Dave Homewood

LOL, sometimes miracles do happen and the sun comes out at Ohakea... Not often though.

This project is looking so good. Loving the updates!

That looks superb so far.

Thank you Bob. I was aiming to make it more like a nice painting then a coloured photo, and I was pleased how it turned out.

It sure is under-represented, and under-appreciated. They were superb aeroplanes. I have had the privilege to interview a number of RNZAF aircrew who flew in them and groundcrew who serviced them... all now long since dead. They loved them. Pilots all described them as flying "Just like a big Tiger Moth". Most do not realise they were capable of aerobatics. I am friends with Steve Subritzky who owns and has been restoring the Vincent. Back in March 2015 he invited me to sit in the cockpit, what a privilege that was! I took a load of photos. It's probably a lot more complete now, nearly nine years later, but these details may help you with your model, hopefully. Me in the cockpit. Me in the Vincent and Steve Subritzky on the stand beside it. And to finish off, a photo I colourised a few years back showing No. 3 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron Vildebeests over the Canterbury Coast, New Zealand.

Just a historical point, aircraft in the photo are in fact Vickers Vincents, of the Air Gunners and Air Observer's School at RNZAF Station Ohakea, in 1940.

One of my favourite aircraft types. This model is epic. My friend Kerry Carlyle has been planning to do the same thing, we even measured up the Vincent and got loads of photos. I guess he will have to make his 1/24th now. Haha.

I am not sure if this is too late to be of interest but I just came across these photos in the New Zealand Herald newspaper of Harvard N7032 packed up for shipment to Britain. The date of the newspaper was 12th of January 1940, and the caption read: UNITED STATES WARPLANES DESTINED FOR THE ALLIED AIR FORCES Aeroplanes being packed at an American factory for despatch to the Allies. British purchasing officials have stated that they will require a minimum of 10,000 more American aeroplanes in the next 18 months to assure air supremacy over Germany.

To answer some questions about the colours on the noses and tails of the Cyprus No. 14 Squadron Vampires, check out the awesome newly discovered coloured photos here: https://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/30250/brian-darrahs-fantastic-coloured-slides

I think many people here will be interested in the considerations that go into painting real historical aircraft. The Wings Over New Zealand Show's latest episode, 213, features a really interesting talk given by Nathan Bosher, the Safety And Surface Technician at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, about historical paint schemes on museum and warbird aircraft. This is a great episode for museum and warbird enthusiasts and modellers alike Here is the link to the free episode: http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2020/01/nathan-bosher/

And another WONZ Show episode with an interview I did with No. 36 Squadron Vildebeest pilot Ron Reid. http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2017/01/ron-reid/

For those interested in the Vildebeest I have published an older interview I did with the late Don Mackenzie who's photos I published earlier in this thread some while back. It is the latest Wings Over New Zealand Show episode, which you can listen to and download for free. In this episode I have delved into my archive and pulled out one of my earlier interviews from back in September 2009 with the late Flight Lieutenant Donald Malcolm Mackenzie AFC, mid, RNZAF, retired (NZ401776) of Hamilton. Don joined the RNZAF on the 2nd of July 1940, and was on the third pilot’s War Course, learning to fly on Tiger Moths and Vildebeest, before he was posted to No. 100 Squadron RAF in Singapore in early 1941. Following several months there he was then posted to Ceylon in July 1941 where he tells his exotic tales of flying Vildebeests, Seals, Fulmars, Hudsons and Swordfish on patrols over the Indian Ocean protecting Ceylon. He talks about the huge attack on Ceylon on the 25th of April 1942 when the aircraft of five Japanese aircraft carriers attacked the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force bases. He was later posted to No. 22 Ferry Control Unit as a test pilot for aircraft following major servicing and repairs, and as a ferry pilot, which took him all over India and Burma. Later Don was posted to London, England, and joined the Metropolitan Communications Flight of No. 510 Squadron based at Hendon, which was a VIP transport unit. Here is the link to the recording which you can listen to and download for free http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2016/07/don-mackenzie/

I don't know if that Blenheim crew member is RAF or maybe RNZAF, and I don't know if the UK had this, but here in NZ there was a group called Air Force Relations which was groups in every town across NZ of mothers, wives, girlfriends and sisters of RNZAF airmen who were supplied wool by the AFR heirachy who raised money for it, and they knitted clothing for airmen to specific RNZAF patterns. These included mittens, scarves, balaclavas, sleeveless pullovers, socks, and aran knit jumpers. They used to bundle them up into wool bales and ship them overseas to be dished out to our airmen. It's possible this guy was a beneficiary of the Air Force Relations ladies.

Don't forget that the Vildebeest had open cockpits and almost all the raids they flew in the Battle of Singapore/Malaysia were night raids. They would not have been in shorts for those raids due to the Malaria regulations as well as the cold air. Here in NZ even in summer the Vilde crews seem to have always worn the leather Irving jackets with uniform or flying overalls and in winter leather pants too. Don't forget the battle in Singapore Dec 1941-Feb 1942 was in winter and it would have been damned cold at night in an open cockpit with air rushing over you at 100mph I would imagine. Edit: I just looked up climate data in Singapore on Wikipedia and it seems winter is just as hot as summer there, with an average low of 23 degrees C in Jan-Feb. So not as cold as I was thinking. I'd guess just the leather jacket then with uniform or flying suit.