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christian Boehm

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Posts posted by christian Boehm

  1.  

     

    Hello WW2 fans
    I'm looking for help to identify the exact decoration of a C- 47 of the 90th TCS of the 438th TCG in June 1944 (based: Greenham Common -GB).
    I have been a WW2 Airwar fan for 60 years and a modeller since 1963.


    I'm a member of the CMS’s (Club maquettiste de Strasbourg - France ) commitee and I represent our modeler club at a WW2 Museum specialized in AFV, near Strasbourg (F)
    See :

    https://www.mmpark.fr/

     

     


    It has more than 300 WW2 AFVs, as well as hundreds of weapons and uniforms. Of course, aviation is not its specialty, but the museum bought from Italy a C-47 made by Douglas in Italy in 1942, which took part in 1942-43 operations in North Africa and Italy.
    This aircraft will be displayed on the roof of a building and will be visible from the nearby road.


    I and other of my club’s colleagues, who are aware airwar, have thought about how to decorate it in a D-Day scheme, as realistically as possible.
    At present, the aircraft has been painted OD and N. Grey and will receive the D- Day stripes followed by the stars & bars

    The search for an interesting nose art large enough to be visible led to the "WABBIT EXPWESS" (see pictures) which carries the code Q7 of the 90th TCS of the 438th TCG in June 1944.
    See pictures :

     

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    An aircraft of this type has been restored (in the USA ?) but without any markings other than this nose art (which was quite approximately executed). See:

     

     

     

    spacer.png



    What we are missing, at least from our research, are :
    > the individual letter of the aircraft (on the rudder)
    >  its serial number (probably "(4) 2..... ")


    Does anyone on the forum have any knowledge of these elements or, when not, can they recommend a special site that could provide us with the solution?


    Many thanks in advance !

    Friendly yours

    Christian Boehm

    PS: Does anyone know the meaning of the replacement of the 2 "R" in "Wabbit Expwess"?

    Probably a joke?

     

     

  2. Thanks friend of the naughty corner !

     

    But  I told upside I own this Dutch Profiles issue ; I actually ordered it to get more docs !

    Anyway the last picture I posted with hatch down is from page 28

     

    About inside pictures , it's most that ones of the pilot's post (pages 7 and  49 : in colours from the restauration plane)

    About the observer post , quite nothing , thta's why...

     

    But another modeller answered through Hyperscale ( same question posted there same day ) and gave me a very more useful link + file with picture of the rear observer post ; its' obvious that there certainly was a floor ( +/- U shaped)  with switching down possibility to get the bombing post

    see:

    https://kw.jonkerweb.net/index.php/en/aircraft/aircraft-d/708-douglas-db-8a-3n-uk?start=1 

    christian

     

    • Like 1
  3. Hello modelers friends

    I am currently building a 1-72 Special Hobby Douglas DB-3A/3N of the Nederland Airforce 1940

    Many know that this type was an exportation ( to Netherland)  version of a transformed Northrop Douglas BT-1 , itself issued from the A-17

    The model is not bad, better than the MPM but one thing is disturbing.

    On the center wing underside there was an hatch, just aft the central diving brakes, affected to the rear cockpit “observer-gunner-bomber” post

    This hatch is partially glazed and obviously intended for bombardment aiming.

    But on the kit the observer’s floor goes through all aft space and this is impossible, with the this existing hatch

    Nowhere I found how this hatch looked like internally (as a skinned drinving…)

    I show you

    1.    The kit

     

     

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    2.    the left profile

     

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    3.    the drawing coming from IPMS Nederland (obviously the observer can switch front and aft to gun, bomb or not …)

     

     

    spacer.png

     

     

    4.    the notice drawing with (for me) wring floor

     

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    5.    a photo issued from Dutch Profiles showing this hatch far down, and that suggest that it was included inside the fuselage with possibility to switch down for a bombing use

     

     

    spacer.png

     

     

     

    If I am right, the kit‘s floor needs but to be cut off and reconstruction of the internal part of that hatch

    What do you think, guys?

