LDSModeller

Nice to see it finished Do you have any more photos? Would love to see more!!!! Thanks for posting Regards Alan

Nice build, I have a couple in my stash waiting. One an RNZAF P3B/K the other a USN VP 40 bird (Moffat Field) Just one question, other than the missing search light, how did you deal with the P 3C sonobuoy tubes on the lower fuselage, as the B and C have different tube systems Here is a Kiwi P 3B (when it was pretty much straight off the production line) when they became part of 5 Squadron, taking over from the Sunderlands. If you look closely, you can see the search light on the inner Starboard pylon, they were originally on the outer pylon, but wing vibration caused the search light

Dutch Bostons would have been built in a time line similar to their British counterparts, and after the fall of the Netherlands (May 1940) and Dutch East Indies (March 1942), any residual aircraft remaining for delivery would have been directed to Australia either for the RAAF/USAAC (much like the Dutch Buffalo's) Just a note here of caution here, the Dutch like the British had official paint schemes (exterior/interior) and like the British MAP aircraft, the Dutch ordered aircraft would have been painted in US Equivalent colours. The US Equivalent Dutch Flat Interior Green was more than l

If the Bostons were built for the RAF (under MAP) requirements they would have been the US equivalent of British Air Ministery Interior green (similar to Cockpit Green (pale light green)) For Dutch contracts (like RAF MAP) the Dutch Brewster Buffalo 339D built, used Flat Interior green. If the Dutch required Flat Interior Green for their Buffalos then, It would be certain that they would have used the same in their Bostons. Hope that helps Alan

The best thing I can suggest is try this forum, it has members who have a good knowledge of the Strikemaster (among other RNZAF aircraft) http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi? Try the Royal New Zealand Air Force Boards Hope that helps you Alan

For an RNZAF Blunty Try these, there are photos which have stencils and camouflage also RNZAF Strikemaster1 RNZAF Strikemaster 2 RNZAF Strikemaster 3 Hope that helps Alan

Looks great, thanks for sharing. A lttle history on your aircraft P 40N Buer No. 43-23245 Arrived in New Zealand at Hobsonville Base, Auckland Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC (Brought On Charge) at Hobsonville on 09 February 1944. WWII Hobsonville Sorry there is no WWII history to give, most likely served at Bouganville until end of war before being returned to New Zealand. Most P 40's were repainted on return to New Zealand in New Zealand equivalent colours of Foliage Green/NZ-Sky Grey (Greenish/Blue/Grey colour). On being SOC (Struck Off Charge) P 40's wer

From a purely biased point of view, I would never consider an aircraft in WWII RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) colours flat or boring. One of our greatest aces Geoff Fisken (10 + kills) flew the P 40, Wairarapa Wildcat and a famous (in New Zealand at least) P 40N, Gloria Lyons is a popular model topic. Looks great, and the weathering, nice and subtle for the scale, the Pacific sun was unforgiving to camouflage colours, not to mention the abrasive coral Good job, thanks for sharing Alan

I wish we could still get MM paints (Enamels/Arylics) here in New Zealand. I have some that I have carefully hoarded when we could buy them, for those special models that require them, as Humbrol or Tamiya (at that time) did not make them. I have had no trouble with either enamel/acrylic, the acrylic took a couple of tries to get the thinning down, but sprayed on wonderfully once I did. We cannot import them personally, as the postal system here will not carry that kind of liquid You can find the odd model store that has a small stock left but nothing to write home about. Regards A

Hi Geedog Are those After Market masks for your canopy/turret or did you make them yourself? They look really good Regards Alan

I have asked a guy I know who is quite knowledgable one the Sunderland (written a few books and magazine articles) if he has any additional info on depth charges. I would agree with you on your 1944 attack comment, as the Pilot I quoted, flying the 270 Sqn Sunderland was serving in West Africa (near Jui/Sierra leone) about 1944 so his description of the depth charge fits with your comments Regards Alan

I don't belive those above are standard bombs, look similar, not the same Check this link which has picture/diagram of WWII RAF standard 250 lb bomb RAF 250 lb Bomb I have some notes given to me by a former 270 Squadron Sunderland pilot (actually RNZAF 490 Sqn) which he states that the Sunderland carried the following Quote " We carried the standard eight 250 pound depth charges....." end quote, the pilot goes on to describe the actual depth charge. Quote " The depth Charges were like a drum with no nose cone, but fitted with a tail unit to stop it tumbling in the air and kep it tra

I think half the problem with Spitfire kits these days is a manufactuter produces kits with what they believe is the norm eg Bakelite seats for all Spitfires, and modellers build them accordingly (most Spitfire Mk I/Ia builds I see on the net/magazines have a bakelite seat and a crow bar on the entry door(-there shouldn't be one)). The plastic/Bakelite seat (to my understanding) was actually a modification to assit in production during Battle of Britain. Going with what Jennings said, if it was an early Spitfire (Mk I/a) I would go with a metal seat. The only time you might see an ear

