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Rhodesian Air force 1/48 scale


vulcanxm603

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I have been building 1/48 scale models of the aircraft utilised by the Rhodesian Air Force. So far have built:

Spitfire Mk22 (Airfix)

Hawker Hunter FGA9 (Academy kit)

Douglas C-47 (Revell)

Reims Cessna 337G [Lynx] (Italeri)

Augusta Bell 205 [Cheetah] (Revell)

English Electric Canberra B.2 with nose rocket rails (Airfix)

Alouette II (Heller)

Alouette III 'K' Car with 151/20mm Matra cannon (Fujimi)

DSCF1710.jpg

DSCF1711.jpg

DSCF1713.jpg

DSCF1714.jpg

DSCF1715.jpg

DSCF1716.jpg

DSCF1717.jpg

Still to be built

Alouette III 'G' car with twin .303 Brownings (Fujimi)

deHavilland Vampire FB52 (Classic Airframes)

deHavilland Vampire T55 (Classic Airframes)

SIAI Marchetti SF260C [Genet] (Planet Models) (completed)

Photos of built aircraft to follow as soon as I take some.

Edited by vulcanxm603
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Nice!

Any closer pics of the gun mount?

And please can you details the modifications you've done?

Thanks.

Hi,

Mods done on the Alouette III to make upto RhAF 'K' car standard.

1) Anti SAM cover and exhaust shroud on engine made.

2) Elephant ear dust filters on air intakes made. (angles and sizes were the hard part)

3) extra decking across rear of cockpit for 20mm mounting (strengthing)

4) 20mm cannon mounting made.

5) Instrument console moved towards pilots side of cockpit.

6) Fireforce commanders seat installed (rear facing)

7) Gunners seat installed (facing open side)

8) Rear door removed.

9) plate between commanders chair and pilots seat as well as rear of cockpit installed.

10) Blade antenna made and installed on cockpit roof infront of rotor gear upright.

11) antennas made and installed on front of canopy.

12) nose wheel strut shortened.

13) Upright strut (floor - roof) by open section made.

Colours used to paint are Humbrol 29 & 30 with small amounts of red, yellow, aliminium, black and steel blue used to paint engine, tail rotor, wheels, etc.

Cockpit interior done in chracoal grey as per information from ex RhAF personnel.

MG151/20 mount photo below.(photo found on http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showt...2&page=116)

20mmmounting.jpg

Hope the above info and photo helps. Most of these mods are used to make a 'G' car (troop carrier)

Edited by vulcanxm603
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Great job! I love RhAF subjects too. I'll bet you're praying for a 1/48 Provost one day!

I'll have to go through the old postings and find the others

David

Have built all aircraft in 1/72 including the Provost, but have converted to 1/48 to get more detail.

One aircraft that has yet to come out as a model in 1/72 or 1/48 is the AL60 (Trojan). Hopefully one day it will.

Edited by vulcanxm603
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My Reims Cessna 337G (Lynx)

DSCF1728.jpg

DSCF1727.jpg

DSCF1726.jpg

DSCF1722.jpg

DSCF1720.jpg

DSCF1725.jpg

Some mods are:

1) .303 gunpods on wing root.

2) Fences on main wing.

3) Wing tips bent downwards

4) Anti SAM exhaust shrouds.

5) Golf bomb and SNEB rocket pods.

6) bulged observers window in door.

7) mod to rear of fuselage just in front of prop.

8) Antennas and antenna wire installed.

Edited by vulcanxm603
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Very nice!

never heard about the Cessna's kit.

the Cessna kit is a Cessna 02 Skymaster which I have modified. Kit was made by Testors as well as they took over the italeri moulds. Can sometimes be found on ebay.

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Very cool. I especially like the home made Golfs. Where's the Canberra, please?

David

The Canberra might be finished in the next 2 weeks as still have to build the Alpha bomb cages, ramps for aircraft to be pulled on when bombing up and the rocket rails to be installed.

