dnl42

I was going to point you at Jadar, in Warsaw, from whom I've been buying PE and decals for years*. But, they don't currently list any of the Mirage 1:400 PE (they have in the past). They do have 1:400 Part PE, but Part only has PE for surface ships (ORP MAZUR, ORP KAZSUB, & V106). FWIW, I do have those sets; they're quite nice. *Std disclaimer: satisfied customer, no association or financial interest.

I tried the Tamiya wheel well with the Eduard PE. Got the PE in, which faces the vertical surfaces. But I just didn't like the fact that it closes in the aft part of the wheel well, when it should be open to the spar. Gave up and ordered the Aries wheel well. I'll redo this when it arrives... Sigh...

Richard, Thanks for the video references! Funny thing is I knew that site, but never noticed the videos link on the front page! The 307 squadron history helped me track down the Techmod Beaufighter VIF decals and Montex Mossie IIF masks now in my stash.

Even still, there was a lot to learn, as Operation Vittles (a.k.a., Berlin Airlift) didn't reach its stride until Maj. Gen. W. H. Tunner took over operations. An outstanding discussion of this effort is in Andrei Cherny's excellent The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour.

Really need to get the Polish Mustangs book--may not be able to wait for the LHS!! In the extract that I have, I see some potential support for NMF Mustang IIIs: "There were also 35 Mustang IIIs in the SR serial range. These were built in the USAAF finish (partly in natural metal) and handed over to the British in April 1944 as a return of the batch 'borrowed' the previous December." Regardless of whether these aircraft were left NMF or repainted, they're cited as SR, not the FX series shown as NMF elsewhere. Does anybody have the Aggressive in Defence - The Aircraft of RAF Coltishall 1940 -

A progress report. I've trimmed up the cockpit so that it fits properly within the fuselage--had to sand the Eduard instrument panel just a little. Also got the oil cooler and radiator PE and plastic painted and installed. I've been looking at my references before I button up the fuselage and I found I had Michael O'Leary's Building the P-51 Mustang. This book is a treasure trove of contemporaneous photos on North American's production in Inglewood (about 20 miles from me) and in Dallas. Among the photos are pictures of the left and right fuselage halves of a P51-B (pg 112). Sadly, that show

Richard, Received your package today! Need to find out when the LHS will have this. BTW, does the book mention the name of the film described in the photos on page 45?

Among many others, there's an F8F flying in this Duxford Battle of Britain airshow video

So, I've got the front cockpit mostly done. Fixed the curved floor. Looked high and low for primary evidence on the proper harness, but I couldn't find anything. Did find some model pix with a Sutton harness, but no actual AC. As a result, I went with the Ultracast B/C seat with US harness. Also visible above and below is the Eduard PE. They provide both painted PE and film for the instruments; I went with the film to cut down the thickness. Finally figured out what everybody else must already know about the film--just painted the reverse silver and the dials show very nicely. I haven't

There are two different things being discussed. Eduard's "Landing Lights", part 00020, represent the reflector in the lens--paint them silver or face with foil, put a drop of clear epoxy, and set in place. Eduard describe that here. The P40K fret, part 32631, has templates you use to shape the tip of some heat-softened sprue as explained here. Eduard does that with hex bolt heads in their armor all the time. Not quite sure what the P40 templates are for, though...

Dang! Wish I read this post before I got this model. And Google confirms the fantasy aspects very clearly. Lots of large issues, let alone the smaller stuff. Oh well, out it goes... Thanks for the input; will keep this thread handy! edit: If the shape issues don't bother you, it would have needed a fair bit of filler...

Richard, Thanks for the offer! I'll PM you with my addr. What scale do you do? I'll send you those decals as I only do aircraft in 1:48 or 1:144. Looking at the site, I see they have the proper chessboard. I also like the relative size of the squadron crest v. the Tamiya decals. So I can use one of the sets on my the current build.

Simply stunning!

I'm in with the Tamiya 1/48 RAF Mustang III. Among the schemes Tamiya presents, my favorite is PK-V FX985 from 315 Squadron, City of Dęblin (315 Dywizjon Myśliwski Dębliński) in NMF. In 315 Squadron by Mutusiak, Gretzyngier, and Wiśniewski, the only two victories recorded in FX985's short career (Jun '44 to Aug 44) were by W/O Tadeusz Jankowski on Jul 30, 1944 (sadly, Jankowski was KIA during a Market Garden sortie on Sept 20, 1944 in PK-V FB367). According to 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437), FX985 was sold off charge Nov 28, 1946. Here's my problem. 315 Squadron shows only c

Good work on the extension! I'm in with the Tamiya 1/48 RAF Mustang III. Among the schemes Tamiya presents, my favorite is PK-V FX985 from 315 Squadron, City of Dęblin (315 Dywizjon Myśliwski Dębliński) in NMF. In 315 Squadron by Mutusiak, Gretzyngier, and Wiśniewski, the only two victories recorded in FX985's short career (Jun '44 to Aug 44) were by W/O Tadeusz Jankowski on Jul 30, 1944 (sadly, Jankowski was KIA during a Market Garden sortie on Sept 20, 1944 in PK-V FB367). According to 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437), FX985 was sold off charge Nov 28, 1946. Here's my pro

I 'spose the artist thought the pointy end went up front...

How old was the Vallejo paint? While I can strip new Vallejo, once it's cured, I'm stuck. None of the usual suspects work for me. I can't do anything that affects the paint that doesn't also destroy the plastic beneath! If it was cured, what did you use?

FYI, found this site: aerobaticteams.net. Seems fairly comprehensive across the subject for those, like me, looking for something a little different...

FYI, Kagero's SPAD S.A1-S.VII.C1 has decals for a VII with a similar design. Perhaps the same Escadrille Spa 94 "Mort qui Fauche"?

For Hi-Decal Line, don't you mean this And Caracal is here

Just checked above website and I don't see the cowlings (or any other AC bits for that matter). Any idea when you'll have something up?

Nice! :) The insignia and NMF against the gray are quite a striking color scheme.

Yeah, agree with your choice--it's going to live on your shelf! What you've shown us has been outstanding; I'd like to see the paint job too! :)

Mirage 1:48 Lublin R.XIII D, no. 56-115, 26th Observation Flight, 2nd Air Regiment (Kraków). Part PE cockpit and Lewis gun Wonder Wire rigging

Done!