    Christian Boehm France

    • Like 4
  4. 8 hours ago, J.C. Bahr said:

    the crew entry door on the left side of the rear fuselage were in slightly different positions between the kits... and the Academy got the nose radome more correct as (when looking down on the nose from above) there's a slight pinch between the radome and the fuselage, whereas Frog represented it as a smooth transition.  

     

    You're totally right J.C.

     I noted the 2 details you relate and was firs astonished by the "slight pinch between the radome and the fuselage"

    But it's exactly true , it's such when you study  enough good overlooking photos

     

    But , as well , a default of the Academy  there is, wrongly, a second door on starboard fuselage !

    You have to switch it off by pluging and re-engraving the fuselage lines

     

    Another special thing is the tail wheel problem : on all photos , while plane's flying , it is retracted , not visible

    But, on floor , no doors visible; so studying Naval Fighters 86 and logically , it was an automatic doors opening-closing system on the PV-1

    Consequently , doors have to be engraved around the tail wheel implantation

     

    On Hyperscale a colleague noted the canopy would be 0.5 mm too narrow  and adviced to use falcon's one

    I have it but it's difficult to fit it an the academy (it was for FROG) and I finally kept the kit's canopy;

    Otherwise the turett  clear part , very thick, is to change  ; I'm searching the best Vacu to use because the Falcon one , while cutted off,  is not  the best here

     

    Christian

    • Like 1
  5. Here the Academy  wings (may be I reduced photo too much , sorry)

    I don't own perfection but I studied plans, but not only plans.... because you know ...; so always photo confirmations !

     

    spacer.png

     

    And I think the aileron’s chord is too narrow of about 3 mm. But fortunately a wrong structure line exists just in front of them

    So I engraved this one deeper as a new junction between aileron and wing. It’s then quite 1 mm too large but very more close to reality.

    The early junction was filled with putty

     

    You’ll see as well

    > the resin replacement nacelles ( fitted) and cowlings with the original one 

    > the fitted QB PW engines

    > the starting work on wheelwells

     

    spacer.png

     

    Close to the wing the furnished catastrophic double wheelwell doors ( to cut in 2) ; who can imagine the landing gear could find its place in such a tight space ?!

    ( Lateral photos of the up-part of wells confirm that)

    It’s obvious that the width is far too narrow, so I cut the open range about 2 x 2mm larger. ( actually , as here, too much (2 x 3) but afterwards I corrected that with strip)

    Then I did my best to realize as close as possible the inside accommodations (source / Naval Fighters 86) ; the big oiltank is quite visible ( I remind , the wells of the kit are full plain ! as are the turrett and astrodom holes )

     

    On this photo you see better the new aileron shape

     

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    Here the wing's nearly final look

    Now another challenge was new wheelwell doors !

    But I have before to take other pictures

    • Like 3
  6. 20 hours ago, JWM said:

    Here is mine Ventura with hand painted octopus

     

     

    Woaw JWM , nice done this pattern and quite discrete weathering

    I"m not a fan of exaggerated weathering (with , ok, some exceptions , photographically documented)

     

    And really congratulations for hand painted octopus ; I minded but thought the spikes will be hard to do

     

    Ok as I see many are interested I will send some  building shots

    • Like 1
  7. 16 hours ago, christian Boehm said:

     

    About the last, the tail replacement  parts and bomb doors are nice and thin but really if you own some docs (specially Naval Fighters 86) you'll realize internal details are 50% imagination-worth

    (no mention about much will not be seen anyhow on final kit)

    Correction :  the PAVLA tail parts which look very fine ( as vertical as horizontal parts) are NOT in 72047

    It's a different set : Pavla U72-65

  8. 19 hours ago, Ed Russell said:

    For anyone building one now these are helpful.

    https://www.plusmodel.cz/en/Motorove-kryty-pro-Venturu-

     

    Yes Ed 

    you're right and I got these cowlings because Academy's cowlings are very false shapped

    But I introduced them as well  with Quick Boost PW- R2800 engines , because the engines were as bad as the rest

    And finally I had  as well the  Ph-Edge Eduard ED-202 plate and the Pavla resin box 72047

     

    About the last, the tail replacement  parts and bomb doors are nice and thin but really if you own some docs (specially Naval Fighters 86) you'll realize internal details are 50% imagination-worth

    (no mention about much will not be seen anyhow on final kit)

    It's not the 1st time , I discover such things on Pavla interiors....