Will advise when complete and pics on forum.

Then its onto the Alouette III 'G' car (just started)

Have just purchased a C-47 to make a Para Dak.

Edited by vulcanxm603
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E.E. Canberra B.2

DSCF1782.jpg

DSCF1779.jpg

DSCF1778.jpg

DSCF1783.jpg

Ongoing project.

Decals still to be put on, Alpha bomb cages to be made and fitted, nose rocket rails to be fitted and nose cone to be refitted or Dimple Haig nose cone (Rhodesian made with 3 flat screens) to be made and fitted.

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Hello '603 - great models of an air arm not frequently built.

Can you answer a small question for me please? Is it true that the 'brown' and 'green' are actually from former RAF dark earth/dark green stocks of WWII vintage? I have also seen reference to 'sky' undersides too.

After seeing the pics, I'm seriously considering doing my 1/72 Aeroclub Vampire T.11 in RhAF colours

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vulcan,

Very nice builds. Where did you get the markings for the Dakota?

I have a Revell 32nd scale Hunter that I would love to do in Rhodesian AF markings, but AFAIK, they don't exist.

Cheers, Ian

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Superb models, its about time I finished my 1/72 Rhodesian aircraft!!!

Have you got drawings and dimensions for the canberra alpha bomb cages please?

Regards

Wayne

Many thanks for your comment.

Unfortunately I have not got the dimensions and drawings of the Canberra alpha bomb cage. am woring it out from photos and the fact that the cage held 100 Alpha bombs in 2 sections. I have seen the measurement of an Aplha bomb in one of my books and this will give me a rough idea of the cage dimensions.

Once I have got these I will forward them to you for your Canberra.

By the way you have a superb collection.

Regards

vulcanxm603

Edited by vulcanxm603
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vulcan,

Very nice builds. Where did you get the markings for the Dakota?

I have a Revell 32nd scale Hunter that I would love to do in Rhodesian AF markings, but AFAIK, they don't exist.

Cheers, Ian

Hi IAN,

I make my own decals. Schemes and colours are found on photographs both in my reference books and on the web. also stills taken from my Rhodesian DVD's.

Scale wise it has been a case of trial and error using normal print paper first to get it right then decal paper.

Regards

Phil

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Hello '603 - great models of an air arm not frequently built.

Can you answer a small question for me please? Is it true that the 'brown' and 'green' are actually from former RAF dark earth/dark green stocks of WWII vintage? I have also seen reference to 'sky' undersides too.

After seeing the pics, I'm seriously considering doing my 1/72 Aeroclub Vampire T.11 in RhAF colours

The colours I have been using are Humbrol 29 & 30 as these are the closest to the RhAF colours. Bear in mind that under the african sun the colour shade changes very rapidly. The aircraft were painted in a Rhodesian variation of the Dark Green/Brown that gave off a very low infra red signature.

The Vampire T.11's had a Sky blue/Duck egg blue underside, but all the othe aircraft were brown. No idea why the Vampire T.11 was left skyblue.

Colour pic of the Vampire T.11 below. The underside looks to be Silver in colour:

RhAF2sqnVampireT-11SA.jpg

Edited by vulcanxm603
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Ok - now I'm really intrigued. 'Dimple Haig' nosecone? I've never heard of it or seen a picture. Do you have one?

David

Hi David,

Information obtained from the book 'Canberra in Southern African Service' by Michael Hamence & Wiston Brent, states the following:

the local improvisation for the nose cones was quite simple. What became known as the "Dimple Haig" modification was an assembly of three optical flats (used by the bomb aimer) equally spaced in a fibreglass nose cone.

Photos below 'apologies for the quality, but scanned from the book'.

Canberradimplehaignose.jpg

Canberradimplehaignose1.jpg

Hope it clarifies things.

also another mod is the air start frame and trolley to build, then install.

Photo below

Canberraairstartcage.jpg

Edited by vulcanxm603
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