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  1. Hi All, My next project will be Special Hobby's N-3PB. This aircraft was purchased off the drawing board (24 in total) by the Norwegian government in 1940, just before the fall of that country. On delivery these aircraft were operated from Iceland by 330 Sqn RAF, made up exclusively of exiled Norwegian aircrew. This squadron flew from 1941, performing maritime patrol and anti-submarine missions until they were replaced by the far more capable Sunderland. This will be my first floatplane build, although I have built a couple of seaplanes (namely the Sunderland and Walrus). Here's the box art: I believe this was a new tool kit in 2015, and the sprue shots show a nice level of detail: Floatage: And the small transparency sprue: Not sure if I have the testicular fortitude to separate those canopy elements! The decals look nicely in register, along with a small PE fret (I think those are the rudders): At this stage I'm planning to complete as this aircraft GS*G: Very evocative photos showing the operating conditions! I may have to do a bit of wear and tear on this airframe to reflect the harsh life. Anyway, off we jolly well trot! Thanks for looking, Roger
  2. Hi All, It's January, so it must be time for a heavy! This time last year I completed my Lancaster B.II, so I figured it was about time I got another 4 engine beast on the go. Italeri's Stirling is oft-built on this site, and it is well-known for its cavernous panel lines. I actually started this kit about 4 years ago, so it's a long-time shelf-sitter - the WIP is a way of motivating myself to get on with it. Here's the box art: And here's where the build is at the moment, and probably the reason it stalled: It's not that clear from the photo, but the interior grey green is a most peculiar hue of my own concoction, before I settled on my 'go to' IGG, which is Vallejo 71.305. So I'm going to start it again, and do it properly this time! When I first started the kit I'd intended to complete it as the boxart scheme, 'McRobert's Reply', but the boxing also has decals included to complete as BF372 of 149 Sqn RAF, based at RAF Mildenhall in 1942. This aircraft was flown by RAAF Flt Sgt (later P/O) Rawden 'Roy' Middleton VC. On 28th November 1942 his aircraft was badly damaged on a raid to the Fiat aircraft works at Turin. Despite suffering multiple grievous injuries, including the loss of his right eye, Middleton managed to complete a 4 hour flight to bring the stricken aircraft back to the English coast. Five of his seven crew then baled out (the front gunner and flight engineer remained aboard to try and persuade Middleton to carry out a forced landing). Following his refusal to do so, the remaining crew baled out but did not survive the night in the English Channel. Middleton stayed with the aircraft, which ditched into the Channel, his body not washing ashore until February 1943. Middleton was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and promoted to Pilot Officer. Here's a picture of Middleton during his flying training: And here's the scheme as presented: I feel compelled to complete this scheme now it has an RAAF connection. Now I know that this aircraft has been modelled before, including this lovely 1:48 Sanger vac form by @woody37: I will be delighted if mine turns out half as well as this, but I'm not holding my breath! At this stage it will be mostly OOB, albeit with the addition of an Eduard mask set. I'll see how I go with the infamous panel lines - watch this space! I have not yet found any photos of BF372, but there are a number of other 149 Sqn aircraft which are relatively well photographed. Wish me luck! Thanks for looking, Roger
  3. Hi All, My next build will see the Azure Blue and Mid-Stone get an airing - it has been over a year since my last desert scheme, so it's long overdue! I'm going to make up for it too, as this will be a dual build of Special Hobby's new tool P40D Kittyhawk Mk.I, and Brengun's Typhoon Mk.Ib. Now I did build a Tiffie just a couple of months ago, but this is different; I have not built the Brengun kit before, it's desert camo, and most importantly, it will have the 'car door' canopy! Here's the Kittyhawk boxart: Here's the sprues: Special Hobby have upped their game - the detail looks superb. Here's the decals: There are 4 schemes in the kit, one of which is Neville Duke's oft-modelled mount. I do fancy a shark mouth, but might look for a less-modelled option. Here's the Tiffie box art: I have never built a Brengun kit before, but on the evidence presented the sprues appear well-detailed and crisp: Here's the decals: They look a bit over-bright, and Sky codes? Hmmm - will look into that. 4 schemes are provided for: All the desert camo options are 451 Sqn RAAF aircraft, so it would seem churlish not to build an Aussie bird! I'm looking forward to this one! Thanks for looking, Roger
  4. Hiya kinda new to all this here, made 2 airfix starter sets so far and wanting to step it up a notch. I would like to replicate the same F4 Phantom II my uncle flew in as navigator during the Falklands war. It's either XV567 or XV587 , I have a picture but I find it hard to see and read the serial number on the side. 43 "fighting cocks" squadron, if I remember correctly. Because it has the cockerel insignia on the vertical stabiliser. I'd use the airfix set https://uk.airfix.com/products/mcdonnell-douglas-phantom-fg1fgr2-a06019a But of course an aftermarket decal set to replicate the aircraft I am wanting to model. I am aware that the camouflage colours are FS34079 (BS 641) and FS26173 (BS 638) but what colour is the underside? It's a light grey sort of colour. Is it "light aircraft grey" ? I probably already have it because I bought a collection of MRP's lacquers that covers all RAF aircraft ww2 to present. Thanks in advance!
