Canberra B[I]12 kit

[wombatair]

This kit is showing great progress.
I am at a similar stage and have completed top and underside painting. I used a matt "silver" metalic paint whereas Airfix says light grey. Other Aussie aeroplane watchers who can remember seeing them suggest the colour was shiny silver as were the overall silver aeroplanes seen in NZ. I can remember seeing the all over silver ones but can't actually remember the three colour ones as flown in Butterworth alongside our Canberras and the RAF.
Can anyone recall the actual colour?
(I am in the middle of a Canberra "month" - started in May. Building Aussie Mk 20 and 21, a couple of Long wing B57s (D-B and a D-2) and a B-57G. Next a RNZAF Canberra in silver, a B-57B and awaiting delivery of a RB-57F from Mach2.
Almost there a "few" weeks late.)

Congratulations on a great site.

[wombatair]

One other point re underside. Black and White pictures I have seem to indicate the underside colour comes up a bit higher at the front than the Airfix diagram - but the underwing seems to agree however. Front is almost halfway up the forward -window.
(And I stand corrected . It was a fellow modeller who insisted the underside was "grey" not Airfix who call for silver. Apologies to Airfix).

[30sqnatc]

If your representing high explosive bombs then deep bronze green (Humbrol 195?) and a yellow stripe and writing See www.fast-air.co.uk/RAF-NATO-Weapons-Markings.php

[mumbles]

Jul 30, 2010 1:16:06 GMT 12 wombatair said:

One other point re underside. Black and White pictures I have seem to indicate the underside colour comes up a bit higher at the front than the Airfix diagram - but the underwing seems to agree however. Front is almost halfway up the forward -window.
(And I stand corrected . It was a fellow modeller who insisted the underside was "grey" not Airfix who call for silver. Apologies to Airfix).

Thanks. I went the other way. I assumed from the beginning that the undersides were silver, then had a panicky moment when I thought they might have been grey. The story as I understand it is that when the decision was made to camouflage the fleet the camouflage was applied directly on to the existing HSS finish, minus the undersides.
I would be slightly wary about aligning the demarcation using the front windows, since at least one of them is in the wrong location and incorrect shape (port side). I used the crew door for setting the forward demarcation

Jul 30, 2010 18:06:07 GMT 12 30sqnatc said:

If your representing high explosive bombs then deep bronze green (Humbrol 195?) and a yellow stripe and writing See www.fast-air.co.uk/RAF-NATO-Weapons-Markings.php

Cheers, useful resource.

I have just resumed work on this after a bit of a hiatus. Pics to follow when there is progress worth showing (almost ready to decal).

[wombatair]

Further research and discussion seems to support your shiny silver (HSS) and I am respraying using Humbrol 21001.
Some photographs seem to indicate that the leading edges are silver wrapping around to the top - eg photos with bomb carriers at top of page 2, and other BWs on net. I may hold off a bit on that.
You are correct that the windows are not correct shape and I too used the door and other vents etc for aligning - the drawing in the kit looks wrong.
But where do we stop? !!
Hope to have this one on the shelf next week.
Regards
LL

[shorty]

This may help with the accuracy. Still haven't located the stencilling guide (it's here somewhere.

[mumbles]

Interesting to note the the demarcation on the droptanks as shown in the diagram disagrees with the picture of the real thing in one of SkyhawkDon's pics, and seems to disagree with the written instructions as well

Aifix gives no guidance whatsoever as to whether the line is curved or straight by the way (the droptanks are absent from the painting plan altogether). I am going with curved since the one in the photo is, and it looks cooler .

[mumbles]

Aug 10, 2010 0:53:32 GMT 12 wombatair said:

Further research and discussion seems to support your shiny silver (HSS) and I am respraying using Humbrol 21001.
Some photographs seem to indicate that the leading edges are silver wrapping around to the top - eg photos with bomb carriers at top of page 2, and other BWs on net. I may hold off a bit on that.
Regards
LL

I'm inclined to think that might be reflection or weathering more than anything. As far as I can tell the upper surface colours wrapped around and underneath in the British style in practice as indicated on Shorty's plan

[shorty]

It's definitely erosion and weathering. My collection (and memory) confirms that. Look at this shot


and this one

[Dave Homewood]

There's a neat photo of RNZAF Canberras over Cambridgeshire on TradeMe right now here
www.trademe.co.nz/Antiques-collectables/Militaria/Other/auction-310807773.htm

[wombatair]

Thanks for all your help on this subject.
Just about to spray on the final sealer coat, and add attachments - U/c, aerials .
I resprayed underside in HSS and as clearly indicated in last photographs continued the grey/gren over the leading edges. Will try to post a photo however this is not my "highest" skill.
Starting this week on all over silver version.
Any suggested references as info light on on this side of the Tasman.

LL

[wombatair]

Just found this in another discussion on this great site. (RNZAF Canberras Book) Project. Great stuff
Wish I had found it a month ago.
There are great details which answer most questions a modeller of RNZAF Canberras could ever think up.
Trouble is I now have to plan for at least enough 2 models.

Put him onto John Seward and this site, [which is his!]

canopus.thedice.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=233&g2_page=65

[mumbles]

Well after a too long hiatus, this has now been finished and presented to Dad in its own specially bought case (courtesy of a quick visit to MC+H yesterday


Main reason for the stop-work was the supplied decals being a shambles, and flawed in about every way it is possible for decals to be flawed (examples below). Very disappointing .



I eventually wound up replacing the roundels with Ventura ones which worked perfectly, and leaving all but the most essential markings off. Compromise thus reached, things moved rapidly to completion, despite a clear coat 'orange-peeling' rather badly and further marring the final look:




The blade aerial near the cockpit and the overwing aerial were scratchbuilt, neither being supplied in the kit. Also worth noting that the remaining decals only look silvered from certain angles; in real life they aren't.

Anyway, after a longer and more frustrating than planned build here is the finished item. It isn't my best work, putting up a fight right to the end, but I am happy enough with how it turned out






Thanks to all for help and comments/contributions

[skyhawkdon]

Nice job Mumbles. I'm about to start mine, so this thread will be a great reference.

[strikemaster]

That is just incredible. Nice work Mumbles.

[Dave Homewood]

Very nice work Sam, you've done an excellent job on that.

[Deleted]

Superb! I bet Dad was absolutely chuffed to receive that. A terrific job, well done! Which reminds me, I still have a FROG B.2 to finish....

[Calum]

Sam, we're or own worst critic and while you may not consider it your best work it's one of, if not the best RNZAF Canberra I've seen. Great work

[smithy]

Well saved Mumbles. Nothing worse than dodgy, bloody decals. I'm wrestling with some Academy ones for a Tempest at the mo - worst decals I've come across.

Your build and paintjob are brilliant, and the decals you've used look the part.

Great work and I bet your Dad is pleased as Punch!

[mumbles]

Thanks all ;D. In hindsight I am a bit happier with it now than when it first cleared the bench

Here it is in it's new home with a slightly larger stablemate:


And yes it's new owner was very pleased with it