     

    Finally , I found a big interest to buy 1/48 SBD ( Dauntless)  RS resin wheels ; as replacement, they fit perfecly in shape and dimensions with Pv-1's ones and have nice sculpted tyres

  9. 15 minutes ago, Ed Russell said:

    It's likely the octopus was a nit marking and carried by more than one aircraft. I think I have some pictures somewhere.

    I have never seen the Frog kit, only pictures, but I have read that it and the Minicraft kit are virtually identical. I would love to see an actual comparison of them.

    I have an interest in Venturas and I must build a few more!

     

    thanks Ed 

    I know tony O'Toole  well  ; he's a very good one

    we shared interesting advices while buiding Skua & Roc some years ago

    just a witness I haven't  enough time to visit forums 

    I will watch ot with big interest 


  10. Hello modeler friends

     

    I am currently building an PV-1 Venture , Academy Minicraft kit

     

    spacer.png

     

    I won’t talk about this kit which brought me considerable disappointment by its mediocrity. It would be too many things to tell and I really think it’s a renewal of the “oldy” FROG….

    So OK I did my best, the major error being the catastrophically undersized wheelwells, without talking about  the total lack of internal development ( I needed to saw the open range about 3 mm larger !) If somebody likes to see my most important modifications I will post some pictures, no pb.

     

    My question is about the decoration

    The box , notice and decals provided propose a Pacific – Marshal Islands - 1944  stationed PV-1 of VPB-133 with the nice octopus tentacle motif around the top turret. I must admit this is an attractive look.

    OK the cam seems classic with white undersides and Intermediate & Dark sea blue top ( quite faded)

    But the plane’s number given is a “3”....

    That seems wacky because I found only one (bad quality) picture of that plane (you can see the same on different sources , books & internet asf)

    But .....I discover the number 895 on fin & nose on this picture  ; Just see:

     

    spacer.png

     

    What does the community think ?

    Who knows another picture ?

    Thanks a lot !

    christian

  11. Hi Wab !

    Nice to hear news  from Overseas !

    9 hours ago, WAB1 said:

    Hi. I live in Christchurch New Zealand, been a subscriber to MAM for quite a while and even though they owe me and others quite a few back issues, I received  Aug/Sep 21 issue 10 days ago and Oct/Nov 21 issue today, both sent airmail. Maybe there is light at the end of this long tunnel.. WAB

     1st sentence :

    as me in France 

     

    2nd Sentence

    I hope so but I am not "over-optimistic"....just because the usual monthly issue are out !

     

    so we wait and see

     

    Christian

     

  12. On 11/15/2021 at 1:38 PM, Neil Wharton said:

    UPDATE UPDATE  My subscription is now complete,

    I will not be re-subscribing to their magazines. 

    1) First sentence : I got August - september  issue (with the usual wonderful  nice ice blanket  ) and sept-october with the other one descripted upside in these exchanges...

    2) Second sentence : Yes , I thin,k it's the 1st option because , for me,  it's far to be complete because  I didn't get  April, June and July .....

     

    But, but , I stopped getting angry .... just sad ; it was (sorry IS) a great magazine

    And anxious that  these issues are in the international orbital capsule in danger of being pulverized by a russian missile 🤣  😂

  13. 8 hours ago, saxonrock said:

     

     

    Out of the blue, I did receive May 2021 issues for both magazines, and in the last days, August/September 2021 for MAM.

     

     

     

     

    hello Saxonrock ! hello Germany !

