LDSmodeller

Hi Tom Haven't been here in a while - as an FYI Please note that the Kermit Weeks "Sunderland" is actually a Sandringham. In 1963, NZ4108 a Mk V/MR5 was purchased from the RNZAF, flown to Rose Bay in NSW Australia, where it was converted from a Military Sunderland to a Civilian Sandringham - the whole of the interior including flight deck was completely changed. Anyone thinking of using Kermit's "Sunderland" to model their Sunderland will not have a Sunderland at all. Because the conversion was not done at Shorts in Britain, the aircraft could not be termed a Sandringham so is called a Sunderland (semantics semantics). In the second video especially, Kermit opens the "Oven" or "Church" door from flight engineers position, you see the Sandringham cabin - the photo below shows what you would see on a Real Sunderland Second Video shows Kermit climbing from lower deck to flight deck straight up the lower bulkhead, in a Real Sunderland the ladder is angled and climbs into flight engineers position - note additional equipment not on Kermit's aircraft Hope that helps PS - figured out how to post my images Regards Alan

Hi Nick, "Tiny Tim" was a WWII air launched Missile/Rocket used by US Forces From Wiki.......... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Tim_(rocket) HTH Regards Alan

Hi Maurice, Saw your post, just an FYI the Eaglecal RNZAF Decals are the wrong colour, should be much darker Blue. Even on faded Corsairs the Service Units who owned the aircraft, would touch up the Roundel paint, which is why you see some really faded RNZAF Corsairs with fresh painted roundels. If The Roundels did fade to the colour of the Eaglecal decals, you would see the over painted US Star underneath. That type of fading really only occurred some 10-15 years after the war sitting in a bone yard in the open Regards Alan

Hi Troy, I haven't seen the magazine, can you define light blue? The RNZAF NEVER ever used light blue ( Powder Blue/Electric Blue) markings either on aircraft used for training at home in New Zealand or especially on the front line in the Pacific areas. Check out these Ventura Decals (1/72 I know) for a P 40, they are the colours that would be found on a frontline aircraft. http://www.venturapublications.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=82&products_id=309 The advanced training aircraft wore a Pacific Roundel that equates to about Humbrol 25 or slightly darker Unfortunately (being a Kiwi I'm embarrassed) Ventura did produce some decals as in the link below, but they have lets say been taught the error of their ways and are now producing the correct colours. http://www.venturapublications.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=255 The colours were a BALM colour which did fade, but the SU's (Servicing Units) would redo the Roundel colours as they had time. The colours never faded though to the Light/Electric Blue, and folks/modellers who insist on that colour(s) have no idea about RNZAF Markings. Hope that helps? Regards Alan

Hi Martin, Thanks for posting that video - soooo really want to get one An FYI for anyone wanting to do the RNZAF version, the interior colours will/would be stock standard US colours applied by Curtiss. if you click on the link below, you will find an excerpt from the P40N M&E manual held by the RNZAF Musuem https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Yff6LKWML1LVpfbHQ2SG5BSzg/view?usp=sharing Though in those quantities you would need a few thousand kits Pilots seat harness will be stock US version, so can use the kit supplied version or AM if that suits you. If using the figure, RNZAF flying kit in the Island forward areas will be basically same as USN/USMC (RNZAF was attached to USN, so wore kit as supplied kit by US Quarter Master) This photo of TBF-1c crew gives you an idea Looking at the kit supplied decals, colour still looks a tad light (but that could be my monitor) will have to wait and get one to actually see. Regards Alan

Then why print the wrong colours on the distributors leaflet??? - Makes no sense? The colours on the decal sheet are more suited for the Home Roundels worn in New Zealand, but still too light for actual colour used in the forward areas, and the "G" Code letter is still missing on NZ3220......................

Check out the link below (scroll half way down) No, they didn't, they printed those stupid Electric/pale blue markings which never ever existed. Not impressed by the supposed Olive Drab either, and missed the code letter "G" off NZ3220 https://www.eduard.com/store/out/media/distributors/leaflet/leaflet2017-07.pdf This colour painting by the RNZAF Artist Maurice Conly (who actually spent time in the forward area) shows what the correct colour should look like http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/Images/p40.jpg Rare colour photo of an RNZAF P40N - note dark Blue Roundel colour http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/Images/lsn.jpg Actual Olive Drab off an RNZAF P40 (either M/N) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Yff6LKWML1VVZ2WmNzWG41ZTA/view?usp=sharing History on Gloria Lyons and aircraft http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/gl.html Regards Alan

Cool, always great to see an RNZAF build, especially an TBF-1c Avenger. I have the same kit (started), mine will be (eventually) NZ2520 "Dumbo", I would love to do "Who Said The B------ Couldn't Fly" (Kiwi with wings), but at present we don't know the serial. RNZAF Avenger at MOAT here in Auckland under restoration, note the original Grumman Interior colours Ever you ever get the chance, read the Book by Wally Ingham "Avengers". Wally served with 30 & 31 Squadrons (RNZAF), lots of interesting info As far as your particualr Aircraft NZ2518 goes, it was the mount of one Fred "Popeye" Lucas, who adorned it with the cartoon Beer Barrel, Plonky. Lucas wa a teetotaller, and knew the dripping Beer Barrel, would offend the Japanese as they didn't like the alcohol dripping on them from above. Lucas and his aircraft even received a mention from "Tokyo Rose", who stated that Plonky would be shot down. Lucas was rotated home, but sadley on June 5 1944 Plonky and her crew of the time were lost over Rabaul. Just as an FYI the TBF-1c's were delivered to the RNZAF with RAF type roundels painted in US Insignia colours. The Wing roundels were over painted in RNZAF Pacific Roundel Blue (a dark blue colour), while the fuselage roundel remained with Insignia Yellow outer ring, Insignia Blue/Insignia white, and the Insignia Red being painted over with RNZAF Pacific Roundel Blue (dark blue). Look forward to more of your build Regards Alan

