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Post by dewobz on Nov 5, 2015 23:21:01 GMT 12
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Post by dewobz on Nov 5, 2015 23:10:41 GMT 12
Due to the unavailability of correct decals, this build 'morphed' into Hurricane P2725 TM-B of 504 "County of Nottingham" Squadron. I have just now posted it on "Non-RNZAF modelling subjects" along with the extraordinary story of its pilot on 15 Sept 1940, F/Sgt Raymond T Holmes. Cheers Wally
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Post by dewobz on Nov 5, 2015 22:54:09 GMT 12
DSCN2592 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr This model is the outcome of my build started on the RNZAF pages as Keith Park's OK-1. It transpired I didn't have the correct decals for OK-1 or time to obtain them before the Battle of Britain GB deadline last Sunday on kiwimodeller. So I went in search of another Hurricane subject, hopefully with a Kiwi connection, that I could build with my only available Code Letter decals, 24" & 26" Grey Codes. In other words, a squadron that used smaller code letters than usual. 504 "County of Nottingham" Squadron was about the only one. DSCN2600 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr On 7 September, 2 days after the squadron transfered from Wick to Hendon, F/O Kenneth Victor Wendel, RNZAF, was shot down, his Hurricane L1615 crashing near Faversham, and, badly burned, he died of his wounds the same day. I could not establish what L1615's code letters were. Kenneth Victor Wendel is buried at Faversham and remembered at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Then I came across a story I had never heard before. A most extraordinary story. On 15 Sept 1940 Flt Sergeant Raymond T. Holmes, flying P2725 TM-B, having exhausted his ammunition, deliberately rammed a Dornier DO17 intent on bombing Buckingham Palace. He cut the tail off the German bomber with his wing, causing it to crash near Victoria Station. On Wikipedia there is actually a photograph of the Dornier going down! With no control over his own aircraft, "Ray" Holmes bailed out injured and P2725 crashed near the Palace. There were no civilian injuries from either crash. DSCN2595 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr After landing and having a brandy, Holmes was led to the site where his Hurricane had all but disappeared into the roadway. He collected a piece of rocker cover as a trophy or evidence. Ray Holmes was hailed a war hero by the press. He went on to become a flight instructor and claimed one more kill while with the Murmansk Hurricanes on the Eastern Front. As a Flt/Lieutenant at the end of the war he was the Kings messenger to Winston Churchill and afterwards returned to journalism. He published his autobiography in 1989. DSCN2597 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2602 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr The story doesn't end there though. In 2004, the wreckage of Holmes' Hurricane was discovered and successfully excavated from the streets of London, and this was featured on the National Geographic Channel documentary, "The Search for the Lost Fighter Plane". 89 year old Ray Holmes was presented with the remains of the Hurricane's control column, the 'trigger' still stuck in the firing position! Ray Holmes died on 27 June 2005, aged 90, following a two-year battle with cancer. Sources - Wikipedia and Cranston Art Prints 15 September, the day of Raymond T Holmes extraordinary feat of courage, is considered the 'turning point' and remembered as 'Battle of Britain Day'. It seems fitting that the aircraft 'hero' of that day should be a Hawker Hurricane. DSCN2601 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr Cheers Wally. PS - A Keith Park Hurricane build from me will follow soon ...
