Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I am joining with the Academy Ventura to be finished as a RAAF 459SQN aircraft which operated in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations in 1943. My kit came from a club swap meet without instructions or decals, so I found some replacement instructions on Scalemates. The Red Roo conversion includes decals for the aircraft I am building. The conversion also includes a new cockpit, replacement turret mount, replacement intakes and desert filters and radar antenna. 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Welcome, Ray I think this might be the first Ventura in the GB, but I'm starting to lose track a little as we've almost reached the 100 build mark. I really like the octopus painted around the turret on the box art, I've not seen that before. I'm sure the conversion (and your skill) will make this a really good build James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Looking forward to this! I like the RAAF scheme. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 5 hours ago, 81-er said: Welcome, Ray I think this might be the first Ventura in the GB, but I'm starting to lose track a little as we've almost reached the 100 build mark. I really like the octopus painted around the turret on the box art, I've not seen that before. I'm sure the conversion (and your skill) will make this a really good build James Of the kits in my stash I picked this one as I noticed no one else had picked the subject. Now watch for the flurry of Ventura builds! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafwaffe Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Great choice! Looking forward to your build and seeing your Ventura in an Aussie Squadron’s markings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 Interestingly different... Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammer625 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Looking forward to this - I also have this kit and conversion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 On 07/01/2024 at 17:29, Romeo Alpha Yankee said: Of the kits in my stash I picked this one as I noticed no one else had picked the subject. Now watch for the flurry of Ventura builds! Well, I have been on the hunt for one on eBay! 🤣 Great subject, will watch with interest. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Have a couple in the stash and will be interested to see how the Red Roo works with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 So off we go, the RR instructions would have you start with modifying the engine intakes and exhaust shrouds. After reading the instructions I was a bit confused and need to re-read and think about the process. I decided to have a crack at the cockpit. You get replacement seats for pilot and navigator and an additional radio operators seat. This means some scratch building to make a compartment for the seat! I removed the cockpit 'door'' and added card behind it to make a floor and second bulkhead. There is a good picture of the compartment in the RR instructions. The image of the competed cockpit with seats installed shows seat framing which is not supplied. I think the image maybe of the Revell 1/48 kit, so I just left some pour block on the bottom of the seats to get them up off the floor. Here is the cockpit minus door with seats and replacement instrument panel installed After some cutting and gluing the rear compartment was completed. I added a table and some radio boxes to busy it up a bit not that it will be seen once the fuselage is closed up. One thing with the radio op's seat was it had no back, the instructions show a picture of the included parts in the set but the radio op seat is not shown. So I am not sure if it has a back or not? Looking at the image of the compartment supplied in the instructions I decided there was one and added what I thought it might look like. Finally for this update was assembling the replacement turret ring, it has a lot more detail and depth of that supplied in the kit. I need to cut the existing plastic inside the existing ring away in due course. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Very nice start on your Ventura Ray. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 As Craig said, that's a great start. The RedRoo parts are a significant improvement over the kit bits James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Nice with adding the radio room. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 Thanks guys, Well after a great start I stuffed the intake replacement, I did not read the instructions properly before removing the kit parts. SO too much came off. It is not a total loss just some extra work to restore the rear ends of the intakes. On a brighter note I managed to get to the shed just now to do some painting. The kit instructions are vague ( or non existent) for some colours so some research is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 The radio room looks great. How about a morse key….. AW 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 On 1/10/2024 at 7:51 PM, Andwil said: The radio room looks great. How about a morse key….. AW Ahhh.... NO! It is buttoned up now and am tackling the balls up I made of the engine mods. Here is the next update, Interior painted Engine mods started which I initially stuffed up Fuselage together as well Still sorting out the other engine intake at this stage 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 It's coming along well, Ray. Hopefully it won't be too much work to fix the engine mods? James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 Sure you'll get those mods set to rights! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 7 hours ago, 81-er said: It's coming along well, Ray. Hopefully it won't be too much work to fix the engine mods? James 5 hours ago, Thom216 said: Sure you'll get those mods set to rights! I am slowly sorting them, lots of putty, sanding, putty, sanding and filing. I think I have the starboard engine pretty much sorted, I now need to turn my attention to the other side. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 The engines are done, though one is a little honky. Major assembly complete and the model has been primes with EDSG which is one of the camo colours. Some seams need attention 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Very nice work Ray, the Ventura is such a great looking aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 You're really moving fast with this one, Ray. It doesn't look like it's going to take much work to sort those seams out James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 So onto the paint stage and some masking. I started with the white on the lower fuselage Which was partially mask to do the top side Extra Dark Sea grey and Slate Grey on More masking and the de-icing boots are done With most of the touch ups done it is ready for final assembly 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Really nice job on the painting Ray, she looks great 👍. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Looks fantastic under paint! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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