1/72 RNZAF Ventura (Academy)

[Bruce]

I have just completed a 1/72 RNZAF Ventura using the Academy kitset. The actual construction was standard out of box with no additional detail - its next to impossible to see anything inside the aircraft so it doesnt make sense to go overboard with it. It was airbrushed and weathered using Tamiya Acrylics, and the decal were from the Zorz Ocean Raiders set. The fuselage roundels had real adhesion problems and lifted, so these were replaced with F4U roundels from the Aeromaster sheet. They arent an exact match as they dont have full yellow rings, but are actually a more appropriate colour. The upper wing roundels in the set are very faded, but there is photographic evidence to suggest that this is accurate for this aircraft. The aircraft Chosen is NZ4540 of 2BR sqn, Guadalcanal March 1944, one of the few to retain its factory Disney cartoon on the front line. It has an Irate Donald duck with the caption "We fire from both ends!". I am really pleased to have this completed in time to take to the Forum Veterans Day in May, as Dave tells me there will be BR sqn vets present.














Man, I'm enjoying having an airbrush!

[Dave Homewood]

Very nice work there Bruce, it looks great.

It is a bit of a myth that very few Venturas retained their Disney cartoons in the Pacific, almost all of No. 1 (BR) Squadron's (No. 10 Servicing Unit) aircraft wore them as well as kiwi-applied cartoons as well. Several Venturas flown by No. 2 BR and No. 9 BR seemed to retain them too up there. I can't recall seeing any on No. 3 BR aircraft however, and photos of No's 4 and 8 BR Venturas are scarce as hen's teeth so I'm not sure if any of them had them.

[steveh]

Thats an attractive job you've done there Bruce. I've one of these put away & some Ventura & Rising decals to use on it, no decisions either way yet as to which scheme to use. I'll be happy to get the fading weathering done anything like as well as yours.
Steve.

[Dave Homewood]

Bruce can you please point us to the photo that shows the faded upper roundels on this aircrfat? The only one I can find of it does not shot the topside. Thanks.

[Bruce]

No picture of this specific aircraft, but there are several photos of Venturas at Guadalcanal in the same scheme at the same period that show the excessive fading. see:
rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/vencol1.html
rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/vencol.html
there are several pics on those pages of venturas in flight in Formation, looking along the wings, and even in black and white it is aparent that the wing roundels were significantly lighter in colour compared to the Fuselage roundels of the next aircraft, either intentionally or through fading. the decal set semmed reasonably well researchd so I think it is a fair suggestion.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, sorry I just thought maybe you'd found a different photo from what I'd seen.

I do find it hard to believe many decal makers who try to make out that RNZAF roundels faded to bright blue. It doesn't make sense. Your decal manufacturer has got it a lot more accurate for faded blue I think.

The roundels certainly did fade and I think with the Venturas one cause - apart from the sunshine and the sandblasting they got from coral dust when the engines were running, might also have been due to the fact the aircraft were washed down with petrol after flight. So my theory is they probably all faded at a similar rate in all six positions, and that photo you mention was probably taken from an aircraft with faded side roundels too. It looks to me that the roundels received fresh paint more often than the rest of the aircraft generally as they were important for identification. You see some aircraft with very faded and ratty paint but fresh roundels.

I have never yet found a Servicing Unit veteran who did the painting so cannot confirm my theory sadly.

[Andy Wright]

Lovely, subtle weathering, Bruce. Love it!

[hairy]