Fritag

I’ll just pipe up and add my own wow; being another one of the band of admirers of your painting skills (and patience), Chris.

My thoughts too. No better man with a pastel. (Not sure that sounds quite as complimentary as ‘twas intended to be )

I knew I thought it was an interesting subject - but I also knew I was biased - so it's a delight to see t'others (and t'others more learned than me) are interested too. Whistle you may... is there a club for such people that we should be in? First of all; thanks (as ever) for the input Troy. Those photos of the Mk IV S gun mounts and the upper and lower wing panels are great. And I think I probably will do an open gun - not removed for servicing I think those photos you've posted plus some screen grabs from the 'The Tinopeners' film will suffice, ta. I also have this diagram of the installation (crown copyright - so from summat official - in the Data file.) to help with the general arrangement: The basic shapes of the gun are simple extrudes so I've been able to start blocking them in already: A manufacturers schematic would be perfect - but I think I can get it scale 'good enough' from the material Troy has poste plus what I've scavenged myself... Incidentally, the guns are quite evidently 'handed' and I think I'll do the port gun as per the photo of the Russian Mk IV and the crown diagram. Thanks for your input Grzegorz; I'd already found my way to your blogs and tutorial on the Arma site . It was knowing that you'd added 3D printed guns and a scribing template to the 1/72 IIc that first made me think of getting the IIc in 1/48. Oh, and terrific blog on of the history of the squadrons involvement in the desert campaign. Noted, thanks. Ta. This one you mean? The armourer then uses it as a hand hold to remove the gun fairing. Now that's interesting. I've not seen that film before. It's titled as 'Hurricanes in the Desert 1943'; but it looks to me as if its put together from some unused and some re-used footage from the The 1942 'Tin openers' film. It's got the same armorers doing the same task on the same gun on the same aircraft and the same aerial footage plus more, fairly obvisouly taken on the same sorties. I'm pretty sure that the filming was done in September 1942, because my understanding from various sources is that Flt Lt Phillip (Pip) Hillier DFC was killed on 6 September 1942 - in BN843 - during the filming, when he pulled away too sharply on a firing run for the film and the aircraft departed (accounts of how the accident happened vary). Pip Hillier got his DFC soon after 6 squadron started operations with the IId in June 1942; he flew so low attack some tanks that he snapped his tail wheel off on one of the tanks. The London Gazette 14 August 1942 Unfortunately I don't know the squadron codes for BN843 or I might well have modelled that one. Anyways. Noted - like this: I could be tempted to do JV*V - I'm not aware of it being commonl modelled. Light grey codes by the look of things. But codes colour are somewhat unceryain if I read earlire threads correctly... There's another photo of BN977 (on that Key.aero website you reference Troy also in @Sgifford's book on the MkIV) that shows it without any squadron codes. Presumably before they were applied. There's also a fleeting glimpse of JV*X doing an attack in the film: With what looks very much like white codes (the above caveat applies). But you can't see the aircraft serial Although, Troy. back in 2020 noted that: JV-X, codes all white or grey, very pale EDIT FK Mason lists BP182 as 'X' in the 1962 book, and BP183 in the 1987 book, 5-42. And I confess I'm quite tempted to do HV 594 'P' - just because it's one of the 4 in colour on 6/4/43. And I do like the post May 1942 national markings. And yet doesn't seem to get modelled very often. Now is that definitely azure blue? Asking for a friend... Still looking at my references to decide what side panels to open. And I'll have to remember to add the cine camera bulge on the leading edge of the starboard wing. You can see it on Troy's Picture of JV*V above. I don't think it was fitted to the IIC AFAIK it was a fit for the dedicated ground attack hurricanes (IId and IV). More anon.