  5. Just a couple of phots of the newish 1/72 Crab.....i.e not senior service 😉 Harrier GR1 ...made it in 2019 but wanted to make sure I still knew how to upload phots...seems i've remembered.....sorry about the quality.
  6. Hi All, My second completion for 2024 is Airfix' lovely newish Mossie. Much has been said about this kit, not all of it favourable, due to the fact that Auntie mistakenly used scan data from a TT35 version, meaning that the bomb bay doors and rear fairing include some extraneous detail. The build was inspired by this photo of MM199 of 128 Sqn RAF, based at RAF Wyton in 1944/5: This aircraft was piloted by an Australian, Flt Lt James Wood, whom along with his navigator FO Raymond Poole RAFVR were shot down and killed by flak on a mission to Hanover on 4th February 1945 - this photo was presumably taken just over a month before that fateful mission. The build was pretty much OOB, apart from the addition of the cookie, which was from Airfix' RAF Bomber Resupply Set, which contains a wealth of goodies which will no doubt enhance future builds. I did add some magnets to the cookie and bomb bay, allowing it to be placed and removed ad infinitum. Here's the WIP if anybody is interested: Anyhoo, enough blabber and onto the photos: I've thoroughly enjoyed this build, and whatever the naysayers I think it builds up into a nice representation of a late-war Mossie. Thanks to all of those who have offered kind words and encouragement - it has been much appreciated! Now on to my next build - I shall not reveal too much, but it has been a long while since I built anything with a tail hook...😉 Thanks for looking, Roger
  7. Hi All, My next project will be Airfix new-tool Mossie. This kit has received a bit of a bashing due to the fact that the aircraft used for scanning was a target tug variant, and the bomb doors are therefore incorrect. Whatever the case I thought I'd give it a go! Here's the box art: The sprues: The transparencies: The decals: They look rather lovely. I've added an Eduard mask set, but this will be otherwise mostly OOB: I say mostly, because I do have an extra sprue from another kit: It's a 4000lb cookie! From the Airfix WWII RAF Bomber Re-supply Set, I thought it would be rather rude not to, given that this was pretty much the raison d'etre of these aircraft. The kit provides for a couple of schemes: Neither of these really floated my boat, so I've decided to model MM199 of 128 Sqn RAF, which was based at RAF Wyton in 1945. This aircraft was piloted by an Australian, Flt Lt James Wood, whom along with his navigator FO Raymond Poole RAFVR were shot down and killed by flak on a mission to Hanover on 4th February 1945. Here's a photo of the aircraft and the inspiration for the build: This scheme is a little unusual in that the squadron and aircraft codes appear in a non-standard font and colour (dark blue). Here's how they are represented in an Xtradecal set: The scheme is also represented in HK Models' 1:32 version: In this scheme the codes are shown with a yellow outline, which seems a little more plausible (in fact closer examination of the above photo does show an outline to the 'Q'). Anyway, on with the build! Thanks for looking, Roger
  8. I'd like to offer my latest completed kit for inspection: the Hawker Hurricane Mk1 flown by P/O Paul Ritchie, No 1 Squadron. First, the man and his aircraft: It was reading his book "Fighter Pilot" that inspired this build.... in 1969.....!! His aircraft, Hurricane L1697 was one of the first production batch, built by Hawkers at either Kingston upon Thames or at Brooklands in 1939 and was the 150th Hurricane built. As with all the first order, she was built with a 2 blade Watts propeller and fabric wings: the first 430 Hurricanes were so assembled. She, along with many other fabric winged aircraft were later fitted with metal wings at RAF MUs, before being assigned to a squadron: photographic evidence is equivocal, at least one photo shows gun rearming panels that look like those on a