X Trapnel

I’m looking to convert the newish 1/72 Airfix Wellington IC to a Mk X and wondering what this would entail. At a minimum I know it would require replacing the IC Pegasus engines with Hercules engines, and presumably the cowlings as well. I believe a couple of extra tail gun machine guns would also be in order, but I’m not sure of any other modifications needed. Extra side windows perhaps? Would any other modifications to the basic IC airframe be required? Next question is whether the Hercules engines included in other 1/72 Mk X Wellington possible donor kits (Trumpeter, Italieri, IPM) would fit the Airfix without major surgery or mountains of putty. In case anyone is wondering why I don’t simply build one the existing Mk X kits, it’s because the Airfix Wellington is by all accounts a much superior Wellington, and if it can be updated to a Mk X with a reasonable amount of effort I’m ready to give it go. Any advice or suggestions from the many Wellington aficionados on this site would be very gratefully accepted. Thanks

I bit belatedly, thanks for your response to my question about nose weight, Elger. With your help my Marauder is now happily sitting with all three wheels touching the ground awaiting the first coat of paint.

Inspiring work, Elger. I'm following with particular interest since I'm building the same kit (on a somewhat less ambitious scale) and am wondering if the Scale Aircraft Conversions metal parts provided enough weight to keep the model from being a tail-sitter, or if you had to put in additional ballast. Thanks, and keep up the great work. X

What a great haul of information you've all provided. I'm not sure which is more impressive -- the level of knowledge or the level of effort put into answering my question. Thanks again. After all this, I think I'll do the model up as Wright's GR*S. I've only seen photos of the top side of the aircraft, and wonder if anyone can confirm that this machine likely carried the white/black wings with roundels and silver fuselage scheme underneath.

All of this is extraordinarily helpful. I continue to be amazed at the depth of knowledge of Britmodeller members. One question for Grey Beema: Are you saying that the "second" GR*U likely carried the serial number N3292? Thanks.

First of all, thanks for all the information, not mention all the effort, you've all put into answering my question. Now I'm going to clean about the reason for my question. I'm building the new Tamiya Spitfire and was planning on doing it in the well-known GR*U scheme, N3290. Based on the picture below, I painted it in the "A scheme" camouflage pattern. This is also in accord with what I understand was the prevailing general rule (though not always followed) of painting even number Spitfires in the "A scheme," and odd numbered ones in the "B scheme." BUT...Once I'd finished painting I noticed that in other pictures of GR-U, such as the one below, it clearly carried the "B scheme," and this is also reflected in various painting guides. (Note that the camo demarcation on the left side of the aircraft cowling in the first picture is the same as the demarcation on the right side of the aircraft in the second picture. Presumably the Spitfire in the first photo is not N3290, despite the "U" clearly visible on the underside of the cowling...??? So now I have a Spitfire painted in the "A scheme" ready for decals that are apparently appropriate for the "B scheme." (A real first world problem, I know.) I'm now looking for a documented Spitfire in the same markings as GR*U -- underwing roundels, unusually proportioned fuselage roundels, etc. (Thus my interest in the GR*L scheme.) If anyone has any other 92 Squadron candidates to suggest I'd appreciate very much hearing from them. Two possibilities that come to mind are Bushell's GR*Z, or Wright's GR*S, although I haven't found enough so far to draw any conclusions. Anyway, excuse the rather long explanation, and thanks again.

Thanks very much for your responses. I've finally managed to post the decal sheet in question. Spitfire #7 is the one I'm interested in. I hope this makes things a little more clear.

A new DK Decals Spitfire Mk.i sheet (link below) includes an option for N3192, GR*L. My due diligence internet search has failed to come up with any photos of the aircraft, and I wonder if any of my far more knowledgeable Britmodeller colleagues might have any further information on whether this scheme is accurate. I’m wondering if GR*L might be the largely obscured Spitfire in the photo link below of the the three Spitfires that escorted Churchill to Paris during the Battle of France. Thanks as always for any insights on this, and please forgive the use of links - my phone does not seem to want to post any photos now. http://www.dkdecals.cz/48018%20SpitI_IIAces%201_48_ZS.jpg https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235051650-92-squadron-spitfires-mk-is-pics/

I'm looking to build the new Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire in a PRU Blue scheme, but not wanting to put my modelling skills to the test in removing the armament panels, would like to build it as an armed PR 1G. I have found this older profile on the IPMS Stockholm website and wonder what the consensus is on its accuracy. I've also found this picture on a Britmodeller thread which seems to broadly match the profile above, although the color looks a bit dark for PRU Blue. (Could be just the lighting/print of course.) I also wonder about the red spinner depicted in the profile - the color does not seem apparent in the photo. Finally, are there any thoughts on the exhausts? The back two in the photo and profile are clearly a lighter color, silver perhaps? Thanks for any help with this.

I know that British and Commonwealth fighters in the Mediterranean generally did not have Northern European yellow identification stripes on the leading edge of the wings, although there were some exceptions to this. I’m doing an RAAF 451 Squadron Spitfire IXc (QB*A, MH769) on Corsica in 1944, and wonder if it had the yellow ID stripes. I found a photo of QB*A on the ADF-Serials.com.au website, but the leading edge of the wings are not visible in it. Any thoughts from the experts on whether this aircraft likely had yellow ID stripes? The photo shows that QB*A had the Sky fuselage band used on Northern European-based fighters. Would this suggest the wing ID stripes were also applied? Any insights or speculations would be much appreciated.

A plea for help. Does anyone have any photos of Mosquito underwing drop tanks they could share? I've Googled myself out on this one. I'm specifically interested in 50 gallon tanks, but photos of other sizes would also be helpful. Thanks very much.

And now a follow up question. What's the best guess on whether this Beaufighter would have had stencils? The instructions show them, but I have my doubts. I believe SEAC aircraft were repainted in India before being assigned to units, and stencils were generally not reapplied. I can't see any stencils in the pictures earlier in this thread, although many are small and probably wouldn't show up even if they were there. Thanks.

Thanks very much gentlemen. Your learned comments leave me pretty certain that this aircraft didn't have underwing roundels. And thanks to Troy for sharing the photos, particularly the one of the Beau in flight. A very striking, evocative picture I'd not seen before. X

That's my question. The instructions for the (relatively) new Airfix Beaufighter show the 1945 SEAC version as having underwing roundels. Does anyone know if this is correct? I know that as a general rule at this point in the war RAF bombers did not have underwing roundels, while fighters did, but I'm not sure which category the Beaufighter would fit into. Some drawings I've seen show the roundels, while others do not, but I've not been able to find any photos that offer a clear answer. Any insights on this? Thanks, X

Does anyone have any strongly held opinions about whether 145 squadron Spitfire Mk IXs in North Africa had yellow ID stripes on the leading edge of their wings? I haven't been able to find anything definitive on this - some drawings and models I've seen show them and some don't. The well-known photos of these aircraft don't offer a clear answer as far as I can see. One photo of ZX*6 shows the leading edge, but to me it's ambiguous whether the stripe is there. Any thoughts on this from the Britmodller Braintrust would be much appreciated. X Trapnel