Doug A Jones

My understanding is that Curtiss was paid extra for a 3 colour camouflage scheme and persisted in applying this well after being instructed by the USAAF procurement folks to stop. Only when the payments for the additional colour were refused did they desist and revert to the OD/NG scheme. I'm not sure what date this happened.

Folks - on the link to the ADF Serial Telegraph above - check out the article on the 18 (NEI) Sqn B-25's. Some excellent info on the D waist turrets, nose and cheek guns, and the 'empty shell deflectors' under the nose. Also some good stuff on RAAF A-20s. I too was highly skeptical of the 2-tone disruptive OD/MG....though certainly no expert on the subject, no photos of 5th USAAF A-20s I've ever seen looked to have anything other than standard OD uppers (albeit heavily weathered) over NG lowers. Cheers Doug

Problem is, for a P-35A, the Wolfpack Designs version (and its antecedent Academy and Hobbycraft plastic) lack the fairing extending forward from the wing roots to incorporate the exhausts. Special Hobby appear to have captured this detail nicely in 1/72, and from what I can see from their online images, Dora Wings appears to have got it right in 1/48 in their upcoming P-35, but TBC. Hobbycraft also got the hatch into the luggage compartment wrong (it should be rectangular) and there are a number of other deficiencies that Wolfpack don't seem to have corrected. There's a good summary of the Hobbycraft incarnation in Werner Scheibling's build at http://www.hyperscale.com/features/2001/p35aws_1.htm I think I'll wait to see what Dora Wings comes up with. Cheers Doug

Thanks Gwart - as you say, not the clearest but better than anything else I have....much appreciated.

Thanks Chris. I have the SAM Datafile and failing all else that will provide an adequate profile and plan view to work from. I'm just not sure what is in the rectangular opening in the front...presumably a circular camera lens if no better information comes to hand. Cheers Doug

Hi folks - inspired by the new Xtradecal 1/48 sheet X48188, I've decided to build SEAC Beaufighter TF Mk X, RD515. This a/c has the gun camera mounted in a faired housing on the fuselage spine immediately behind the cockpit. The Airfix 1/72 kit A05043 of the late TF.X shows the camera fitting I'm talking about. This item is not provided in the Tamiya 1/48 TF.X kit so it's a scratchbuild job. I've done a lot of searching on the net but so far have failed to find a nice close up of the camera. Plenty of distant ones, but nothing showing the front of the camera in particular. If anyone could provide a photo or point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it Cheers Doug

This subject has come up at least twice before on this forum, with equally inconclusive discussions regarding possible colours....May 21, 2011 and November 5, 2012. Anyone for Mauve and Stone? Cheers Doug

Thanks Graham. So X4928 at Akyab in TLS would be a contender for a code-less Mk 1?

Are there any code - serial marry-ups for the Ceylon or Akyab Mk I's? Cheers Doug

There's a remove-before-flight tag on the pitot tube. Cheers Doug

Hi Bone - I had the same problem with my MPM P-63. I used a cheap week-end edition of Eduard's P-39 as a donor for quite a few parts including the canopy. From memory the rear canopy is virtually a drop fit. The windscreen needs to be ground out and a flat armor-glass pane put in. The front part in general needs a little fettling but fits well when done. The doors....well forget about having the port door closed as usually seen in period photos. Note the rear edge of the door forming part of the roll-over structure needs to be canted backwards a bit...it's not vertical. And I believe there should be an armour glass panel built into the roll-over structure. I posted mine on HyperScale....not sure if it's still there. Cheers Doug Just checked - it's still there with comments on a lot of other bits I took from the Eduard P-39 - including the front end of the fuselage and spinner. Look here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47751/thread/1372595581/1-48+MPM+P-63C

Just received my copy direct from the publishers - 55 Euros total delivered directly to me in Perth, Western Australia. Paid by Paypal. Ordered 3rd March, arrived 1st April. Cheers Doug

Received an email from Aviation Megastore - it's back in stock for 43.35 Euros plus postage. As pointed out above, it is English contrary to AM's information. Cheers Doug Edit - just got the P&P - 40.17 Euros to Perth, Western Australia or 83.52 Euros total. A bit rich for me. I'll see what the publishers P&P costs are.

A number of B-17F's in the Pacific were converted to unarmed transports at the end of their combat lives, and in some cases stripped back to NMF. One example was Lulu Belle, B-17F #41-24358 of the 43rd BG. Images can be seen here: http://kensmen.com/63b6.html Cheers Doug

OK, point taken Syd....actually South Asia rather than South East Asia (or ABDACOM as it was known up until just before the fall of the NEI). Cheers Doug Great information Graham. Do you have any serials & codes for the Ceylon Mk I's? Cheers Doug