicopter modelling and I guess this is highlighted in me eventually getting a 1/72 Airfix Seasprite this week (even though I remember seeing this kit in the early 90's for sale in my local newsagents (loads of them as no one every got one, it was always the spitfire, stuka and DR1 which were snapped up!) On getting one I want to create a US Navy Super Seasprite used in the mid 90's, what alterations can be done (DIY scratch building) to update the machin. Also, what schemes might be on offer, It looks like I will have to go with a faded grey scheme. The seasprite was also used in Vietnam so maybe there are a few interesting (twin engined) versions here? gunship? troop carrier?

It is very hard to find anything on Nowotny's early flights so thankyou for the details given here. Interest has turned to this aircraft he flew and scored his first kills in. Bf109 E7 'White 2' and what colours, scheme and markings it may have carried. I like the thought that it may well have been an upgraded airframe.

Anyone know what E variant Walter Nowotny may have flown? and what they or it would have looked like (markings) just exploring avenues for my model. I may be correct in stating that his first 24 (or so) kills were in an Emil

sticking with an E type (not jaguar!) and building my Heller version thanks guys. Just to deside on what E. I like the sound of a Spanish E(was there any photo-recce Spanish Emils?)

Having been considering upgrading my new airfix 109 to a F version but not so sure of what may need to be changed (apart from the nose) Now I am now thinking of what types might be made and the alterations needed for other Emil Variants. can anyone help in outlining some of the changes needed? An E-1 or very late E could be interesting- looking to create somthing a bit different.

In any scale? 1:1 scale Strike Eagle is pretty damn good!

Would I get away with an MPM Grumman F3F Biplane? I would not think so, I will have a look for an Academy Wildcat and convert it back to an XF4F!

Looks like the Matchbox kit is very versatile in what can be done with it! I have ordered etch for it and I now have some plans so I can start addiing details to the outside and upgrading the basic model a bit. Keeping it a late 'ugly version'.

cheers guys, Looks like I am ok to use the Matchbox Beaufighter to create a post war mod. A few more questions then in that case: I have found to versions on post war camo on this aircraft, Grey/Green camo over PRU Blue (much like DH Hornets?) and Grey over 'Night' black, was this a change in camo styles or do they serve differnet purposes (ie. Tropical camo? and some kind of night fighter scheme? -although I have seen mosquitos and lincolns in the grey.black scheme-) Not many photos of Beaufighters carrying bombs? mainly rockets. Also, If I were to hack of the ugly looking late style fin, is it easy to convert the fuselage thats left to an earlier config or would it be a good idea to purchase the airfix fuselage and remove the relevant parts from it?

The Beaufighters used after the war by the RAF look to be F.10 but would they have used F.XI? If so what's the difference (if the F.XI was a real version?). Also did the post war beaufighters have wing guns and why were there 4 guns in one wing and 2 in the other? I have a few other questions about post war schemes but I will put them up later. Cheers

That looks good, didn't know that Matchbox produced a Tunnan. May have to find one now I have seen the real thing fly at waddington yesterday

How confusing! Will settle on a 402 machine with canadian maples under the cockpit AE- codes

Ah ha http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp327/Mister_Peanut/GC-K.gif

found the page with this image, it is an artwork someone has posted. Not sure how correct it is! http://www.war44.com/spitfire/681-spitfire-mk-ixb-mk826.html Also found this with some photos of 402 Sqn (and found out that 403 Sqn may have had Spitfire Mk.IXb thoughout 1944 so may have been used during D-Day?) http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/spitfirecwingbulgesf_1.htm

Filled and cut new hinge lines (eady job) thanks. Primed the wings and they look good

Ok thanks, I can take those wheel well bulges out when the glue has dried! As for MkI-V elevators I have raided the spares and found none. anyone with these spare please get in contact? Also a chin intake from an Italeri MkV would be handy by the looks of it.

I know this is not the 'build' page but... Carefully seperated that fuselage! and fat gunblisters added The kit blisters were cut off with a flat knife blade and the area sanded smooth (one of the cannon doors has a bit of pitting where the knife dug too deep but the new blisters cover quite a lot of the mistake here. The Airfix Vc blisters have then been sanded on a block so the surrounding plastic is ground away leaving the teardrop shapes.

I feel that most 'older' early Mk.IX Spits would have been upgraded or taken out and replaced by newer builds by D-Day (that picture I found was an artwork that stumbled across doing a google search and I cant find it now! going to trawel thought my history to find it..) Found this photo on spitfiresite http://www.spitfiresite.com/photos/historic/uploaded_images/spitfire-mk-xic-cannon-blisters-793910.jpg If this Squadron still flew thier Mk.IX with 'large' bulges during D-Day then mine will be this one, had better do a bit of research into this Squadron now. _just glued the cockpit floor in and dry fitted the fuselage halfs together so the floor would be level when it is dry, only I put glue on both sides of the floor panel and now the fuselage is well stuck together, the cockit is detailed but not painted Ooopps. very small brush needed?!

I am currently converting the 'new tool' 1/72 Airfix Spitfire Mk.IXc into an earlier Mk.IX with the larger (Vc style) canon bulges -borrowed from the Airfix Vc release- Can anyone give an indication of squadrons that may have used this earlier version? I have found an image online of a 412Sqn Squadron Machine in D-Day Stripes which encouraged me to start this mod. Also I understand that Early Mk.IX had a slightly different engine cowl shape but I think I am going to keep it simple (getting rid of the IXc bulges with Airfix's thick plastic is enough effort!)