Hornet133

There are a couple of things not entirely correct with the original listing. The P-40Es purchased directly by the UK were designated P-40E-1 by the Mfr and Kittyhawk Mk.1 by the RAF (same as the 20 P-40D models received). These had British equipment (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems - different voltage to the US ones, etc) because they were direct purchase by the UK. The ones built at that time for the USAAC were designated P-40E by the Mfr and had US Equipment. When Lend Lease was introduced the UK then had to accept the airframes built to U.S standard (Radios, Batteries, Electrical Systems etc) and they were designated P-40E-1a by the Mfr and Kittyhawk 1a by the RAF (they had to be designated different to the direct purchase airframes due to the Equipment differences). P-40L (longtailed/Merlin-engined) were designated Kittyhawk IIa by the RAF (not Kittyhawk II). Steve Mackenzie

Ley, Another cutaway here 'http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/spyww2/p6311/p6311-2.gif?h=Ykf_PqT6IJBUxU2QRbHZZg' Steve

White was also the required colour for the under surfaces of Ambulance aircraft in the RAAF colour regulations. It was used on several types used as Amulances in Australia.

Red as per attached.

You should remember that these airframes belonged to Army Co-operation Command, they were not classed as fighter aircraft. Have a read through the early RAF Mustang thread currently at the bottom of the front page.

Jack You are comparing a drawing of a Mk.Vb wing to a photo of a 601 Sqn Mk.Vc above. On the Vc the inboard MG was moved outboard by one bay to allow for 2 cannons. thus the MG bay is in a different place which is why the roundel overlaps it.

Mikemx, Go to the Scalemates link quoted in post #29 It lists all the releases of this kit first released in 1977, with at a minimum the boxart for each

3 Sqn RAAF not SAAF...and AK-G is the example that JWM referred to which is believed to be a misinterpretation of a photo where it was under a camo net. Re P3822 (that is the full serial, the P being painted over at some stage) it was named 'Pamela' and was the aircraft of F/Lt Blake Pelly. The 2 offical RAAF photos of it were taken at Benina on 26 February 1941. On the original prints that I have one can see that the additional light areas on the nose are not the same as the lower Sky colour. I consider that the extra colours were Sky Blue. The colour extends back under the wing leading edge and also the same distance above. Roundels were standard RAF types (not with Orange SAAF centres as on the drawing in the Polish book) and it carries an aerial wire seen in my prints. Attached is a drawing that I did of this airframe as part of a larger article on 3 Sqn Hurricanes many years ago for the IPMS (NSW) publication. This scheme was very common in the M.E at the time. I have seen examples from just about every Fighter unit that operated ttere at the time. Steve Mackenzie

David, The Forum has reduced the scan to fit on the page. If you 'click' on the photo it will open in Photobucket. Then click on the magnifying glass with the plus sign above it in Photobucket to enlarge to it's full size which makes it a lot easier to see. From there (once enlarged) you can right click on it and select 'save image' to save a copy. This is the only way to save an image that is hosted on Photobucket. If you try to do it from the Forum you will just get a blank image (been caught out that way many times). For the profile art, note that this airframe at the time had the smaller style engine intakes and early canopy with the solid metal portion at the rear. Which raises a pertinent point, does the kit actually give you those options in the box.... Steve

David, No problem. I have a print of photo JK0613 which I purchased from the AWM many years ago. Attached is a copy plus part from a high res scan of the name, which one can see is 'Elyane'. The name is Red with Black drop shadows, the portion between those 2 colours just being the Silver of the airframe. Steve Mackenzie

And I also should note that A77-15 was named 'Elyane' not 'Elyana' as has been incorrectly reported many times. So that's 2 of 2 RAAF machines that have problems.... Steve

Thanks Charlie, I have requested to join. Strange that it did not come up when I searched on 'Springbok Mustangs'. Maybe the all capitals in 'SPRINGBOK' in the group name made a difference.

PHIL, I know how Photobucket works. If it will not download for you then you are doing something wrong. I downloaded one of those images no problem and it should work for you if you follow the method I advised correctly. Steve

Who the hell came to the conclusion that the fin flash colours are reversed....Hannants have obviously had a brain fade on that one and it makes the rest of their callouts very suspect. Comparing to the fuselage roundel it is easy to see that the colours are as standard. For Charlie Hugo - what is the name of the SAAF Mustang facebook page that you mentioned. I don't get anything by searching for 'Springbok Mustang' and similar trems.

Magpie 22's photos ARE downloadable. 'Click' on the photo to open the page in Photobucket (where it is hosted). Then click on the magnifying glass with the plus sign above it to enlarge it to the max size. Then right click the photo and choose 'save image'. One always has to load photobucket images from their page (and not the forum's), otherwise you get a blank file which I assume was your problem. That Ebay seller always relists the items once they expire. Thus you can get a copy of the manual.

This may or may not help. From the Halifax III technical manual A.P 1719C Vol 1. The full manual can be purchased on CD from Seller Superchalk64 on Ebay at 'http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HANDLEY-PAGE-HALIFAX-RARE-archive-collectioble-WWII-detailed-archive-1940s-/371527207978?'. 450 Pages of simlar info, cost GBP 6.95 plus Postage. Probably a lot easier (and cheaper) than trying to get stuff from the Museum.

Many were in the multi colour desert scheme in the early days. Go to the 57th Bomb Wing site (http://57thbombwing.com) for a multitude of photos.

Merle Olmsted's 'To War with the Yoxford Boy's' (Eagle Editions) confirms that Gerald Tyler only had the one Razorback Mustang, C5-J 43-6373 'Little Duckfoot'. This confirms that the airframe went through the changes visible in the photos above. I highly recommend that anyone interested in the 357th FG get a copy of 'To War with the Yoxford Boy's'. Typical large Eagle Editions book (375 pages), very comprehensive regarding the 357th History, pilots, aircraft etc. It can be obtained for US$22.50+ plus Postage (cheap in the US) for a new copy from at least one seller who can be located using Bookfinder search engine. 'www.bookfinder.com' Steve Mackenzie

6-stub exhausts were pretty much standard on the special LF.Vbs. There are quite a few photos of such in Peter Caygill's books.

Moulding is done by the a low quote contractor in India. Ate you somehow surprised at the lack of consistency of the products. I'm sure it will get sorted out in time but unless the percentage of bad ones exceeds what is allowed for in the contract, don't hold your breath.

Invasion stripes for the Phillipines campaign.

Yes they do. While the rest of the kit is brand new (not the same tooling), the canopy is easily the worst part as they seem to have just used the same one as the earlier kit.

That is certainly not a Mk.IXe in the photo (JU-R). It is a quite early production F.IX (you can tell by the bulge behind the spinner - where the Caufmann starter bulge is on a Mk.II). Steve

This one Grahame. Don't get into a sweat trying to find one. All they did was throw the Hind kit into a box with different decals (which are not accurate for the first one anyway). They completely ignored the 2nd (Starb) forward firing gun on the mouldings. One was supposed to take a knive and carve it's position out from the fuselage sides yourself. Pure slackness. Images used under the provisions for discussion purposes. Steve

I assume you mean RG-V (not RG-Y). Ah yes...but how many times has it been done accurately !! With the correct RAAF Sky Blue codes instead of White that it has always been illustrated with etc.