JohnMacG

I was underb the impression that the Hartbees version of the Hawker Audax had 'rams-horn'-type exhausts and the cut-down rear gunner's position. However on this fascinating web-site - http://saafww2photographs.yolasite.com/eas...a-1940-1941.php which shows a wonderful collection of SAAF a/c in East Africa, there are pics of Hart types with both long tube type exhausts and the high gunner's position. Did various sub-types of the Hartbees exist, or were different Hart types used by the SAAF in East Africa? Thoughts please.,

Is the current Airfix Ju88A-4 kit (red boxing) a new tool, or is it the ancient Thing from the late '60s?

I would concur with 'Seahawk's' observations about the TT equipment being removed before combat ops were carried out; I personally can't imagine that a rather elderly (and worn out?) Shark could even stagger into the air with a 1000lb bomb load AND TT equipment. A couple of other points - didn't the FROG kit of the Shark include the glazed cockpit canopy for the Mk.III? Also, there's a B&W pic of No4 AACU's Swordfish in Bloody Shambles Vol.1. The pic is clearly taken on orthochromatic film (the yellow roundel rings appear black), but it looks to me as if they're in DG/DE uppers (And I do NOT want to get into an argumnt about THATcolour scheme!) So, for the Malayan Sharks, I would SUGGEST deleting the TT gear and try to find a 3-view or a good pic showing the underwing bomb racks; I personally go with a camo scheme of DG/DE uppers with (maybe) sky blue unders, as shown on the Blenheim threaad a couplke of months ago. But nobody really knows for certain.

Yep, very colourful bird! The red & white fuselage stripes denote a target-tug, while otherwise it's in full Vichy-Indo-China markings. I've come across this website - http://ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff...arts_france.htm which suggests 14052 as an overall colour for the P.XXV. Now, 14052 is a bit darker than *4128 and seems much more likely to me. I've found a ready-mix in WEM's armour colour paint range, which has '24052' (USMC Forest Green), so I think I'll get a tin of that and see what it looks like.

Sorry, slip of my ageing fingers - I did MEAN '34128'!

Hmmm...... I checked 34258 on the FS color database ( - http://www.colorserver.net/ ) and it seems a bit too light to be the 30s 'dark green' used on the P.XXV. (And yes, I known that it's very hard to tell colours from B&W photos, which is all we have, obviously). BTW, is 34258 the same as the French WW2 camo colour 'kaki'?

In the 1930s the French AdlA painted their Potez XXVs (as well as those built in France for foreign buyers) an overall 'dark green'. Does anybody know of an FS # equivalent or a ready-mix paint for this green? Some French sources seem to suggest using Humbrol #30, but I'm suspicious - I think it would be the first time I've ever found a real use for that particular colour. TIA

I agree totally; I'd buy a fewe sets if anyone ever made them. And it shouldn't be too hard; one fret of etched brass should be able to hold quite a few of these tiny things.

Well, AFAIK (and I'm NOT an expert), the only Burma-based unit to have the Ki84 was the 64th Sentai, which received a FEW, to start replacing their obsolete Ki43s, just prior to the war's end. Whether the 64th was still based in Burma (it had withdrawn to Thailand/French Indo-China by the end of the war) when it received its Ki84s is another question.......

When did RAF 'heavy' bombers start wearing (Type A) underwing roundels in 1939-40? Pics seem to show that at the outbreak of war, and for an unknown length of time afterwards, no roundels. Then, in the Spring of 1940, the roundels stasrt to appear; does anyone know exactly when they were applied? It seems to be something to do with operating over France; RAF home-based fighters began to have these underwing roundels applied during the Dunkirk ops in late May 1940. Would the bombers operating over Norway from April also have had them applied?

Right; the Aeroclub one scales in at 11' 3", and the prop from the AZ Martinsyde F4 kit scales in at 8'9"". This latter will have to do if I can't find anything better in the spares box!

Can anyone tell me what the standard diameter was of a prop fitted to an A.S. Jaguar? (I'm using the Aeroclub Jaguar on a Martinsyde F.4 conversion, and the prop supplied by Aeroclub looks far too big.)

OK, I know it's a bit of a dog, but exactly is wrong with it? (I'm most definately NOT an expert on WW2 British bombers!)

The 1/72nd Airfix Gladiator that's just been (re)released - is it the ancient THING from the '50s, or something else?

Can anyone tell from the (Japanese) caption to the photo of that captured 'Beest, WHERE it was captured - Singapore or Java? The surroundings and the lack of wheeel spats (hence muddy grass airfields), suggest Java to me, and a couple of unservicable 'Beests were captured at Tasikmalaja. Any thoughts?

Hmmmmm, I guess not! Pity!

Sorry, let's tryn this again - http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/206695/bomb-on-hawker-hind/

I'm looking for 1930s-style u7nderwing RAF Bomb Carriers (Bomb Racks) in 1/72nd scale. Resin or etched brass - I don't really mind.. Here's a pic of what I have in mind - [email=http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/206695/bomb-on-hawker-hind/]http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/206695/bomb-on-hawker-hind/[/email] That's on a Hind, BTW TIA

P.S. Try going on to Google Images and search for "Handley Page Harrow" - you'll find quite a lot there.

I've got the same kit - it's a real beast! The steps you mentioned are all necessary. Here's a good on-line site on the Harrow. - http://www.balsadust.net/thomas.vogel/Proj...ey_Page_Harrow/ Engines:- well, I haven't got that far yet, but what about the engines from the Airfix Blenheim? Turrets - well, they're not turrets, the glazing is (are) actually fixed cupolas, only the 'bit' containing the machine gun actually rotataes; I think the above link has a couple of pics that show this. HTH

'BJ' is the code for 271 Squadron, which used the Harrow/Sparrow extensively in the transport role.

To change the subject slightly........... On Mark's pic of two 'beest in formation (post #192), the firemost a/c seems to be equipped with underwing bomb racks as well as carrying a torpedo. Was this normal? I.E. was it usual for operational 'Beests to be fitted with BOTH the torpedo rack AND the unferwing bomb carriers? BTW, I'm still not convinced that the 'Beest camo scheme was anything else than the 4-colour TLS.................

There's also this site - http://helaf.wordpress.com/ which may be of some use.

Yep, I've just built one. There is a resin replacemebt nose & spinner available, sorry, I can't remember who by (DB?) Also, there's no interior (you really will need to scratch-build the turret interior) and the fin/rudder assembly and the tailplanes are wrong and have to be replaced. Oh, and the undercarriage needs some work and all the u/c doors replaced (the kit ones are far too thick) and don't forget to add the landing lights! I hate to say it, but the MPM kit might turn out to be a better bet.