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I have stopped taking part in GBs lately for a number of reasons, so I had to think hard about this one... in the end I decided to join ! Afterall I did participate in the previous two MTO GBs (completing a model in the first and none in the second...) so it makes sense to join again.

Likely subject at the moment is a G.55 based on my local airfield. I was contemplating a Fulmar, a type that saw most of its successes in the Mediterranean but I'm not sure if the subject I wanted to build actually served in the MTO in that scheme. With the G.55 there's no doubt... and it's a type that I don't remember having seen very often built here or on the web in general.

Said that, I can't remember many Fulmar builds either...

Edited by Giorgio N
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I'd love to join this one as I managed to get a couple of models into  a previous one but I'm struggling to find the right kit/markings. For reasons that escape me (but don't discount sheer bloody mindedness), I have a real urge to dabble with French aviation, either from Algeria or Syria. Alternatively, something ground based from the campaign in Lebanon/Syria in 1941 would scratch an itch. Does anyone have any pointers? My Hannants Fu is almost non-existent today :(

 

Andy

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5 minutes ago, Foxbat said:

I'd love to join this one as I managed to get a couple of models into  a previous one but I'm struggling to find the right kit/markings. For reasons that escape me (but don't discount sheer bloody mindedness), I have a real urge to dabble with French aviation, either from Algeria or Syria. Alternatively, something ground based from the campaign in Lebanon/Syria in 1941 would scratch an itch. Does anyone have any pointers? My Hannants Fu is almost non-existent today :(

 

Andy

Hobby2000 Dewoitine 520 over Africa. 
 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hobby-2000-72026-dewoitine-d520-over-africa--1286429

 

 

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Had a Caproni Ca.311 land on the doorstep this evening.  Was surfing through a vendor's second hand kits while picking up a SEAD Foxbat when I saw it.  What's this?  Never heard of these before.  Such a neat looking recon-bomber.....and the price is right.  Why not, I'll take it. 

 

We'll see if I can find some time to sneak this one in on the tail end after the Mitchell.....or if I need a breather.  Although will all the little resin bits, I'm not convinced it will really be a relaxing build.  The kit even comes w/ 3 Italian options from 1940-41.  :coolio:

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5 hours ago, PhantomBigStu said:

Bit of longshot question, but any sunderland III's serve in the med? 

Nos 202, 204, 228 and 230 squadrons operated in the Med at various times from 1939 to 1943. From 1941 Sunderlands operated from Wesr Africa with 95 Squadron and then 230 when it left the Med. Think the bases they used were just far enough north to squeeze into the 'from the alps to the equator' rule.

 

I have no idea if any of them were Mk.IIIs but you have something to work from :)

 

Andy

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2 hours ago, Foxbat said:

Nos 202, 204, 228 and 230 squadrons operated in the Med at various times from 1939 to 1943. From 1941 Sunderlands operated from Wesr Africa with 95 Squadron and then 230 when it left the Med. Think the bases they used were just far enough north to squeeze into the 'from the alps to the equator' rule.

 

I have no idea if any of them were Mk.IIIs but you have something to work from :)

 

Andy

Thanks @Foxbat, have to do some research, hoping to find a mkiii that served in the med and wasn’t painted white, which now I think about is likely to be even rarer......

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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7 minutes ago, PhantomBigStu said:

Thanks @Foxbat, have to do some research, hoping to find a mkiii that served in the med and wasn’t painted white, which now I think about is likely to be even rarer......

230 squadron was based at various bases in Egypt either entirely, or just on detachment from May 1940 to November 1943 when it transferred to the far east. It operated Sunderland Mk.IIIs from April 1942 so would have had some in the right area at the right time. I have no idea on colours though.

 

202 flew anti-submarine patrols from Gibraltar using a right mix of aircraft (Saro London, Sunderland, Catalina and Swordfish!!) until 1944. No info on what marks were used when so far.

