James Venables

Hey, what's an Aussie out-back dunny without heaps of Daddy-Longlegs spiders and green tree frogs? Not to mention the smell of phenol and the stack of old newspapers!

I got the impression Ed's tongue was firmly in cheek when making that comment about a new DC-4...?

Excellent work so far. I am very impressed with both the quality of the kit and how you are executing the build. Your work is really tempting me to pick one up. But if I did, I think it would be put away in reserve for retirement when my eyesight and dexterity can't handle the smaller scales. Discussion over on Hyperscale (including from Brett Green) suggests that Airfix already have a car door version planned. Apparently the kit has been engineered in a manner that will allow this variation.

Can anyone tell me which two kits are being compared here? Just curious... and rather surprised that there are comparison photos with no explanation of what is being compared with what.

I have a couple of the older release and have never seen the "new" release of the C-46 but I recall a discussion (Hyperscale?) that suggested the only upgrade was a revised cabin floor with much improved fit.

Hi again Speedman. I also have spent a lot of time trying to research this aircraft but those pics are ones that I have not yet seen... and they are quite compelling evidence to confirm the 3-tone scheme. Some photos I'd seen showed what appeared to be a very slightly darker tone on the front of the transmission cowl and mid way along the fuselage boom but I was not convinced it was actually a different colour. Until now! Many, many thanks for those pics. It is always good to have a quandary resolved. By the way, what details do you feel AZ managed to get wrong? I have the kit but have not yet built it or had a really good look at the sprues. I did notice they provide only the twin gun turret (not appropriate for Virginia Rose II, though I have a vague feeling I read somewhere that she carried the grenade launcher at a later time), the rotor head is missing some obvious detail and the main rotor strengthening plates are too short. Nothing I can't fix and/or live with. Cheers for now.

I somehow missed this thread until now. I must say that you have done a brilliant job on that golden oldie. Beautiful work indeed. I plan to model this aircraft because at one stage it carried an RAAF "zap" of a red kangaroo on its fuselage side, which makes an interesting variation. May I ask the source of your colour reference for "Virginia Rose II"? The references I have seen state that it was finished in tan and green only, and not the usual 3-tone SEA scheme. I know that AZ Models have offered a 3-tone scheme on their boxing that includes "Virginia Rose II" but I feel this is incorrect, mainly because available photos of this aircraft suggest the camo was only two tone. Maybe there is a more definitive reference out there somewhere that I haven't yet come across? I was beavering away with the Mastercraft copy of this kit early last year. Despite what has been written elsewhere, the Mastercraft kit is NOT a re-box but a copy of the Matchbox kit... and a really bad one at that! I gained the impression that Mastercraft took a Matchbox kit, changed enough of the details to avoid copyright infringement, then reassembled the parts to look roughly like the original Matchbox sprues and made a mould. Unfortunately, none of the changes they made where for the better - panel lines are worse than the original Matchbox kit, some new panels are fabricated or incorrectly placed, the engine intakes were changed to something completely different from the original, the rotor blade and hub details have been redone badly, etc, etc. The only thing in favour of the Mastercraft kit is that it is dirt cheap. At the time I bought it, I thought I could bash it into shape but eventually gave up in favour of buying the AZ Models kit upon its release.

Probably because Fujimi have us very well covered on most other A-4 variants. The Fujimi kits are excellent in detail and finesse, reasonably priced and readily available. That's not to say there isn't a market for Airfix with these variants, but the competition from the established "benchmark" Fujimi kits will be tough to beat.

That IS interesting. I thought they painted these things with large sheet rubber masks, but this seems to be dark earth over dark green over a yellow primer. Probably a very good explanation... does anyone know?

