A Ramrod raid on Amsterdam - 1/72 Ventura Mk.II - AJ209 (S/L. L.H. Trent)

[alt-92]

Claiming a spot. 

I'll be doing the classic/ancient/old (you decide) Minicraft Ventura Mk.II, with help from the DK Decal Ventura sheet.

 

 

And the subject as the title says:  Leonard Trent's AJ209 on the ill-fated Ramrod 16 raid. 

 

 

[Col.]

An unusual but worthy subject choice. Hopefully the kit, while old, is a good one  

[stevehnz]

Nice choice, I'll be looking in. 

Steve.

[desert falcon]

Me too  

[TonyOD]

Ooh I like the look of this!

[DaveyGair]

Seems like I've stolen your idea! I'm doing No.4, the 21 Sqn. one.

 

Davey.

[alt-92]

4 hours ago, DaveyGair said:

Seems like I've stolen your idea! I'm doing No.4, the 21 Sqn. one.

 

No worries    just cut the first bits off the trees over here. 

So, 1987 it is.

 

A quick dry-fit with the transparent nose seems to indicate no real issues on mine, pretty good with minimal seams:

 

There's probably more work involved with the engine bays to be honest.

 

All curable with filler and careful sanding I guess.

 

For inspiration, I perused the IWM archives and found this shot before one of the raids. 

_{© IWM (HU 81278)}

 

Sobering thought, most of the men here would no longer be alive after this disaster.  I'll be touching upon the events during the thread.

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

6 hours ago, alt-92 said:

For inspiration, I perused the IWM archives and found this shot before one of the raids. 

_{© IWM (HU 81278)}

Interesting layout of guns in the nose. Ive never had the inkling to build one until now. 

[Col.]

A bit of work will indeed be required around that area but it sounds as if you're going into in with confidence and a good plan  

 

Sobering thought indeed. It seems the desperate need to claim a 'Thousand Bomber Raid' was more important than any practical considerations or the impact it would have on crews flying aircraft that were not truly fit for the purpose.

[Mr T]

An interesting build of one of the less successful light bombers of WW2. The Ventura really did seem unfit for purpose, and the crews who had to fly them must have disappointed to receive these aircraft after the battering the 2 Group Squadrons had received in Blenheim operations. Apparently the Boston was rated better.  At least they were replaced with a far better aircraft in the shape of the Mosquito FBVI. I cannot imagine the courage it must have taken to fly those aircraft into danger on a regular basis. We do well to remember them.