Bruce Archer

Hi! I have wanted to do an Israeli Air Force Camouflaged Mustang, but I cannot find a decal set for them. So if I knew the size of the national markings, perhaps I could cobble a set from the spares box. So does anyone know what size the fuselage Stars were, and what the size of the wing stars were on an IDF Mustang in camo? Bruce

Hi All! Yes, I have used the Hasegawa Spitfire Vb fuselage for Seafires, only because though short, they were the best items to use at the time, and they LOOK better than the Special Hobby kits. I have recently been gifted an Eduard Spitfire Vc which is missing many, many parts I will be using it to make a Seafire IIc or III. First, though, I have an Airfix Seafire 17 wing, and I will see how well it fits an Airfix Spitfire Vb fuselage. I have tailhooks and vinyl reinforcing plates. Both show promise on being better Seafires. I will let y'all know. Bruce

Ahhhh, but add the wings to the ICM kit and you have a PR.XI....... I STILL hope Airfix will do a high-back XIV. Bruce

Hi All! For those who have limited funding, there are two ways to make a high-back XIV. The first is to convert an Airfix PR.19, which is not that difficult. Use a set of ICM wings ( which fit fairly well, not perfect but decent) . The second is to graft a nose from an Airfix Griffon Spitfire onto the ICM kit. If you open the canopy you disguise the narrow spine. But here again, it is YOUR model, build it the way YOU want, and how YOU want. Bruce

Hi! I cannot tell you about the FAA's non-BPF codes. But the BPF's (British Pacific Fleet) code system was this: Letter on Tail=The letter indicates the home carrier There is then a 3-digit code on the fuselage, 1st digit= indicates number of crew 2nd and 3rd digit =the squadron and aircraft No. on the carrier Bruce

Hi Larry! The Ocidental Spitfire IX has two issues which unfortunately ruin the kit ( for me at least). The first is the thrust line is too low, which means the prop and spinner sit too low on the airframe. There are resin noses ( Ron's Resins of Australia is one, which comes to mind). The second is the chord of the wing is too wide. The wing will be difficult to fix, you need to trim the trailing edge to correct the chord. The thrust line can be fixed by either the resin nose or by raising the spinner and shaping the nose. That alone will make the kit look 1000 times better. You can build it as is, it is your model, just do not put it next to an ICM or Eduard. If you are a recce freak, I have several recce Spitfires on i-Modeler. Bruce

I want to thank all who answered. Y'all helped a great deal, and now I can finish the Re-2000. Thanks!!!! Bruce

HI All! I am trying to finish a Special Hobby 1/48th scale Re-2000. Things were were going fine until I realized I do not know how wide the white fuselage band is on the Re-2000, and most Italian fighters of WWII. So can someone tell me how wide the white band is? Thanks! Bruce

Hence my comment use an image of the airframe you are building.. I have only seen images with narrow bulges, but knowing the diversity of Two-Stage Merlin Spitfires, anything is possible. Bruce

Hi All! The Spitfire HF.VII was the pressurized version of the MK.VIII, and shared some same features and some differences. The best way to an HF.VII is start with an Eduard Mk.VIII. 1-remove the cockpit door 2-add a pressure bulkhead where the "backlight" ( the fixed rearmost part of the canopy) ends and the fuselage starts 3- add the cabin pressure intake, and the small bulge on the starboard side of the cowl. 4- add the "LoBelle" canopy with an external sliding hood track. For an early HF.VII do away with the track and add the locking handles to the movable canopy 5- Use either the "MK.XII style " carb intake or the Volkes "AeroVee" intake, check those pictures 6-Early HF.VIIs had the "Standard" rudder, while later versions had the MK.XII (pointed) rudder 7-Add the fuel fillers near the wing roots 8-Use either the extended wingtips or the "Standard" wingtips. Again check those images 9-The elevators were the original small balance but were changed to the larger balance type. When this happened I do not know, but again check those images 10- Use the smaller "C" wing cannon bulges 11-Some airframes had the "Fuel Cooler" intake, some did not and some had the intake covered over, again check those images I cannot express this enough, find an image(s) of the airframe you wish to do. There are enough differences to confuse you. There were two props used, one was a Duraluminum 4-Blade and the second was the Jablo. There were subtle differences. The "LoBelle" hood can be found in Falcon Canopy sets, and in the Airfix PR.XIX. The variations in the whole family of two-stage Merlin Spitfires can give you a headache. ALWAYS work from an image or set of images. These details apply to any scale. Bruce

If you do a Fujimi kit, DO NOT put it alongside an Airfix Spit, all of the shape errors become glaringly apparent. The Academy Mk.XIV is also molded nicely, but it is also horrible. Bruce

It is my understanding you are looking for the best 1/72nd scale late Griffon Spitfire with a bubble canopy? Then you want the Airfix Mk22/24. Looks good built , and is an easy build. Bruce

