Thursday 7 March 2024

Bill Clark's Academy F-4 J (UK) ZE 362 and the 'infamous' turquoise paint finish of the RAF's F-4Js

 

Bill Clark from East Kent Scale modellers and Scale Aircraft Modelling on his colours research for the F-4 J(UK).  This is re-posted from Bill's FB page and draws on his own article in Scale Aircraft Modelling. 

Note that the J-variant can be distinguished from the RAF's FG.1 and FGR.2 (at a glance) by the inclusion of formation lighting strips, the (empty) DECM antennas on the upper part of the intakes (except for ZE 350), the longer exhaust cans of the J79 engines, smaller intakes and narrow(er) rear fuselage while also lacking the 'glazing' on the port side between the two canopies. 

Bill also supplied this unique view of the 'turquoise' shade....



And a view of one of my pictures of F-4 J ZE 353 and David's take on the colour on a build of the Hasegawa kit, also ZE 353..




Preamble over, back to Bill for commentary and a view of his build.

"Here's my take on it.. briefly......

....The first batch of maybe nine of the 15 arrived in that Turquoise shade. There might have been attempts in those nine to correct the earlier problems...The second batch of 6 were painted in shades of 'gray" closer to those specified by the RAF.

from Patrick Martin's 'British Phantoms _Vol 5'. The RAF ordered 15, and the overhauled aircraft were painted in a three-grey finish that was meant to be as close to the standard RAF shades. Flint Grey FS595 36314 was used for Barley Grey, Neutral Grey 36270 for Medium Sea Grey and Light Gull Grey 36440 for LACG. The first nine aircraft delivered had the 'turquoise tint', due to a misunderstanding of the pimer specification by the Mexican manufacturer. (The grey's may well have been affected by the zinc chromate(?) primer.) The mistake was rectified for the second batch, but still not quite right. At least five were repainted in standard RAF shades, including ZE354/"R", ZE357/"N", ZE361/"P", ZE364/"Z". This happened during the summer of 1989.

There is some conjecture as to whether the inner wing panels were actually painted in MSG /NG. They certainly should have been, but bear in mind that the whole idea of having a darker shade here was to blend the whole upper surfaces together. Therefore in most lighting conditions the difference between the two greys is hard to see. That said, it is clear that some of the earlier batches, that had the primer issue maybe(?) the inner wings were very tatty and faded and certainly appear to be the same shade.


"..Anyway....here's my interpretation of 74 Sqn's ZE362/"V", which was one of the later batch of aircraft painted in shades more akin to those specified....with replacement panels and radome...in 'Turquoise". Academy 1/72 kit. Decals from Modeldecal, Xtradecal and Esci kit. Painted in Xtracrylic 'Barley' Grey (fuselage and outer panels,) with Tamiya Medium Sea Grey inner panel. I made my own mix for the Turquoise..."

Wednesday 21 February 2024

More 'Air' frames..

 

 Just reading a great article on model 'bases' over on the 'Model Airplane Maker' blog (see link in the side box) while I work up enthusiasm to start a new kit. In the meantime here are a few more of those 'frame' bases posted on various social media. Still thinking that I might try one of these, although I do favour 'splitting' and attaching the canopy. And the instruction sheet 'background' is very cool.







Friday 2 February 2024

new tool 72nd scale Dora Wings Fairey Delta 2 is here!

 



the new 72nd scale Dora Wings Fairey Delta 2 is here! All the way from Dnipro in the Ukraine for which the guys at Dora Wings deserve our admiration and support. The surprisingly small box features a 65-part model - and a small fret of etch - of this fabulous British supersonic research aircraft which will be started just as soon as.


Below; Movietone News report 







Friday 5 January 2024

New Year means new Airfix kit announcements - 2024 releases coming soon!

 






" ..One of the few benefits of us all going back to work at the start of any new year is that we do so in the sure and certain knowledge that we are about to be transfixed by a spectacular new collection of Airfix model kits, with the launch of the latest Airfix range. Featuring a collection of new tooling projects, new scheme options and artwork for some range favourites and the return of some kit classics, range launch day usually sees the Airfix website struggling to cope with all the additional traffic, as thousands of people rush to take a first look at what kits might be tempting them over the coming months and if our designers have been hard at work producing a newly tooled example of their own favourite modelling subject..."

Range launch this year will be taking place at 4pm on Tuesday 9th January, so things will hopefully have settled down by the time you get home from work, allowing you to spend a few uninterrupted minutes inspecting all the new kits we have in store for you throughout 2024. We will, of course, be posting a range overview edition of Workbench next week, where we will be taking a closer look at some of the significant additions to the range, before moving on to feature all the new tooling additions to the 2024 range in more detail over the next few months. By the time we have covered everything, we'll be ready for range launch 2025 - how time flies when you're an Airfix modeller!.."

The 'new announcement' date coincides with our model club night and a 'special' presentation to those attending by an Airfix representative. So tune in here next Wednesday for more then...

