Savenosouls

Excellent - I see that German are available also - simple decision - RAF or German for the Polish & Romanian P23 Karas then Thanks for the help - a wee trip to the local Modelzone here in Glasgow may be in order

Might investigate the revell option - ta much. Post, post link!!!!! link

Hi I have a couple of models I'm about to start - which I know do not have any pilots / gunners included within the kits - can anyone point me in the direction of a likely source. I have 2 heller 1/72 Karas kits (possibly require pilot & gunner) to do & a heller Caudron Renault (which I know is a bit sparce on the inside and might not be the nicest kit in the world) Any pointers greatfully recieved I like my planes to have pilots Thanks for any help

HI I have one also (via Ebay in the US) - but am a few weeks away from starting it. (Trying to get another to do the alternative decal option)

Alex - thank you PM sent - You should be mentioned in despatches for your effort - a very humble thank you!

Thanks - appreciate it - I think the colour might actually be a dark reddish brown - I used google to translate the Spanish instructions for the colour and got "dark reddish brown" - this makes a bit more sense - I think it's refering to the the pilot seat colour. I've seen various reference for the upper fuselage colour - I have a few Humbrol colours & think that I'll use Hu 155.

I got hold of a Heller Karas kit - was looking at the colour guide - one of the colours is listed as "chaudron" which when translated from French is "cauldron" - anyone have any ideas what this equates to? I was thinking something like Humbrol Gunmetal (I use Humbrol paints so don't really have any other frame of reference) Also the prop is listed as "dark wood" - what's the best way to get a wood effect? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the info - Any idea where the yellow arrow decals go? (there is no instrument panel decal)

Hopefully someone can point me in the correct direction!! The following photo shows part of the instruction for the cockpit area around the instruments - I understand from the instructions that the 12 circled is the instrument panel - however according to Airfix the 39 with a square round it is a decal, the second photo shows decal 39 as yellow arrows!!!!!! Can anyone point me in the correct direction!!!! (or I am just daft!!) Pic 1 Instructions Pic 2 Decals Sorry in advance for any stupidity & also thank in advance for any help!!!!!

I have been thining the enamels - the Spit PRXIX's I did had about 4 ot 5 coats (along with a little sanding). Reasonably happy with the outcome - will get mixing properly with the Matt Coat

mmmm - Not at that stage yet - will see when I get there - Interesting to see the engine colour on your pics - the Airfix colour indicates all black (which might look a bit strange) - also interesting is the "wavey" demarcation line between camo and underside - I had seen this elsewhere (again not on the paint instructions for the Airfix 1/72nd) I am doing the Fleet Air Arm version (the Argie one is all silver and I'm not even going to go there!!!!!!! this earlier in my resurected modelling career)

Cant exactly answer your question - however here's 2 completed ones using the exact colours Airfix specify:- Link to Final Inspection Post Hope this helps

I shall stir for longer (piece of old sprue as opposed to cocktail stick) - Is there anything to be gained by thinning some before application?

Word of warning - filler alert - on the Airfix kit I had, there was an enormous gap on the underside rear where the wings meet the fuselage. Also, stick a weight in the nose before you glue it together, it's tail heavy and does not sit on the undercarriage by default. (I ended up retrospectively jamming bluetack into the nose (thankfully I had not fixed the canopy) I await your converted trainer version!

I'm with you on the Matt Coat - It was brand new and well stirred!! Thanks for the heads up on the antennae colour - repaint pending

"Dated" - I'd say that's the polite way of describing it!!! Anyone have any idea of the colour of the antennae, I gave it a brief brush of silver (it was my first attempt sprue stretching, was surprised that I didn't set off the smoke alarm!!)

OOO these are nice - I like oddball planes What sort of size are the models - they look tiny (currently trying to get a Heller Karas via ebay!)

Following the Spits - Struggled with the kit (pretty poor) thought the kit looked sparce under the rear canopy - had seen picture of what looked like small radio box - so fashioned one out of some sprue. Also what sort of colour should the antenae be? The decals are way too big for the kit. Hand painted with Humbrol, decal fix & matt coat. Go easy! (I don't think it is as good as my spit offering) - can't get to grips with the photography - flash on/off macro on/off!!

Nice - I am about to start a 1/72 in that sort of livery (no space to do anything of that size) - sadly no Swastikas in the Airfix kit - Why?

Stretched sprue riging it is then!!!!! Great photos - thanks! Interesting thing re the walrus photos - the pics show a very straight/sharp interface between the upper and lower colours - I've also seen pics with a "wavey" demarcation - does any one have any thoughts?

I like the Turkish one - I have decided to try and do different schemes. Currently my FW will be done in Slovakian colours. If anyone has a suggestion for a decent Polish Livery model (preferably circa WWII) I be delighted to recieve any ideas. Thanks again for the nice comments. As I type this from work an nice package from Airfix has just arrived on my desk with a Walruss & BF109E

I assume it's the "old" Airfix one - except it comes in the new livery red box. Cant remember the year - there is a copyright Airfix on the inside of the fuselage. Thanks for the tip re the canopy - I might invest - I started to mask and paint last night (it's like painting the Forth Bridge!!!)

Thanks for the positive vibes. One thing I'm not too sure of is the colour of the exhaust! This is as specified in the Instructions, looks a bit sort of "trashy jewellery" if you know what i mean. On the P39 I'm building I mixed the humbrol matt rust colour with gunmetal metalic and was much happier with the result!

It's actually 30plus - I guess the patience level is greater at the advanced years!!!! I agree with the comment about the transparencies (mine were poor) - I also realise now that my choice seems to have been crucial!

The Airacobra was as you say "a bit of a handful" - It's almost done (big difference in the moulding from the Spit) , the FW189 so far goes together nicely (except for the canopy I managed to crack!!!) Are the Spits you mention "new tooling" (at least that's what I think terms is) - I plan to do a "classic" camo spit (but again it will be hand painted, I find straight lines with masking tape are not too hard, but curves etc, that's a whole new thing)