TallEng's Modelling musing

[NARSES2]

Nice work on the Mustang interior 

[TallEng]

It does look nice I'll agree, but its quite a lot of detail work, and if I'm honest I probably haven't got the best out of it.
But I do like the etched seat belts. I've also tried one of Eduards 3D printed decal sets (Eduard spAce) and I'm not sure
about it. I think the Etched Zoom or Weekend Seatbelt/Instrument panels are probably better.
(I feel I should mention the kit is 1/48 scale)
somebody said Eduard kits can be a bit over engineered. That's probably correct but you wouldn't get the details or variants
otherwise.

Regards
Keith

[NARSES2]

I've also tried one of Eduards 3D printed decal sets (Eduard spAce) and I'm not sure
about it. I think the Etched Zoom or Weekend Seatbelt/Instrument panels are probably better.


Regards
Keith

I agree re the 3D printed seatbelts Keith. I've not seen Eduard's but I have got some by Kitsworld and they don't look quite right ? I suppose the technology can only improve though.

As for instrument panels, have you seen those by Yahu ? No fuss, they come as one piece so are a very simple replacement for the existing part.

[TallEng]

Had one of those weekends....
two steps forward...
Put some Matt varnish on the interior of the Foto Mustang- which slowly but surely dried GLOSS!!
So I put that in the corner and frowned at it
Almost snapped one of the wingtips off the Spitfire PR.XX so had to glue that back on.
Positively though, put the U/C on the Lightning FGA.?? (not sure what Mk number it should be?)
Lightning F.6, then T7 obviously, then F.8, which gives me FGA.9 
I have however lost the ejector seat...
on the otherhand wasted over 1 hour looking for the transfers for my 213Sqn Jet Provost, ended up raiding
another Boxing for stencils and roundels.
Can you tell my workbench may not be as tidy as it should be

Regards
Keith

[TheChronicOne]

Shame about that glatt finish! 

(I'll see myself out)

[The Wooksta!]

So after only a months absence some modelling has occurred
I've started the Eduard F-6D Mustang in 1/48th in the general direction of a PR bird for the RAF, so possibly appearing in the GB of that name, or not...
I can't quite work out what the RAF would be wanting with a PR Mustang, apart from VLR operations to do with Tiger Force in the Pacific. So whilst construction continues all be it slowly as I don't have a back story for it (call it a reason for being) although I do have a colour scheme in mind and most of the Markings sorted,
make of that what you will 
On another note I've received my copy of "Spitfire the History" by Morgan and Shacklady, sometimes referred to as 'The Bible' by some 
I've been dipping in and out of it as its not a read it all at once book. (i can't find a Mk.20 Spitfire though?)p
and on that note I've started an Airfix Spitfire 22/24 with regard to making a reconnaissance version. I've added Eduard Spitfire HF wing tips to extend the span (up to 40' over 36' I think) I've also removed the little bumps on the wing that the wooksta says are for a SeaFire and of course shaved off the the cannon blisters.
The trouble is to me the best looking Spitfires are the ones with the 'High' back fuselage, especially the Griffon engined ones.
So I'm thinking of combining the Airfix PR.XIX fuselage and the Airfix F.22/24 wings Which I've done before to get an FR.21, so i know that works.
Now I'm sure the @Wooksta will be along shortly to tell me there's a better way of producing what is basically a Spitfire 21 with extended wings, but I'm working with what I've got. (I think Special Hobby and AZ did/do one?) The price I paid for both the Airfix kits is way under what a Special Hobby F.21 would cost me, and I've still got a couple of each in the stash.
The other Mod I'm thinking of is adding the Mk.22/24 'Spiteful' type fin and tailplanes to the PR.XIX fuselage, a rough and ready comparison check of both fuselages held together seems to show they pretty much match for width etc.

So to sum up: Airfix PR.XIX Fuselage with Airfix F.22/24 Fin and tailplane, Airfix F.22/24 wings with Eduard 'HF' wing tip extensions, and maybe use the Freightdog Spitfire 24 Conversion Kit for the Larger 11'10" Jablo prop, replacement wheels and revised undercarriage doors. now all I need is a Mark number, which brings me neatly to the Spitfire PR.XX I think...

Regards
Keith

I'm not sure which blisters on the wing you mean.  If it was the older wing with the heart shaped blisters, that's a post war mod starting in July 45 to do with changing the wheel tracking to avoid excessive wear on the tyres on concrete runways. That needs removing for wartime aircraft.

The wheel blisters on the Airfix 22 are bang on, the only Seafire feature on the kit is the raised squares on the engine cowlings  at the bottom in the corner above the wing fillet in front of the firewall.

As for the best way to a an F.21? Airfix PR.19 with wings and undercarriage from the F22. Fighter canopy from Falcon.  Simple and easy.
CMR do an F21 with the long span wing - the 20 series wing is basically a tidied up HF.VIII wing according to John Adams, so a 22 wing with the Eduard HF tips is the easy and cheap way.

