Search the Community

Hello everyone, This is my take on Border Model's Crusader Mk. III tank. Mark III was the first version of Crusader (and maybe even the first version of cruiser tanks) that crews actually liked. Beside the 6 pdr as a great improvement over 2 pdr mounted on all previous tanks, most of the reliability issues that plagued previous cruiser tanks were finally sorted out. However, it came too little to late, and after brief use at the late stages in NA theater (El Alamein and after and Operation Torch) it was retired and used only as specialized vehicles. This model should represent 3rd County of London Yeomanry tank, as seen on a reference photos from the beginning of 1943. 3rd CLY arrived in North Africa in September 1941. They were taking part in Operation Crusader, Gazala Battles and battle of Alam Halfa, where they fought as a composite regiment together with 4th CLY. They suffered great casualties during these engagements and did not take part in the Battle of Alamein, as they were out of the line, retraining and re-fitting, near Cairo. The training continued until early 1943, and during this time they received a number of 6 pdr Crusader and Sherman tanks. First Crusader Mk. III tanks were received on January 19th and soon participated in trials. They were compared with the Sherman III's that the unit received at the same time. Here are some comments about it's performance from the was diaries: The 6pdr was fired by 50 all ranks and proved very accurate at ranges from 1500 yards. Little mechanical trouble was experienced with Crusader 6pdr tanks - possibly the new Crusaders are more reliable. C Squadron went to ranges ref Cairo Black Hill 610809 and carried out an AP shoot from 6pdr Crusaders. The 6pdr was found to be extremely accurate weapon but difficulty was experienced in observation of fire owing to the flash and blast of the gun. However, at the end, Sherman Mk. III was selected, and all received Crusaders were sent away to be replaced by Shermans. Not sure where these Crusaders ended up, probably as replacements in other units. After North Africa, 3rd CLY was sent to Sicily, where they landed on July 10th July as part of 4th Armoured Brigade. It's not certain how these tanks were painted. However, high contrast on black and white photos suggests that it was probably Desert Pink ZI/Dark Olive Green PFI combination, which was the than actual scheme for newly issued tanks, so I decided to go with that one. Model was painted with MRP lacquers and some Gunze and Vallejo for detail painting, and weathered with MIG's nature effects and VMS pigments. Model was mostly built OOB. The only additions are tow cables (not sure why Border Model haven't included them?), aerials, and some wiring. Decals were also changed with Archer Fine Transfers decals, because Border's squadron markings provided are not correct. In General, Border Model is a great, well balanced kit. The only issues worth mentioning are missing tow cables, wrong markings and tracks. Tracks actually look quite nice, except awful pin marks. Also, once assembled, they are very fragile, I managed to break them few times. And here are the reference photos. There are few more shots online of the same tank. Thanks for looking, and thanks for feedback! Cheers, Nenad

Hi comrades! This beast finished. The build was complicated. Everything possible to exchange with aftermarket parts was exchanged. Some additions were scratchbuit. More details on the build can be found here: Thanks for looking

As popular vote decided on the Helwan Ha-200B Al Kahira for obvious reasons, I gonna start with her: so what we have here is a Resin kit by Scratchaeronautics, a small Spanish resin genius who fortunately for some of us provides us with kits of rare and ultra rare subjets my deepest respect, doing this as a hobby besides being in the Military as a day (ahmm) full time job ! maybe we can push Juan to do a Ha-300 as well one day.... so after the C-101 I did some time ago in Patrulla Aguila colors, now the first of actually 3 Ha-200 Saeta kits I have! (a Super Saeta and a standard Trainer will follow soon I hope!) but the Egyptian variant is the most interesting one of this already very interesting jet trainer! Designed by knowbody else as but Willy Messerschmitt, in Franco ruled Spain of the post civil war era for the Spanish airforce. Produced under licence by Helwan near Cairo- Al Kahira!! that was when Egypt still had higher aspirations and was not deeply entangled with fighting Israel, only small scale conflict then...... it is not really known how many were actually produced in Egypt, and what is their service history, mainly because production and use was severly affected by the 6 days war in 1967..... so, that is what you get: not too many part, or complicated instructions, but some filing and dryfitting will be necessary! most of the parts are flawlessly cast, the tanks have some smaller holes or little craters form bubbles... but nothing serious! the decals look very good, but need a varnish before dipping them into water!. A white background is provided where needed. some pictures exist, but I'd be glad so see more! @Artie has posted some here: one more in the Egyption Airfoce Museum, even with armament! http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/Blogvorm/almaza-airport-museum/#jp-carousel-16426 (looks like Sakr rockets, as used on the MiG-17.....) and one more form later times, by the fact that the roundels have changed to the current one.... (late 1970ies?) http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww3/f/404/6/0#1 I started cleaning the main parts, so far so good! cheers, Werner