metal wing. She was allocated to No 1 Squadron at Tangmere Airfield and was marked with Squadron Codes JX and the individual letter G. Pilot Officer Richey was posted, in March 1939, to No.1 Squadron based at Tangmere, flying Hawker Hurricanes and G was assigned to him. Richey’s wonderfully written book, Fighter Pilot was written during the war, I am lucky enough to have an original “Censored” edition, where all the pilots names are replaced by either nicknames or Christian names. Compared with the last edition, published just after his death in 1989, there is also a lot of detail that has been censored. When the Revell kit appeared in 1969 I decided to build a model of Richey’s aircraft! On Friday 8th September, 5 days after the declaration of war, No1 were ordered to France as part of the air component of the BEF, where they flew patrols from their base at Vassincourt for the duration of what became known as the Phoney War. The squadron codes were over painted, leaving only the aircraft letter and “French” style rudder markings applied. It is unclear if the serial number was over painted, on some photographs of No 1 Squadron Aircraft there is no sign of the serial number but painted in black on dark green fabric it would not have stood out anyway. The A/C is believed to have had black/white/Aluminium under surfaces, but again the evidence is not firm. During this period, Richey experienced combat for the first time, and scored his first victory, downing an Me109 on the 29th March 1940. In early April 1940 the 2-blade propeller disintegrated at 25,000, Richey made an uneventful landing back at base. Later in the month Richey landed at the French Air Force base at Charleville-Mézières to refuel after combat. Avoiding bomb craters, he damaged a wing tip and had to leave his faithful G with its Red Spinner to be repaired. Three days later whilst the RAF repair team were at the airfield an attack by the Luftwaffe destroyed all the aircraft on the field, including “G” That was the end of L1697. I started building this model in 1969, just after it was released… the roundels are hand painted, only the A/C letter, serials and stencil markings are modern transfers. I have applied some weathering as during 1939/40 the airfields in France were rough, grass strips and both mud and then dust were problems. The photograph above of Paul suggests I may have not applied enough mud.... Early Merlin engines were not that oil tight, so some oil marks and of course some exhaust staining. The Revell kit has/had some issues, most noticeably around the cockpit glazing, which works out at about 6” thick, the propeller spinner, which is way overscale and the lower nose, which lacks that gentle curve-and-dip look to the underside of the nose. Because I didn’t know what I know now I fitted the 2 bladed Watts propeller which solved the spinner issue, and white metal U/C legs as the originals were very brittle. I couldn't come up with anything straightforward to deal with the nose so otherwise the kit is as it was, back 45 years or so ago. I recently replaced the canopy; like the original was, it is thin and flexible! So, we have a model of an aeroplane that most probably should have fabric wings, which is a bit unfortunate. Why did the build take so long? I was still at school when the kit was released but had already begun to be distracted by girls. University followed in 1970, with more girls, then cars followed by work, family and life in general pushed modelling into a corner. I made a few kits and added to the stash, but a number were started nut not finished. Now retired I’m a “Seenager”, able to do what I want, when I want. So, it is back to working at my model bench listening to music. I’m pleased with the model, yes it could be better but I think it captures the look of the time. This is the link to the Work in Progress Thread... And these are the photos of the result.. let me know what you think! So there we are, started in 1969, finished in 2020... is this a record?
