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Post by dewobz on Apr 10, 2012 14:26:53 GMT 12
NZ4540[43] was one of few RNZAF Ventura's to retain her factory Disney artwork into the combat zone. The caption adjoining Donald Duck reads, "We fire from both ends". The aircraft crash landed at Munda on 11 March 1944 and was written off the books at Guadalcanal after being salvaged for parts. Revell 1/48 kitset, combination Ventura & Zotz decals. Attachments:
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Post by dewobz on Apr 10, 2012 14:09:14 GMT 12
PS - regrettably, perhaps, I posted the large image and cannot find a way to modify it. Cheers.
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Post by dewobz on Apr 10, 2012 14:04:22 GMT 12
My Hasegawa 1/48 P-40N Kittyhawk as NZ3155(50) at Ondonga Nov - Dec 1943. She wears kill markings for 2 Zekes claimed by F/O Rayner on 1 Nov 1943. Unusually, it seems to me, she wore a black code number when others appeared to be white at the time. From the photo in 'Air-to-Air' with F/O Balfour standing on the wing, the aircraft clearly suffered from bad oil (&/or fuel) leakage. Upon takeoff from Torokina on 19 Dec I943 she suffered complete engine failure at about 300ft and dived into the sea, killing F/Sgt McDonald. Lest We Forget. Wally. Attachments:
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Post by dewobz on Apr 10, 2012 13:27:36 GMT 12
On page 48 of 'Classic Warbirds' No. 6 the top photo caption reads, "Four No. 23 'Ghost Squadron' pilots with a Corsair named Marie...". Does anyone know what the serial number of this aircraft was? Clearly it was painted all over Gloss Sea Blue and therefore most likely a F4U-1D or FG-1D. I have (visually and extensively) searched ADF serials for her to no avail. Her serial number may have been in the vicinity of NZ5485 'Kohimarama IX' but a bunch of FG-1D Corsairs were assembled at Los Negros just prior to the cessation of hostilities and assigned NZ56-- serial numbers. Some of these aircraft are identified as having names, e.g. NZ5625 'Carol' and many of them, including 'Carol', went to Japan on HMS Glory in March 1946. If someone does know, the next question follows automatically - Do you know in what style "Marie" was written? Does anyone know of a photograph of her? Finally (and now Monique really does think I'm dumb) - Does anyone have 1/48th scale decals that say "Marie" which they don't want?
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Post by dewobz on Apr 4, 2012 15:56:46 GMT 12
I believe the Finns used model 239 but as far as I know there is no external difference to 339. I'd say $39.99 is a pretty fair price. If you can find one on eBay it will likely be that much or more once you land it in NZ. AeroMaster make a 'Buffalos Over SE Asia' decal set in 1/48th which might exist in 1/72nd including 488 & 453 (or 243?) Sqn RAF aircraft on the same sheet and Red Roo make a 1/72 set for 453 Sqn's W8209 FT-D 'Snifter' - that's about $5 AU and you'd only need different code letters & serial numbers. I see on eBay that Special Hobby also make 1/72nd Buffalos and these may well be the ultimate kitset? They are likely to involve resin. There are 2 x B339C/D Dutch & Japanese (captured) on there at the moment. Best of luck. Look forward to seeing pics of the model. Alan sounds like an awesome resource person for ultimate accuracy. Cheers, Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Apr 4, 2012 15:34:28 GMT 12
Thanks Pete. I figure I'd be pretty safe with a light grey-ish code as close to NZ Sky (or NZ Duck Egg) as I can get. Appreciate the verification. Cheers, Wally. (PS - I'll post pics of the finished model (1/48 Hasegawa) on here if I can get my head around PhotoBucket. Otherwise I'll post one pic. It'll also go up on www.kiwimodeller.com RNZAF 75th Group Build)
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Post by dewobz on Apr 3, 2012 12:36:49 GMT 12
Hasegawa absolutely, if indeed they make a model B339, and, if so, it will probably be pretty hard to find. Their B239 version (of which I think there are [or were] US Navy and Finnish versions, might be easily adaptable. Airfix, despite being a shade rivet-happy, is the next best. The Matchbox one is very simplified, though (from memory) it does have recessed panel lines. I recommend Tamiya's 1/48th scale 'Pacific Theatre' version which comes with RNZAF decals. My 2 cents worth. Cheers, Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Apr 3, 2012 11:53:43 GMT 12
