current WIP - Fujimi RN F-4 Phantom and Revell Spitfire Mk IX in 32nd scale

..some progress on my Fujimi FG.1 - after the first coat of paint I decided that I wasn't happy with the fuselage seam or the fit of the canopy. So more filling and filing. Note also the EDSG appears rather 'blue' in the pic of the real machine, not sure whether to replicate that or not ..or even how. I'm was a little worried about the quality of the kit decals, so I've applied a couple of the large items..without too much hassle..

Below; Revell Spitfire IX cockpit completed and installed in the fuselage - no issues, except maybe with the Eduard belts, more my fault than theirs I guess. I'm guessing this is the same construction sequence/parts as in their Mk II because there are some parts not entirely appropriate for the Mk IX.

new 1:32nd scale Revell Spitfire IXc - UF-Q MJ 250 601 Sqd - build review in-box first look

Decided to give Revell's new and re-vamped 1:32 Spitfire a go. Here is the box and some sprue shots of the new IXc. Bought two - the first one just £19 at the RAF Manston history museum shop. Got the second kit when I saw the nice decal options including the overall silver UF-Q of 601 Sqd. Pre-ordered via my local 'not-quite-a-model-shop' his eventual RRP was £29. So much for supporting the LHS. See photos below.

And some progress on the cockpit after a few hours work in the garden. I've read some pretty scathing reviews of this kit - but there's no pleasing some people is there? For the RRP you do get a lot of plastic for your money, even if the cockpit is missing a few items (eg the seat back armour) and there are no seat-belts, not even as decals. But there are rivets. Lots of them. Below; picture from Der Lingener's build review on britmodeller.

To answer a query I had on the IX seat colour (the Revell instructions suggest interior green) I found this on the Spitfire site forum , ".. in Paul Monforton's Spitfire Mk IX/XVI Engineered, photos of all Spitfires IX/XVI presented in the book - restored as well as preserved in original condition - show that the same red-brown plastic seat as was used as on the earlier Spitfire models. It was produced from an early composite plastic called SRBP - Synthetic Resin-Bonded Paper and was left unpainted. The seat backing though had a leather cushion, colored dark brown on the only shown preserved seat which had this feature left in (worn but) original condition..".

Below;  the other kit decal option, UF-Q MJ250 in natural metal finish,

UF-Q MJ250 in natural metal finish, only the fabric areas were painted silver. The armour cover over the fuselage fuel tank is darker in colour.  In the foreground is MJ 532 in Day Fighter finish with the Sky band over painted apart from behind the serial number.

It appears that 601 Squadron were the only operators of MJ 250. During the summer of 1944 MJ 250 was flown by two Polish pilots attached to 610 Squadron from 318 (Polish) Squadron. F/Lt Zdzisław Uchwat bombed a road junction at Cagli on 15 July and tanks and other vehicles in the Cagli area on 17 July. F/Lt Jerzy Hamankiewicz on 3rd August bombed gun emplacements near Florence and escorted 12 Marauders bombing a bridge north of Ferrara on 14 August.


".....First instinct on seeing that picture and it's never changed despite claims that its a camo upper cowling. It's stripped bare metal and the engine exhaust, weathering has caused the look of the slightly darker cowling. Compare the cowling to the one on the machine in the foreground with the camouflaged finish.. There is no comparison ...."

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?73982-Spit-camo-scheme

RN Phantoms of 892 Sqn (Airfix new tool colours and markings options) - photo walkaround reference

With the forthcoming release of the new Airfix RAF/RN F-4 Phantom, the 892 Sqn nose flashes are bound to be a popular choice of markings. This small article looks at the variations. The Queen's Silver Jubilee markings were applied in June 1977 to celebrate the 25th year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. The red, white and blue nose flash extended from the tip of the radome to the nose number, with a break in the middle for the superimposed yellow-gold figures 77 topped by a five pointed crown and was applied to nearly all the squadron's then current aircraft. The exception was XV 568 which had the rounded Prince of Wales crown, applied for his own Royal visit to RNAS Yeovilton, Prince Charles having completed his Royal Navy period of service by then. Rather than remove the markings after the Jubilee and air display season was over, the '77 and crown' motif was replaced by 892 Sqn's badge and that version was retained until the Phantoms left the Navy in November 1978. Please note some of the images that follow are in my collection, others are not. Please contact me for credit and/or removal. The composite image below is courtesy Patrick Martin.

Bow catapult launch (Gordon Lewis)

"..The front wheels remained on the deck with the nose extended, as a naval air mechanic I used to have to extend the nose for launch and the control switch was in the left undercarriage bay, the Buccaneers nose wheel left the ground when pulled back on the launch hooks.." Richard Fagg on the British Phantoms FB Group

Above, Queen's Jubilee scheme 1977 at that year's Prestwick Airshow (Terry Hughes photo)
British F-4 undergoing sea trials on HMS Eagle - Joe Wilkinson in the foreground on the tractor. According to Joe this is probably the aircraft currently on display in the FAA museum now repainted as XV586 - see above.  (pic via Joe Wilkinson)

(Above) FG. 1 XT 867 (152/VL) with 767 NAS, probably during the early 70s - note the 'yellow bird' emblem on the tail fin, otherwise known as the 'ten ton budgie'.. The Naval Air Squadron 767 was established to train FG. 1 pilots between 1969 and 1972. Note the extended nose oleo of 152/ VL on approach..(unknown photographer, photo print in my collection)

  "..the undercarriage just sags under its own weight until it touches down, then compresses. Hooks weren't routinely used for airfield landing unless the 'chute candled and they dumped it for a go-around.." (Charlie Brown)

" Everything drops when the weight is off the wheels. For carrier ops the nosewheel extended to give better angle of attack on launch. 1/2 flap for take off and full flap for landing. The leading edge flaps came down for both..On the FGR2 we didn't have the extending nosewheel although it might have been useful on a QRA launch from Stanley! We also landed into the cable. It was a 600 foot pull out not too dissimilar to The Ark. The oleos extended under gravity. so what you see on landing is normal. I think the early FG1s had the extending nose wheel but Badger Bolton will pitch in. A few of the Navy mods were retained such as the slotted stabilator but most were slowly phased out."

Dave Gledhill in response to a question of mine on the British Phantoms FB group..

Below; Chris Bolton photo via Mike Young

The SNEB rocket (French: Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt) is an unguided air-to-ground 68 mm (2.7 in) rocket projectile (RP) manufactured by the French company TDA Armements, designed for launch by combat aircraft and helicopters

Decal options for the new-tool Airfix RAF/RN FG.1 Phantoms on this blog http://falkeeinsmodel.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/british-raf-f-4-phantoms-new-f-4.html


Phantom FG.1 XT869/R-002 FAA/892 Sqdn September 1973

..and a lovely shot from Terry Keepence; on the forward lift of HMS Ark Royal in 1976. Note the radome opened so that the Phantom could fit on the lift..