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johnd

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Everything posted by johnd

  1. johnd
    The only problem I had with my High Planes Beaufighter Ic lay in getting the cowlings to fit together in a circular manner. The rest of it went together surprisingly well and it looks quite good with its Aeroclub engine replacements.
  2. johnd
    My understanding is that underwing roundels made a reappearance on day fighters as a result of ADM 332 Issue 3, published on 15 November 1940. There were certainly examples about (with or without the Night port wing) in Sky with roundels in November and December 1940.
  3. johnd
    There's a youtube tutorial that showed an oil wash being flowed into the panel lines. Occasionally a little was allowed to stray onto the surrounding panels. The whole lot was set aside to dry and an hour or so later a brush dampened with thinner was moved backward and forward in the direction of airflow to create subtle streaks. It looked pretty good when he did it but I can't imagine the unholy mess if I tried. Come to think of it, it might be one of the official Humbrol videos. John.
  4. johnd
    Getting to paint the spinner red has to be a bonus!
  5. johnd
    Yes, Paul Lucas shows some evidence in the Camouflage and Markings 'Battle for Britain' book. There's a Spitfire tail wheel at Shoreham Airport in Sky Grey and also a fabric covered elevator. His argument is that the official Sky colour was not immediately available in sufficient quantity so squadrons made do with what they had. John.
  6. johnd
    I wish I'd been there to see that! And I thought I had loads...
  7. johnd
    I would normally take it off the centre but it's a built kit I'm "renovating" so it's easier to do the outside. I suppose splitting it would be an option though.
  8. johnd
    No problem. I agree it is a disappointment. I'll try sanding half a millimetre off each side of the cowl and see if that looks any better.
  9. johnd
    Not sure a Vokes would make it look thinner... In any case, it's going to be a Mk.Ib so no tropical stuff!
  10. johnd
    Greetings BMers, I've started a mini project to tart up an old build of a 1/72 Revell Spitfire Vb. I'm aware of most of the problems with this kit (prop/spinner, lack of 'gull' wing, fuselage behind the cockpit) but hadn't really noticed the fact that the nose looks a little fat. I'm basing this on a comparison with the Airfix and Hobby Boss Mk Vs. I'm feeling a bit thick for not noticing before but what do others do to correct it? John.
  11. johnd
    I bought the very same starter kit while away recently. I was disappointed with the accuracy of some of the colours but as luck would have it there was a model shop five minutes away. The Vallejo paint they sold me was a revelation, I achieved my best finish in years. This was totally undone when I put the Humbrol Dark Earth over the top. I tried thinning it with water and Klear but it wouldn't brush on nicely at all. It's a good kit though. John.
  12. johnd
    Or at least, they did one, can't see it on their site. Try a post on the Freightdog sub-forum, they take stuff on and off as it comes in and out of stock. John.
  13. johnd
    Freightdog do one.
  14. johnd
    I agree that the Fairey Battle wasn't fit for purpose (actually, so did the designer but it it was what the Ministry wanted) but I don't think that is true of the Defiant. It was designed to shoot down bombers, not mix it with fighters. I don't think anyone anticipated that Germany would have the use of French airfields along the Channel coast. When it was employed in the role it was meant for, as a night interceptor, it did ok. I've got to agree 100% with the comments about the bravery of the crew though, especially when they realised what they were up against. I'm not sure I'd have the bottle to climb into that turret to face a load of 109s knowing that it had to be aligned nicely for me to get out of it again. John.
  15. johnd
    From memory, the seating is wrong for a Mk.IV. I think it should have four seats but only thre are provided. John.
  16. johnd
    Drat. Do you have a Humbrol match for that? John.
  17. johnd
    Airfix need to keep the price down to attract people to buy the starter kits and they also need to keep costs down in order to make a profit. Hu93 is wrong for the interior and the spinner should not be black but these kits aren't aimed at you and me. I understand that they can't provide every colour to finish the kit accurately within the price, what annoys me is that the paint they do supply is hopelessly wrong.
  18. johnd
    Yes, 'take it slowly' is the best tip there is for scribing. I find it fairly straightforward to scribe lines on flattish surfaces such as wings and lengthwise on the fuselage but so far have failed to master lines going around the fuselage. A flexible metal ruler is useful on the flat. Start with light but accurate strokes and build up. I use a needle in a pin vice to start off and use an Olfa P-cutter to firm it up. Dymo tape is widely used as a guide but I find it lacks adhesion. 3M tape is better in this respect but isn't quite tough enough. Some people recommend the tape to put stripes on boy racer cars as being perfect for the job but I haven't tried that. Have a go, whatever you do, it'll look better than the rivets. John.
  19. johnd
    The Falcon set will give a good replacement for the canopy but it presents a problem for the turret. It is designed as a direct replacement for the Airfix one and is therefore too small. If you want to build a turret that is dimensionally correct, you are no further forward.
  20. johnd
    I know people have used the one from the Matchbox kit in the past. Presumably one from the Airfix Halifax would be ok too (a bit of an improvement, if only in size). I haven't come across an after market replacement. Of course, the fuselage needs widening substantially to take a turret of the right dimensions. John.
  21. johnd
    Nicely done and an interesting scheme. I second what Martin said about the Master brass cannons. John.
  22. johnd
    I managed to get the wheel well floor in on mine but the sides defeated me too. Were you aware that the bomb 'gondala' things are in the wrong place and too big? John.
  23. johnd
    Thanks. I'm not as determined now as I was when I woke up this morning. John.
  24. johnd
    In my case it's not bravery but insanity. I have three Defiants and a Frog Skua on the go, Steve, you may be right about the Skua being worse than the Defiant. For one thing, the wings are ridiculously narrow. My plan is to position them so the trailing edge is in the correct position and build up the front with card and putty (who knows where the wheel wells will end up...) John.
  25. johnd
    You've done a good job there, I'm still practising mottling so haven't started mine. Regarding the clear, I'd consider leaving the second coat longer than two hours. John.
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