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Post by dewobz on Oct 29, 2015 21:34:54 GMT 12
Thanks Calum. Because the aircraft I've chosen to depict, MN140, wears 'cut down' exhaust covers, it came time to fit these, after fitting the exhaust stacks, in preparation for uppers painting. 'Easy as' on the port side where the panels are off the aircraft - DSCN2538 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2539 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr But a whole different story where the panels and exhaust covers have to fit over engine and exhaust detail. Several hours filing and sanding to achieve this. Similar work is required to 'cover up' the entire engine as described at the end of the Brett Green 'How to Build' book - DSCN2540 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2541 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2547 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr The contrast with the open side is really good though - DSCN2546 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr Masking tape came off the underwings and the landing flaps got some treatment too, these will be extended in the final assembly - DSCN2535 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2537 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr And of all the photos I sent to flickr the re-painted ammunition one will not open for sharing! You can see it on flickr I guess ...? Cheers folks
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Post by dewobz on Oct 29, 2015 21:14:59 GMT 12
Here's the exquisitely detailed cockpit and port machine gun bay of Airfix's 1/48 Hurricane just prior to attaching wings to fuselage. It's a real pleasure to build this kit, all OOB with Eduard Seatbelts - DSCN2529 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2528 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2531 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2533 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2551 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2554 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr I'd still really appreciate any opinions about the size and colour of the Code Letters? Since I've only got til Sunday to enter the BoB GB on kiwimodeller it might ultimately be decided by what I have available, which is 'Sky' or 'Grey', as the only White Codes I have are the post-war lettering. Cheers Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 29, 2015 7:00:06 GMT 12
Hi Richplo, you have come to the right place. This has been an ongoing discussion here for many years. Personally, and I must stress 'personally', I am nowadays content to apply decals which I understand use FS15056 as fresh 'dark blue' RNZAF roundels. This appears identical to FS25056 on www.colorserver.com. Because of the long history of RNZAF roundel blue being rendered far too light by model and decal manufacturers, I (again) personally would not bother with a 'faded' version because it will look like an incorrect light blue roundel. However, FS35109 does have a somewhat 'grey' hue which I understand occurred in the fading of blues like NS & Semi-Gloss Sea Blue and possibly insignia blues as well. I wouldn't apply such faded insignia to a model myself any more unless there was very strong photographic evidence for doing so, considering that different aircraft probably faded differently and fading probably occurred unevenly over individual roundels. There are folks on this site know a great deal more than me about the technicalities of the colour(s). Hopefully your 'Limited Edition' SBD-5 will have decals for aircraft with artwork and names so far not depicted by other manufacturers? As you will know there was a marvellous selection of such artwork and names on our SBDs. Regards, Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 29, 2015 6:39:49 GMT 12
I don't use them very often but I have sometimes found that aftermarket wheels appear too flat for the amount of bulge in them, although this is being very picky. Personally I like the 'weighty' look of your Beaufighter Calum. Did the tailwheels even have pneumatic tyres? I haven't come across a flattened tailwheel before. Aires probably wouldn't get this wrong ...? I really like the look of your torpedo with wooden tail. Well done!
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Post by dewobz on Oct 27, 2015 17:53:38 GMT 12
Thanks Zac, hopefully I'll have some WIP photos tomorrow night, but I'd be very happy to build a 1/32 scale Hurricane with the level of detail in this 1/48 kit and the fit is generally superb. This on top of wonderful accuracy, surface texture and detail. The revival of Airfix has been one of the great modelling stories of the last few years.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 26, 2015 15:29:38 GMT 12
I have repainted the ammunition with red projectiles. I'm not sure I have the skill to paint the top portion of them white. No photos of that yet. Fuselage and tailplane assembly was fairly straightforward after the cockpit and engine assemblies. The injection moulded hinges for ailerons, stabilizers and fins are so exact and strong I will leave these moveable, reminiscent of early Airfix only now the quality is exceptional - DSCN2468 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2469 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr Only the trim tabs will need cementing as they tend to float around a bit and move too far. And so, finally, painting begins with the White recognition stripes & Med Sea Grey - DSCN2475 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2509 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr There are so many details to consider and they are so BIG! I reckon each drop tank takes roughly the equivalent paint to an entire 1/72 scale aircraft. Fun though ... what a brush painter like me calls "a big canvas" ... DSCN2510 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2512 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr The inside of the machine-gun bay doors with their leather covers were particularly challenging - DSCN2511 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr And then another big masking for the Black recognition stripes - DSCN2519 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr It's coming along nicely. More soon ... Cheers Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 26, 2015 14:59:05 GMT 12
Hi folks, I've transfered this over from the preservation page where I put it initially. I'm building OK-1 P3854 over on Kiwimodeller for the Battle of Britain Group Build. I have limited data available at present but I'll post finished photos on here soon. I've only got until 31 October to finish the build, which I hope will include a couple of armourers and a Keith Park pilot figure. I can only find one historical photo of Keith Park standing next to the starboard side of OK-1 with the Codes K-1 visible. To me the codes look smaller than those on other Hurricanes, certainly smaller than those on the replica, and the Codes look White in colour. Can anyone confirm what size and colour the Codes OK-1 were on the aircraft? Also, were there two OK-1s or, when references say Keith Park had two personal Hurricanes, do they mean OK-1 and OK-2? Was there another OK-1 serialled N2520? Appreciate your assistance as always and hopefully I'll have some nice pics of the finished model built using the new tool Airfix kit, which is a really good one. Cheers Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 26, 2015 14:54:49 GMT 12
I realised this preservation page is not the appropriate page for this essentially modelling question, so I have moved it to the model making page. Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 25, 2015 23:31:30 GMT 12
Hi folks, it's an old thread but I thought I'd ask my questions here rather than start a new one. I'm building OK-1 P3854 over on Kiwimodeller for the Battle of Britain Group Build. I have limited data available at present but I'll post finished photos on here soon. I've only got until 31 October. I can only find one historical photo of Keith Park standing next to the starboard side of OK-1 with the Codes K-1 visible. To me the codes look smaller than those on other Hurricanes, certainly smaller than those on the replica, and the Codes look White in colour. Can anyone confirm what size and colour the Codes OK-1 were on the aircraft? Also, were there two OK-1s or, when references say Keith Park had two personal Hurricanes, do they mean OK-1 and OK-2? Was there another OK-1 serialled N2520? Appreciate your assistance as always and hopefully I'll have some nice pics of the finished model built using the new tool Airfix kit, which is a good one. Cheers Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 25, 2015 23:14:54 GMT 12
Yeah, good work!
