Narses2's Blog - or what I'm slowly making progress on

[NARSES2]

I've pondered a Japan simultaneously invaded by the Soviet Union, US and Commonwealth forces resulting in a divided Japan and Tokyo similar to East Germany and Berlin in OTL.

I dug my "go to" book * on the subject out to check and whilst no Commonwealth land forces were to be involved in the initial landings in Kyushu on 1st November the Xth Commonwealth Corps would have been involved in the Honshu landings on 1st March 1946. This would have consisted of 3rd British Division, 6th Canadian and 10th Australian. The British then intended to send two follow up Divisions on or about Y+40.

* Codename Downfall. The secret plan to invade Japan by Thomas B Allen and Norman Polmar. A very good mix of historical facts, both military and political for the planing stage, followed up by a plausable outline of what might have happened.

[jcf]

The Soviet's didn't bother waiting for the Allies to get their wonderful plan put together,
their moves to invade from the North kicked off with the Invasion of South Sakhalin
on 11 August of 1945 with an invasion of Hokkaido to follow within 10-14 days of them
securing Sakhalin. The Sakhalin operation took two weeks, ending on 25 August, so by
the Soviet timetable they would have been hitting Hokkaido by the second week of October,
three weeks before Olympic which was scheduled for November 1st. They probably would
have had control of large parts of the island by Nov. 1st. and the whole island by the end
of the year, and unlike the Allied forces the snowy nature of Hokkaido wouldn't have been
much of a challenge for the Soviets. A Soviet controlled Hokkaido would have made for a
messy post-war situation.

[PR19_Kit]

A Soviet controlled Hokkaido would have made for a messy post-war situation.

Just like Germany in fact.

[NARSES2]

Progress report

The IK 2 just needs her tail bracing wires and ring site attaching and she's finished. So hopefully tomorrow ?

The Mohawk has had her transfers done, so is getting there. Hopefully done before the One Week GB starts. The AZ transfers behaved very well. They come off the backing quickly, are very thin and thus some of them can fold under themselves, especially the longer ones, but they are also remarkably tough so that can be sorted out. They also give you plenty of manoeuvring time 

The Randy has had most of her transfers done, at least the 10 or so provided by Sword. I have a few others from the spares box to liven her up a bit still to go on. Unlike the AZ transfers the Sword ones took and age to come off the backing, not as bad as some Japanese ones though, but once off behave well 

The Thunderbolt is now a complete airframe and has reminded me of just how big they were.

[NARSES2]

Was looking for something else yesterday and whilst moving my Hataka RAF PR Units set to get to something noticed some of the colours included. I can feel a couple of early and Middle East PR Spitfires coming on 

[TallEng]

Desert pink? Obviously flown in support of or even by the Long Range Desert Group

Regards
Keith

[PR19_Kit]

Dark Azure Blue?

[The Wooksta!]

You mean Bosun Blue, I think...

[NARSES2]

The ones that tickled my palette were :- P.R. Pink ; Camo Tint Pink and Royal Blue.

I also have a Legato resin Spitfire PR I G in the stash.

Co-incidentally Paul Lucas has an article on RAF photo recce colours in the June SAM, but you do need to gather your strength before reading it. I admire his research, but is it suited to a "popular" magazine ? To say his style is "dry" is putting it mildly.

[The Wooksta!]

If that Legato PR.I.G is anything like mine, you'll need to replace the canopy as mine is now a wonderful shade of gold.  I may have some spare somewhere.

Lovely kit, although as the basis is really just a rescribed old tool Airfix mk Ia it should be.

[PR19_Kit]

Co-incidentally Paul Lucas has an article on RAF photo recce colours in the June SAM, but you do need to gather your strength before reading it. I admire his research, but is it suited to a "popular" magazine ? To say his style is "dry" is putting it mildly.

What's on the cover of that issue of SAM please Chris? I looked for it in the 'best magazine shop in the country' the other day, but they were very low on modelling mags, I only found the July Airfix Mag.

[NARSES2]

If that Legato PR.I.G is anything like mine, you'll need to replace the canopy as mine is now a wonderful shade of gold.  I may have some spare somewhere.

Lovely kit, although as the basis is really just a rescribed old tool Airfix mk Ia it should be.

Cheers Lee, I thought it looked familiar. I'm sure I've got some spare canopies somewhere, both injection and a couple of Falcon sets. I'll let you know if I need any help.

[NARSES2]

Co-incidentally Paul Lucas has an article on RAF photo recce colours in the June SAM, but you do need to gather your strength before reading it. I admire his research, but is it suited to a "popular" magazine ? To say his style is "dry" is putting it mildly.

What's on the cover of that issue of SAM please Chris? I looked for it in the 'best magazine shop in the country' the other day, but they were very low on modelling mags, I only found the July Airfix Mag.

Kit, main pictures are of a couple of WWI Nieuports, small photo of a Gladiator cockpit/pilot in top right hand corner and the bar at the bottom is Mystere cockpit, Ju 126 and Wellington

[NARSES2]

Well the IK 2 is finished. I gave up with the ring site, it's etch and just didn't want to play ball. I'll post a couple of pics of her latter because whilst she's a real world build she's an interesting aircraft with an interesting colour scheme. Or I think so anyway.

The Randy now has her transfers completed, and I must admit all the layers of Klear she's been hit with over the last few days have certainly improved the look of that Tamiya paintwork.

[NARSES2]

A little progress on all current projects although there won't be much more for a week or so as they will be parked whilst the One Week GB is on and real life intervenes Thursday and Friday.

I must admit I've had problems with both the Randy (Tamiya's paint) and the Mohawk (stupidity on my part) but I'm coming around to quite liking both of them now.

I've always liked the P-36's rather pugnacious look and a few more, both Wif and real, may be on the cards. I've half a dozen or so of different makes in the stash.