[TallEng]

OK so the Spitfire PR.XX is finished... https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=49713.0
If I'm honest it could have come out a bit better if I hadn't pushed myself to finish it for the Recce GB.
I 'may' re-visit it at some point. However Holidays beckon
But before that here's a quick work bench update;

Whiffs by , on Flickr

JP.3 213 Squadron middle East. further details and definitive weapons fit TBD

And another member of the Middle/Near East Air Force;

Whiffs by , on Flickr

8 Squadron Lightning FGA.9 (still missing the Ejector seat +final finishing touches)
And last but not least some Spitfires: one of which is waiting for me to make my mind up

Whiffs by , on Flickr

Spitfire PR.XX, 541 Sqn, Spitfire FR.21 PRDU and Spitfire F.24, 73Sqn

Whiffs by , on Flickr

The 'BLUE' Spitfire XVI might be my interpretion of A.V.M Robbs 2nd version of his personal Spitfire. Still thinking about that colour though....

RAuxAF Hunter anyone? (needs ejector seat stencils etc adding)

Hunter F. 9 by , on Flickr

Regards
Keith

[NARSES2]

Nice collection 

[TheChronicOne]

I concur!!  (I'm late getting caught up here..... )

[TallEng]

So Holidays finished, time to don the thinking cap for the upcoming/already started gunship GB.
First thoughts where a Dakota AC-47 type for the RAF (a touch conservative I know) but that's how I  roll,
My brain (what little that's left) just doesn't seem to generate much in the way of off the wall stuff like some members of this site can generate 
Still never mind: I guess you run with what you got

So, Dakota as used by the RAF in the Borneo confrontation, and perhaps later on in Aden to help keep the dissident tribesmen in order: 3x water cooled Lewis MG out the windows and some form of heavier weapon from out of the Cargo door; even better if the heavier weapon was made by Morse, The aircraft could be carry nose art name of Endeavor... (I'll get my hat and coat) 
The other thought is to use the Twin Pioneer with a similar sort of set up, which I have in my stash.
4x Airfix DC-3/Dakota have been purchased from EBay (I'm sure you can't have too many Daks) because the ESCI Dak I have is already part started. And because I could
Have to see what takes my fancy

Regards
Keith

[NARSES2]

So, Dakota as used by the RAF in the Borneo confrontation, and perhaps later on in Aden to help keep the dissident tribesmen in order: 3x water cooled Lewis MG out the windows and some form of heavier weapon from out of the Cargo door; even better if the heavier weapon was made by Morse, The aircraft could be carry nose art name of Endeavor... (I'll get my hat and coat) 

Regards
Keith

Noted in "The Book" 

[PR19_Kit]

3x water cooled Lewis MG out the windows and some form of heavier weapon from out of the Cargo door; even better if the heavier weapon was made by Morse, The aircraft could be carry nose art name of Endeavor... (I'll get my hat and coat) 

LOVE it. 

Would the pilot be Capt. Hathaway by any chance? 

[Rheged]

3x water cooled Lewis MG out the windows and some form of heavier weapon from out of the Cargo door; even better if the heavier weapon was made by Morse, The aircraft could be carry nose art name of Endeavor... (I'll get my hat and coat) 

LOVE it. 

Would the pilot be Capt. Hathaway by any chance? 

I assume that it only flew on Thursday.......

[PR19_Kit]

3x water cooled Lewis MG out the windows and some form of heavier weapon from out of the Cargo door; even better if the heavier weapon was made by Morse, The aircraft could be carry nose art name of Endeavor... (I'll get my hat and coat) 

LOVE it. 

Would the pilot be Capt. Hathaway by any chance? 

I assume that it only flew on Thursday.......

We'll ALL be in The Book at this rate. 

[TallEng]

3x water cooled Lewis MG out the windows and some form of heavier weapon from out of the Cargo door; even better if the heavier weapon was made by Morse, The aircraft could be carry nose art name of Endeavor... (I'll get my hat and coat) 

LOVE it. 

Would the pilot be Capt. Hathaway by any chance? 

Sgt Hathaway I think from Inspector Lewis?
If you take both series main characters I think that you/I would have more than enough Character names to crew an AC-47 type Dak for the RAF methinks? But how on earth do you get them written small enough (As Decals) so that one could place them near the cockpit door?
Basically you/I need 7.
So; Pilot, Co-pilot, Nav, Flight Engineer, Load master and 2 Gunners.
It seems this project is growing legs 
My EBay load of Daks is due to land by me tomorrow.

Worryingly I can't find any 1/72nd scale Lewis guns (I was thinking .50 Calibre). can anybody help?
As they are water cooled they'll be needing a Radiator fairing thingy (3 to be precise) some where under the fuselage, plus of course magazine boxes and chutes
to the outside for the empty rounds.
Unfortunately searching the internet for Morse Guns has only turned up shotguns or Morse pistols...
That's a bit disappointing
more research needed me thinks

Regards
Keith.

Reading previous replies I fear I have dug myself a hole
The question is do I keep on digging.....