  9. I've only recently started learning about bombsight designs, the factors that affect bomb aiming and the technical difficulties of calculating a correct bombing solution under combat conditions. The question I have for the BM collective mind is this: were sights such as the mkVII and mkIX course setting bombsights left in parked aircraft or were they removed for security? I can see justification both ways. The designs were, presumably, highly classified, but constant moving and reattaching such complex mechanical devices may not have helped their reliability. I am particularly interested in what the practice might have been in operational Stirling squadrons in late 1941, just before the introduction of the much improved mkXIV bombsight in 1942. Many thanks in advance! Murray
  10. Hi All, My first completion of 2024 is Revell's mighty Halifax, which I chose to complete as NA242 of 192 Sqn RAF, based at RAF Foulsham in 1945. 192 Sqn were part of 100 Group, and these aircraft were fitted with various Electronic Warfare installations, including Mandrel. As well as the normal crew complement these aircraft also carried a pair of Special Operatives who were responsible for operating the equipment. The aircraft had completed 55 missions when this photo was taken, and survived the war. Here's a photo of NA242 (copyright Australian War Memorial - image for discussion only and will be removed on request: You may note that the aircraft carries some rather extensive nose-art, which I created using a combination of stencils and self-printed decals. Here's the WIP if anyone is interested: The kit was an absolute joy to build - the engineering and detail were superb, and I added an Eduard etch set along with a mask set and some lovely Freightdog wheels. You may or may not know that this kit is OOP, so I am very grateful to @tomprobert for agreeing to part with his kit and all the goodies. Thanks also to Nigel @T-21 who provided a wealth of detail on 100 Group Halifaxes which was most educational in details of the EW installation. Anyway, on with the pictures! Here's a pic during construction to show the interior detail: Here's a final shot with a double dose of mighty Bristol power: I have thoroughly enjoyed this build, and it's nice to finally have a Halibag in the collection. Thanks to all those who have offered kind words and encouragement along the way - it has been much appreciated! Thanks for looking, Roger
  11. I offer these pair of RAF fighters for inspection. I bought them a couple years ago in an Aldi store for about £4 a piece including the acrylic paints and brush.. Starter Kits ! They were fun to make and my partner ,who is a teacher ,uses them for children as part of VE Day celebrations. The kids do drawings of them and use the planes to get their cammo schemes something like the original! the decals are quite thick and I painted then too thick.. but hey they amused me and they get to inspire some lively and creative minds!
  12. Miles M.9 Master MkI N7576/F N7576 was part of the station flight at RAF Tern Hill, Shropshire, in September 1939. The aircraft was then operated by No 8 Flying Training School, RAF Montrose, Forfarshire, in the spring of 1940. As the RAF began to take delivery of its first high speed monoplane fighters in the mid-1930s it became clear a trainer would be needed that provided similar performance characteristics. FG Miles designed a low-wing monoplane trainer around the 745hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel XVI inline engine, as used in the Hawker Fury and Hart biplanes. The new trainer, of exceptionally clean design, was named Kestrel after the engine. Miles presented the design to the Air Ministry, but it was initially rejected. Miles pressed on with the design as a private venture. The Kestrel first flew in June 1937, and proved to have a top speed about 20mph slower than the brand new Hawker Hurricane – which had an engine of higher power! Eventually, circumstances meant the Air Ministry turned to Miles for the new design. A specification was drawn up for a development of the Kestrel, to be named the M.9 Master. The £2 million contract was, at the time, the largest ever awarded by the Air Ministry for a training aircraft. Numerous changes were made to the design, including the fitting of a derated Kestrel engine, meaning the Master MkI was some 70mph slower than the original Kestrel design. Nevertheless, it was still the best training aircraft of its day, and featured handling characteristics similar to those of the Hurricane and Spitfire. The Master was of wooden construction, covered with plywood. The rear cockpit was the instructor’s position, and featured a seat that could be raised to give a better view ahead over the trainee pilot in the front. A hinged panel was interconnected with the seat-raising mechanism to provide a windscreen for the instructor. A number of MkIs were converted to a single-seat configuration and equipped with six 0.303in Browning machine guns during the summer of 1940. Intended for use in dire emergency the M.24 Modified Masters, however, were never used in anger. Production numbers of the various Master types are interesting. Some 900 MkIs were ordered. MkII production totalled 1,748, and the MkIII came to 602. The Pavla kit, being a short-run production, threw several curve balls at me. I added some extra