DominikS

Hi! Another refreshing the old meat. After a lot of reading I know that the propeller I asked about is Hydromatic. As far as I know no-one produces such props which is very strange. So maybe someone could start such project, 3D-Kits maybe. Their Rotol is awsome, so I assume DH Hydromatic would be great product too.

@Daniel Thank you for your involement which is very helpful. The biggest problem with African Spitfires Mk.IX is rather poor quality of the photos. The best are those with Polish Spitfires of the PFT. I wish there were more. @VoyTech I assume that you are the author of Polskie Skrzydła about Spitfires Mk.IX. Do happen to have access to other photos of "Bluebird" apart of that in the first part of the book? Frankly speaking it's very strange that one can find so many photos of different aircraft used by Allies in Africa, but Spitfires. So let's keep fingers crossed that someone will find a huge set of Spitfire IXs (but not only) pictures from Africa.

So I decided to refresh old meat. I've been searching for the photos of Spitfire Mk.IX used by the RAFin N.Africa. So far I've found the following photos (all from the Internet): I have also this profile, although I've seen the photo (profile taken from Russian website). There are also numerous photos of Spitfires used by Polish pilots of the Polish Fighting Team. I'll be very grateful for any help with the photos of RAF, SAAF and USAAF Spitfires IX used in N.Africa. Because, as I have already mention, I'd like to build as many African Nines as possible.

Sorry Paul, it was on Monday. The war started on the first of September

@-Neu- I don't think AZ's Spitfires saturated the market, as you can never have too many Spitfires. Their Joy Pack was a hit but, in my opinion, if Eduard release Spitfire they'll sell lots of them. What I've noticed modellers are divided into three main groups: 1. Spitfire maniacs 2. Mustang maniacs 3. German 109s and 190s maniacs Models of those planes, decent models, are always good investment. But I do agree that there are lots of planes that need decent kits - mentioned P-36, F4F or (one of my favourites) D.520 or MS 405/406/410. Vladimir Sulc mentioned during the chat connected to Bf 109G release that they are going to release Spitfire, and earlier he had mentioned also releasing Focke Wulf. So, I think, they'll do it. In case of Spitfire very soon, I hope. But what we can do now is only to wait and see (and keep fingers crossed). Cheers!

Hi E'vryone I decided to start this topic as the information on Eduard's IPMS USA poster made me very curious. What doeas it mean? What comes to my mind is the short note in Eduard's Magazine that next year they are going to concentrate on 1/72 scale. I wonder what do they mean by that? We have a few candidates: 1. Avia B.534 - a model mentioned together with 1/72 Hellcat, but afterwards no news since that moment (maybe because RS Models released theirs) 2. Focke Wulf 190 family 3. Messerschmitt 109E 4. Spitfire Mk.IX 5. MiG-21 Methinks it logical after their policy, for example Messerschmitt 110 or Hellcat. Ev'rybody has one's wishlist, mine is to get Spitfire first (I wish they released her for Xmas) and then the rest. Maybe someone talked to people from Eduard during IPMS USA Nationals and could share the info with other peole from this side of the Pond? Cheers Dominik

My candidates, all in 72nd 1. BP Defiant 2. Fairey Battle 3. Spitfire Mk.Vb, Vc, XII, XIV 4. Faireys Fulmar and Firefly 5. Hawker's Hurricane (all metal wing versions), Tempest, Early Typhoon, Sea Fury 6. Westland Whirlwind 7. Curtiss P-36 and P-40

Thank you for your kind words. I'm really happy with this little kit as I don't have much time (and space) to build anything. I started this model in February and it took me almost half a year to finish it. Now I'm on holidays but when I'm back I'm going to continue work on A6M5 (also Tamiya's) with very ambitious plan to finish building till the end of August. It mainly requires paint work. So I hope I'll manage to do it. @Mitch I'm not the Reisen expert but I do think that this is the ultimate Zero in 1/72. So if you would like to build one choose Tamiya's kit (I still have 3 A6M2s, 1 A6M3 Model 22a and 1 A6M5 Model 52 to build). I really hope that Tamiya will continue with the Zero series and will release A6M5 Model 52a, b and c.

