dukdalf

I really should get started on that 1/72 scale version... Very good progress report!

The 1/72nd scale boxing of this kit is in my stash so I'll be following you on this build, if I may.

Neither an expert or French, and if it will help you is uncertain, but I did find this picture of 2/33 'Savoie' Thunderflashes in Crosnier & Guhl's book "La Chasse a Reaction": Have fun with the build!

Thank you for the information, Rui Silva. Interesting stuff. And no, I'll not call you a shipbuilder. The IMO may do so, but seeing the people at Wigetworks baptised their craft "Airfish" I can only conclude they're not certain either as to what exactly it is. Looking forward to your next reports on the build of the beast called Lun.

Ah, the "Monster of the Caspian Sea". Fascinating machine and a wonderful choice for a build report. I'll follow your progress with interest. If I'm not mistaken the use of ground effect is the reason for the IMO to classify 'ekranoplans' as ships. Much the same argument could be made for calling them aircraft, it seems. Or flying boats. Would you perhaps have a link to the disputes you refer to? Enjoy the build!

While struggling to digest the move from sheep to cattle, I uncovered this: The L-150 number on the bow of this airship is obviously a fib. My hopes of it being L-15 and so helping out Martian on his styrene journey were unfounded: this tatty booklet contains an embellished (and very anti-British) version of L-50's wartime log of a raid on London in 1917.

Just a nudge to take this thread away from farm animals, but with my sincere respects to the general.

Nice work so far, Chief. As for your concerns about the rigging, on my shelf of doom is the Classic Airframes kit. If I remember correctly, that does include a rigging diagram. Right next to it lies a copy of Naval Fighters #84 on the Duck which may also prove useful. I'll try to post photos tomorrow.

Beautiful Mosquito. I have the same Hasegawa kit under construction, destined for the same livery. As for the Bordurian Bf-109 from Ottokar's Sceptre mentioned earlier, that is a true mongrel. It features the broad, early style chin intake seen last on the D-series, it lacks the struts on the horizontal stabilizers that all E-series aircraft had, it has the rounded wingtips of an F or G but an earlier aileron arrangement, etcetera.

Always nice to see a Tintin theme, and your Hare looks great. I've built the MPM-boxing, which I suspect is the same as the Gran. As for reference, this site: http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/aerotintin.htm is quite useful as well.

In the picture above is a Mosquito FB Mk.VI operated by the French airforces from their base at Rabat-Salé (Morocco) and in the picture below an aircraft in Indochina, I think: There seems to be a heat shield fitted behind the 'siamesed' exhaust for cylinders 5 & 6. Does anybody have any more info on this?

Perhaps you've seen it already, but several good pictures of Dutch Starfighters can be found here: https://www.ipms.nl/artikelen/nedmil-luchtvaart/vliegtuigen-l/vliegtuigen-l-lockheed-f104 Good luck with the build, and with the same kit in the stash I'd like to watch closely...

The Bordurian airforce operated a mongrel version of D-E types, so we have to look elsewhere I think.

Sorry for the late response, James. This P-63 has indeed spent the last twelve months or so or the shelf of doom for reasons outside the realm of modeling. Having put those troubles behind me, it will get finished as a Normandie-Niemen aircraft.

Whether all Mastercraft/Mistercraft kits are Heller-reboxings I don't know. As for that shock, you may want to brace yourself. I have their Su22 which requires a vast amount of work to make it anywhere near presentable. I agree with The Wooksta: ask to check them out before buying.

Skypilot's assertions on the 1/48 Mosquito also apply to the 1/72 version: remove the pegs and glue the u/c doors shut. Easily done and the doors will fit perfectly in their closed position.

Nice job on the cockpit and I'm very interested to see how those masks work out for you. I'm working on the Zvezda Yak-3 in 1/72, the snap-fit version, where the instructions would have you paint the interior in 'zinc chromate green'. It sounded believable enough, unlike the suggested camo-pattern in 'steel' and 'european green'. Otherwise, it's a rather nicely detailed and very well-engineered kit for its price and scale.

That is correct: they're closed on March 23, 24 & 25.

Elger's point is indeed well worth noting: the livery might be correct, the airframe is certainly not.

The museum would be here: www.nmm.nl/ Not much good I'm afraid, as there seems to be no access to their collection. This is the Dornier on the decalsheet: [image: modelbouwforum.nl/ Bart83]

That looks like a very nice kit of IMHO the most beautiful flying boat ever. If only I had enough shelf space... I do have a set of Dutch markings lying about you'd be welcome to, although they are for a Do-24K (X-24, on exhibition in the Dutch Museum of Military History).

Thanks, Steve.

Indeed it is, Cees. I've seen the exhibit at the museum several times and it is very well done, just as the other displays at the fort are well worth a visit.

Hello, In the near future I plan to build this aircraft as it was preparing for its last flight, using the Tamiya 1/48 kit. I'd like to be as accurate as possible and have so far found a number of decent references, but no photographs. "Trust no profile" I've been told, so I'd very much like to invoke the help of more knowledgable modellers on this forum to double-check what I've found on the aircraft and the crew. Here's what I have: On May 16, 1944 De Havilland delivered Mosquito FB MkVI # 555 / PZ174 to 23 Sqn at RAF Little Snoring where it went into service as YP*P. Just over two months later, late in the evening of July 21 Flight Lieutenant Francis L. Grimwood and Pilot Officer Frederick B. Woodman left Little Snoring at 22:45 for Florennes (Belgium), either to attack the railroad emplacement there of for anti-nightfigher patrol, or both: Florennes airfield was home to a Ju-88 nightfighter-squadron. Whether or not they ever reached their destination is uncertain as just over an hour later PZ174 crashed in a heavy thunderstorm, leaving both Grimwood and Woodman killed in action. The cause of the crash was never established: they would almost certainly have encountered some Flak on their route, the weather may have been a factor but enemy aircraft could also be involved. In 2008 I witnessed the remains of PZ174 (including two 500lb bombs and a gun camera with half its film spent) being salvaged, which made a profound impression on me. That, and the fact I drive by P/O Woodman's last resting place almost every day, is the reason for this build: a small and personal tribute to the crew. As for YP*P's external appearance that evening, my sources say the night-fighter scheme of dark green/medium sea gray over medium sea gray would be correct, although I have seen photographs of 23 Sqn Mosquitos taken only weeks before with their undersurfaces in 'night' (which would have been standard in their previous posting on Malta). The 30" red type for YP*P and the 8" black for the serials are right I believe, but exactly which and how many roundels are appropriate is a question I would like some help with, as with any and all corrections on the above. If anyone has more information about the crew (other than their service numbers and DOB/DOD) I'd very much appreciate that, too.

I've built one of these, as well as the Tamiya. My only 'issue' with the Airfix is the rather spartan cockpit which you may like to dress up a bit, otherwise it was a problem-free build. On mine, I used a set of Montex masks but I remember making them fit required about just as much effort as making your own. Looking forward to seeing the result!