ilj

yes I am, THANKS for the correction, my bad ilj

the later turret, nose glass, tropical air filter et c. are NOT in the first release, they will be in the second release that is said to be expected pretty soon ilj

Here is my go at this ac - I assumed its original factory colours were an early 1942 tropical land scheme of dark earth and middle stone(ish) over light bluish (sky blue), with a haphazard bluish-gray overpaint (possibly dark sea gray) at hell island. I did the paint as vague as possible to account for the vague and ambiguous reference photos. I had not seen the Polish blog image^ otherwise I would have extended the differentially dark engine cowling colour to include all of the fuel tank cover as shown there^. Wide blade de Havilland hydromatic propellor and spinner courtesy of Ultracast. ilj

To my eye, it looks like it could be a dark overspray restricted (more or less) to the fuel tank cover, engine cowling top and sides, and sides of Vokes filter, stopping at the canopy - this appearance is very common in images of these aircraft in '42. The red line on the profiles above does not correspond to what is shown in the photo (tone delineation along aft end of fuel tank cover). This said, it is extremely difficult to be certain about the original appearance from this kind of photograph - among other things, the light direction is terrible, slightly backlit leaving much of the area of interest in shadow. Remember, Pilot Officer Beurling left Malta in October 1942 so discussion of 1943 schemes may be less relevant here. My two cent's worth. ilj

Great job. Nice subtle riveting work. Superb. Inspirational. ilj

Double dang! I didn't do my research before purchasing. The ac I am interested in doing has the filters and the later turret - I thought I would be OK because I reviewed the instructions pdf in advance and saw the later turret clear part, but failed to check the fuselage parts. ilj

Nice work!

Dang... I just received in the mail the first issue of this kit (no tropical air filter parts) - having examined the plastic I would say it is amazingly well done. Good job ICM. The filters look like they won't be too difficult to scratch build, so that's the route I'm planning to pursue. Thanks for the pix, everyone ilj

Can anyone point me to images of Bristol Beaufort tropical air filters as used in 1942/Mediterranean? I have the ICM Beaufort (initial release), but I realize the aircraft I want to depict is a Malta aircraft that probably had these installed, so I'm planning to scratch build them. (I did a search on this forum's contents and didn't find anything - apologies if this has already been discussed here somewhere). Thanks in advance. ilj

I completed an early 1/48th scale B-26 Marauder (short-wing) conversion using the Monogram 1/48 kit. http://www.aleutianplanes.com/B-26-Thornbrough.html Regarding this project in 1/72 scale, I would suggest that other than obtaining (good luck) a 1/72 scale Marauder snap-time kit (and making extensive detail improvements of it), the route would be to kit bash the Valom kit's wings, tail planes et c. with a Hasegawa or Airfix 1/72 fuselage. The adjustments to the tail gun position would not be too difficult, you could easily graft the Valom tail area to the donor fuselage. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/monogram-1101-martin-b-26-marauder--1051819 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/valom-72044-b-26-marauder-tb--148344 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-00556-b-26b-c-marauder--104825 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/airfix-04015-4-b-26-marauder--130084 ilj

Spitfire Vc BP989 N-4 Wally McLeod RCAF 603 squadron Takali 9 July 1942... I included IFF antenna cables made with Uschi extra fine thread

In the Aleutian Islands, Alaska area (KIska and Attu battlefields), short-wing B-26s were employed at Adak in 1942 (B-26 serial numbers 40-1372 - 40-1558; 73rd Bombardment Squadron, 28th Bombardment Group). e.g., a model here: http://www.aleutianplanes.com/B-26-Thornbrough.html Later, a few long-winged B-26s were operated as target tugs at Attu in 1944-45 (B-26C serial numbers 41-35428, 41-35431, 41-35428; 15th Tow Target Squadron, 28th Bombardment Group). see here: https://andyk00.wixsite.com/15-tow-sq-11th-usaaf ilj