Hi Bevan, The colour you want is "Light Grey" FS36622 (Edit can also be referred to as Camouflage Grey) Humbrol 28 or Model Master 1733 Hope that helps? Regards Alan

Hi Martin, I know what you mean about models built when young. My first RNZAF Corsair was the old Frog model as in the link below. It was my pride and joy at the time http://oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=1652&page=303 The interesting thing about that kit was that Frog actually got the Colours right for an early RNZAF F4U-1D (3 or 4 Tone USN scheme) and got the Roundel colours pretty much spot on. NZ5457 "Patricia Mary" - the only error is that the aircraft did not belong to a "Support Unit" but rather a Servicing Unit. Not just the RNZAF is neglected, but New Zealand's role in the South Pacific war is neglected. it's intersting you should make that comment on neglect, I was reading a publication on the war in the South Pacific today, New Zealand was not even mentioned - Australia was. Heck, even John Wayne could pronounce the real small New Zealand town, named Paekakariki, in the movie Sands of Iwo Jima, where US Marines were actaully stationed in WWII, prior to leaving for the forward areas in the Pacific. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041841/ Regards Alan

Hi Martin Any particular reason for NZ5315? - just curious - As RNZAF F4U-1A Corsairs go, its pretty non-descript Thanks/Regards Alan

Just be aware that in the WWII Pacific war, RNZAF Cosairs wore two different coloured Roundels. Those that served as Avanced Training types in New Zealand to train RNZAF Pilots, wore "Identity Blue" (similar colour to Humbrol 25), those stayed in New Zealand - though a couple did find their way to the forward areas. The RNZAF Pacific Roundel which was the darker Blue was worn by Corsairs flying/fighting in the forward areas I'll contact the gents at the RNZAF Museum where they hold all the technical records, and see what info they can provide (could take a few days). Regards Alan

Jennings - I mentioned earlier on this is thread, there are SAGE's (Self Appointed Guru Experts) out in Internet land who like to think they know about the WW RNZAF,when in reality they either know diddly squat or simply perpetuating misinformation they have been told or read on the Internet. There is a lot of information on the net about WWII RNZAF aircraft (Corsairs especially) that is false/misleading, also alot about the WWII RNZAF is not on the Internet. When the Tamiya F4U-1A came out, there was a build on Hyperscale of the "Spliced Corsair Frames NZ272/5307. The modeller had decided that looking at B&W photos and basing his painting decision on some guy Mike on another forum, to paint the rear section (NZ5272) all light grey. I told him the operational history of both airframes and that light grey was not painted on the rear airframe, and it remained in USN 3 (or 4 tone depending on your take) tone of the time, while the forward section (NZ5307) was Glossy Sea Blue, as the full airframe had been repainted after assembly at Los Negros in GSB. The modeller painted it grey.......... You need to know that many RNZAF Aircraft were Lend Lease. The RNZAF was attached to the USN from 1942 and came under command of USNCICPAC (think I got that right). Aircraft especially Corsairs, were delivered in standard USN colours, others in USAAF colours, and generally remained that way, unless repainted either in theatre or before leaving New Zealand (Hudsons/Ventura's P40K early shipment). All F4U-1A's in USN colours - some repainted in Glossy Sea Blue after assembly. Later, some received a uppercoating of GSB or NS Sea Blue, leaving the undersides in White and lower wings Int blue - see photo below (NZ5347) Note this was not just a Kiwi thing, USMC corsairs received the same, Kiwi's and USN/USMC shared same airstrips. First allotment of F4U-1D's were delevered in USN 3/4 tone, rest in GSB All FG-1D's in GSB As far as standards go BALM manufactured paints either in New Zealand or Australia to RAAF/RNZAF standards. This included RNZAF Pacific Roundel Blue used on Corsairs flying in the forward areas. Some know it alls seem to believe that RNZAF Corsairs weathered more so than their US counterparts -my comment above about same colours, same airstrips. These same know it alls believe that the RNZAF Roundel weathered to the silly baby blue or electric blue. The RNZAF Pacific Roundel was painted over the US Star, and if it did weather (which they did, BALM paints were noted for this), the US Star would show through as in this photo below I have yet to see any "Weathered" RNZAF Pacific Roundels on Decal sheets showing this. Note - there are no colour photos of RNZAF Corsairs in the forward areas, however Maurice Conly the noted RNZAF artist, spent a lot of time in the forward areas and all of his colour painting show Dark Blue Roundels on RNZAF Corsairs. Some RNZAF Standard paint colours, painted on RNZAF aircraft serving in forward areas (Hudsons/Venturas/P40K) RNZAF Pacific Blue (aka NZ Sea Blue Grey) RNZAF Pacific Green - This colour here, I can guarantee the SAGES know nothing about!!!! RNZAF Foliage Green RNZAF Sky Grey - this colour is actully a type of Duck Egg Blue - like Sky Type S Alot to read I know, but only a nutshell version. Please contact me either here on the forum or PM me for any further info. If I don't know, the gents at the RNZAF Museum will (I pick their collective brains alot). I'm sure they would only be too happy to get some actual accurate RNZAF decal markings EDIT: do you have any specific airframes in mind? Regards Alan

The decal company/ SAGE individual I was alluding to was not from New Zealand. Those Ventura Decals, are what I refer to as getting it right. Incidently Pete Mossong worked with Ventura to get these right, I consider Pete (who is Kiwi like me) to be the leading Expert on RNZAF Corsairs especially markings. Regards Alan

Hi Mike, Your build is coming along really well !! looking really nice Thanks for sharing with us Thanks/regards Alan