LDSModeller Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 1 hour ago, GREG DESTEC said: I'm interested to see you are modelling a 75 squadron subject. My Great Uncle was in 75 squadron from 1939 To 1941 as a Wireless operator/air gunner. At the beginning of the war I think it was a RAF squadron with a New Zealand flight. However at some point shortly thereafter, I think, it became 75 squadron RNZAF. At that time they flew Wellington but eventually moved on to Stirlings and Lancasters. At some point did they convert to the Mosquito or am I rabbiting on about a completely different squadron? Hi Greg, Yes, you're right, 75 Squadron was an RAF Squadron. At the out break of WWII a contingent of RNZAF Personnel were in Britain to fly home to New Zealand, 30 Wellington Mk I Bombers. However the New Zealand Government, offered them to Britain/RAF for use in the war effort. These Personnel/Aircraft were known as the "New Zealand Squadron". In April 1940, the RAF officially re- named this Squadron, 75 (NZ) Squadron. Given this title, 75 Squadron was not an Article XV Squadron (for New Zealand these numbered 485-490). Your Great Uncle would have there for all of this, Pretty Cool History You're also correct in that 75 Squadron flew, Wellingtons (Mk I/III), Stirling's and Lancaster's (these last till wars end) with a brief (very very brief) fling with Lincolns late 1945 In 1946 the 75 Squadron number was officially given to the RNZAF, to which the Mosquito's as in my build were allocated. The Squadron you're thinking about with the Mosquito's, would be 487 Squadron, one of the Article XV Squadrons I mentioned above. This photo below, shows three of these aircraft Not to be done in this GB, but I have a Trumpeter Wellington Mk III to build as a 75 (NZ) Squadron aircraft AA-D as in this painting below The Duck Art/Motiff seen in the Painting, taken off AA-D, is on display at MOTAT here in Auckland The Thomas Fredrick Duck Art went on to serve up to the Lancaster's also. The Original Pencil art, is also on display Hope the above helps answer your query? Regards Alan 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 Thanks for that Alan. It's sharpened up my understanding of the squadrons formation and transition to RNZAF. My Great Uncle completed a tour of ops with 75 before transferring to 93 squadron, and then eventually to the Telecommunications Flying Unit which was the practical side of developing and testing airborne radar. He died in December 1942 when following an exercise in the Edinburgh area and his aircraft exploded making an emergency landing. I carried out a bit of research about his service in the RAF from official sources and have a record of all his missions with 75. Cheers Greg 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted May 16, 2021 Author Share Posted May 16, 2021 On 5/2/2021 at 2:11 AM, GREG DESTEC said: My Great Uncle completed a tour of ops with 75 before transferring to 93 squadron, and then eventually to the Telecommunications Flying Unit which was the practical side of developing and testing airborne radar. He died in December 1942 when following an exercise in the Edinburgh area and his aircraft exploded making an emergency landing. Hi Greg, Thank you for sharing your family history about your Great Uncle, very special Given your Great Uncle completed a tour of Ops with 75 (NZ) Squadron, we have to make him an Honorary Kiwi 🇳🇿 Hard to post a follow up of the build after after that, I'll start a new Post Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Cheers Alan, I'm sure he would have been chuffed to be given such an accolade. I look forward to more progress with your Mosquito. King regards Greg 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted May 16, 2021 Author Share Posted May 16, 2021 8 hours ago, GREG DESTEC said: I'm sure he would have been chuffed to be given such an accolade. I look forward to more progress with your Mosquito. Hi Greg, In my book, very deserving of it 👍 Well an update, would have happened last night (twice), guess that's what happens when you try to rush through the post/just before bed, so third time lucky The new wheels turned up, are weighted and much larger than the kit ones With the larger wheels, I had to rethink how I would construct the undercart, as you can't, following the kit instructions, more on this later. With that in mind, looking at the photo of NZ2305, and an RNZAF Mosquito from 75 Sqn you can see that the doors of the kit are not the same ( I think more for a Bomber version) (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Kit parts So I looked at what to remove (per annotated photo below) Removed the unwanted parts and here we are So with that, I needed to extend the upper door areas as per below, then fill with putty (WIP this one) Glued the wings and nacelles, and again filling seams/misalignments with....... you guessed it more putty So after using putty and Acetone (nail polish remover) to smooth out the putty, I glued all the appendages to fuselage Added the aerial mast, pertanent for the period (Circa 1952) Note, the Camouflaged ones had (earlier) different masts Before I forget, I drilled out the cannon openings, I had though about just plating them over as seen on NZ2305 here and the odd 75 Sqn Mosquito circa early 1950's (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) The business end of the 20mm canon troughs - there is a method to my madness NZ2328 with troughs open, BTW this is the configuration I plan to portray my Mosquito in (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) So major milestone Will spend the next day or so masking and then painting See you in the next update, thanks for looking in Regards Alan 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 Great progress Alan, I never appreciated that Airfix wheels and gear doors were so inaccurate. Good work on that. Looking forward to the next update. Cheers Greg 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted May 17, 2021 Share Posted May 17, 2021 Gidday Alan, although I'm a model ship builder I've always liked the Mozzie. But I've never built one. Maybe one day . . . I like what you're doing with yours. Regards, Jeff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted May 31, 2021 Author Share Posted May 31, 2021 Hi All, Due to Illness issues with the family (its an on going thing) meaning little to no time at the bench , this one isn't going into the gallery - such is life I'll keep it going till done (hopefully later this week). The rest of my builds, I'll complete as/when I can Though the Lone Avenger (NZ2504) I probably will transfer to the WIP Forums Thanks to Dennis/Pat for being the great hosts of this GB, there are some totally awesome builds in this GB, and more especially the Honorary Kiwi's/Aussies, who I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting/spending time with Kind regards Alan 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 22 hours ago, LDSModeller said: Hi All, Due to Illness issues with the family (its an on going thing) meaning little to no time at the bench , this one isn't going into the gallery - such is life I'll keep it going till done (hopefully later this week). The rest of my builds, I'll complete as/when I can Though the Lone Avenger (NZ2504) I probably will transfer to the WIP Forums Thanks to Dennis/Pat for being the great hosts of this GB, there are some totally awesome builds in this GB, and more especially the Honorary Kiwi's/Aussies, who I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting/spending time with Kind regards Alan Hello Alan, Im sorry to hear of the health issues. Its been a pleasure to host the build and I do look forward to the next installment in a couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDSModeller Posted June 1, 2021 Author Share Posted June 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Its been a pleasure to host the build and I do look forward to the next installment in a couple of years. Hi Dennis, Definitely put my name for that, can think of a few things you build that are a part of Kiwiana/Australiana Regards Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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