Adrian Davies

Thanks Gents. It looks like I can proceed with confidence with building a B.III. Graham, to your point about the exhaust positions changing, would it not be easier to consolidate the production down to two types of power eggs (One outer, one inner.)? Rather than the three needed for the B.III (Two outer, one inner.) arrangement? I've no insight as to why the arrangement need to be that way. Aerodynamic pressure? I don't know. Again, many thanks. A.

Thank your Graham. Very much appreciated. So by then UK factories had gotten really good at “options” much like post war car factory. And when you list them like that, the differences are striking. Thank you. Adrian.

Thanks Geoffrey. I guess the way that Merrick presents the contracts and serials in the appendices is that the batch (LL573-615 for instance) was as a mixture of B and A aircraft. Which makes me think that aside from a glider attachment there shouldn’t be too much else that was different between the two types. Otherwise what would be the wisdom as opposed to the folly of mixing two types in a batch? I do have one further question/request: Do any of you have any drawings or images that specifically detail how the cowling covers are attached and fastened closed? Particularly the three that cover the cylinder heads. I know they didn’t hinge, but beyond that I have no clue. Again, many thanks. Adrian

Hello all, Long time listener, and looking at my account it's been over 7 years since I last posted something. Yikes! Anyway, I currently find myself building a Handley Page Halifax B Mk.III. It's one of the aircraft that flew with 346 (FAF) squadron. Over the years I've collected a lot of references regarding the Halifax (Almost obsessively so.) and I'm pretty confident that I have most of my questions answered. But despite thatI still have one question regarding the layout of the exhausts. On the B.III I understand that the exhaust layout can be described in the following crude diagram looking from the front: -----xO--xO--( )--xO--Ox----- Where the - is the wing, x is the exhaust, O is the nacelle. Now I'm pretty convinced that the aircraft that I'm modelling is in this arrangement. Convinced enough to proceed with it. But I think what I am interested in finding out is: What where the other arrangements that where used by other, later marks of the Hercules powered Halifax? And as a followup, the aircraft I am interested in building is LL603 that flew with 346(FAF) squadron. Looking through the appendices in Merrick's Halifax, from Hell to Victory and Beyond. I see that LL603 was built by Rootes Securities. (At Speke I believe.) Where my confusion is that Merrick lists that batch as being made up of "B/A Mk III" where others in other batches are listed as "B Mk III". So my question is: What is the difference (if any) between a B/A MkIII, and a B Mk III? Many thanks for making it this far. And more thanks for your input. Adrian

They state on their website that the AEG G.IV will be out sometime in January-February. And I quote: "Unfortunately tooling problems and production delays mean that this model will now be released in January or February 2015." Other than that, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess. Except I would not be surprised to see them do an Apple and announce "One More Thing." after the Christmas cut off dates. I seem to recall they did that last year with the DH.9. Or maybe the W.12 was the special, and the schedule got moved around because of the delay with the AEG. A.

Now that would be a dogfight double for the ages. Both are great looking aircraft. A.

Oh My! That thing is beautiful. The craftsmanship is just stunning. Best, Adrian

What do you mean by lumpy? The G-1s engine cowlings came in two flavors. The early cowlings had a "lumps" arrayed around the cowling. In later production these were removed. The latter is what I built. Googling, I see that Hobbycraft did an 88G, and looking at the box art it shows what look like to be BMW 801 engines. So it would be a G-1. Also the box art shows the markings as 4R + UR which would be the one that landed in the UK after the pilot failed to steer a reciprocal course, and in doing so gave the RAF a complete set of the latest German radar equipment. And that aircraft was an early G-1. No dive brakes or bombs either. HTH, Adrian

The G-1 had a crew of three. Pilot, to his right the Radar operator/observer also facing forward. And immediately aft of the pilot facing to the rear was the radio operator, who also acted as an additional observer and sometime rear gunner. The photos above show the three stations. Note the radar equipment to the bottom right of the image of the instrument panel. Here's one I made earlier. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/67714-ju88-g-1-late-war/ HTH. Adrian

Beautiful! I've just returned from reading you blog entries. The tutorial for painting the exhausts is especially well done. A lovely build of a fine aircraft. Best, Adrian

Yes please! Especially anything pertaining to the nose compartment, and cheek guns. But again, where did you get the manual? I've check mach one and e manuals, both of which don't have it. If someone is selling them I'd love a copy. Or are you the lucky owner of an original? Many thanks. Adrian.

Hi Jerry, If you wouldn't mind, where did you get the maintenance manual from? That sounds like something I wouldn't mind getting. Thanks, Adrian.