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Post by dewobz on Oct 25, 2015 23:12:42 GMT 12
That sure is well done! Amazing.
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Post by dewobz on Oct 25, 2015 23:09:39 GMT 12
Looking really good Calum.
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Post by dewobz on Sept 17, 2015 13:54:37 GMT 12
Excellent!!!
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Post by dewobz on Sept 5, 2015 12:45:44 GMT 12
Thanks for your comments everyone, and thanks for the detail saratoga. It's worth getting things as correct as possible on this kit, so I will look into repainting the ammunition. Cheers
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Post by dewobz on Sept 5, 2015 12:37:23 GMT 12
Excellent! The exposed engine looks great. Nice idea the photography around the base. Well done.
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Post by dewobz on Aug 31, 2015 12:28:30 GMT 12
Here's a selection of photos of my progress so far on Airfix's 1/24 Hawker Typhoon Mk 1b "Bubbletop", a kitset which appears to be in a class of its own. All the incredible detail is injection molded plastic! This aircraft will be finished as MN140 SA-F of 486 Sqn RNZAF in about Jan/Feb 1944. According to world expert Chris Thomas, only two "Bubbletop" Typhoons were delivered to 486 Sqn with factory applied Typhoon recognition stripes, before these were discontinued. Quote: "I've checked delivery dates and only MN125/Q and MN140/F were delivered with them (in Jan 44); the stripes were deleted on 7 Feb 44. All the other Typhoons I listed were delivered after 7 Feb. All these Typhoons would have had the cut-down exhaust fairings - same as the ones on MN235 in the RAF Museum. MN125 had an interesting career. It was transferred to 197 Sqn, the other resident Typhoon sqn at Tangmere, just before 486 departed for Beaulieu. It seems to have been adopted by the then Wg Cdr Flying, Denys E Gillam, as his personal aircraft (still carrying its SA-Q codes). Gillam never used his initials in his Typhoons, earlier and later using 'Z-Z' It appears in his log throughout April and May 44 by which time he was Grp Capt OC 20 Sector which controlled 123 and 146 Airfields (later renamed Wings). On D+1, one of his staff (a former 56 and 198 Sqn pilot, on rest) 'borrowed' SA-Q for an unofficial look at the Beachhead; he was shot down by flak and taken PoW, seriously injured. He was later left by the retreating Germans. So you could put SA-Q in D-Day stripes if desired!" I don't desire to do that but include it out of interest. Anyhow, I'm also not going to repeat all the photos from Brett Green & Co's excellent book about building the kitset, which is a necessity in my opinion, although I have diverged from both it and the instructions on occasions, notably the installation of wheel well detail prior to putting the wheel well ceiling or 'lid' on. I believe copious amounts of frustration and time can be saved doing this. Okay, enough talk, here's some photos - 07-DSCN1389 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 19-DSCN1605 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 22-DSCN1608 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 18-DSCN1604 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 16-DSCN1602 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 05-DSCN1614 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 10-DSCN1619 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 18-DSCN1629 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 23-DSCN1634 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 17-DSCN1628 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr 27-DSCN1638 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2344 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2346 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr DSCN2348 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr Things are progressing fairly rapidly now with enclosing the wings and fuselage, which sadly covers up a lot of the detail. More pictures should follow soon. Cheers Wally.
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Post by dewobz on Aug 31, 2015 11:28:07 GMT 12
Very nice indeed. Do you have more photos of the finished model? What have you used for that aerial wire & connection? It is excellent. Cheers Wally.
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