Eight more, and your project will be done Nice job!!!! ilj

Following from some model airplane information, Barracudacast makes two 1/48 scale resin replacement Griffin Spit five-bladed propellors: Barracuda BR48026 - Griffon Spitfire 5-Blade Prop (Late) BR48026 'late style 11’ diameter prop' Barracuda BR48093 - Spitfire Mk XIX 5-Blade Prop (Tapered) BR48093 'as fitted to many Spitfire Mk. XIXs, XIVs and XVIIIs. There were 2 styles of blades, a wide blade and a later tapered blade seen on most Spit XIXs in service.' The second one has narrower blades in the outer 1/3 of the propellor, subtle. So, based on Roy Sutherland's research on these^, there is some variation in shape across these ac. ilj

Great job and you have a new nick name: 'The Come Back Kid". ilj

Brilliant summary of why the 1/48 Academy XIV high back kit looks so odd. Thanks for posting! I would advise, if you want an easy route to a 1/48 scale high back XIVe and/or a high back XIVc, go with Paul Budzik's advice in his videos. The high back XIVe is simple as the Airfix XIVe low back has the appropriate wing, so all you need to do is add the spine (wood or plastic). The Eduard VIII conversion is more complicated and it gives you an XIVc. I recently completed both, with my moderate skills, and neither conversion was very difficult. ilj

that is just beautiful... I have followed this thread with great interest - thanks for everyone's thoughtful contributions, and your stunning model Colin ilj

Here's an idea whose value came and went long long ago... a Defiant special type with a lightweight fake turret with fake guns in it, but eight inconspicuous forward firing MGs mounted in the wings as per Spitfire-Hurrican. These ac would fly at the front of a formation of conventional Defiants. When 109s made head on attacks to avoid the turret guns they would be dealt with by these specials. Did the RAF already think of this? ilj

Wonderful job on your model - outstanding. Looking at the pictures reminds me of 1966, myself, six years old, at Heathrow, looking at the VC-10 I had just deplaned from. Strong memories: 1) huge tail of the aircraft with massive horizontal stabilizers like oversized angel's wings (photo 10-361, above), 2) unearthly dark blue and white paint scheme, 3) being half asphyxiated in gusts of kerosene smoke blowing across the tarmac, and 4) being violently sick on the floor of the transport taking us from the plane to the arrivals area. Well done! ilj

YEP I agree, I've found this to be the most successful method for me personally as well NICE XIVs ilj

here are some additional images of these the port wheel of RB169 got bumped and has gone wonky - the axle is soft Airfix plastic, and this is why I like brass landing gear (NH654 has the G-Factor brass landing gear struts)

Spitfire XIVc RB169 MN-F, No. 350 Squadron, RAF Lympne, October 1944. (this ac is depicted in some decal sets and profiles as having an 'e-wing', but its serial number and one contemporary image suggest 'c' so I went with the 'c-wing')

Spitfire XIVc RB169 MN-F, No. 350 Squadron, RAF Lympne, October 1944. Spitfire XIVe NH654 DL-? [N sic], J-M. Maridor, No. 91 Squadron, West Malling, 7 July 1944. 1/48 Airfix XIVe bubble top (A05135) x2 and Eduard VIIIc (84132) kit bash, Barracudacast four slot resin wheels (BR48317), Ultracast seats (48068), Ultracastcockpit door (48216), Master spitfire E wing guns early (AM48005), Master spitfire C wing guns (AM48004), G-Factor brass landing gear. Tamiya X&XF acrylic, Alclad Aluminum II metals, Testor’s Dullcoat, Prismacolour pencil, brass rod, Nitinol wire. Thanks to Paul Budzik for the inspirational how-to videos.

LOVE THIS. Well done ilj

Is there a 1/48 vacuform canopy generally available for the Fairey Barracuda? (Special Hobby kit is what I'm looking at) ilj