Better not forget either that Airfix are in business to make money, not to manufacture a kit that you would like...and if that includes another Bf 109 so be it.  

Having watched the slightly 'underwhelming' Airfix 2024 Product Release announcement 'live' on youtube - aside from a couple of neat 72nd kits - you have to suspect that this is just a clever ploy from Airfix and that we WILL see other brand-new kit announcements throughout the year like the surprise release of the Westland Sea King and ME 410 in 2023 and subsequent market reaction to this 'old school' approach to the release of new kits ..so much more exciting than getting a full list at the beginning of the year with only half the list actually appearing..

- the Bristol Bulldog was the only 'new-tool' in 48th scale and was not 'lidared' from the Hendon exhibit which apparently is not 100% accurate. OR rather, they did LiDAR it, but then looked a bit closer and found out the restoration in the 1980s was not the best, so the Airfix designers then went with the Bristol drawings as a result. A good example of not blindly trusting LiDAR data and using multiple sources. And while it's not my preferred era, the designers at Airfix are improving their kits with every release, so a 'new-tool' is always an event no-matter what it is
- the 72nd Bf 109 Friedrich apears in the markings of Wolf dieter Huy (III./JG 77) and is a 'Starter set' because of the four-colour finish.
- the B-24 is an 'H' variant with the nose art and both options are camouflaged. The first natural alu machines were a different Block No. with amended nav windows
- the 72nd Chinook is 'BN' and a Gulf War option 
- new life-boat (that's all I can find to say about that one..)

Saturday 11 November 2023

new-tool Airfix 72nd Me 410 - first look at the sprues, Telford Scale Model World 2023

..yesterday's surprise announcement from Airfix of a new-tool Me 410 in 72nd scale was featured on FalkeEins-the Luftwaffe blog. Today a look at the sprues. Thanks to Del for being there and taking the photos..

Wednesday 11 October 2023

Typhoon Mk IB - R8893, 182 Sqd, Nov 1942 - Airfix 24th scale Typhoon 'Car Door'

 


A new attendee of the East Kent Scale Modellers group is Tom Le M.. His latest model was photographed on display at our last club night.




" At long last! It is done! 1:24 Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib Car Door - R8893, 182 Squadron, November 1942. It has been a crazy ride with a lot of firsts! I definitely fell in love with this kit. My painting skills not being as good as some modellers' out there, many mistakes were made and can't count how many times I very nearly gave up, right up to the end. So my Typhoon isn't perfect, but I think I gave it a damn good shot! I learned an awful lot in the process so the next one should be even better (whenever that will be).."




From the Wingleader Typhoon 'Photo Archive book 16'  ( a copy in evidence in the pic below of Tom's work bench)

After six weeks of training with the Typhoon IA, 182 Squadron received its first Mk IB with bomb racks, R8893, on 22 October 1942. Photographed a month later it has acquired the codes XM-M and Typhoon special markings as instructed on 19 November 1942. In addition to the white nose and spinner, four black 12-inch stripes were applied chordwise under the wings, starting at the wing root and spaced 24 inches apart. The cannon barrels have canvas covers. One of the first Typhoons modified to carry bombs, R8893 displays the short-lived white nose and black under-wing stripes. Note also the cannon with recoil springs mid-barrel. As with most Typhoons at this time it has the extended exhaust stubs. The aircraft also wears the overwing yellow ‘Dieppe’ stripes. Seen at RAF Martlesham Heath.



Wednesday 4 October 2023

Roden Fokker Dr. 1 72nd Jasta 12 Fw. Ulrich Neckel

You often hear people say, if you want to do something from WW I with not much rigging, try building a Fokker Dr. 1 triplane model. You have to wonder whether those people have actually done that - because building triplanes - especially in 72nd scale - is not easy even without having to worry too much about rigging!



The Roden kit is nice enough - quite detailed including separate sets of ailerons but very fiddly with its minuscule parts, including the internal cockpit framework and all the struts as separate parts, none of which have decent locating holes. I notice that sites such as Scott's 'Modelling Madness' have only ever done an in-box review of this kit. Which is pretty useless really - its not until you get into the build that you realise that some things are awry; eg the decals which are slightly over-sized and don't fit! Not to mention disintegrate on being moved from the backing paper. Fortunately there were two sets in my box - and one appeared to have been reprinted to the right dimensions (?). 

 




Fantastic box-art by the way. And lots of choices on the large decal sheet. Mine is finished in the markings of Fw. Ulrich Neckel of Jasta 12 with typical black rear fuselage and tailplane and 'dirty' white cowl and standard streaked finish over the rest of the airframe. Neckel was born 1898 and was one of the last winners of the Pour Le Mérite, awarded in his case in November 1918 for around 29 victories. He died in 1928 from TB.

To the right is the Revell 72nd Dr 1, probably an 'easier' buld although a little short on detail options. Check out the label links below for more triplanes on this blog..





Also on this blog;

Lt Paul Bäumer's Jasta Boelcke Fokker Dr. 1 204/17 (SMER 1:44th)