Not a bad little model although for a new mold kit, the crispness of the detail was a little disappointing. I'm also not a fan of the plastic they are using, it's very soft. That said, they can be found at very reasonable prices even down here in Australia. Decals are from Hi Decal. Egyptian Mk 22's were handed down Rhodesian machines. They were painted overall silver and look to have been kept pretty clean, thus I did only minimal weathering. Also the first time I'm trying out my new lighting for photography. I'm very happy with the results. Thanks for looking.

MiG-25RB Foxbat Cairo West 1971 ICM 1/48 Begemot Decals As pre-ordering a kit was a first for me , I had to immediately(ok, Christmas holidays were not possible) start it in the meantime it is also clear which version is in the kit see other BM threads for more info please.. I want to do a very early Foxbat, a Soviet Union operated one that actually saw action! not so many options here so I am going to build one I was inspired by the Arab MiGs book series by Harpia publishing on Foxbats operated in more or less secrecy over Sinai Israel/ Egypt by the Soviet Union. Tto gather intelligence and to test their new promising fancy Mach 2.8 equipment operationally, 4 planes (2 Rs and 2 RBs) were sent. They were operated initially with Egyptian markings! (that did not withstand the heat of prolonged super sonic flight well and had to be repainted often) Additional info and clearer photos are available in Yefim Gordon's MiG-25 book. Begemot Decals provide adequate markings , not that there is much of them though... some changes have to be made to the currently boxed sprues in order to build a very early R/ RB namly the intake lip has to be shortened and the para-brake housing changed. The nose provided is the correct one so here is what I got: http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah144/exdraken1/MiG-25RB/IMG_4488_1_1_zpsk8yfanmj.jpg http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah144/exdraken1/MiG-25RB/IMG_4546_1_1_zpsnwm2rltp.jpg parts to be modified: http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah144/exdraken1/MiG-25RB/IMG_4546_1_1_1_zpsvrwrxysv.jpg nice oob IP detail: http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah144/exdraken1/MiG-25RB/IMG_4552_1_1_zpsjqfxngbu.jpg and some clean up operations done : http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah144/exdraken1/MiG-25RB/IMG_4555_1_1_zpss15oerex.jpg I am impressed so far!!! compared to my AMX Ghibli dwarf on the right: http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah144/exdraken1/MiG-25RB/IMG_4556_1_1_zps9htwrjgr.jpg to be continued!

One of the few (and perhaps best known) Hudson units operating over the MTO was Australian-manned No.459 Squadron. These Hudsons (Cyclone-engined Mk.III and Mk.IIIA as well as TwinWasp-engined Mk.V and Mk.VI) had RAF serials, of which some 80-90 are known. Last pictures of these a/c, taken in early 1944, show most of them in high-demarcation anti-submarine RAF Coastal Command scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey (Temperate Sea scheme) over White. But in the web there are also photos from earlier period, showing the a/c in low-demarcation scheme. I would like to know your opinion, whether these planes wore Temperate Land Scheme (DG/DE over Sky), earlier Temperate Sea Scheme (EDSG/DSG over Sky), Transport Command scheme (EDSG/DSG over Azure) or Desert Scheme (DE/MS over Azure). Some of them feature more contrasted areas, some are less-contrasted, so.... The photos I mention depict: T9397 Mk.III http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P007594 and http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P990152 V8998 Mk.III http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P892238 AE510 Mk.III http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027089 FH242 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027085 FH257 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P007596 FH285 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027092 FH292 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027088 FH300 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P016921 FH351 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027084 as well as the unidentified a/c featuring nose art http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P007597 As the "anti-sub" planes belong to the same batch FH227-FH459 it looks almost sure, that white undersurfaces and fuselage sides were introduced "in field" over the previous low-demarcation scheme. But this is only my opinion, however... Cheers Michael

