Chuck1945

What Edgar said - if the actual overspray was a normal 1-2 inches, in 1/72 it would be virtually invisible. I normally cut thin strips of Tamiya tape, ~1-1.5mm, to lay out the pattern, and then fill in with wider pieces.

In RAF use, the razorback P-47D was called the Thunderbolt I and the bubbletop P-47D was a Thunderbolt II

The issue, to the extent one exists, is with your naming convention. The only overall GSB Corsairs operated by the FAA were Corsair IVs built by Goodyear, not Vought. As such, they were FG-1s not F4U-1s. By all means. do build a GSB Corsair IV with blown canopy (with appropriate serial), just don't call it a F4U-1d

No clue what decals come with the kit, but BarracudaCals (Roy Sutherland) has a Tomahawk sheet that features 3 Tomahawks as well as a couple of Kittyhawks

No wire from tail to mast, VHF radio was in use; the the required aerial embedded in the mast. IFF wires would probably be there, but there is some discussion that if the a/c was going be on the ground for some time, the wires would be removed to help protect ground crew from running into them.

January 2008 - twas one I scanned and saved

In one of the Hyperscale discussions on this topic, someone posted a link to an article where Yeager had sued AT&T because there was an advert that mentioned Yeager exceeded Mach 1 and now AT&T had a phone called Mach 1 (actually it was Cingular whom AT&T had subsequently acquired). Here is another indicating he won

If you are interested in a basic early Spitfire (I/II), the new Airfix kit will probably be a better bet. Dimensionally they (Airfix) are quite good, the engraved panel lines are kind of over done and the landing gear is simplified (single piece gear leg and door), but they go together easily and are 1/3 the cost of the AZ kit. I have built the AZ Spit II (as well as having the other early Spitfire kits) it has very fine panel lines and a better detailed cockpit, but it is also more of a challenge to build. I also have the AZ Spit XIV/XVIII kit and the same comments apply, fine engraving, more detailed cockpit, and potential assembly issues due to the short run nature of the kit.

AFAIK, the major gripe with the Airfix 1/72 Spit Vc is the wing, massively thick trailing edges, so I am not sure what gain there would be using that wing on the otherwise quite nice Spitfire I/II kit. If a Spitfire Vc is desired the Sword kit is a much better choice (as Graham said)

Currently 91 here in Eastern WA, at least that is what my bike computer was telling me as I was pedalling up my hill. As for Mr Surfacer, there are three flavors, 500, 1000, and 1200. 500 is the thickest, 1200 is the thinnest. I use 500 and 1000; 500 will fill panel lines and narrow cracks, 1000 is almost paint-like and works quite well on scratches. Some people thin Mr Surfacer and spray it as a primer. You can apply Mr Surfacer with a brush (500 is somewhat similar to gap filling super glue as far as consistency is concerned), lacquer thinner is needed to clean your brush afterwards. 500 will shrink when it dries.

Thanks

I have a couple of the Airfix Hurricane I kits and will not be using kit markings, so those are available as well.

welcome aboard

This was the first Spit XII model I made back in the mid-late 80s. Since then I got the CMR resin kit (pricy but looks nice in the box) and the Xtrakit version which I built last year.

The 'eightball' is as described - black w/white circle and black 8. According to the colors Aeromaster used, the bomb is yellow - this seems feasible based on the apparent similarity between the bomb and mission marks in your photo - with light blue wings. According to Freeman's The Mighty Eighth Warpaint and Heraldry the nose of the bomb would be in the squadron color - green is listed as the 506 BS color, at least in 1944. Again, that seems reasonable based on your photos

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't Cheshire's VC based on cumulative actions rather than one incident? If so there won't a specific VC aircraft for him. Also iirc, the Xtradecal 617 Sqd sheet includes markings for the Mustang he used when he flew a Mustang for target marking

Did the CMR blades come with one of the CMR resin Spitfire kits or are they available separately ( couldn't find just props using Hannants search)?

Once upon a time I had a Matchbox Spit IX, but no clue now whatever befell it - either built or donated years ago. There may still be a KP one about, but the Heller Spit XVI kits will remain intact since they continue to be the best OOB option for a XVI. Time to join the 'email Quickboost' club What I dislike about the Pavla stuff is that while the cockpit set is nice (I have a couple of those) and the exterior set (excepting the radiator goof) looks nice, they each cost more than the Airfix kit Thanks for the many suggestions

To me, the prop in the Airfix Spitfire IX 1/72 kit just doesn't look right. I have tried using to CA and 0.005 sheet to modify the shape of the blades, but no two blades ended up looking quite the same Perchance is anyone aware of a replacement prop? Cooper Details had one years ago, but it is long gone afaik. I know Pavla does one, but are there any others?

If you look at the photos already posted of the Hasegawa and Tamiya Doras, you can see that there is more taper/curvature at the front of the cowl on the Hasegawa (and its Academy clone) kit than on Tamiya. IMO, the Tamiya kit gets higher marks there.

Jeebers, I thought I had them all arranged rather well, but the score was 41. So much for my ability to judge color

The Corsair variants I, II, III, and IV are defined more by whom built them than by version, the Corsait I and II are the exception here. Corsair I Vought built F4U-1 (the birdcage Corsair) Corsair II Vought built and as already mentioned includes both the -1a and -1d Corsair III Brewster built F3A Corsair IV Goodyear built FG-1 mostly corresponding the F4U-1d version Vought used US substitute colors (ANA) in place of MAP Temperate Sea Scheme From Sturtivant, JT634 was on Illustrious as 147/Q 3/45-4/45 when it took a barrier and was Cat Y, with no further notes. From the date delivered (2/45) it was probably overall GSB and JT260 went to 757 Sqd (7/44) as 'P54' , Cat X 1/45 no further notes

Jennings, Given the limited number of actual markings you have indicated, would it be possible to make one sheet with the markings in all three scales? I know I would get them even if all I wanted was 1/72.

As VG33 said, the Tamiya Mosquito is a good choice - both the NFII/FBVI and BIV versions have been done by Tamiya as well as a NF XIII. The Blenheim is a bit more problematical. The MPM kits of the I, IV, and V are the newest, but also preent some construction challenges common with most short run kits as well as unique challenges such as transparencies wider than the fuselage (some plastic card spacers will help).

From the old, now defunct FAA/SIG (US version) - Grumman used American paints, but they were matched to MAP colors (TSS)