Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) We've heard about quite a few "ugly" French aircraft from before the Second World War. Well, I'd like to throw my hat into the ring with this one, the Potez 63-11. I have heard this aircraft described as ugly... I will admit that it doesn't have a conventional beauty, but I think it's such a superb looking aircraft. It also gives me the chance to paint that excellent French three-colour camouflage. Edited March 20, 2015 by Enzo Matrix 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Enzo and his love affair with the Potez 63, I knew this would be along some time. I would never describe this aircraft as ugly, in fact I think it was rather graceful. The Free French forces in the UK used a lot of French aircraft when based at Odiham circa 1941, I'm not sure whether any of these were amongst those aircraft but it would be great to see one of these in RAF roundels. Looking forward to this. Wez 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 The Free French forces in the UK used a lot of French aircraft when based at Odiham circa 1941, I'm not sure whether any of these were amongst those aircraft but it would be great to see one of these in RAF roundels. That option is actually in the box, albeit for an aircraft based in Haifa. It is in standard French camouflage with RAF roundels on the upper wings and fuselage, RAF fin flash covering the entire outer surfaces of the fins (but not the rudders)and black/white wing undersurfaces. With that undersurface scheme, it looks very much like a Westland Whirlwind from below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 While we're on the subject of this aircraft, cop a load of this! http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/03/02/a-potez-63-11-will-soon-fly-in-texas/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 While we're on the subject of this aircraft, cop a load of this! http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/03/02/a-potez-63-11-will-soon-fly-in-texas/ Now that's an impressive project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Should be a good project, Enzo. Those posts on the replica were made three years ago - any updates? I can't find anything using google. Edited March 20, 2015 by Paul Bradley 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 the 63-11 is the sexiest of these French twin engine aircraft of that time! With the possible exception of the Bloch 174. These are my own feelings, but I am chuft you are modeling this very plane! I hope the transparencies are an easier affair than in the old Heller Musee offering... That is a thread I am going to follow avidly. JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch K Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Like this! I've always liked the plane, and I fancy the kit, so I shall look forward to seeing how it shakes out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 I hope the transparencies are an easier affair than in the old Heller Musee offering... Wot? You mean this one? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 That's the very one I was referring to!!! Caution: Not for the faint hearted!!! Do you fancy a try? JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 That's the very one I was referring to!!! Caution: Not for the faint hearted!!! Do you fancy a try? I do! But not for this GB. This kit has been in The Stash for nearly four decades. I get quite sentimental about these kits and want to do right by my old friends. I have built a couple of them recently http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234929037-an-old-friend/ http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234974854-killer-sharks-and-an-old-friend/ The Heller kit of the 63-11 was the one which kicked off my love affair with the aircraft. I bought the kit in 1978 on a family holiday in Brittany (and it was quite old then!) so this one has a lot of sentimental value for me. As you can see from the photos, it has been well fondled and loved. When I build it (notice the when) I need to make sure that I can give it the attention that it deserves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 A question! What was the cockpit interior colour of these aircraft. I have seen conflicting references. Some claim that the colour was chamois. Others claim bleu interieur. I'm pretty sure that chamois was used for the wheel bays but I'm unsure about the cockpit and fuselage interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Add another devotee of the 63-11 here The Heller instructions in my kit indicate Chamois for the cockpit interior, but those I have seen built on the [email protected] site have all been done in Bleu de Nuit with Chamois wheelbays; in the absence of any input from our French forum-mates, that's what I'll be doing when I do mine Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnd Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 As a general rule, bombers are in chamois, fighters are in bleu de nuit. However, Potez were the exception. John. PS - this is received wisdom, someone who seemed to be in the know said. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 Here we go. Hold on tight, rider! I believe that Azur are an arm of MPM/Special Hobby. The mouldings certain seem to bear that out. Crisp and clean, they are still obviously a product of short-run moulding techniques. There are no locating pins on the fuselage halves and there are some huge ejection pin towers which may need trimming. This certainly won't fall together like recent Airtamigawaduard kits will, but for anyone who has a couple short-run kits under their belt it shouldn't present any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Only slightly crispier than the Heller kit! What a pleasure to look at! Interiors in chamois. Have a lot of fun! JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 21, 2015 Author Share Posted March 21, 2015 Interiors in chamois. I was hoping for that! Thanks Jean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 The first step is to build and paint the interiors. The chamois colour is represented by Lifecolor Dunkelgelb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich G Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Nice choice Enzo, I too like some of these early war french machines, I think it looks quite nice. Some of the twin engined light bombers and attack aircraft are quite nice and look fast and nimble, it's the heavy and medium bombers that look awful! Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEMPESTMK5 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Good morning Enzo Good choice enjoy your build .... I totally agree with Rich statement ..I like these aircraft .. Patrice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 A question! What was the cockpit interior colour of these aircraft. I have seen conflicting references. Some claim that the colour was chamois. Others claim bleu interieur. I'm pretty sure that chamois was used for the wheel bays but I'm unsure about the cockpit and fuselage interior. Until end 1939, the interior was "dark and neutral color" (example Breguet stipule "gris bleu" - blue grey) Since end 39, the "bleu nuit" appears. "Chamois" for area of fuselage interior except visible areas cockpit "bleu nuit" for visible area cockpit except instrument panel which will be flat black/ The quality of "Chamois" was not enough protective to be used for the areas exposed at the corrosive agents, so it was not used for wheel wells when there was not doors which close totally "chamois" was used for closed members (ribs, frame boxes) below, left: probably "gris bleu" and right , "bleu nuit" http://i70.servimg.com/u/f70/12/72/19/33/gb_ou_10.jpg There were three oxygen cylinder, white or grey with white top. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 Somewhere in my references I have a couple of photos showing a very light interior colour on the 63-11, for which chamois would make sense. I have to find them though, and that may not be so easy at the mo. But hell, why not bleu nuit? That was the interior colour on aircraft like the D520, so why not on the Potez, or some of them anyway. JR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS_w Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 (edited) On the technical drawings of MS and Breguet, june 1939, the interior was indicated "gris bleu clair" and "gris bleu". Breguet wrote: All areas not exposed to corrosive agenst will be painted chamois(category 2).All others paints were category 1 better than category 2.In the D520 technical manual (1940), it was wrote: cockpit, chamois protective coat will be overcoated by one coat of night blue. But the pictures of D520 build before 40 show a lighter color. perhaps "blue grey".Thus the Potez could be painted in blue grey or night blue depending on the date of production(see pictures in my previous post). On the picture, the interior could appear lighter than reality, the exposure is for show the detail in the shadow.Look at this pic of Latecoere 298, it is light, it is not chamois, but blue grey (wreckage) All french constructors applied the rules of Ministere de l'air, so the cockpit or areas communicating with the outside were not painted with chamois , or this color was overcoated by one other color. Edited April 2, 2015 by BS_w 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 A minor update. As shown earlier, I painted the cockpit chamois. I think that it has been established that the cockpit areas were gris blue. The problem for me is that I have already glued the fuselage halves together. No way am I sawing them apart again so I'm going to make an attempt to repaint them in situ. The nose areas will be perfectly straightforward. The main cockpit is relatively open so we will see how things go. I will be using Xtracrylix XA1126 Dark Blue Grey. The undercarriage bays will still be done in chamois - call it a bit of modellers' licence, but I really want to use that colour on an aircraft! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Good luck with the repaint Enzo, easy does it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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