It is clear from photos like this one of NZ3116 bellied at Munda in Aug 1943 (from Air-to-Air) that RNZAF Kittyhawks in the operational area wore fuselage code letters for a time. I want to build this or one similar for kiwimodellers.com RNZAF 75th Group Build. Does anyone know exactly what colour these cole letters were? I figure NZ Sky, Lt Grey or NZ Duck Egg? (An exact size of the code letter & source of decal versions would be appreciated too...though not expected). Adf serials lists NZ3116 as being variously coded 'D' & '37', both of which, I guess, were at one time or another on the lower cowl fairing? If anyone wants to venture an opinion as to whether it would still be there while the fuselage code letter was applied I'd appreciate that too. My gut feeling is that it was. (This is apparently the earliest recorded photo of an RNZAF Kitty having a white tail). Cheers, Wally. Attachments:
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Post by dewobz on Apr 3, 2012 11:18:26 GMT 12
I find it interesting that AeroScale would produce decals for NZ4509 & NZ4511 to begin with - the 2 subjects already thoroughly catered for - rather than seek out other examples. Even Zotz, who provide several others on their 'Ocean Raiders' sheet, have clearly taken them all from Ventura Publications 'Pacific Twins'. These sets provide a wonderful source of roundels but as valuable in my decal collection are AeroMaster 45degree Yellow Code numbers, other's various code letters and serial numbers so I can depict other aircraft. There are plenty of great drawings & photographs available eg hobbyvista.com & 'Pacific Twins'. e.g NZ4515 re-painted in NZ Blue Sea Grey over NZ Sky, NZ4503 with field applied NS Sea Blue over Lt Grey repaint. Let's see something other than 'Slippery Sam'.
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Post by dewobz on Apr 3, 2012 10:41:26 GMT 12
Hate to blow my own horn but I also have an RNZAF Ventura build online, NZ4540 on kiwimodeller.com www.kiwimodeller.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=view&catid=68&id=19597&Itemid=122 as part of our RNZAF 75th Anniversary Group Build. I regret the finished photos are not inserted into the stream, which also contains correction of my assumption that our lend-lease aircraft were mostly second-hand. [Got it now] Currently building NZ4509 with 2 Sqn Mar/Apr 1944 after repainting. Tom Cleaver's "surprize" and comments about Ventura being a "second line" aircraft are interesting, it being so important in RNZAF history. Cheers, Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Jan 11, 2008 17:56:21 GMT 12
Cheers people, thank you. Much as I suspected. It seems so unlikely as to be a no goer. I agree Ventura makes excellent Corsair (and other) decals and I love that it's a Kiwi doing it. Rising Decals have also just done a fair job of Corsairs, Kittyhawks and PV-1 Ventura 'Slippery Sam' in 'Flying Kiwis Over the Pacific' and Zotz made an excellent sheet some time ago, 'Ocean Raiders', with several PV-1s on it. I guess I can use my Smer/Skymodels roundels - which are curiously all the same size too - as fuselage roundels and match them up with other makes of wing roundels - which I am convinced were always larger. Cheers.
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Post by dewobz on Jan 10, 2008 16:28:10 GMT 12
:-/Hi, I am attempting to establish whether RNZAF Corsairs ever had yellow bordered wing roundels (with bars) during WW2 - as depicted in the Smer kitset (NZ5315) and Skymodels F4U-1 Corsair decal set (NZ5277 & 5255[?])? 5277 is depicted with them on Wings Palette but this is only a drawing that is related, I think, to the Skymodels decals. I can find no documentary evidence - photos or descriptions - of wing roundels with yellow borders. Anyone else investigated this? Was there perhaps a short period when they were added? Perhaps only in one or some squadrons? I don't want to make inaccurate models. Cheers. ;D
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