     

    So I feel less alone as non british ! (just a joke folks !)

     

    The quoted words depaint exactly my own experience in France

     

    christian

  14. The representativeness of such comments is always difficult to assess.

     

    But the number of modelers subscribers to SAMI in the world is enormous, even if they express themselves less than here, on Britmodeller, which seems quite logical to me.

    As one of the rare non-British subscribers on this exchange and registered on other forums, either very well-known and international (like hyperscale), or more specifically French, I can tell you that the problem is known and is spreading strongly. A proof is that it was Hyperscale which advised me to watch this chat.

     

    That our remarks will remain without significant effect surprises few (like many here, including me ...), but that anyway the company’s attitude is contemptuous is very regrettable because a forum like this one is not a social network (Facebook or other type) where everything goes all over the place.

     

    christian

    The representativeness of comments is always difficult to assess.

    But the number of modelers subscribers to SAMI in the world is enormous, even if they express themselves less than here, on Britmodeller, which seems quite logical to me.

    As one of the rare non-British subscribers on this exchange and registered on other forums, either very well-known and international (like hyperscale), or more specifically French, I can tell you that the problem is known and is spreading strongly. A proof is that it was Hyperscale which advised me to watch this chat.

    That our remarks will remain without significant effect surprises few (like many here, including me ...), but that anyway the company’s attitude is contemptuous is very regrettable because a forum like this one is not a social network (Facebook or other type) where everything goes all over the place.

     

    christian

    • Like 2
  15. 15 minutes ago, lasermonkey said:

    That sounds like any normal day in Bedford!

    I have understood Bedford's usual usual day's meteo and I apologize

    In eastern France it's almost the same , modeller friend !

    let's go to our work bench !

     

    for : trecker_ed:

     

    About IPMS-UK ( and Scale model World)  : although I think it's an institution in charge of good value repute of our common hobby , whatever their relays, I said:  "I thread...."

    I didn't say : "I will do ....."

    To be honest , I am resign to loose money...

    But that final report is bad for everyone in this case

     

     

     

  16. 3 hours ago, Samuraiwarrior said:

    May Issue was the last I received, though it was fashionably late. 

     

     

     

     

    I sent a mail one week ago with threat of a registered letter requesting refund (with a copy to the President of UPMS - UK) if I do not receive my missing magazines before November 1st

    No response except an acknowledgment of receipt....

    Just received this morning August - September ....  !!

    It looks like a game of cat and mouse...
    If I read what KLN writes , not much hope to get June & July ...

     

    Otherwise I read A. Evans's editorial : not a slightest trace about any difficulties or explanation about the switch to a bimonthly edition regrouping

    Christian

  17. On 10/18/2021 at 6:37 PM, Tony C said:

    Here is the current list of traders attending SMW2021 and I can see Key Publishing (Airfix Model World), Guideline (SAM) and Doolittle (MAI) but MA seem to be conspicuous by their absence!

      Tony watched Telford"s meeting : "MA seem to be conspicuous by their absence!"......

     

    So yes Martin, definitely it smells a lot about liquidation ....

    • Like 1
  18. I receive the same type of answers from "Sophie", without ever anything concrete
    It's almost "copied - pasted" for all of us ...
    Confidence is severely impaired ....

     

    I wonder if they watch all our exchanges...

    Britmodeller is known all over UK as a first class exchange forum and I guess they read our anger (and sadness) ....

    Everybody can mind THIS is the place to chat about  an english magazine.... 

     

    christian

     

    • Like 2
  19. Hi Paul

    Yes you're right

    It's SAMI

    Scale Aircraft Modeller International 

    From MA Publications

     

    I am astonished by all these close problems related.

    What can we do....??

    Christian

     

    Ps : imagine I wrote my problem on a french 1/72 forum (where I exist as well)

    I just guessed if Uk or France customs are the origine....no agressivity 

    And I got a chocked response of a modeller who works  as a customs employee !!

    He told everything works all right ....

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