I am nearing completion of the HB P-40E kit and I tend to agree. I didn't find the "step" too difficult to deal with (maybe it's worse on the P-40N?), but it did require some sanding and rescribing... and rescribing lost detail is a pet hate! The worst (but not the only) problems I found were: 1. Exhaust representation is poor. They look much better if the exhaust slot is cut out & narrowed with thin styrene sheet, then the exhausts inserted from the inside. 2. Prop blades angle back from the spinner. I cut tiny slots at the base of each blade with a razor saw, then bent them straight and secured them with a drop of CA. 3. Lack of cockpit detail. I cheated here and made cockpit side and instrument panel placards on my computer, reduced to size and printed. I glued the cockpit sides on with PVA but attached the instrument panel to a piece of shaped styrene sheet. Looks OK through the closed canopy. 4. Canopy rear panels are incorrectly shaped, being too curved on the lower edge. This is not a biggie but does give the finished model a weird appearance. It is too hard to fix, so I left it as is. I did replace the transparencies with new nes cut from an old CD case though - the kit supplied parts have horribly over-scale framing on them. 5. The canopy windscreen is a tad too vertical which also adds to the weird look of the completed model. I decided to live with it though. 6. The leading edge bulges that represent the undercarriage mechanism fairings end at the centreline between the upper and lower side of the wings, but this is easily remedied with a tiny dab of putty and a few seconds work with a sanding stick. 7. The bulged centreline belly fairing is a tad too deep, giving the fuselage profile a slightly overweight appearance (I think the aforementioned misshapen canopy rear panels add to this look). 8. Wheel hubs are poorly done but easily fixed. I just used a ring binder paper punch to produce a couple of thin styrene sheet discs which were glued straight on. A quick & easy big improvement. Some of the above is probably nit-picking but I have to say I was disappointed with this kit. I started it as a quick build (as intended by the manufacturer) but found I couldn't accept the prop or exhausts and had to improve them. Same with the cockpit, even though I took a cheap & nasty approach here. The other major errors are too difficult to fix. I have a few more of these in the stash but I am now reluctant to build them and I reckon I'd prefer to pay an extra few dollars for the much better Academy kit (or even the older but still very nice Hasegawa kit). Despite the above, there are a few admirable positives for the HB kit. It is dirt cheap, so if you just want a "canvas" for some markings, it is a good alternative; the panel engraving is commendably fine, the moulding is clean & sharp and HB have managed to capture the subtle curvature of the P-40 spinner very well.

I started the same project late last year: using the Airfix P-51D with the Kits World decal sheet for the OD "Passion Wagon". I didn't realise until after I'd started some preliminary painting & assembly that this rendition of "Passion Wagon" has the early fin without the strake and here the project stalled whilst I thought about my options... I thought about simply cutting away the strake from the kit but the panel detail is quite fine in this area and I didn't want to risk damaging it (I hate having to re-scribe lost detail). Pavla do a strakeless tail for the Tamiya kit which should be OK for the Airfix kit. But I eventually decided to simply rob the tail from one of my Academy P-51C kits and swap it with the Airfix unit. I haven't fitted it yet but I see no reason why it can't be adapted with ease. This will leave me with a tailless P-51C and a straked fin, so I'll combine those and complete a RAAF P-51C, most of which had the fin strake. The Academy kit is very good with the exception of an over-wide carburettor intake but this is easily fixed, Every period photo I have seen of the OD "Passion wagon" shows a cuffed prop, so no need to replace that item. Not sure what you mean here. The Airfix carburettor intake is OK and the radiator is correct for the P-51D, EDIT: Just re-checked some of my saved pics of the olive drab "Passion Wagon" (41-3691) and saw something I haven't noticed previously - some pics show that it HAS the fin strake. It must have been a field retro-fit at some late stage of its life. So, it seems that the Airfix P-51D can be used out of the box for "Passion Wagon".

Glad to hear of those new products from Red Roo, especially as I have been thinking of picking up another Mach 2 DC-4. I have not yet built my Mach 2 DC-4 but I was recently fondling the plastic to measure it up for some home made decals and I was quite favourably impressed with the kit. Sure enough, it won't fall together like a Tamiya kit, but with some patient cleaning up of the parts, careful dry-fitting, sensible approach to construction and the application of fairly basic modelling skills, I can see no reason why it won't produce an attractive (and sturdy) model. I have however, recently started work on my Mach 2 C-123 and I have similar impressions. Once the parts are patiently cleaned up with all the little dags of flash and moulding imperfections removed, they fit together very well. It will need details added and some items replaced (eg. the engines are poorly done) but I can't see why this kit and others in the Mach 2 range have copped so much flak over the years (especially over on Hyperscale). Perhaps most of the criticism is coming from those who have never even attempted a Mach 2 kit but merely jump on the derision bandwagon for their own self indulgence? Lastly, if I were to make a guess at the source of the postulated new tool DC-4, I'd say it would be coming from Roden. Why? Roden are supposedly about to release a new tool C-123 Provider, so perhaps they are looking at Mach 2's range with a plan to provide new tool replacement kits, in a similar way that some others seem to have been working their way through the old Frog & Airfix catalogues. Roden also seems to be on a mission to provide us with quality airliners (albiet in 1:144 scale) so a DC-4 could could be a logical addition to their catalogue.

