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biffer

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  1. Thanks, everyone! Well, it's all very confusing, isn't it? 🙄 🙃 Mark, after reading your reply, I'm going with HX819/TH-J finished in the same Night Intruder scheme as when it was flown by Charlie Scherf as TH-F. But ... what nose-art did it carry and would it have kept all those victory tallies ??? Once again, I've spent a few hours scouring the 'interweb' for photos of TH-J but could only find that photo I mentioned earlier, with Sid Seid in its cockpit. Finally, a bit of background: I first read Dave McIntosh's book way back in 1982. It impressed me very much as being the most honest and accurate account of wartime flying I'd ever read. I also enjoyed its humour, which made it all the more 'human'. In fact, it made such an impression that I wrote to Dave, via his publisher, and was delighted to get a reply from him. Sadly, I never actually met Dave in person, though I wish I could have done so. He struck me as being a really great bloke, and it would've been a privilege to sink a brown-ale or two with him in the pub. We had a few things in common; the same sense of humour; both worked as journalists; both fully paid-up members of 'The Self-Preservation Society' (especially when surrounded by idiotically heroic buggers who would have us emulate them). On that note, I tried to convince Dave that he was much braver than he made out in the book, but he wouldn't have it. That's the kind of man he was ... and my kind of 'hero'.
  2. I'm seeking information on a specific Mosquito, as flown by 'Sid' Seid and Dave McIntosh, with 418 Squadron RCAF, from mid-1944. Some of you might have read Dave's excellent book on his wartime experiences: Terror in the Right Hand Seat (a.k.a., Mosquito Intruder). In this, Dave states that their regular aircraft was TH-M. The problem here is, every reference I've been able to find on TH-M assigns this aircraft to Robert Kipp and Peter Huletsky. Also, in Martin Bowman's reference work, Mosquito F/F-B Units of World War 2 (which, incidentally, has a striking depiction of TH-M on its cover), there is a photo of Seid leaning out of the cockpit of TH-J, which is said to be 'his' Mosquito. Again, there is a problem, since other sources attribute TH-J to Australian pilot, Charles Schere. Personally, I'm doubtful if TH-J was Sid & Dave's aircraft if for no other reason than the photo shows some 25 victory symbols on the nose. Sid was a great pilot, no question, but official histories don't credit him with that many victories. I'm aware that individual aircraft were often re-assigned to other crews as circumstances dictated, but knowing this doesn't help much in this case. 🙄 So, can anyone help with information, or point me to a good reference source that might have the answer? I believe that member, Mark Proulx, has done a great deal of research on 418, and was hoping to publish a book on the subject a few years ago (?). Unfortunately, I couldn't find any trace of his writings (other than on Luftwaffe aces), ... so, if you read this, Mark .... 😇 Many thanks for any help or assistance! Andy
  3. Cheers, Andy! I'd never come across Hataka paints before (not a prolific modeller), but I'm amazed at their range. I see they not only do a 'standard' British NATO Green, but also an IRR specific version, which is a subtly different shade. These are exactly what I was after, so sorted now. All the best! (another) Andy
  4. The subject would be 1/24-scale RAF vehicles, circa 1980s. I'd already bought a D-I-Y rattle-can of supposed 'NATO Green', but in the cold light of day, it didn't look quite right. As you say, Andy, there are many shades of green available out there. Perhaps I should have posed the question as, "which green shade looks closest to that used on RAF vehicles in the '80s?"
  5. Opinions sought .... Who makes the most accurate NATO Green paint for modellers? SFX: Sound of, 'Worms, Canned, Mk1', being opened. 😇
  6. The Ex-Military Land-Rover Association (EMLRA) website, states the following:- "The bridge classification sign should be 230mm in diameter, but sometimes towing vehicles and their trailers show a sign on the right side facing outwards. This sign should only be 150mm in diameter." There is a 4-page article on this site which provides a shed-load of info' on vehicle markings for the Army, RAF, and Royal Navy. Well worth a look. Here's a link to the pages .... https://www.emlra.org/index.php/articles/painting-and-marking-post-war-british-vehicles-p-1-4 https://www.emlra.org/index.php/articles/painting-and-marking-post-war-british-vehicles-p-2-4 https://www.emlra.org/index.php/articles/painting-and-marking-post-war-british-vehicles-p-3-4 https://www.emlra.org/index.php/articles/painting-and-marking-post-war-british-vehicles-p-4-4 Hope this helps!