In a current modelling magazine I noticed that KP have released a new Mig-21R. What do I have to do to convert it to a Mig-21RF? Alternatively, has anyone made the R.V.Aircraft 1/72 Mig-21RF? I have exhaused my reference material. I know Egypt was the sole importer of this lesser-known version. Thank you in anticipation

I have received the Regiment de Dromadaires figures I requested Newline Designs to manufacture earlier this year. I think you can guess my next project after I clear the painting table . A nice looking set with plenty detail to get the eyes straining For anyone interested, Newline have the Christmas sale on until the end of November with 25% off.

On Agust 4, 1940, four 80 Sqdn Gladiators were assigned to escort a Lysander of 208 Sqdn on a reconnaisance. YK*I/L8009, flown by F.O. Wykeham-Barnes, was one them. They encountered a group of Italian Breda 65 attack planes, escorted by a larger formation Fiat CR-32 fighters, biplanes of an older vintage than the Gladiators. Wykeham-Barnes shot down one of the Bredas, then was attacked by the escorting Fiats; he was creditted with downing one of them before his own machine was shot up so badly he took to his parachute. One other 80 Sqdn pilot claimed a Breda and a Fiat, before also being forced to bail out; another Gladiator was shot down with its pilot killed, and the one which remained crashed in attempting to land. Wykeham-Barnes' Breda was reckoned the first victory by an 80 Sqdn Gladiator. This model represents YK*I/L8009 as it may have appeared shortly before its destruction. There is some uncertainty regarding its appearance at that time. This owes to photographs of 80 Sqdn. Gladiators taken early in 1940 showing upper surfaces in two dark grey tones without much contrast, and photographs of 80 Sqdn. Gladiators taken later in the year showing uppersurfacs in two highly contrasted grey tones, one dark and one light. Further, photographs which show the upper surface of the upper wing of an 80 Sqdn. Gladiator show at least two seperate patterns employed, one matching well with the standard, the other not. Some have taken the later, high contrast photographs to indicate employment of a local scheme of Dark Green and Light Earth. The Osprey 'Gladiator Aces' monograph depicts several 80 Sqdn. Gladiators, including YK*I, in these colors, and so does 'Britain Alone' by Paul Lucas. The Warpaint Series number on the Gladiator does not, sticking with Dark Green and Dark Earth throughout for wartime Middle East Gladiators. The standard Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green and Dark Earth was the official standard for camouflaged aircraft in the Near East at this time. There had been official trials of other schemes in the area recently, and also some local experimentation (this being permitted to an extent). At least one bomber squadron in Middle East Command had, for much of 1939, flown planes on which the Dark Green had been over-painted with something matching Light Earth. One of the trial schemes tested was a 'Modified' Temperate Land scheme, in which Dark Earth was replaced by Dark Sand (as near as can be told a sort of grey-brown with a yellow tinge), while the lower wings and sides of biplanes were still in Light Earth and Light Green. This scheme was considered to have wide applicability, but was dropped at the outbreak of the war for the standard Temperate Land on all overseas commands. Interestingly enough, this Modified Temperate Land scheme employed a different pattern on the upper wing, which matches well the 'non-standard' pattern some 80 Sqdn. Gladiators display on their upper wings. There is no record of a 'green and tan' scheme being employed in 1940, but most early-war records of 80 Sqdn. were lost in Greece. There is some evidence that later, some aircraft operating in Palestine and the Nile Delta were given a 'green and tan' scheme. One further possibility is simply that paint applied early in the year had deteriorated. Dark Earth, if over-thinned, is reported to have dried lighter than standard. Dark Earth in some formulations was especially prone to fading to a lighter shade under sunlight. This seems to me the most likely explanation for the different appearance between early and late photographs of 80 Sqdn. Gladiators; it is certainly the most parsimonious. The process of 'fading' in Dark Earth was formation of a white layer near the surface. I do not know if this would have greatly increased the reflectivity of the paint. Light Earth reflected much more light than either Dark Green or Dark Earth, and since the high contrast appears in photographs using both ortho and pan stock, reflectivity, and not color, must account for the 'brighter' areas. The kit is the 1/72 Airfix Gladiator. I added secondary bracings in the cowling, the radio mast on the wing, and the damper rods in the rigging. Identity decals mostly from the XtraDecals Gladiator sheet, but I damaged one serial run, and had to reconstruct from an old Modeldecals serial sheet. Roundels are from an old Pavla Gladiator sheet, as I liked their color better, and they had a yellow ring for the fuselage roundel. I finished this model to a color-spread in 'Britain Alone', and tried in my mixing colors to get something that could pass as faded Dark Earth or Light Earth, taking as my mark the rather light-ish Dark Earth in color photographs of the Shuttleworth Gladiator on the cover of the Warpaint Series Gladiator number. If I had known all I know now, I do not think I would have followed that profile, because I suspect it does not have the upper wing pattern right. It should probably have been either standard, or the 'center vee and parallel swathes' pattern of the Modified Temperate Land scheme. Building this was was a sort of recce in force to discover possible difficulties ahead of future Gladiator builds, which I want to be especially certain I get right. I like the kit a great deal. It does need attention, but if this is given, it goes together beautifully. Most mating surfaces have a bit of a 'lip' at their edges, and need to be sanded down flat; this is particularly important in regard to putting the lower wing on, and i fitting the strut ends into their sockets. Small parts need to be carefully sawn off; you really do have to follow instructions in assembling the motor and cowling (though you can treat this as a separate assembly, rather than starting with the engine fastened to the nose). The fit of the motor itself to the nose was the only really poor fit in the kit. As someone who does mostly open-cockpit subjects, and is not too comfortable with canopies and such, I appreciate the fit of the canopy in this kit. If you are careful in initial fitting in regards to the roll-over structure, and take just a hair off the front and rear of the canopy, it will be practically a snap-fit. The best way to deal with the 'X' between the interplane struts is to score it a bit with a saw before you assemble the wings, and then to heat an old X-acto blade and melt through the scored point. You can the nip off the rest and clean any remnant with no trouble at all. If you try to saw all the way though you will find it extemely tedious, and might slip; if you try to break it with a nipper you will pop joints.

