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Been a bit sparse around here this year, partly modellers block after completing the Sanger Stirling, partly as I've been busy with other stuff but just finished the Airfix 1/48 Blenheim and ready to get stuck in to something a bit more challenging. Last year, @crobinsonh kindly gave me an FM Halifax (thanks Colin ) that he'd started and it's a kit I've wanted to build for a while....well I tell a lie, it's the aircraft I've wanted to build and this is the best way of doing it! Colin has done some great work on it already so it's taken some of the sting out and the fuselage halves look to be pretty aligned too so I'm going to be brave and say that assembly looks pretty straight forwards from here 😬. I always find a way to stuff something up however! I'm currently thinking about the clear parts and the possibility of moulding some new ones but will do more thinking about that before jumping in feet first. So the aircraft in mind....some time ago I got talking to a chap called Michel Darribehaude (can't remember if you're on here Mike but if you are, pop by and say hello and feel free to expand on the story ) and his father Sergent-Chef. Christian Bernard Darribehaude was a wireless operator on this aircraft from Dec 1944. From my research I believe the aircraft was manufactured by London Transport in Nov 44. It received flak damage both on the 24th and 26th Dec resulting in emergency landings at Carnaby and all crew survived the war but I know little more than that. Inspired by conversations with Mike and trips to Elvington, the choice was quite easy to make. I've not come across any photo's of this aircraft so if anyone has come across one, I'd love to see it/them. First steps will be to continue work on the interior as per usual and figuring out the rest as I navigate my way through the parts. Having seen a few of these beasts built at the various shows, it's quite an imposing aircraft once finished.

Not the easiest of builds, but from what I've heard, many were Friday afternoon moulds where as this one was pretty good as I didn't experience any bad warping or plastic delamination. That said, I approached it in a similar way as you would a vac form. The build is here.. So, why this particular aircraft? I wanted to do a Free French scheme, partly inspired by various trips to Elvington over the years and finding out more about the two squadrons based there, partly because it's a scheme that doesn't seem to get done in 48th scale despite the kit coming with decals and partly because I got to know Michel Darribehaude @GimmeAnF who's father Sgt Christian Darribehaude flew in 346 Sqn as a wireless operator. With this in mind, I wanted to do his fathers aircraft PN365 (H&-B), one of several 'B' codes aircraft thanks to Michel & @tonyot who did some research that they shared at the beginning of the build. Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be any photo's of this particular aircraft so some educated guessing had to be done for the markings. My thanks go to @crobinsonh for the kit that he'd done a great job of starting, @Cees Broere for the rear undercarriage and ongoing support from his knowledge of the aircraft and doing his own build and @tonyot for his supply of photo's and information to support the build too. Also to others who helped with advice on my first attempt at doing home made decals @perdu, @Antti_K & @Tail-Dragon The crew.. Fortunately all survived the war, however sadly, the last crew member Roger Foures who was the crews mid upper gunner passed away near the end of the build, so I'd like to also make this a tribute to him now that he's re-joined his crew once more Below are the crew photo's kindly supplied by Mike... Some Nostalgia After the war, Roger Foures became a gun smith. Sometime after the war, possibly the 1950's, he made a model of his aircraft from scratch using wood and what materials he had available. The crew names are listed in the bomb bay for posterity. Fortunately Mike managed to find some photo's of both this model and one mike built himself in the 70's. Limited research info means some of the features are slightly inaccurate but I'm sure his dad would of been proud of it. What does interest me is the types of roundels and 48" code layout on the right hand side and bomb markings along the nose of Rogers model. Could these offer an insight in to some differences in code/roundel layout or clues as to what artwork may of featured on the nose? I can count 28 bomb symbols on there with the Cross de Lorraine right at the front. Rogers scratch build: And a photo that Mike managed to find of his own The finished build Whilst I'm please with the result, I've been staring at it that long, I'm sick of seeing it now lol so here it is, just need to find a suitable way of packing it away now. Final thanks to everyone who's followed the build and through your participation has helped to keep the motivation up as I plodded along...and at times wanted to make it fly! Thanks for looking Neil