  7. Bit late to the party with this post, but great looking job there. Can I ask, which make/shade of green did you use? Andy
  8. Thanks, Das Abteilung, I'll check those out. Meanwhile, I came across the following site with tons of interesting info' on post-war vehicle markings (Army, RAF, and RN):- https://www.emlra.org/index.php/articles/painting-and-marking-post-war-british-vehicles-p-1-4 Notice that there's four pages of info' on the site. I personally found Page-4 to be most relevant to my queries, but well worth checking out the others too. I'm sure this might answer a lot of questions others might have on the topic of markings. For myself, it states that for RAF vehicles, the wording 'Royal Air Force' should be in BLUE letters on a golden-yellow background. Methinks that most vehicle finishers must have interpreted that to be Navy-Blue letters, as they all look black to me. (???). Andy
  9. Graham; they're from Kingfisher - http://www.kingfisherminiatures.co.uk/raf-9-inch-vehicle-roundels-i175.htm Just ordered them last night so not arrived yet. Even if I can use them, I won't need the whole sheet. You can have them for just the postage cost. I'll let you know, soon as. Andy
  10. Fat & Das - thanks for your replies. I'll stick with a matt-look, then. The Kingfisher decals are all the wrong scales, but I've ordered some 1/76 RAF roundels and lettering in hopes the larger examples might look OK on a 1/24 model. If not, well, they didn't cost much, and maybe I can pass them on to someone on here. Cheers! Andy PS Still need a recommendation on whose paint I should use. 🤔
  11. Hi All, Not sure if this is the right section to post this, as it's not 'armour', but not really 'aircraft' either??? Anyway; I've got a couple of Italeri 1/24 vehicle kits (Land-Rover & Ford Transit) which I intend to finish in RAF colours from the '80s. As most of you will know, by that period the RAF had undergone a 'toning down' phase, which resulted in most 'B' vehicles being painted NATO Green. So, what would your recommendations be as regards the most realistic source of this colour? (PAUSE TO ALLOW WORM-CAN OPENING). I bought a rattle-can of supposedly NG by PaintFactory the other day, but in hindsight, it looks a tad light to me. There's also the issue of matt or semi-gloss(?). For instance; every RAF Land-Rover I've seen is finished in a matt IRR paint - but vehicles like vans, trucks and saloon cars appear to have been finished in semi-gloss. Can anyone enlighten me on this issue: i.e., what were the regulations as regards painting in matt or semi-gloss? Also, to save me the trouble of making my own decals, does anyone know of a source of RAF roundels, and the yellow stripes with 'Royal Air Force' lettering, as per the photo below, in 1/24? Many thanks for helpful replies - it's appreciated! Andy
  12. Thanks, Goggsy, but I'm sorted now. I just showed my computer a microwave oven and told it this is what it would be recycled into if it didn't behave itself - and it worked! Best regards, Andy
  13. Thank you, Paul and Reggie: the first for a brilliant example of imaginative modelling, and the second for asking the questions I was going to ask for myself. I could add one more ... does anyone have an illustration of the Mini interior with the back-seat removed; just wondering about the exact shape of the panels? Like Reggie, I haven't built a car model in many years, but I'm tempted now to have a go at an 'Italian Job' diorama. I watched the DVD last night, and my imagination was caught by the scene early in the getaway, where the Minis drive down that elegant staircase. It's probably way beyond my skill level, but what the heck - worth a try. Film trivia: if you watch that staircase scene in slow-motion, when the leading (red) Mini gets to the very bottom, you can see that the driver's door has sprung open. The driver is wearing the red racing-jacket, but instead of matching red trousers, his are white. Yup; useless information is a speciality of mine. Andy
  14. Derek; get a hold of that boy - at once! Yeah, I know, I'm nine years too late ... he'll have grown up now and sold it on FeePay for the equivalant of a small mortgage. It's an extreme longshot, but I have to ask - did you by any chance keep the box or instruction sheet??? Any photos??? "Oh my God! You GAVE IT AWAY???!!!" Sorry about that, it just sort of slipped out. Andy
  15. Sorry, John; I was based in the Glasgow area. I made ocassional special clinic trips to Edinburgh, but the only contact I had with the 'locals' would be a quick brew and a chat (mostly grumbling about station-officers; pay-rates; the public; etc, etc). I'm afraid none of those names ring a bell with me. Thanks for replying, though. Andy
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