LDSmodeller

The owner is in the US. You own the aircraft you state what goes on.... NZ2308 was originally built in Australia starting off as a FB-40, then converted while in production to a T-34, being first with the RAAF, then sold to the RNZAF 1947, serving with 75 Squadron. The RNZAF received a number of ex RAAF T34's The one we have at MOTAT here in Auckland is one The overall Silver (HSS - High Speed Silver) is correct, the Letters are correct just should be black, just not the D-Day stripes. Below is NZ2308 while in Service with the RNZAF (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) 75 Squadron did have on strength at some point a few Mosquitoes that were of WWII Vintage and Veterans of various raids carried out (especially with 487 Squadron) I actually got to see this Mosquito at Avspecs during a visit previous. Regards Alan

Hi Peter, I really Applaud you're keeping this build simple When I started mine (sometime ago) I decide to go AMS and ended up with this which since then has stalled........ Your build is coming a long nicely Keep up the great work Regards Alan

Hi Peter, Nice Choice Have you decided on which of the RNZAF Corsairs you will do off the decal sheet? I have two of these Revell kits, one of them being built (also on your decal sheet) as NZ5485 Kohimarama IX using though Ventura Decals. Just as an FYI, RNZAF Corsairs had their arrestor hooks removed by the RNZAF Servicing Units who owned them, and "Loaned" them to the Operational Squadrons Photo of a 23 "Ghost" Squadron Corsair (also on your decal sheet) (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) I wouldn't worry about the flaps being down anyway, as RNZAF Corsairs generally kept theirs in the up postilion when not in use anyway (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) Look forward to your build Regards Alan

Hi Brett, Scale issues of paint aside, historical information can be of value here too. The upper Wings/Tail planes of aircraft painted in USN Tri Colour Scheme (actually 4 colours) were painted in ANA Semi Specular Sea Blue (being a Semi Gloss), so will have weathered in in a different way to the Non Specular Sea Blue/Intermediate blues. For RNZAF aircraft based on Pacific island (along with USN/USMC units) the coral dust was a major issue, and cleaning it off was akin to chipping cement. Some RNZAF SU's (Servicing Units) who actually owned the aircraft, used petrol/gasoline (which ever is in use in your part of the world) soaked rags to clean off the coral dust, as it was the only thing that would actually work. It doesn't take a degree in Chemistry to figure out what happens to paint after doing that Again the amount of sorties flown can have an effect on paint, these SBD's though only with 25 Squadron for three months, flew sorties daily, so along with wear & Tear, maintenance would have been a more common occurrence too. Regards Alan

Hi Brett, The RNZAF Servicing Units (SU's) generally tended to keep the Roundels (when/where possible) in good condition, The upper wing roundel on your model could be a little more dark blue.... This was a safety issue as well, as more than one Kiwi Pilot had been on the receiving end of a hail of bullets from an Erstwhile Allied pilot who fired first, looked later I have seen a WWII RNZAF Roundel on a P40 kept under cover for the last 6 or so Decades, that was still Dark blue even when faded. The Paints were BALM (British Australian Lead Manufacturers), and truth be told they did weather much faster than the US applied paints, hence the more frequent repainting Note these RNZAF Corsairs, that are well weathered, but note the fresher looking fuselage Roundels (Photo Original RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) IMHO the roundels on your model are a tad too faded, But, If you're happy with your model, I wouldn't lose sleep over it Regards Alan

Roughly 3 Months Operational time, before returning the SBD-5's to US Forces at Renard Field (Russell Is) in as "New Condition" (words of accepting US Quartemaster) 25 Sqn returned to New Zealand was disbanded, and then reformed to return to the forward areas to fly the F4U-1 (A/D) Corsair in ground attack Your model is nice - couple of points The Roundels a tad too faded - as I mentioned in your WIP when they got that faded the US Star would show up underneath. The other (nothing to do with your build) is that Montex Masks don't include the 25 Squadron Badge ( I have the same masks) found on Starboard side of Fuselage, as in the photo below (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - used with Permissions) Thanks for sharing your build Regards Alan

