LDSmodeller

Likewise Anthony Regards Alan

Anything Anthony says about RNZAF TAF Mustangs, you can take as gospel. Regards Alan

Not my photos hence the links Seat: NZ2423 Seat NZ2423 Link 1 Gun sight: NZ2423 Gun sight NZ2423 Gunsight 1 Hope those are of help Regards Alan

Going by this photo of NZ2423 which had served with No.2 Wellington Sqn, before being taken on by 42 Sqn (target towing etc) I would say closer to a light Brunswick green (ignore the natural metal annotation) This is another one of my RNZAF Mustang builds waiting to progress Incidentally NZ2423 above was saved from the scrap heap by a forward thinking Kiwi by the name of John Smith (late). NZ2423 along with what I consider precious relics were squirreled away for 6 plus decades and only come to light recently. We know for a certainty what our TAF Mustangs would have looked like interior wise. David Muir, very knowledgeable gent, have had a number of discussions with him. Regards Alan

Given that the P-51D's were ordered to replace the war weary F4U/FG-1's flown by the RNZAF in the SW Pacific, and that the RNZAF was under the command of the USN at the time, US radio kit would have been the order of the day. Ventura have updated their Decal set colours, the one I purchased has lighter blue roundels....... Below is a photo of Auckland No.1 Sqn P-51's at Ohakea NZ2428 is the second aircraft in. Note the airframe finishes - Some were NMF and others HSS - note NZ2421 (first aircraft) doesn't have the windshield frame painted black , but NZ2428 does - little peculiarities to be aware of (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) The Euro Decals sheet looks nice for the RNZAF P-51, though who ever did the research for it got the history wrong, as in "The Late 1940's" the P-51's were still in storage at RNZAF Ardmore, and the Checkers Boards didn't really make an appearance till 1954ish just before the P-51's retirement. NZ2427 off the Euro Decal sheet (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with Permissions) NZ2427 and NZ2415 at Ashburton aerodrome (Ashburton is in South Canterbury - South Island) Again note the airframes, NZ2415 is in HSS, also note the difference in the black glare paint on the forward fuselage between the two airframes Hope the above is of help? Regards Alan

Yes, they were delivered late August 1945, so would have been stock Standard USAAF colours After arrival, they were cocooned and put into storage till around 1950ish (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) Colourwise, depends on what airframe and time frame you want to model your aircraft? US Serials are from 45-11490 - 45-11522 I have had one on the build burner for a while now as building as NZ2413 (US serial 45-11503) No. 1 Auckland Squadron, and only one that had a "Cuffed" propeller, whereas all the other were un-cuffed (RNZAF Official - Air Force Museum of New Zealand - Used with permissions) One, I plan to build later is NZ2426 (US Serial 45-11517) from a photo taken by my late Father when stationed at RNZAF Wigram circa 1954-5ish The Blue/Yellow checkers are on fuselage are related to Provincial Rugby Colours, which make this from No. 4 Otago Squadron (Auckland No.1 Sqn Blue/White, Wellington No. 2 Sqn Black/Yellow, Canterbury No. 3 Sqn Red/Black No. 4 Otago Blue/Gold) Internal colours stock standard US Interior green cockpit/Black floor boards, Black in the radio/fuel tank section, Zinc Chromate in other areas. Caveat - again depends on when you want to build, and what airframe? Example is NZ2420 with 42 Squadron had dark green wheel wells/doors when target towing What Roundels are you using? If Ventura, make sure the Roundels are Dark Blue, not Light Blue Hope that's of help? Regards Alan

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