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phat trev

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Posts posted by phat trev

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

  3. 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?

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. From memory if you remove the fin extension and radar nose you can do wartime Coastal VI, X and XI variants. If you then add the wing guns you can do the nightfighter VI which can also have the radar in the nose after a certain serial number. If you want the I you need to reduce the tailplane area - there was a thread on this not too long ago. For the II the only way I can think of is the Airfix kit plus the Magna conversion which works quite well - see the article on my website http://www.hrmtech.com/SIG/articles/Magna_BeauII_72_build.asp

    Ross

    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'.

  7. 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?

  8. 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

  9. I'd like to see your image, but I wouldn't think any would still have the big bulge by the time D-Day stripes were on. If you want to do the big cannon cover bulges (I like small ones, myself...) you probably need to represent a subject before sometime in '43. But if your photo shows one later, more power to you- and please let me see it!

    The "Rolls Royce cowling" that Paul refers to was only on (I think) around 50 aircraft (or was it 100?). Don't confuse that with "regular" early Mk.IX production.

    bob

    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

  10. 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.

  11. I know this is not the 'build' page but...

    Carefully seperated that fuselage! and fat gunblisters added

    P1050096_zps4d3b2555.jpg

    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.

  12. 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?!

  13. 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!)

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