Michael51

The model is a representation of a 98 Squadron RAF Mitchell II, FW262, coded VO-G. Its crew were involved in a raid over Stadtkyll on Christmas Day, 1944. The aircraft was piloted by Australian Ray Rogerson. The relevant ORB for 98 Squadron confirms the serial, the code and the events of that raid. The Australian Press duly recorded some particular events of the raid and the following account appeared in a Western Australian daily newspaper on 7 January 1945. “Pilot Officer Ray Rogerson had a thrilling experience on Christmas Day. He was piloting a Mitchell bomber in a raid against a German supply centre when a burst of Flak damaged the machine. Most of the instruments were shot away and the wings were holed but he carried on to his target. Returning, he found the bomb doors would not close and the wheels were out of order. He made a skilful emergency landing with all wheels up, then went with his crew to Christmas lunch”. Not really. The bomb aimer who stands in front of another 98 Squadron B-25 in the photograph below had been killed by the Flak. Ray Rogerson recalls neither Christmas festivities nor lunch that day. In the photograph below, taken sometime in January 1945, The Rogerson crew, with replacement bomb aimer, is shown at Melsbroek. My thanks to 72 modeler who provided much advice and quite a few Italeri B-25J bits to enable a conversion from my Italeri B-25G kit to as-close-as-I could-get-without-going-mad representation of this particular Mitchell II. It is not a very good result but never mind. Even my attempts at applying a patched-over paint job were not that successful. Over six decades of making model aeroplanes never has there been such a battle between Man and Italeri. All in all, a bit of a pyrrhic victory. In conversations and subsequent correspondence with Ray Rogerson in 1992, he made the following observation of war over Europe. “Every day in the UK was like an adventure, so that when we returned to Australia the ordinary problems of life seemed so trivial that many of us could not readily adjust to ordinary life. Two aircrew friends of mine committed suicide and a number of others drank pretty heavily. A few died fairly early in life”. Not the happiest of postings on this forum but I do like a contextual richness to my modelling endeavours. Michael

That is a really nice build. Michael

They look great. The paintwork looks fine. Michael

An absolute beauty. Gosh, childhood was fun when it came to model kits and this brings all those wonderful memories back. I like the in-flight, wheels up treatment and the absence of high priest orthodoxy over panel lines, nose shape, decal issues, exhaust colouration, radiator positioning, spinner prop blur imponderables, landing light arguments and suchlike. It is just a simple work of art. Michael

The wartime photograph of S Sugar above is taken, I believe, well before its final operation. This would lead to the RAF museum bomb tally being a longer one. The wartime photograph shows her without Rebecca and with needle blades and, if I see correctly, the shallow bomb aimer's blister. The museum photograph shows her with paddle blades and Rebecca, as well as the later blister variant. However, The final, known wartime photograph indicates she finished with flat frame side windows, not the ones shown in the two photographs above. Thorne's Lanaster at War:4 has a series of photographs of this machine in its 83 and 467 Sqn variations. Michael

I think you are doing a marvellous job on this kit. Really, all those paint combinations on the exhausts and the superlative work on the pilot. Michael

That looks like really good work with marvellous detailing. Like others I will follow this with interest. Michael

Thanks for the source: always so helpful. I have just purchased that book. Michael

It looks great. A fine piece of modelling work there. Michael

Mungo, That is very interesting information. I am aware of the Cheyenne mod. story but not about the other bits, particularly the waist windows. Being a fan of the B-17, and not in possession of any printed sources with such information, would you be able to advise what the sources are? Thanks, Michael

Marvellous work! The Airfix B-17G brings back many happy memories. Nice to see a 15th Air Force representative as well. Michael

Thanks for posting. Love those Mitchells and the Marauder Michael

That is a remarkably fine build. Weathering is brilliant Michael

Thanks. Certainly a better idea than posting here. I have followed your advice. Michael

I hope this post is in the right section. My apologies if it is not. I seek one, preferably two Eduard masks for the glass nosed Italeri 1/72 B-25 C/D. The Eduard code is CX 165. They appear to be OOP and nowhere to be seen. Should anyone be able to direct me to a source where these may be purchased, please advise. Thanks, Michael

Thanks, It is a 114 Sqn Blenheim 1, Spring 1939, using decals from the Xtradecals set, so no problem there Michael

Thanks, I'll buy it Michael

After much toil on my Blenheim I kit, it has been consigned to the rubbish bin. The perspex panelling bits were way out of line on the starboard side of the cockpit whilst perfect on the port side, something I was sure I had right until I unmasked the thing after painting. Where did I go wrong? Any thoughts, apart from those suggesting I should have picked another hobby, would be welcome. Now, will the Airfix IF kit allow me to make the pre-war bomber version? I assume it will but confirmation before I press that button on the Hannants site would be appreciated. The I version seems to be OOS , OOP, or both. Michael

As others have observed but I will reiterate; superb camouflage effect and weathering. May I ask what paints / mixes you used for the dark earth and green? Michael

A really nice job on an old kit. Michael

I think that is a really fine job of painting and weathering you have done there. There are so many criteria out there for what looks "right". I hope my Airfix Spitfire ends up that good when I get to building it. Michael

Looking really good. Why oh why did they scrap all the real ones? Michael

A fine build and very impressive weathering. Michael

Great progress. I am following this with interest. I have built the MkIV so did not encounter the front turret issue. The glazing bits went on quite well. Michael

Alex, Ced, Stew, VV, MO and elger, Thank you for your suggestions. Very helpful indeed. I have half a box of the Revell figures left and will use the two remaining likely candidates from those. Michael