I have a few Airfix Sunderlands, and looking at the depth charges in mine, Airfix seems to have got them reasonably accurate for 1/72 scale. Here is a picture of the real thing Just be aware that the Rails for the bomb racks on the Airfix kit are wrong, in that there should be three rails instead of two If you display the racks out, generally the bomb doors will be open, if displayed in (retracted) the three rails are coverd up as in the above photo. (note the cover strips in photo are only partially retracted, should be flush against side of hull) On the WEM items, good to have, b

Hi Geedog Coming a long very nicely!! Look forward to next post Thanks Alan

Hi Geedog Looking very nice :wacko: Just one comment if I may, the camouflage ending near the tail, should have a rounded edge rather than a squared off profile. I don't know how realistic you want your model to be, with the front turret, the area under the turret was all open (eg gunner climbed in from the bow section under turret), so the Turret pin hole in the front should be enlarged if you want realism: see photos The rear of the turret had two holes in it. The rear turret is wrong in the Airfix kit, in that the turret is open at the rear Lower part of the turret sit

First off, as I understand it the Kriegsmarine did not have an offical air arm like the Royal Navy (FAA) or the US Navy. Aircraft like the Arado 196 belonged to the Luftwaffe, who also provided personel to fly/service them and they were painted in Luftwaffe colours. RLM 72/73 are Actual Greens and RLM 72 somewhat resembles Black Green (hence it's darker apperance) but is lighter in tone. RLM 73 is a Green Grey, (but not a true Grey Green like RLM 74) hence lighter in tone when compared to the darker RLM 72. Consider this photo Yes, it's an old photo and if you look above the inner star

WWII Luftwaffe colours for Marine flying were RLM 72 Grun (green) and 73 Grun (green) (for the likes of Arado 196/FW 200 Condor etc) my understanding of this is that the 73 is a somewhat greenish bluish grey colour Here is a link to some colour chats that may help RLM Colours Chart Just scroll to 72/73 , it does give some paint Types (testors etc) Here is a link by Testors which gives RLM colour buttons (hold the cursor over the button) Testors RLM paints Hope that helps Alan

Pre lend Lease would have had US Equivalent colours for the interior and exterior, even some early Lend lease had US Eqivalent Colours. If they were painted DuPont, there were specific colours. see chart I can't comment on the Mustang but most other types eg Buffalo/Hudson etc would have had US "RAF" eqivalent paints interior/exterior Note this photo of a RNZAF Hudson ex RAF Stock see the upper canopy framing colour Photo used permission NRMines Regards Alan

Hi Craig I have a Scale Aircraft Modelling magazine from 2000 (Battle of France 60th Anniversary). There is an article by a guy building a number of Bloch 152 series fighters, and he comments on some of his findings, he finds the interiors vary, and seems to be dependant on manufacturer and paint availability. The following paints were commonly used Gris-bleu Clair - (light grey) commonly used for lower aircraft colours Bleu Nuit - (dark blue) Chamois- (cream) The first two appear to have been more common and the Chamois appears to be the French eqivalent of US Zinc Chromate, used o

Hi Greg I gather your question is in relation to your Sunderland Build Here is a Bristol Pegasus Mk XVIII Engine The ones in the Airfix Sunderland are a simple relief If you click on this link it will take you to the Seawing site Seawings Click on references (LHS) then Flying Boat plans, go down to Short Sunderland-(choose MK III) it gives a cutaway plan which should help you with the exhaust placement. The Airfix Plans (yes I have some in front of me) show the exhaust to be placed furtherback along the engine cowl, when in fact they should start at the collector ring on the front

Adrian I had heard this too, so I checked with my Learned Colleagues on the Seawings forum and got these answers thus far Lanoline type paints Hope that helps to answer your query Regards Alan

Hi Greg Looking good, just one question, lower photo are you plannnig to display the bomb racks out under the wing? If you are, then the slots under the wings will be fine as you have them. If not then you will need to fill in the slots as they were covered when the bomb racks were retracted into the hull Basically when the pilot ran the racks out the metal covers were wound back into a drum inside the wing, and visa versa when the racks were retracted. This photos show the covers not fully retracted, as they should be flush against the hull side. keep up the great work Alan

Hi Geedog Dark Slate Grey is actually a dark Green grey. looked at my Humbrol chart and Hu102 looks close. Used to be able to buy Modemaster Dark slate grey, maybe your LHS has some? Check out the paint job on this link, will give you some idea of the two colours, you can see the dark Slate Grey is really more a green than grey Sunderland build HTH Alan

Hi Geedog Going back to your original qurie about the planing surface, I'm going out on a limb here and am thinking that your Airfix plans call for the planing area of the hull (part that sits in water), is a light grey (I have a number Airfix Sunderlands kits too). Of the profiles I have for 422 RCAF Squadron Sunderlands (which is the markings for your kit) circa 1943 all the lower fuselage areas were white. Airfix did get it right partially describing the lowere surface grey, but not all Sunderlands had this and the grey was usually along the waterline. Check out this set of photos o