This is something of a place-holder post, as I’ve more research and thinking to do before starting the build proper; but I’m sufficiently committed to it that I may as well introduce it now. I had no idea what I wanted to build next after finishing the Defiant TT Mk I, as nothing really fired my imagination, but then I saw that Arma Hobby had just released its 1/48 Hurricane IIc as a IIc Trop. And - well, the IIc Trop gets you pretty darned close to a Western Desert Hurricane IId as all that’s really needed is to lose the 20mm cannons and add a couple of underwing 40mm Vickers ‘S ‘Guns (plus some associated modification to the wing access panels). And - well, as any former member of 6 Squadron (like me) can tell you the Hurricane IId is an iconic part of the squadron history and of course the first bearer of the squadron’s ‘can-opener’ motif. Of course I expect Arma Hobby will shortly do what they did in in 1/72 and release a 1/48 IId with some 3d printed guns etc; but we don’t have to wait for them to do that do we - cos that’s the whole point of having a Mars 3 in the garage isn’t it. 6 Squadron of course first took the Hurricane IId into action and operated it in the desert from April 1942 through to July 1943 up to and through El-Alamein and beyond (with a break between about December 1941 and February 1942, when it reequipped with Hurricane IIcs for convoy protection duties), with conspicuous gallantry and not a little success – as well as managing to get through several dozens of Hurricane IIds in the process. So I’ve spent the last week or two reading up on the IId and the 6 Squadron history with it, and I should say that there’s been plenty of quite detailed discussion of it on BM over the years and I’ve read several very useful threads. I’ll touch on more of the history and the BM discussions in later posts; but for the moment all I’ll say is that 6 Squadron’s Hurricane IIds wore a variety of aircraft markings during 1942 and 1943, with a period of time when they displayed just aircraft serial numbers without any squadron or aircraft codes, a period of time when they wore both squadron codes (JV) and aircraft codes and a period when they were not displaying squadron codes but did have single letter aircraft codes. Some aircraft carried the ‘tin opener’ badge and some did not and some aircraft were personalised with names. There was also a mixture of National Markings - with both the earlier (pre May 1942) and later (post May 1942) styles of fuselage roundel and fin flash. I’ve also noticed that whilst most aircraft had fishtail exhausts to the Merlin XXs – not all of them did. There are obviously some really well-known images of 6 Squadron IIds such as the ‘The Tin Openers’ film from September 1942: and the fabulous colour photos (IWM )of four 6 Squadron IIds taking off on 6 April 1943 (6 and 7 April were days of heavy loss for the squadron and at least 2 of the Hurricanes in that photo were lost). There are other photos to be had on the IWM and t’internet n’all. I haven’t decided on a particular aircraft yet and I’d like if at all possible to avoid doing one of the more regularly modelled ones (I’m thinking of BP188 JV*Z, BP158 JBV*I, KW704 ‘R’, HV663 ‘U’ and HW313 ‘S’). But of course those ones are often modelled because there are photographs showing both the serial number and other markings, and whilst I’ve got serial numbers for about 70 (yes 70) Hurricane IIds that various sources state were flown by 6 Squadron, it is usually not possible to identify what if any squadron and aircraft codes those aircraft will have carried. Anyway, here are some of the books I’ve got: The Classic Aircraft No.4 and the SAM publications (2nd edition) books both have some plans in, and I’ve also got the Arthur Bentley drawings. The Bentley drawings are of the Mk I; but usefully there is a page of roughs covering the Mk II and IV. Simon Giffords @Sgifford (excellent) book is about 6 Squadron and the Hurricane Mk IV but there are some snippets about and a couple of photos of the IId. I built the Airfix 1/24 Hurricane as a teenager and (inexpertly but enthusiastically) went the full Gerald Scarborough in removing all the side panels and building up the rear fuselage internal framework. And I think a side panel or two might get opened up on this build (although definitely not the full Scarborough). So – a few of shots of the kit: Lovely fuselage engraving. Which panel(s) to remove? I don’t do well when offered choice tbh... Nice cockpit, but I’m sure there’s scope for work and I’ll have to decide what additions are needed bearing mind what panel(s) get opened. And the top surface of the wings. The cannon bulges will have to be removed and the gun panels revised. And so to the ‘S’ Guns. It's surprisingly hard to find an unimpeachable source for these. One would expect to trust Arthur Bentley drawings but the S Guns are shown only on the roughs, and whilst I’m inclined to trust them for general layout and proportions (which look correct against photos) they are only sketches and aren't much use for anything other than the basic size and proportions. The plans in the SAM publication (2nd edition) look pretty good in outline but the gun covers are over-long compared with the Bentley roughs and the drawings in the Robertson/Scarborough book. @Troy Smith has already posted the Robertson/Scarborough drawings (by Neville Franklin?) on one of the various discussion threads and here they are again: The size and general layout of these is more or less the same as the Bentley roughs and the shape compares well with photos. One thing that is wrong however is the fore and aft positioning. The drawings show the front of the gun fairing level with the front of the wing, whereas photos (and the Bentley roughs and the SAM Publications (nb 2nd edition, the plans in the 1st edition are wrong in the same way as the Robertson/Scarborough drawings)) show it to be set back behind the front of the wing. As here: One other feature on which drawings differ is whether the guns hang vertically down from the wings or, as in the Robertson/Scarborough drawings, hang perpendicular to the underside of the wings and so at an angle from the vertical. Here are the Robertson/Scarborough drawings: And here’s one (of several) examples showing the guns hanging vertically. I’m pretty sure that the guns hang perpendicular to the wings. The Bentley drawings and the Sam Publications plans agree with the Robertson/Scarborough drawings on this, and my impression from photos is the same. I don't know how Arma Hobby have done it, p’raps I should look at one of @GrzeM Arma blogs. Oh and for good measure there seems to be more than one style of gun barrel to the Vickers ‘S’ Guns. Some have a bulbous muzzle end like the one above, and some don’t: (this is one of several IWM photos of BN795. See also the absence on fish tail exhausts – and other photos show it without squadron or aircraft codes – which I think probably means the photos were taken when the squadron was working up on the IId at Shandur - although it has post May 1942 National markings). So, whilst I as waiting for delivery of the kit I started on the ‘S’ Guns. It wasn’t as long job in Fusion to produce a first draft: And a test print gave me this: Which is a promising first effort andt does at least seem conform nicely to the underside of the kit wings. It's only a first draft of the gun and I’ll revise it if need be as I get more information or better photos. So there we are. I doubt I’ll do much on it over the next week or two as I’ve got more reading and thinking to do. But it's a start of sorts. Feel free to chip in with any comments early doors or any information on the IId or 6 Squadron aircraft.