 

204 Squadron flew out of Bathurst, Gambia on anti-submarine patrols from August 1941 until the end of the war, replacing 228 squadron there. 204 had Sunderland Mk.IIIs from October 1942. 228 got them earlier but had moved back to the UK to re-equip with them.

 

None of the Gambia based Sunderlands scored a submarine kill, but they did enough so no merchant ships were sunk in their area. They did tussle with Vichy Mohawks, with one Sunderland claiming two shot down. There was also a claim for a Ju 88 shot down too.

 

Andy

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Thanks again Foxbat, spent last half and hour on google and got nothing. Looks like I'll have to abandon the idea of a III for this GB and consider a I. Shame as my local has an airfix III and I fancied another crack at one

 

edit: looks like even a I is out of the question, sold out seems everywhere. So looks like it be just small and simple entries, and do III at some point soonish outside of the GB's

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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There has been something of a disturbance in the Force... I've pitched in on this GB with a FAA Hellcat but to be honest have found it difficult to get exited about it. Likewise I started a Fairey Barracuda recently, and lost interest in it almost immediately. My Dragon Rapide project apart. I think my old "specialist subject" of Fleet Air Arm is losing its appeal. I dunno, maybe it's the prospect of popping the lid off Humbrol 123 yet again. Meanwhile, while awaiting the start of the Humbrol Classic GB, I've been looking at some of the weird and wonderful offerings from that venerable French brand and I have to say the variety takes my fancy. The Dragon Rapide originated from a Heller mould as it happened. I need a theme, because I'm a needs a theme kind of guy, but the FAA stuff has perhaps become a bit limiting. I may reassess what I'm doing for MTO III and come up with something with a little more je ne sais quoi...

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14 hours ago, TonyOD said:

There has been something of a disturbance in the Force... I've pitched in on this GB with a FAA Hellcat but to be honest have found it difficult to get exited about it. Likewise I started a Fairey Barracuda recently, and lost interest in it almost immediately. My Dragon Rapide project apart. I think my old "specialist subject" of Fleet Air Arm is losing its appeal. I dunno, maybe it's the prospect of popping the lid off Humbrol 123 yet again. Meanwhile, while awaiting the start of the Humbrol Classic GB, I've been looking at some of the weird and wonderful offerings from that venerable French brand and I have to say the variety takes my fancy. The Dragon Rapide originated from a Heller mould as it happened. I need a theme, because I'm a needs a theme kind of guy, but the FAA stuff has perhaps become a bit limiting. I may reassess what I'm doing for MTO III and come up with something with a little more je ne sais quoi...

Good afternoon Tony

 I think that I understand what your are feeling , maybe I can make a few suggestions in the  Heller catalogue :

- Spitfire Vb

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-281-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb--169174

 

 - Hurricane IIC

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-269-hawker-hurricane-mk-ii-c--148581

 

- P 39 Airacobra

 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-271-bell-p-39q-airacobra--148576

 

Best Regards

Patrice

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6 minutes ago, TEMPESTMK5 said:

Good afternoon Tony

 I think that I understand what your are feeling , maybe I can make a few suggestions in the  Heller catalogue :

- Spitfire Vb

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-281-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb--169174

 

 - Hurricane IIC

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-269-hawker-hurricane-mk-ii-c--148581

 

- P 39 Airacobra

 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-271-bell-p-39q-airacobra--148576

 

Best Regards

Patrice

Merci beaucoup Patrice! I'll keep those for future reference. This is what I've ordered and I look forward to making a start!

 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-80389-leo-451--1110974 

 

 

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3 minutes ago, TonyOD said:

Merci beaucoup Patrice! I'll keep those for future reference. This is what I've ordered and I look forward to making a start!

 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/heller-80389-leo-451--1110974 

 

 

You are welcome !!

I must that I don't know this kit , in fact I must say that although I built a lot of Heller kits when I was a kid , this one is one of those that have never attracted me probably because in general I prefer fighters to bombers ..

Have fun with it ..

Best Regards

Patrice

 

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1 hour ago, TEMPESTMK5 said:

You are welcome !!