with some delay here my recent Meteor build, just in time before the new Airfix kit that I wanna do in some different middle eastern scheme... Gloster Meteor MK.7 Classic Airframes 1/48 Royal Egyptian Airforce, late 1950ies Build thread here Build thread here hope you like it! thanks for comments!

Afternoon All, A bit late for this particular party, but I've decided to weigh in with these two from Tamiya in 1/72. I hummed and hawed about joining in with this STGB as I've a number of other things on the go at the mo and had wanted to concentrate on getting some of them finished, but I've decided a quick hassle free project is just the tonic for an ailing mojo! A quick delve into the stash came up with these two from Tamiya that will be finished as a couple of aircraft from 73 OTU in Fayid, Egypt. This will be finished as a Mk.I in ANA equivalent paints using Freightdog decals. And this one will be finished as a Mk.II, however I'll decide a bit closer to the finish which one I'll be doing. A couple of mask sets to save time as well as some resin and metal details to build upon the rather nice plastic Tamiya have provided. I'll be starting shortly, but since I'm on nights this weekend it probably won't be before Mon/Tues. Regards, Mark.

For my next trick - the rarely seen, desert exiled brother of Wellington... Anyone know of a Wellesley workaround or source of reference pix. There are plenty of generic exterior shots but not in much detail, nor is there a huge number of interior views. There are a few detailed models out there but I would like to judge a selection from the real deal, especially as I intend to so a LRDA as opposed to a standard mk1. Trust me to choose the difficult version... Actually I looked at the Matchbox decals and had doubts as they've seen better days. If they so end up u/s then the LRDA aircraft will allow a Wiff option I have in reserve. ... Thx in advance.D.

"Far From Home" BE2e (A10817) 67 Squadron near Gaza 1917. Oil on canvas (mounted on board 23.5" x 19") Lt Gerald C Stones (observer) from Wisbech Australia and 2Lt Joseph A Morgon (British pilot attached to 67 from the RFC) where both killed 30 May 1917 flying A1807 when their aircraft whilst on an artillery observation mission was brought down by anti aircraft fire near Gaza. Thanks for looking, Terry