I’d complain about the lack of a thrust lever (or two) if I was the driver Lovely looking aircraft - fully deserving of the Mark treatment.

Gorgeous Phantom, G. In a slightly-but-not-too shabby sort of way twoo…. (Sorry G) Actually, and not for the first time, G your command of English idioms is quite remarkable.

More respect for that there wheel bay from this ‘ere quarter, Terry Oi! Mind you, I did wonder why they said ‘put yer dark vizor down for us….’

Jolly nicely executed camo, Neil. Are we going to see some Woody-pastel-weathering soon?

Very interesting thanks. I like the idea of having all the canvases in the root component. I’ve tended to have components within components - but that’s as much to do with not having a particularly thought through workflow as much as anything else…

Glad it's a nice stress relieving build Ced. We now need an excuse to repeat it....

Superb work on the transparencies Neil. I bl**dy hate PETG and that includes sticking it to the kit. You’re making it look easy…

Making up the podium.

Very nice pair of Vampires, James. I wish I’d caught more of the builds. Clever stands n’all. Like them.

Just sign me up as totally agreeing with those remarks, Alistair.

Sophisticated finish, Mark; it looks superb. I’d be well happy with that. Of course I’d have to find the gumption to tackle an all grey camo first…

Bill, you make me smile. I’ll just ignore the reticent caveats and marvel again at the seeming perfection of a Navy Bird finish.

A masterly build, John. As well as the improvements with the rivets, the weathering is exemplary and I really like the contrasting levels of sheen that the photo’s pick up. I also think the single removed panel on the starboard side is a sophisticated touch. Doesn’t spoil the lines of the aircraft and looks magnificent. I’ve seen a number of photo’s of Hurricanes with that panel on one or both sides removed for servicing so it looks really authentic too.

Brilliant; a Bill Blenheim. Now I would like to see this. I know the Temperate scheme is perennially popular…. But. Just saying.

I'm really sorry that I missed this marvellous build as it was happening, John. But am at least pleased to have found it in time to see the result. Very impressive and neat (amazingly neat with all those rivets) construction and fine finishing.

This’ll find its way onto my bookshelf, that’s for sure, Andy.

Impressive painting and finishing, Angelo. As with the Phantoms.

Great finishing - on all 3. Like them very much.

Stumbled across this by accident and glad I did. Are you capable of making a less than excellent Model Alan - (rhetorical question - no need for a hendie-modest reply, which I won't believe anyway) in whatever genre... Now that's hendie-speak for "I undertook some skilled and creative design work of some fine enhancements..." Just saying

Thanks chaps, The Defiant’s off to Old Buckenham to live come Saturday. I’ve given it a simple little base to reside on:

I somehow contrived to largely miss the build, but another beautiful finish, Chris. Like the base/backdrop in the first few photo’s n’all.