little details around the nose, opened the belly radiator flap, added wingtip navigation and landing lights, and titivated the cockpit areas to better match the real thing as seen in various photos. The vacuum formed canopy had been slightly squashed at some point in its two-decade-odd shelf life, and I managed to completely ruin it in my attempts to correct it. The model then sat on the Shelf of Doom, waiting for a bright idea of how to fix such a problem as spare parts for a kit long out of production. An expensive solution appeared in the form of another unbuilt Pavla kit, so I could at least finish what I’d started. I’m not sure what to do with another Master kit, so it lives in the stash for now. Perhaps I could make an M.24... The propeller and exhausts came from the Bits Box – probably a scrapped Magna MkI. I made brass rod replacements for the undercarriage retraction struts. The original transfers had suffered over the years and fell apart on contact with water. I scanned the spare copy, and drew stencils so I could paint the main national markings, and make my own serial numbers and code letters. The model is painted with Precision Trainer Yellow enamel, then brush painted with Humbrol and Revell acrylics for the camouflage. The WIP thread, intermingled with a build of an Avro Tutor, can be found here:
  13. Hi All, In my quest to produce a Hurri with invasion stripes, I settled on MW367, an aircraft which was used for mail and dispatch deliveries during the early phases of Operation Overlord. I built the Arma Hurricane, which is a superb little kit. Here's a photo of the aircraft: This was part of a tandem build with a Typhoon Mk.Ib - here's the WIP if anybody is interested: And on to the photos: Here's a final shot with her Hawker stablemate: Like the Typhoon, this has been a superb little kit which I've enjoyed immensely - in fact I'm becoming more & more comfortable building in 1:72. Thanks for all those who have offered kind words and encouragement along the way - it has been much appreciated! I'll slip these both in as late additions to my 2023 yearbook, Thanks for looking, Roger
  14. Hi All, My latest completion is Airfix' lovely little Tiffie, completed as MP126 of 247 Sqn, which was part of 2 TAF based at Eindhoven in December 1944. The aircraft, piloted by P/O F. Wiersum was lost to flak on 5th December 1944. Here's a photo of the aircraft, along with the scheme (image for discussion only and will be removed on request): This build occurred in tandem with a Hurricane Mk.IIc build - here's the WIP if anyone is interested: And here's the photos: Here's a final shot with the build-mate: I have thoroughly enjoyed this kit, and would highly recommend it. I shall add both the Typhoon and Hurricane as late additions to my 2023 yearbook. Thanks to all who have offered kind words and encouragement along the way - it has been much appreciated! Thanks for looking, Roger
  15. Hi All, With my Vickers Vincent languishing on the Shelf of Uncertainty (I'm not sure what to do about the missing 3rd crew position), I fancied a bit of a sneck-lifter build. What better, thought I, than a pair of Hawker's finest ground attack aircraft - the Hurricane IIc and Typhoon Mk.Ib?! 😍 The kits concerned are the Arma Hurri and Airfix Tiffie. Here's the Arma kit: There is but on grey plastic sprue (albeit with lovely detail): A nice little PE fret (and cockpit masks): Decals: The Airfix kit is somewhat more sprue-heavy: I've treated myself to a Yahu instrument panel: Interestingly, although it is not mentioned in the instructions, it appears that there is an option to build with the cannon hatches open (parts A8 & A9 on the sprues, if you are interested): Now the reason for the thread title is that I'm going to model both these aircraft in invasion stripes. The Typhoon is easy - schemes 10 a penny, but the Hurricane took a little more searching. Here's one example: This looks to be standard Day Fighter Scheme - I shall have to find the external fuel tanks somewhere (or 3D print a pair - easy enough). Anyway, should be a bit of fun! Thanks for looking, Roger
  16. Liberator GRV BZ778 ‘G’. 53 Squadron St Eval, Oct 14th 1943. One project I am looking to build in 2024 is a representation of Costal Command Liberator BZ778 ‘G’ of 53 Sqn RAF and I am looking for information on how it would be equipped and armed. I have a Great Uncle by marriage F/Sgt Earnest Barge who was Co Pilot on this aircraft. Unfortunately, he was killed in a take off accident later in the war but I would like to build the Liberator based on a mission I know he completed. I am going to use the Eduard “Riders in the sky 1944” boxing of the Liberator GRV and I have acquired 250lb Depth Charges for the bombload used on Oct 14th (as per ORB). I am trying to work out what the aircraft would have looked like. I am comparing against the various schemes given in the kit instructions. Most of these are based around 311 Sqn aircraft but I assume by working out where BZ778 fits between the various schemes I should get a reasonable view (does that logic sound right?) of how the aircraft was equipped / armed. The instructions have a scheme for BZ774 which is equipped with the retractable radar radome in the ventral gun turret position (not the Dumbo nose). The aircraft has a winglet fitted either side of the nose with RP rails fitted. The instructions also have a scheme for BZ779 which is equipped as above, including the rocket rails. My question is, does anyone know if 53 Sqn used RPs same as 311? Would BZ778 have been armed with the winglets and RPs on 14th Oct 43 (the ORB only mentions DCs – Percussion K1)? Am I right to assume that BZ778 would look just like BZ779? Any suggestions greatly received.. Regards