Here in New Zealand we have a preserved RNZAF P40E-1, that had been in storage for the last 6-7 decades, unfortunately The Ring Sight is missing, but the Support is there, and is a metallic colour (Greyish) (Caveat the paint may have worn off) If you look at this photo of an RNZAF P40 in the Pacific, the Ring sight is a dark colour, so could be Black, or as you suggested Metallic Grey/Fuselage colour (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - used with Permissions) Regards Alan

Hi Brett, Looking really nice - Great Tutorial on Painting RNZAF Roundels with the Proper colours. I'm picking you're meaning the RNZAF Fin Stripes on the tail? Looking forward to see how you do those. I have often found it some what ironic/comical that some modellers/Decal Producers will tell you with Authority, that WWII RNZAF Pacific Roundels were a light shade blue and paint the Fin Stripe with a dark blue (common sense would tell you it's one or the other....) Looking forward to the final reveal Thanks for sharing your build with us Regards Alan

Hi Brett, Correct The RNZAF SBD 5's are probably the only front line aircraft in our WWII Air Force in the Forward Pacific areas,that didn't get too weathered, as opposed to say the F4U's Regards Alan

Hi Brett, Looking good, the RNZAF Pacific Roundel looks fine, the US Insignia Blue probably would be fine too The SBD-5's only served with 25 Sqn for roughly 3 months, (3 months in the Pacific Sun can still give reasonable wear on the paint - but not to the real faded look). When handed back to the USMC/MAG the Quartermaster stated they still looked as "New" Hope that helps? Regards Alan

It's a little known fact that there were 4 "Gloria Lyons" aircraft. 3 x P40's and 1 x F4U-1 Corsair. The Ventura Decals version is the last Gloria Lyons P40, being a N model being NZ3220 I too have a Gloria Lyons build to do, using the Trumpeter P40N, but plan to build her as in this photo from the RNZAF Museum after arrival back from the forward theatre and repainted in NZ Foliage Green/NZ Sky Grey NZ3220 Gloria Lyons Regards Alan

Hi Brett, The White Stripes and Tails were for Identification purposes, as the P40 bore (at a distance) a similar plane form to the Japanese Ki 61 Hien (Tony) Regards Alan

Hi Brett, Apologies, I should have been a little more specific for the SBD-5's. The 25 Sqn SBD-5's were the only aircraft in RNZAF Inventory that wore the RNZAF Roundel in 4 positions (as in US aircraft) - they were loan aircraft, from USMC/MAG, until the TBF-1c/F4U-1 came to the forward areas. All other RNZAF Aircraft both forward Pacific areas and at home in New Zealand wore roundels in 6 positions (including RNZAF SBD-4's in forward areas) Check out this RNZAF P40 (Gloria Lyons NZ3220) (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions) RNZAF P40 at Odonga New Georgia (RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - used with Permissions) Regards Alan

Hi Brett, I've been following along with your build, and just letting you know there is a lot of Misinformation/Perpetuated Myths about WWII RNZAF Roundel colours. Whilst the Paint Colour is made by BALM (British Australian Lead Manufacturers), the colours can never really equate to FS colours, as FS Colour Standard didn't exist in WWII. The other Myth (yes even in Kiwi land) is that RNZAF Roundel faded to some light colour blue. After X amount of Decades in the Rukuhia Aircraft open storage yards yes, but not in the forward operational areas - also bear in Mind that the SBD-5 only served with RNZAF 25 Sqn for a few short Months This SBD-5 Shows the colours are not faded (from RNZAF Museum) (RNZAF Official- RNZAF Museum - used with Permissions) If the RNZAF Roundel did fade, it would look some thing like this on this RNZAF Corsair, as the RNZAF Roundel was painted directly over the US Star The Roundels were kept fairly Fresh by the SU (Servicing Unit) personnel, as a matter of Pride and safety. The closest colour suitable would be WWII RAF Roundel Blue, with Insignia Blue for the Bar surrounds. Caveat to this, is that the Starboard Wing upper and Port wing lower Bar borders would be RNZAF Roundel Blue, not US Insignia Blue (RNZAF Aircraft wore Roundels in six positions) Hope that Helps? Regards Alan PS: I have the Montex masks for My RNZAF SBD-5

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