PV-1 Ventura, Aleutian Islands, 1943

[russ c]

Hi Everyone,

Had this kit lurking about unstarted for a couple of years, as I wanted to do a different scheme to the kit offerings

So here`s Revell`s 1/48 Ventura done as an earlier aircraft in the two colour US Navy scheme and 1943 markings

Finished to represent an aircraft flown by VB/VPB-136, Adak, Aleutian Islands, 1943

Built from a combination of the Octopus marked boxing and the more recent RAF marked issue

The decals all came from the stash and used Steve Ginters `Naval Fighters Number 86` as main reference

The `Grumpys` are a bit of artistic license as early Venturas often had factory applied Walt Disney Cartoon figures painted on them.

Added a few blinds and curtains to the windows as quite a few photo`s seen to show.

Lastly here it is with my earlier effort of the same kit in the markings of VB/VPB-135 also an Aleutians based aircraft

Hope you enjoy, thanks for looking

Cheers Russ

[PlaStix]

That looks stunningly beautiful Russ! Wonderful! Very well done.

Kind regards,

Stix

[Mr Modeller]

Very nice Russ, beautifully built Venturas and I do like the red bordered style of insignia on your second one. Strange that the large insignias on each side of the nose both continue onto and across parts of the glazing, which at first I thought you'd made a mistake, but I did some research and found this photo .... :

http://ww2db.com/images/air_ventura26.jpg

..... so it seems that is how they were done in reality - but I can't help wonder why? Do you know?

Kev

Edited September 8, 2016 by Mr Modeller

[russ c]

Very nice Russ, beautifully built Venturas and I do like the earlier style insignia on your second one. Strange that the large insignias on each side of the nose both continue onto and across parts of the glazing, which at first I thought you'd made a mistake, but did some research and found this photo .... :

http://ww2db.com/images/air_ventura26.jpg

..... so it seems that is how they were done in reality - but I can't help wonder why? Do you know?

Kev

Thanks Kev, Originally the insignia was the plain round one, the bars and red surrounds were painted on later, if the nose insignia was a large one then the bars would overlap the transparencies. also most of the operational photo`s I`ve seen show the blinds/curtains drawn shut on the top set of windows so I don`t supposed it mattered that they were obscured.

Glad you like them, cheers Russ

[Mr Modeller]

Thanks Kev, Originally the insignia was the plain round one, the bars and red surrounds were painted on later, if the nose insignia was a large one then the bars would overlap the transparencies. also most of the operational photo`s I`ve seen show the blinds/curtains drawn shut on the top set of windows so I don`t supposed it mattered that they were obscured.

Glad you like them, cheers Russ

Thanks for the info Russ, very much appreciated, and very interesting to know such things!!

Cheers

Kev

Edited September 8, 2016 by Mr Modeller

[polo1112]

Russ, once more you built a terrific model.

It's really fantastic how realistic your Ventura (s) look (s)

Congratulations. Polo.

:wow:

[Viking]

Nice pairing Russ,

Cheers

John

[Andy Dyck]

As always l love your way of modelling and photography! Very nice scenes! Beautiful !

Andy

[Steve27752]

I love the build and the backgrounds.

[F-32]

Lovely work.

[RMCS]

Iv never liked the Ventura...until now....what a job! Superb

[adrianm2]

WOW Russ, that ventura looks superb.

Great weathering and photography.

Adrian

[stevej60]

A superb build Russ Excellent weathering and unusual scheme too!

[ForestFan]

Another great build! Photos look great too - quite atmospheric

[Reini78]

lovely work once again, good painting and weathering

how much free shelf space left?

[russ c]

lovely work once again, good painting and weathering

how much free shelf space left?

Thanks Reini, There`s been no shelf space for a long long time, I have a rotor system: shelf, attic then landfill ( after stripping off useful bits )

Thanks to all for great feedback and likes, appreciated

[keefr22]

That's another beautiful model Russ with your usual outstanding paint & weathering! Is it brush painted again? If so, how did you get that terrific fading effect?!

The two of them together look brilliant!

Lovely stuff!

Keith

[keefr22]

There`s been no shelf space for a long long time, I have a rotor system: shelf, attic then landfill ( after stripping off useful bits )

I have a club friend that does the same with his excellent models too!

I khow it's a chore, but I'm sure you could sell yours on e-bay for a fair whack - especially given the prices some of the rubbish sold on there fetches! Such a shame that work as good as this ends up on a tip....

[llking]

great job

[batcode]

fantastic looking build Russ. great looking scheme and very nice weathering....

[russ c]

That's another beautiful model Russ with your usual outstanding paint & weathering! Is it brush painted again? If so, how did you get that terrific fading effect?!

The two of them together look brilliant!

Lovely stuff!

Keith

Cheers Keith, glad you like them. Yeah it`s brush painted, the fading was done with dry brushing, Looking at photo`s of weathered Navy aircraft in the same scheme, I could see a greenish tinge and the blue fading to grey, so, after doing the panel lines I dry brushed areas of the aircraft in Slate Grey then next day did the same but smaller patches of medium grey smudging it about as much as possible with my thumb. I use Humbrol Enamels BTW, don`t know if it would work with Acrylics.

re; your other post, by the time they get to the tip stage they generally look like that`s where they should be; dusty, yellowed and falling to bits and I can always build another and hopefully make a better job, it`s only a bit of plastic at the end of the day. The fun is researching and finishing them ( to me anyway )

Glad you like them though, Cheers Russ

[rob85]

Another beautiful finish Russ, very nice work

Rob

[keefr22]

Thanks for the reply Russ, I think that's a brilliant finish for such a simple technique - simple that is until I try it...!!

Cheers

Keith

[TheBaron]

A most attractive-looking aircraft Russ. Nicely turned-out.

Tony

[tonyot]

They are both beauties Russ,.....I do like the Ventura and yours are fab,...... I do like the red edged star and bar and the one on the nose looks great

Cheers

Tony