Yes, there is a "kit" of a Martlet Mk.II. The 1/72nd Airfix F4F-4 is a very good starting point ( plus it has folded wings in the box!). The conversion is fairly simple for AJxxx serialed Martlets. First, remove the carb intake and move it into the upper inner cowl. Remove the intercooler scoops at 4 and 8 o'clock. Remove the magnetos and move them to the rear of the engine. Use a pointed prop hub. Reduce the number of cowl flaps to two ( see: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm ) . The same goes for the Eduard or Tamiya 1/48th scale F4F-4. Bruce

Thank You

For the life of me I cannot remember if the leading edge ID stripes were 4 inches or 6 inches for Mustang Is? I cannot find my Camouflage and Markings book.... Bruce

Hi! Did one of the versions of this kit, 32nd scale Spitfire LF.XVIe come with decals for AU-J(TB886) Dorothy II flown by Flt. LT. Bill Harper? If it did, would someone be willing to trade for the other decals offered or sell them to me? Bruce

I wish to say thanks for the help. I found an image showing the titling, and it used 45 degree letters. Thanks! Bruce

Hi! My question is specifically about the P-47B. Dora Wings provides the titling "U.S.ARMY" for under the wing of their P-47B , but the letters are rounded (Close to an Arial font). It is my opinion they should be 45 degree lettering, perhaps in insignia blue. Can someone tell me which is correct for the P-47B? Bruce

I just stumbled onto this thread. Robert Bracken and Bob Swaddling transformed the aircraft from SL721 JM*R to AU*J (TB886). TB886 was the first low-back Spitfire LF.XVIe to be delivered to the RCAF. And when delivered to 421 Sqn, Bill Harper needed a new plane so took over the original AU*J (TB886). Bill Harper was one of the many service pilots who did not shoot down lots of enemy aircraft but flew almost every day to support the troops on the ground. When Mike Potter acquired SL-721, he wanted to redo the aircraft to honor the many Canadians who were not only aces but the service pilots. After some thought, Bill Harper's AU*J (TB886) was chosen, and the research began. The camo pattern is accurate, enough images were uncovered to show the pattern in its entirety. The paint was specially mixed to represent the colors AU*J was painted in. Mike Potter thew a reception to dedicate SL721 to the many Canadian combat pilots. My wife, Dana, and went as guests of Mike Potter. We had a great time and met many pilots, I need to find the small notebook I had to get their autographs in to name them all. My wife due to her knowledge and the fact she is just great, was made an Honorary Member of 421 Squadron. And Mike put on a wonderful flying display in SL721. I am sorry to hear it has left Canada. Bruce

There are several Martlet/Wildcat models which can be made from the Eduard kit with little or no modifications Martlet I- cannot be done without major mods Martlet II-AM953 to AM963 were Actually F4F-3 or F4F-3a. Grumman called them F4F-3 AM964 to AM999 were close to the F4F-4. Modify the cowl flaps, and remove the magnetos from the front of the engine, these had the pointed Curtiss prop hub and a unique pitot tube on top of the wing, near the left aileron. Remove the intercooler scoops and carb intake. See images. AJ100 to AJ153- as above but with the standard F4F-4 pitot tube Martlet III- These were F4F-3a Martlet IV- Cyclone-powered needs lots of conversions Martlet/Wildcat V- an FM-1 as per the F4F-4 with the outer guns removed Wildcat VI- FM-2 I do hope this helps http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm Bruce

The problem is there are no "Official ' diagrams of the scheme. They were appliedin a pattern at the whim of the painter.

Hi All! I wish to do two P-39s, and need some help with each. The first is P-39L-1 ,serial 42-4520, XR-V "Evelyn. It is thought to be faded DuPont Dark Green and very faded DuPont Dark Earth. My question is what did the Dark Earth fade to? I have been told it is "Desert Storm Tan" US Tactical Tan, USAAF Sand, RLM Sand or one of the Italian Tans and Sands. Can someone help me here? How did the Dark Earth fade? Or could it be Olive Drab and USAAF Sand? The second is an RAAF P-39. Does anyone know where I can get decals for one? Google and Yahoo are not my friends! Thanks! Bruce

Robert Bracken talked to JEJ about MK392. JEJ said about the time of the invasion of Europe the "C" wing of MK392 was converted to an "E" wing. He was not sure of the exact date(s). So pictures exist of MK392 as both "C" and "E" winged. It was during one of these conversations JEJ mentioned his Spitfire received a new rudder. So the codes are different, and 2 colors, no serial, Mk.XII rudder, and it has a fighter windscreen ( so it is not a photo recon Spitfire). Is it MK392? I cannot post the image directly, so go here: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/johnnie-johnson-s-last-spitfire-ixe-t538107.html

I looked closer at the image of the Spitfire with the code JEJ in the hanger. It is a conundrum. The letters are a different font from MK392, and appear to be 2 different colors or hues. Plus no serial is seen. And by looking at the balance on top of the rudder it is larger than the balance on the "round" rudder. Is this another "JEJ"? Bruce

Hi! Look at the image of MK392 in the hanger in 1945. Look at the rudder, it appears to be a replacement MK.XII style rudder. Bruce