Michael louey

Thanks for all the comments guys. It's nice to have this built, especially so I can put it next to my CA-15 and compare the two as they were contemporaries. Hi Mike, I think I have sigs turned off but I did see your build while doing research on the MB5 - probably trying to work out if it had any stencils. It's a nice build and I just noticed now that the plane had the "traffic lights" in the belly. Even knowing that now doesn't really make me want to go out and add this detail but it looks great on your build. I did want to build this originally with the MB3 style tail and use my Skybirds kit to do it's later incarnation but the optional tail in the AZ kit appears to be neither fish nor fowl and doesn't look anything like the MB3 tail even though the decal placement instructions would lead you to believe you could build this version. Regards Michael

Another great model! The Potez is also a quite attractive plane. I thought pre war French airliners were all meant to be as ugly as sin.

When I saw one of the guys in our club bring along a beautifully made model of this subject, I knew I had to make one for myself. At the time, it was a bit hard to get locally so I had to order it along with the "missing" Pan Am decals. The spacecraft is the instantly recognisable Orion Clipper from the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey. I saw this movie as a boy and the early space sequences were breathtaking. Some of the latter parts of the movie on the other hand were extremely disorienting. The kit went together pretty well though it does have a few sink marks near the wing leading edge requiring attention. The after market Pan Am decals didn't come with any placement instructions and there were a lot of items I didn't use. I had to browse various images on the web and rewatch the movie to get a better idea of placement and even then I'm not sure of the underwing Pan Am markings. The clipper isn't in the movie for long and the master was one of the models destroyed on order by Stanley Kubrick. Cheers Michael

Ok, so how do you choose your next project while your in the final stages of completing the current one? One way is to be distracted by your son playing War Thunder and choose the plane he's using. In my case this turned out to be the MB5. I've always had an interest in this plane and this is my third kit of it. I started off with the Falcon vacform and picked up the Skybirds 86 kit when it came out. The latter always looked like a nice project however I didn't help myself by standing on the nice pre cut vacform canopy a while ago. I decided to give the AZ kit a go as it was on hand. I've read the reviews of this kit and the identified issues helped me prepare for them - misaligned tailplanes and an ill fitting canopy. The canopy was fixed using plastic shims and apoxie sculpt, the tailplane slots were adjusted. One final hurdle to overcome was an unintended flight when masking the topside resulting in a detached wing and various loose bits in the cockpit requiring he canopy to be popped off and the offending parts reattached. The result is ok but it is still a bit rough around the edges. I have a feeling either the Falcon or Skybirds kits might actually result in a better MB5. Cheers Michael

Hi Moa, Anther fascinating subject. The aircraft has always been of interest seeing the movie "Riddle of the Stinson" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0136490/ They made some pretty convincing replicas for the movie. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154968193867938.1073741843.129584217937&type=3 Cheers Michael

Hi Chris, I've never heard of the RAAF ever using the Venturas as dedicated Photo Reconnaissance aircraft - They only served with 13 Squadron RAAF which was a Maritime Patrol. Obviously they would have been used in a Recon role - e.g. A59-71 Served with 13 Sqn. 31/12/44, Flown by Wg Cdr Keenan, operated the first armed reconnaissance over Ambon by a Ventura. Not sure what if any specialised camera equipment they would have used. The entry for the Ventura in ADF serials is here: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a59.htm Good luck with your research Michael

Hi Knight Flyer, Might be a bit late for you but I wrote up a few tips on this kit a while ago on 72nd scale aircraft forum https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/72nd_aircraft/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=6337&p=37789&hilit=boomerang#p37789 As just mentioned by trickyrich, maybe a spacer might be the go as without it, you'll end up with a canopy which is too wide. The Red Roo enhancement set I mentioned is available here: https://www.redroomodels.com/red-roo-resin-172/red-roo-boomerang-enhancement-set-172/ The key part here is the rear quarter window covers. Without them you'll need to scratch your own othewise you'll end up with a very non prototypical see through effect. Best of luck with the rest of the build Michael

Hi Moa, Another great build. I'd forgotten how simple the Esoteric conversion kit was until your build article. I even thought it was an injection moulded conversion. I've since picked up the Azur kit to build the RAAF Delta so probably never use the Gamma kit or Esoteric conversion but it's nice to see one built. Just checking the history of the RAAF Delta, it looks lilke it is actually the same plane as you've built. Cheers Michael