  17. Hallo After reading literature about P-38 and P-47 one question results: If you have a fuselage installed gun, which shoots through the propeller arc. How much does the synchronisation reduce the amount of shots? Take German MG of the late or early 109s or 190s. In percrntage, how much was the reductipn in firepower shopting through the arc, in opposition to a wing mounted gun which could fire full? Since there is a reduction, you stay a longer time in the opponents line of fire! Happy modelling
  18. Halllo My question concerning carpurator: As far as I am informed, the carpurator of the Zero was the only one, which was operative in all positions of the flying envelope. Is this correct? I know something about the German injection system too. The RAF had to handle it with limitations of the FE. How about American systems? Copy or own developement? But the question still alive is the lubrication system on the Zero overalm the FE! Can you have proper answers to this question? Happy modelling
  19. Hi, This week I completed some figures from ICM's excellent 1:48 RAF personnel kit and created a grass field base for a Trumpeter Display case to display them together with a my latest creation, a pre-war 72 Squadron RAF Gloster Gladiator. It then occurred to me that the base and case could also be used to rotate the display of other aircraft in my collection from the late pre-war and early second world war period. Apologies for the striped backdrop, but I have yet to figure out the best printer quality settings, hence the vertical lines. Other than these, it is however a fairly accurate depiction of the skyscape at Church Fenton because its the upper section from a picture I took of the Spitfire line-up parked at Flying Legends here in July😀 Amazing how a simple backdrop can make a model pop! All photos were taken with an iPhone 11 Pro. First of all the 72 Sqn Gladiator based at RAF Church Fenton around 1938 Hurricane P3153 US-U for "Euthanasia" of 56 Sqn based at RAF North Weald in summer 1940 Spitfire Mk1 R6835 XT-W of 603 “City of Edinburgh” Sqn based at RAF Hornchurch in Summer 1940 Finally, some shots more featuring the Albion 3-Point Re-fueller. I based this on an example seen briefly in a British Pathe B&W Newsreel, but took some liberties with the brass radiator and red sun-rise Albion logo, which would no doubt in reality have been painted over when the vehicle was camouflaged.
  20. Hi All, After recent forays into unusual Americana (B17C, B18) I decided it was time for the pendulum to swing back towards Blighty. I haven't built a biplane for a while, and this kept winking at me from the stash: Opening up the box, here's the sprue shots: Some nice PE, and a beautifully detailed resin engine: Here's the decals - nicely printed and in register: The decals allow for 4 schemes - two in aluminium, and two Singapore-based machines camouflaged thus: Although I was nearly tempted by this option with the torpedo at such a jaunty angle, I couldn't get excited by the scheme. Now the sharp-eyed amongst you may note that the kit is a Vickers Vildebeest, which is the torpedo bomber version of this aircraft, whereas the Vincent was a general purpose aircraft. A quick search revealed it should be a pretty simple conversion: - Remove the torpedo equipment - Remove the wheel spats (the kit allows for this option) - Add an auxiliary fuel tank (possibly by converting the torpedo??) - The Vincent also had message pickup and pyrotechnic signalling gear added - any information gladly received on these. A bit more searching came up with a scheme I rather fancied (Copyright IWM - Photo is for discussion only and will be removed on request) : The IWM archives state that Vincent K4681 was part of the Aden Communications Flight, and the photo shows the aircraft under guard at Mukeiras landing ground whilst delivering supplies to the RAF rest camp at that location. Now, given that the aircraft has C Type roundels, I suspect that this would have been taken in 1942, and I suspect that the scheme would be Dark Earth/Mid-Stone over Azure, although it could also be LE/DE over Sky Blue (I suspect the former, but happy to hear otherwise). Given that the aircraft was not assigned to a squadron it may well not have worn codes, so just the serial - simples! Also of note are the leading edge strakes, which are not provided in the kit - a simple enough job to fabricate. Lovely photo of the guard too - probably keeping the pesky local population at bay. Anyway, it looks to be a nice little kit so let's see what it turns up! Thanks for looking, Roger
  21. This is a bit of a long shot, but does anyone know of suitable figures in 1/72 or 1/76 scales that, with some inventive painting and maybe a little surgery, could be made to pass for RAF ground crew in greatcoats? I'm mostly thinking of the snow-covered airfields of France during the first winter of WW2, but also the wind-blasted flatlands of East Anglia, pre-1942. Thanks in advance, my knowledgeable friends.