Hi Folks! Finally I've finished something. The kit is superb Tamiya's Zeke 32. Building was pure pleasure. The only problem was narrow gap between fuselage and lower wing. But with a llitle help from Evergreen I fixed it. I painted her with Gunze C, Gunze H, Tamiya and Vallejo paints. Hope you like it. Cheers!

Slowly finishing. Only propeller left to finish.

I'd rather see BP Dafiant, Fairey Battle and Firefly, metal wing Hurris (Mk.I, Mk IIa,b, (completely new) c (their "old new tool" Mk.IIc is a bit strange),d and IV) and some Spits (Mk. I and II b's, Mk.Vc and Griffon Spits (XII, XIV and XVIII) Seafires and P-40 (all not yet released by Airfix versions) and P-36. And not Allied Bf 109E-3 and E-1. All in 72nd of course. And finally they could mould instrument panels instead of using decals.

It's great to see the AZ Model releasing so many nice kits, but what about Curtiss P-36/H-75? You announced it some long time ago and we haven't heard anything about ever since. Any progress? Cheers!

Finally I found some time and did some progress. Here's the photos.

They are very short runs, especially Mark XVI and IX. Poor quality, poor fitting. It's a pitty cos I had thought them to be great models. Of what I've seen AZ are muc better (less the wings - there should be another set with normal span).

I short info from the producer says that there's a mistake in Spitfire Mk.IX set cover. There should be written Sword not Italeri. Hope to have mine sets at the beginning of May.

Frankly speaking I only concentrated on marking options, not masks. As for Spitfires Mk.I I think Tamiya's one is nicer to build. As for the choice of Mk.IX I must agree that it's a bit weird, but until Eduard or Tamiya relese their Spitfires IX there's not much choice (Sword's is horrible, don't try AZ Models' but I don't like the way they made wings). But as I said I don't care much about the masks, decals is my target. The price in my usual shop is 32 PLN (more less 6 quid).

Polish Montex-Mask has released new line of thier products: As you can see each set contains decals and masks to paint canopy and markings. I hope it's just the beginning because there are a lot of great topics to cover. I have already ordered two with Spitfires Mk.I. I think it should be available also outside Poland. Cheers Dominik

As far as I know, lots of Spitfires Mk.V used in North Africa (and Malta too) used this propeller with very pointed spinner and rather wide blades (De Havillands prop methinks). The question is - is there anyone who produces such propellers (resin or plastic)?

Just one more question about the a/c. The code letters on starboard side should read ZD-A or A-ZD (looking at the fuselage)?

Interesting topics. But what does it mean "Prepress Decals"? Is it a kind of dry decals?

Vulcanicity thatnks for great photos. For me it's clearly visible that there isn't thye yellow ring underwing. It's not orthochromatic as yellow ring is clearly visible on the fuselage as light colour. Edgar thanks for making it clear . Unless I have good photo evidence I'll leave yellow off from now on (nontheless I remember photos desribed as Dunkirk period - later I'll try to find them and post here). Thanks for help! Cheers

Edgar, the information you've given is surprising as I remember a few photos of Spitfires with black and white undersides with roundels having yellow surround from the Dunkirk evacuation period. 2wheels great photos! Wish I had decals to build her.

Hi All I'm currently building No. 222 Squadron Spitfire Mk.I (ZD-A P9317) from the Battle for Dunkirk. Soon I'm gonna start placing decals and I have a problem. If my knowledge about roundels is correct (and probably isn't) the roundel placed on the black (night) painted underwing shout have yellow outer wing. The issue is that DP Casper's decals don't have it. I was trying to find a photo of that plane but I haven't found any. Can anyone help? Cheers Dominik

One of my fav planes. Looks fab. Wish Tamiya released it in 72nd scale.

NIck The brown used on propeller blades is the one used later to paint whole blades and spinner?