Good review of a really top looking kit - thanks. I normally stick to 1/72 scale but I'll be picking up one of these for sure! It's good to see Airfix constantly improving their range, quality and accuracy. In particular, I note that Airfix have correctly depicted the PS888 serial on the decal sheet, unlike the one offered in the 1/72 scale kit (which is close but not correct).

Having attempted a few basic vacform conversions for my own use over the years, I know from experience that it isn't as easy as it sounds. As a few others have suggested here, start off with something very simple. A rounded shape is possibly the easiest to handle initially. I therefore suggest a subject like a German V1 or V2 rocket or a Japanese Okha piloted bomb. There are existing kits available in various scales but if your vac version can come in at the fraction of the cost of those already available (which it should), then it may sell well. If you want to get a tad more technical, you could perhaps try some simple fuselage conversions in 1/72 scale, such as the Boeing 307 fuselage to match any of the B-17 kits out there. Perhaps a Guppy or Carvair conversion?

Me too - I remember building one during a family holiday at my grandparents' cottage on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia)... probably about 40 years ago now! I have a recollection however, that mine was moulded in bright blue and cream coloured styrene. And I DO remember those spindly undercarriage legs, too.

Hawkeye actually do two L-749 sheets: Sheet CDS049 is Qantas Empire Airways (Qantas & Imperial Airways joint venture): http://www.southerns...ation-1777.html Sheet CDS136 is Qantas 1953 Queen's Coronation scheme: http://www.hawkeyemo...ges/CDS-136.htm

Just to change the subject slightly - does anyone have any idea whose sprues are in the Smer P-36/75 boxing? I picked one of these up about 15 years ago and it remains in the stash unbuilt. It never progressed past the dry-fit stage which showed it to ber very ordinary in this respect. I'd always assumed that like many Smer kits, the original plastic is Heller, but it seems more crude than most Heller kits (except maybe the P-47N).

I haven't heard anything either but I can say that SE Asia (I live in Laos) is copping a longer than usual monsoon season, so I suspect that is possibly having an impact on any excavation & recovery attempt. The monsoon is usually finished by mid to late October but it is still lingering...

Thanks Steve. That was my assumption also. But I was hoping for a double kit so I could use both the RNZAF and RAAF options offered.

I'm thinking of picking up the new Sword P-40K "Long Tail" and I'm wondering if it is a twin kit, like the previous short tail release. Does anyone know? Thanks.

How similar is the Bulldog prop to a Demon/Hart prop? I note that Hannants have some nice looking resin replacements from Kora. They are a little pricey, but it may be a solution for you.

Peter, I'll just add my few words of appreciation and encouragement too. I have been buying your products for the last few years and have amassed quite a collection of them in the stash. I would be building them all if I had more time but for now I'm accumulating until I am able to do them justice. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see the quality steadily improving - congratulations. I'm looking forward to the Chippie and Tiger Moth. While on the subject of DH's, how about a DH-84, DH-86 and DH-88? The latter has not been kitted in 1/72 scale for about a half century and the others have never been done in styrene to my knowledge. They would sell like hotcakes! Keep up the good work, mate.

There was talk of a 1/72 scale NC-4 coming from Lone Star Models a few years ago but I don't know if it ever transpired.

I suggest you tidy up the openings (you've probably already done that) then fill them with clear resin, sand smooth on both sides and polish back to clarity. Thanks for the tip on the engines. I have one of these beasts in the stash and was wondering about the best approach for handling the engines & cowls. What is your plan for the undercarriage? Adapt some DC-6 units?

That's why God gave us internet... and Hannants