XF442

Thanks for the encouraging replies! I am currently still in the process of applying the decals (encountered some annoying differences and errors between the AirDoc and Revell instructions on the way) with "only" the underside still to do ... How long will this thread (sub-forum) remain open? I hope to finish it within the next seven days.

Last update for today. This story will continue somewhere else on this forum.

Hi all, this is how she looked yesterday and right now respectively. I will continue working on her today, but I doubt I will make it before the deadline ... We will see. Any suggestions for the colours of the unpainted exhaust panels by the way?

I have been checking the prices of some German online-shops and they list the (not yet available) Sunderland currently at around 35-40 Euro.

Oh dear, the deadline looms (27th, right?), but at least she's now ready for the paintshop ... Stay tuned!

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the ejector seats are from Aires...

A bit of cockpit work today... Ejector seats are still under assembly.

Thanks guys! I'll finish it for today with a scratched set of intake covers. I dont think I'll bother with the "foam" around the edges but will add a thickly painted grey outline once painting them.

Hi all, this model is going to become XV471 of 92 Squadron. The kit is Hasegawa's FGR.2 in the familiar Revell disguise, decals are provided by Air Doc. I am going to add Aires exhausts and ejector seats (this will be my first experiences with resin BTW) as well as a Flightpath access ladder. I started glueing the first sub-assemblies (wings, cockpit, armament, small parts) together, but really nothing worth photographing in this stage... However, happy go lucky as I am, I had bought a set of Aires exhausts right away without checking any reviews. Guess what I found out afterwards - they are the ones way too small in diameter... At first, I was cutting the kit's original exhausts apart to attach the Aires tubes only, but in the end I chose try to rework the Aires parts to have them fit to the fuselage. I did so by adding a wedge-shaped outer ring, made from a strip of plastic card. Since this outer ring is only partially visible once installed, you can hide the joint simply by turning/facing it to the fuselage. In place, the finished exhausts will look this way. I will try to add those recessed grooves around the outer ring tomorrow by using our height gauge at work.

Hi all, I am going build an Ark Royal FG.1 by converting Hasegawa's A&AEE 25th anniversary FG.1, which seems to have a non-standard nose cone. I also have two FGR.2s in the stash, can I use the parts from these kits?

I'd like to join with a FG.1 as well as a FGR.2. Both Hasegawa (Revell) with aftermarket decals.

My local hobby shop also sells WNW kits. There is a number of people who appreciate, not having to bother ordering via paypal and having to half a day off to visit the customs office afterwards. Even the shop also takes it share. I can imagine, Hannants should have no trouble selling the kits. (Personally, I bought my Ninak directly from WNW.)

Excuse me, but what do you mean with "the Experimental schemes"? Drone and target tug?

I'll second that ... Give me some nice ejector seats and for my part I'm absolutely happy with the kit. (Somewhere on this forum I read a recommendation of another resin caster who was also supposed to "develop" its own aftermarket seats. I'd be interested to know, what he'll offer. And when?)

... no chance of visible Dark Earth camo?

Oh, what a nice thread! I actually built Pollock's Hunter about two years ago in "pre-Tower-Bridge" disguise and presume John in his first post is referring to "my" thread over at the forums of Key Publishing. If anyone wants to have a look: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthrea...657#post1396657 Anyway, I also highly appreciate any info for refining the model. Cheers Chris

My NIVO stock is from Xtracolor.

Found this excerpt in "Bomber Command and its aircraft" by Goulding/Moyes (dates from 1975): "All of these obsolete aircraft [Note 1: Heyford and Hendon] were about to be replaced by modern monoplanes at that time [Note 2: September 1938] and there is no evidence to prove that any change to their existing finish was made. The Virginias of the Home Aircraft Depot at Henlow, however, did their existing all-dull red paint replaced by Dark Earth / Dark Green." Anyway, I can't wait to see more pictures of a "yellow" Heyford! Cheers Chris

OK then, I am convinced. Dark earth over NIVO it will be. (BTW: Is it acceptable to post pictures of my build in this thread or are these sub-forums for "research" only?)

Thanks for the many replies. Painting only dark earth over the existing NIVO coat really could be a possibility. This would also be a perfect excuse for not changing the roundels to A1 specification. Yet the question of WHY this was done in the first place is still nagging me... Munich Crisis emergency maybe? I mean, this would have been some very irregular camouflage and I also can imagine every admin-bureaucrat getting a stroke seeing this done to HMS aeroplanes... Regarding my question for photographic evidence, there is the following picture on the RAFMs website, which MIGHT show a two tone paintwork on the monocoque: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/online-exhibit...72-189-56LG.jpg What do you think of it? Am I seeing things? ---------- Hm, probably I should just exchange the intake filters and build my kit as a Mk.II?

Hi all, my first posting on this forum. I hope my following concern doesn't put you off to much, however ... ? I'm currently working on Matchbox' Handley Page Heyford kit, which is going to be the Mk.III version. The instructions depict the aeroplane in green / earth camouflage, but I am a bit unsure about that paintwork. Let me explain: The instruction want me to paint the undersides in the same green as on the upper sides. Why that? IIRC fresh from factory all Heyfords sported NIVO paint over all, so I guess at a certain time (Munich Crisis?) they will have been camouflaged locally. I wonder, when applying dark earth / dark green on the upper surfaces, why not being consequent and apply "night" black to the undersides as it was standard on all other RAF night bombers? OK, the Heyfords were nearing the end of their operational use, so why bother the correct underside colour? But in this case - why paint the underside dark green then? Retaining it in NIVO in my opinion would have been much more consequent and less laborious. Going one step further - apart from several built matchbox kits, do you know of any photographic evidence of dark green / dark earth painted Heyfords at all? Thanks in advance! Regards Chris