Thank you all for your extremely kind words. Yes, it is the first bi plane I've completed. Which speaks volumes to the standard of the kit and it's design. It's not the first one I've started though. I got most of the way through a WNW RE.8 and eventually binned it. I wasn't happy with it, and all that I could do to it was only making it worse. Still I learned a lot that I applied in the building of this one. The see through wing effect is all painted. All those afternoons spent at the IWM staring up at the BE.2c paid off. I've just found out that the box for this will (just) fit as carry on with United Airlines, so it looks like I will be able to bring it to Telford this year. Again, thank you. Adrian

Beautiful! Right down to the corrosion control painting on the piano hinges, and the wobbly brush lines on the squadron codes. Many thanks Chris. Adrian.

Hello all, This is my rendition of WNW's superb FE.2b. I built this as my first completed biplane model. An amazing kit, to which I added very little.The little I did add where: a motor to the propeller, I modified the undercarriage to show an unloaded in flight condition, and two crew members from the Wings Cockpit range. Bobs Buckles helped with the rigging. Thank You. Adrian

Man, what else can I add to what has been said in the posts above? Superbly built, paint and photographed! Please keep building and posting, your stuff is simply gorgeous. I will keep an eye out for it at Telford. Best, Adrian.

Looking at the trainers and haircuts, I'm going to say that this was taken not too long ago. Maybe within the last 25 years. Does anyone know where this is from? A. By the way Stew, nice build. I'm sitting on my hands until the IV comes out, but seeing your build makes me want to get the I as well. Adrian.

Thanks Guys. Chris, As soon as I finish typing this I'm off to order a copy of the book. Shame about the lack of a concentric fairing. I'm quite fond of it. Ahh well. Again, thank you. Adrian.

Hi there, I'm in the process of building Gerald (Stapme) Stapleton's ZY-Y using the lovely little Airfix kit. Not the lovely big Airfix kit. I read somewhere that after his aircraft was brought down, it was photographed by the Germans. Is this true? And if so, is there anywhere I can see the images? I understand they show the lack of Cuckoo Doors to the oil cooler. I have the biography of Stapleton, and that shows him climbing into the aircraft. But no photos of the wreck it became. Understandable really. Many thanks. Adrian.

Elger, Your WIP posts are always a treat. And this one is no exception. Your research on the crews adds a great deal of humanity to the machines we are so interested in. Thank you. And that B-17 you did looks great too. Best, Adrian.

My God! it's full of stars.............. Beutiful, kit and build. Thank you. Adrian.

If you are referring to the one on the starboard side, just in front of the trailing edge of the wing. Then yes, it was a wartime fit on some aircraft. There is a great photo of it on page 13 of Mark Postlethwaite's book Lancaster Squadrons in Focus. He mentions that it was fitted to help with cabin cooling, as the Lancasters started to switch to day light operation, and it was thought that eventually they would be needed in the Far East. HTH Adrian.

So far I have very little. A side view in Neil Robinsons Overlord book, and an illustration in the second volume of Chris Thomas' 2TAF series. Both under copyright so I'm reticent to put copies on the forum. Nothing of the specific aircraft. But for the sake of illustration I can show the box art for the forthcoming Special Hobby kit. (Hardly a reliable source I know.) and an image that shows another Boston from the BZ serial series. Note that it is the OD over Light or Neutral Grey equivelant used by the RAF. I hope this helps clear things up a little. Thank you. Adrian. And finally, for a little atmosphere, this image is puported to have been taken on the morning of June 6th 1944. A claim supported by the smoke apparatus showing.

Thanks for the cowling article Steven, every little helps. So, moving on from my earlier question. I have two more things I hope can be clarified. The first is, I am planning on building BZ264, a IIIa, is there a consensus or at least a best guess as to the interior colour? Earlier a slightly darker, more olive interior green was mentioned. Does this still hold? And on a new new vein, does anyone have any details of the nose compartment? I have the gunners station pretty well worked out, but apart from a cut away by Mike Badrock I'm finding precious little else. Thank you all for your input, it is greatly appreciated. Adrian.

Thanks, In the interests of focus, I am thinking of that perennial favourite BZ264, RH*B of 88 Squadron. Olive drab over either light or neutral gray equivalent. Post D-Day with the upper Invasion stripes scrubbed off. I've just noticed an error on my part. I misspoke about the III part, I'm interested in the IIIA. Sorry. The hope is to use either the decals from the forthcoming Special Hobby kit, or from the equally imminent Xtradecal D-Day 70th anniversary sheet. Thanks for the replies. You guys are a fountain of information. It is greatly appreciated. Adrian.