I must that I don't know this kit , in fact I must say that although I built a lot of Heller kits when I was a kid , this one is one of those that have never attracted me probably because in general I prefer fighters to bombers ..

Have fun with it ..

Best Regards

Patrice

 

Having stuck to FAA for years I haven't really had much opportunity to build bombers – they’re not that easy to land on carriers I guess. I’ve been wanting to build something bigger for a while, in fact I even came across one example of the Shackleton which flew with ROYAL NAVY painted on the side. I guess Heller kits offer more possibilities in this area. The LeO kit is from moulds that are almost 50 years old apparently, and I quite like the sound of that. The Heller kits offer a lot of possibilities for French-built bombers, in fact it was a picture of a Heller Amiot 143 that first caught my eye in the Heller Classic GB chat thread. Some of these French bombers found their way to other countries, actually I have discovered aftermarket decals for a Leo operated in Sicily by the Luftwaffe, and that’s what I’m going to build for MTO III.

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5 hours ago, TonyOD said:

Having stuck to FAA for years I haven't really had much opportunity to build bombers – they’re not that easy to land on carriers I guess. I’ve been wanting to build something bigger for a while, in fact I even came across one example of the Shackleton which flew with ROYAL NAVY painted on the side. I guess Heller kits offer more possibilities in this area. The LeO kit is from moulds that are almost 50 years old apparently, and I quite like the sound of that. The Heller kits offer a lot of possibilities for French-built bombers, in fact it was a picture of a Heller Amiot 143 that first caught my eye in the Heller Classic GB chat thread. Some of these French bombers found their way to other countries, actually I have discovered aftermarket decals for a Leo operated in Sicily by the Luftwaffe, and that’s what I’m going to build for MTO III.

Good evening Tony

 I unfortunately have the feeling that these Heller bomber kits are no longer up to current standards and that they lack details compared to the B25 Mitchell from Airfix for example but with some work I am sure that you will build a very nice kit  ..

Have fun

Best Regards

Patrice

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13 hours ago, TEMPESTMK5 said:

Good evening Tony

 I unfortunately have the feeling that these Heller bomber kits are no longer up to current standards and that they lack details compared to the B25 Mitchell from Airfix for example but with some work I am sure that you will build a very nice kit  ..

Have fun

Best Regards

Patrice

I'm sure that's true, Patrice, but I think that's part of the charm. I have a heap of kits with resin this and PE that, they demand time and attention because of the amount of details that has be addressed, whereas a basic old-school kit offers a lot of possibilities: you can have a quick, fun, out-of-the-box build, or buy in some aftermarket stuff and/or be adventurous with some scratch building, which is exactly what I'm doing with my Heller Dragon Rapide project - I'm taking a pretty basic kit and throwing everything I've got at it (the link is in my signature if you're interested 😁).

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Good afternoon Tony

 Yes with some good infos and a few hours of work one can update basic old school kits and you are doing a great job on the DH Dominie 👍👍

Have fun and take care

Best Regards

Patrice

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Oh dear, that's what I get for popping over to Group Builds to catch up with current events.  I've had P-51s (aka "F-6A") - the ones with cannons and (usually) cameras- on the brain for a couple of weeks.  They were the first Mustangs in combat with the AAF, starting in April-ish '43.  Hmm...

Edited by gingerbob
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I have picked out a kit for the Heller group build coming up soon and was looking at previous group builds and spotted this one. I was amazed at the detail on the Breda 65 links posted earlier and that was the straw that broke the camels back. I'm in with my AZ Models Breda 65 that I bought recently from the model shop in Ashby de la Zouch.

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On 22/09/2020 at 10:23, Richard Tucker said:

I have picked out a kit for the Heller group build coming up soon and was looking at previous group builds and spotted this one. I was amazed at the detail on the Breda 65 links posted earlier and that was the straw that broke the camels back. I'm in with my AZ Models Breda 65 that I bought recently from the model shop in Ashby de la Zouch.

An outstanding choice, with just the merest hint of bias !

 

Good luck with your build

 

Cheers Pat

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