canberra kid

Nice one, thanks! John

Hi Justin I've not spotted any shape/size issues with the TF.33's but as @Vesa Jussila says the quality or lack of the mouldings leaves a lot to be desired. John

You can add the Italeri front fuselage to the FROG kit, other than the fuselage airbrakes you would need to shorten the bomb bay not too difficult a job. As for the Airfix kit you could take advantage of the lengthened fuselage and combine it with the Aeroclub nose and do a PR.3 or PR.7 or T.22. John

Thanks speedy, I hope you enjoy! John

So you will also need F.15E main wheels, ACES II seats. The cockpit was also up graded with a new glass cockpit. I think SAC did a white metal set for the Italeri B.57 it may be a good idea to look for that, as you said the kit legs are next to useless! John

If you want to see how I did mine here's a link to the WIP Dr.Frankensteins CanberraI John

Without going to measure it, from what I remember it's the right length. It's just the B.57 that is too long, which as it turns out is useful as I use them to built 1/72 PR.3's and 7's. John

Ok, as the kit comes you can only build the prototype, but it's only a matter of changing the seats from the Mechanics Inc. Seats in the kit to ESCPAC ones to represent a production F, unless you are planning on doing one of the 3 NASA F'as they are now, if so you will need ACES II seats and new wheels. John

Quick? If you want a model that looks like a B.57 then either kit fits the bill, but if you want an accurate model then you are stuck. The Airfix kit is a modified version of the B.(I)6 kit with the same level of detail or lack of. In overall shape it is far better than the Italeri kit but the devil is in the detail. The wings; the nacelles have been altered to represent the J.65 set up, but the underside air intake is the wrong shape, it has two gas ports on the starter instead of one. They have had a very rudimentary attempt at the hub detail on the main wheels. The fuselage; the tail and rudder are fine, the air brake on the side are ok but with fictional details inside. The two aerial fairings on the top and bottom just aft of the bomb bay are molded on and oval not round. The bomb bay door is molded closed with no option to have it rotated. Now the biggest issue, yet again Airfix got the nose wrong! Not so much the profile that's ok apart from the RB.57E camera nose, no, this time it's the canopy, I'm only guessing on this but to me it looks like the took the measurement of the transparent part of the canopy as the over all width, not taking into account the very wide metal parts, this gives a very narrow and overly curved canopy, the seats are quite good though! The fuselage is also too long, for some reson they have it the same length as the UK PR. Canberra's. The nose wheel has been modified too to represent the Martin one, though it's a bit chunky. As it stands, the only option for an accurate B model Martin Canberra is to mate the Italeri front fuselage to an Airfix fuselage after shortening it and attach modified FROG wings. All the above regarding the canopy also applies to the 1/48 Airfix kit! John

That's good, if there is anything extra just get in touch. Which F are you planning to build? John

It is odd, I would have thought it would have been a perfectly safe option too, especially where you live, it'snot like some third world backwater. I hope you can find another option. John

That's a shame, unfortunately I have no control over how the publisher operates, have you tryed World of Books or Ebay? They may have that as an option. John

Hi Vesa You will find much, if not all you need in the relevant albums on my web site. I have a number of albums covering the RB/WB.57F. If there is anything you can't find let me know I have far more than I can put on the site. Just a note about the site, it can't be viewed on mobile devices only laptop or desk top computers. If this a problem let me know. IPMS UK Canberra SIG. John

Thanks very much Pete, it's been a big project for us, but a fun and interesting one. John

We have just sent the final draft back to the publisher, so it should be hitting the shelves soon. There was a delay with Vol.1 due to a worldwide shortage of printing paper, I don't know if this is still the case? John

Thanks Ivor!

You mean this one? 😊 https://www.fonthill.media/products/canberra-1 John

Yes thay could, but as others have said, it didn't very often. If the were flying long range like a deployment to Malta or one of the more exotic destinations then tips were used, but as with most PR. Canberra's working around the UK or Europe they were not required. Note in the above photo, the position of the tanks on the wing. The wing of the PR.9 was a modified B(I)8 wing with an extended tip, this ment the plumbing remains in the same position as all standard span Canberra's. This increase in span ment the tanks needed to be attached to the new profile wing via an adapter. John

Small world! They have a small war memorial at the school I was looking at it one parents evening and two other old boy joind up but oddly they ended up flying B.24's with the SAAF! I used to pass your old work every day on my way to work, as you say, all gone now. John

Hi have seen the film, very useful it was too, one of my dads T-bolts is in it, that gave me a good idea of how they should look. I based the painting of one of his 34 Sqn aircraft on the ones in the film. John

Thanks Tony, he was born and raised in Underclif, he went to St.Beds grammar and was destined for a job in the wool trade. Him and a school pal signed up together, next stop Blackpool for air crew selection, then Rhodesia for flight training. It must have been one hell of an adventure for a young un travelled lad from Bradford. The rest as they say is history!

Thanks Marc John

Phenomenal work Tony, I love the way it looks now, just as it is! John

Hi Paul, Really glad you enjoyed it! We've just finished our last check through of Vol.2 and it's now back with the publisher, it should be winging it's way to the book shelf soon(ish) We are planning two book signings in September in Doncaster and the other at Mahram. John

Thanks very much mate! 😎