  22. Avro Lancaster B Mk. I (Serial No. R5727), built in the UK and flown to Victory Aircraft in Malton, Ontario, in August 1942 to serve as a pattern for the other Lancasters to be built in Canada. The fabrication drawings had been delivered in January, 1942. R5727 became the first of the type to conduct a transatlantic crossing. The first Canadian-built Lancaster was a Mk. X (Serial No. KB700), aka “The Ruhr Express” coming off the line a year after R5727 arrived in Canada.
  23. Hi everyone! Let me present my new model. This time it’s Supermarine Spitfire, one of my favourites. There’s no need to specify the facts about the prototype because everyone knows this plane inside out and it’s one of the most frequently assembled models. However, I should point out that I wanted to show the qualities which were specific for early Spitfires. Those were the fighting machines whose creators had no idea about real combat conditions. They were equipped by a streamlined flat canopy that didn’t provide 360-deg vision or have any armoured windscreen panel (when you come to think of it, the plane had no armoured protection neither for life-critical units nor for a pilot). Moreover, the early models were built up with an old-school two-bladed rotor and some throwbacks such as an antispin parachute, and there wasn’t any weapon heating. It rendered the fighter useless on apparent combat heights of German bombers because frozen machine-guns didn’t work there. In other words, the early Spitfires were like Englishmen with enormous potential but poorly aware of what was waiting for them in the heat of the coming major war. I’ve chosen Airfix A02010 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I/Mk.IIa set for assembling. The set makes a good impression, the details are well-fitted, but still there are certain drawbacks in canopy-fuselage attaching and wing-fuselage blending. The model is quite accurate, so it hasn’t raised a lot of my criticism. The only thing is that the upper part of cowl panel has square-flat shape closer to the Mk.V rather than Mk.I. The panel lining is pretty true-to-fact although a bit simplified and needs improvement. The model features the 9th manufactured prototype of Spitfire K9795 from the 19th Royal Air Force squadron in Duxford as in October of 1938. Thanks for looking!
  24. Hi All, Sorry I'm late - I do have a note! Full disclosure - I started this build a couple of weeks ago, blissfully unaware that this great beast of an STGB was lumbering along! Happily, @Ol' Scrapiron happened to chance on my build in 'normal' WIP, and @vppelt68 very kindly invited me to join this esteemed company - so here I jolly well am! I am going to build a Fortress Mk.I (the B17C in RAF service), more specifically as AN530 of 90 Sqn, based at Polebrook in Summer 1941. These were the first B17s to see combat, and although they were ultimately rapidly assigned other duties much was learned about high-altitude operations in the heat of combat which informed the B17E, the first version to be considered an effective war machine. Here's a photo of the aircraft: Here's another nice shot of crew preparing to board AN530: And here's some propaganda footage of the squadron's first mission, kindly shared on the original thread by @Eric Mc: Now there is some uncertainty around the colour scheme, and I have seen it modelled with Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey uppers. However, I believe that it is more likely that the original Dark Green and Dark Earth uppers were retained, with an approximation to PRU Blue on the lower surfaces, much like this: I know this a different airframe, but the scheme shows the nice curved high demarcation aft of the wing. I shall be making my own marking masks using a Silhouette cutter. As I mentioned I did start this build a little while ago, so here's a link to the start of the build if anyone is interested: In case you were not aware, the Wolfpack Design kit is a re-issue of the old Academy kit which is of 80s vintage. There are a few improvements I have made (or intend to make), summarised as follows: - Correct the cockpit floor to two levels - Add the radio room, along with floors for the rear gun blisters and fuselage ribbing - Open out the oil cooler ports, which are blank on the lower wings - Correct the excessive wing dihedral - 3D printed radio gear, bomb sight, navigator & bomb aimer chairs and oxygen bottles I think that's it?! Anyway, very glad to be on board and looking forward to lots of Fort action and banter! Thanks for looking, Roger
  25. Hi All, My next project will be Wolfpack's B17C, to be completed as an RAF Fortress Mk.I. I have not built a Wolfpack kit before, but my understanding is that this is a re-issue of the Academy kit which I think is 80's vintage. Here's the box art: Here's the sprue shots: All look to possess nice crisp detail. Here's the decals, along with a thoughtfully included set of glazing masks: Other than the instruments those decals won't see the light of day, as I intend to complete as one of these two schemes: Both aircraft have TSS uppers, with the lower aircraft having PRU Blue undersides (albeit with a high demarcation running through the roundel). This one should be fun! Thanks for looking, Roger
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