Search the Community

Inspired by a planned visit to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum later this month (3 Mosquitos, including the prototype!), I started thinking about the lack of a de Havilland Mosquito on my shelf . And after looking at what's currently available in 1/72, and the opinions of my fellow Britmodellers - they all seem to have something wrong with them (the models that is, not the BMs) - I was less than inspired. I really want a fighter rather than a bomber version, the Tamiya FB Mk.VI seems to come out tops, but wasn't quite what I wanted. But what about the Mosquito kit I made back in the 1970s? A rummage in the loft, and this was in the 'Box of Doom'. Painted with matt Humbrol Authentic enamels, so naturally the decals are dropping off. I made it so long ago that I couldn't even remember what make the kit was! I knew it was M.XVIII, armed with a 6 pdr Molins gun, but who made it? Fellow BMs to the rescue, it was Airfix, released in about 1973; And pretty accurate apparently. Can I rejuvenate it? Not tried this before, but others seem pretty successful at it. Most of it appears to be there, though the undercarriage seems to have suffered from a bad landing and the port wing tank has gone AWOL. I'm currently looking for spares. So, ignoring the Dambuster Lancaster that I'm supposed to be building, I set about deconstruction... Which went surprisingly well! The cockpit is quite good, even has an i/p. Mostly there... I'd like to keep it in the same camouflage / marking scheme, inspired by the profile in the excellent Ducimus 'Camouflage & Markings' book; Reduced res copy for personal study purposes. Will remove if I'm breaking the copyright rules Though Richard Leask-Ward appears to have simplified the paint scheme, the real aircraft was a bit more complex; De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk XVIII 'Tsetse' of No. 248 Squadron RAF based at Portreath in Cornwall, 5 August 1944. IWM Photo - Public Domain image The whole of the nose appears to be in a darker (grey primer?) colour, and it looks as if the dark green on the port tailplane/fuselage join has been retouched with MSG. A problem I may have in trying to do this scheme again is the code 'O', red on white? 50 years ago I used Almark Luftwaffe Fighter Code decals which seemed about right. But there was only one example of the squared off 'O' on the sheet, and Almark decals are a bit rare now. I may be able to cobble together something from what's left. Thanks for looking. Suggestions - especially about removing the existing paint - most welcome. Cheers,

Im looking for info as far as colors ? Were they white always ? Or did they get painted grey or green at some point ? I have seen photo's in museums of the green/grey. Also when did the RAF start carrying the Radar guided Martel and TV guided Martel ? When they carried the TV guided Martel i know it used a datalink pod, does anyone have specs for the datalink pod ? Any help is appreciated ? Thank you in advance. Dennis

Have been playing around with sticking bits of plastic together on a bit of a 2001/Silent Running inspired build. Started off as just a little probe, now seems to have grown into something a bit larger. Lots of Plastruct and Evergreen helping to detail this. Current progress below:

Hi all, If you've been following my WIP thread on this, you'll know the trials and tribulations I've gone through to get this finished. The cockpit walls had to be detailed, the flaps lowered and scratchbuilt, a new windscreen home made after the original disintegrated, problems getting the gloss coat to set, decals which wrinkled and refused to respond to MicroSol...you name it. Anyway, here it is after 67 hours work, in the best trainer scheme the Hawk ever wore in my opinion. Excuse the photography, natural light has been hard to come by today... Now, what's next..? Cheers, Dean

RAF in Camera 1970s by Keith Wilson and published by Pen & Sword follows on from his 1950s and 1960s volumes. Got mine today and it follows the same format as the earlier volumes using official photographs, is mainly in colour and looks like an great reference source for the RAF during that decade with green and grey Phantoms, Harriers and Jaguars everywhere just for starters. RRP is £40 although I ordered mine through a third party seller on Amazon for £32 last week and on checking again this morning the same source is now offering it for £28 with free shipping. Hope that the 1980s follows in due course.

Hi, I have just finished this for the 1970's Nato Warsaw Pact GB and thought I'd share it here as well because to be honest, I'm quite proud of it. WiP:

Never seen this before. Great stuff! Looks like it's from a Snottie training film.

Hi Guys I need some help with the colour scheme that Aermacchi used on the factory built MB326 (Impala), it consisted of four colours in avery intricate pattern, these colours were: Tan Colour, Dark Green, Olive drab and Grey I would appreciate the FS numbers or eqvilant if you happen to know them. If not the Air International December 1982 issue has this profile on page 300 (a scan of the article would help), fourth from the top as it seemed that the Brazilian AF MB326's were also painted in this colour/scheme. Any help would be appreciated Regards William [email protected]