Hi General, Not sure how I missed the original post! Lovely Victor, it's the only one of the V bombers I've ever really liked the look of. Look forward to seeing the article down under. Also thanks for the tip about storage - I have limited display area and a lot of the kits are currently in old photocopy paper boxes. The Ikea boxes sound like they may take up less space being shallower - Is this the one you use? https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/30180943/ Cheers Michael

I bought this relatively cheap book on the Mk 24 when I was building my Airfix kit - https://www.bookdepository.com/Supermarine-Spitfire-F-24-Phil-H-Listemann/9782918590354?ref=grid-view&qid=1539133621591&sr=1-20 I think it had a few stories about their operation. The scheme I finished my kit in is reasonably colourful with black/white stripes due to the nearby Korean War. I think someone said this is the same markings as on the 1/32 scale Matchbox kit. Cheers Michael

Great photos. Khee Ka look like good kits. I've only seen a few but they all seem to end up very nice.

Great to see a good build of the RAAF Northrop Delta.

Very Art Deco Moa!

That's a magnificent build. Our club is putting on a Flying Boat Display next year in Melbourne - Want to fly it over

Hi Jim, Peter, Both your observations might match up with the specified pattern of RLM 81/82. RLM 81 sounds like it could vary a lot from a brownish green to a dark green (the latter leading to the belief a colour such as RLM 83 Dark Green was in use). Peter's FS match for the lighter colour appears close enough to RLM 82 Hellgrun (not quite as bright as the name makes it sound sometimes). The other colour could be a green version of RLM 81 or RLM71 - probably from a visual point of view, it wouldn't make much difference. By the way, it won't be of any use for the discussion however here are some shots of the repainted Australian Me 163 at the AWM about 6 months ago. Regards Michael

Hi Steve, I had the same issues with late marque Spitfires. Eventually picking up one of the new Eduard kits I realised that these are also available separate from the kit - https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/EDD72011 You only get a limited selection of yellow dashed lines, but this is more than I've found on any other sheet. Cheers Michael

Wonderful build Phoenix. As others have said the rigging by itself is daunting as is replicating the delicate framework of these early birds. There's a nice AFC Shorthorn at Point Cook which I've seen and it gives a good idea of how complicated these planes are - https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3736/f/minisite/static/1469/RAAFmuseum/exhibitions/training_hang/shorthorn.htm Cheers Michael

Another great build Moa. Other than the great skill and research required, I don't know how you can find so much time to build bespoke models. These really should belong in a museum of early flight. Cheers Michael

Looks like the real thing!

Great work Horatio! When did you enter it in Expo? I've been to most and I can't recall seeing it. Cheers Michael

As far as I recall. Definitely the clear parts as the Tamiya ones are a lot clearer and sharper.

Hi Procopius, As requested No real issues about swapping the ICM fuselage - All the remaining parts are Tamiya as their mould quality is better than the ICM. In theory no waste either as I can use the Tamiya fuselage on a less significant 109 and get to see if the difference is observable.

Hi Russ, Always nice to see an RAAF airframe built albeit passed on to other owners. By the way, the markings were covered by both decals and a publication - https://www.aviationmegastore.com/brewster-b339cd-buffalo-history-camouflage-and-markings-last-stocks-arrived-df8-dutch-decal-df-8-netherlands/product/?action=prodinfo&art=81042 http://www.ipmsusa.org/reviews/Decals/Aircraft/kits-at-war/dutch-buff0.htm The book still seems to be available but the decals would be a lot harder to source - I got the 1/72nd version years ago Cheers Michael

Hello Moa, I saw Mike's build earlier this week and noted this new post with interest. One of the reasons for this was that I recently saw both versions of the Flight of the Phoenix models in a box at a club meeting a couple of weeks ago. They were from the collection of one of our members, Fred Harris who passed away recently. It is interesting to see the planes elicit so much interest to be the subject of so many modeller's scratchbuild projects. I was slightly tempted to pickup Fred's planes while they were being given away however I already have a display shortage so passed it up. The models still looked good though they are in need of some repairs. Good luck with your build! Cheers Michael

Hi Davey, Well done with your progress so far. The work you've put into it is impressive. Regarding the history of High Planes, it was actually a 2 man show Greg & Steve. Greg produced the masters and Steve did all the mould design/injection moulding and remaining production. Greg is a master modeller and would do his best to produce as accurate a shape as possible. Obviously the limitations of the short run injection machinery limited the finesse of the parts. The canopies were produced by Falcon and are as good as any vac form canopies on the market. I have all of the Australian subjects from the company though I've only ever built one - the Mk II Beaufighter. It's similar to yours except for the nacelles and engines obviously. The build is here - https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/72nd_aircraft/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9128&p=68766#p68766 Cheers Michael