Short Sunderland Mk.III
Kommentarer
202 14 November 2022, 16:38
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Cuajete and Robert. I'm going to give the Condor some company over the Bay of Biscay!
14 November 2022, 20:41
Villiers de VosOff to a good start and the beginning of another masterpiece.
15 November 2022, 04:16
Andy Ball FörfattareVilliers, you're too kind! My work compared to yours makes me aspire to moving up to that level! Thanks for popping by.
15 November 2022, 08:34
Łukasz GlińskiOh, that one I have to watch, always dreamed of a Sunderland on my shelf
15 November 2022, 08:50
Andy Ball FörfattareYes Ł, I will need a big shelf too- to incorporate the Il-62 if possible. In fact its not a shelf, it's an apron.
15 November 2022, 10:26
Andy Ball FörfattareThank-you Michael. Done some work on this today. There is a full interior's worth of out of the box detailing.
15 November 2022, 16:54
Neil PatrickCrickey Andy. Didn't guess you had this coming. And I've not seen one of these built yet either. Will watch with great interest. 🙂
15 November 2022, 22:36
Jay DubyaKeen to keep an eye on your progress with this one, Andy. Mind if I pop by on the sly?
16 November 2022, 04:20
Andy Ball FörfattareHi Neil, I am a master of the "let's do something else from the stash" without actually or necessarily finishing it so soon….but I hope to buck the trend!
16 November 2022, 09:15
Andy Ball FörfattareJay, you are more than welcome. I hope you don't mind the script that will accompany the build, but it's there for anyone who ever attempts this.
16 November 2022, 09:16
Gary KitchenJust catching up after some time away. Looking great Andy. I like your scratch build as always. I've got the mkV special Hobby on the bench at the moment so am right behind you but not brave enough to scratch build so using Eduard PE. I'll try and get some photos going too. I wasn't sure about the all black interior so I went green but your booklet confirms black it looks like.
20 November 2022, 00:29
Andy Ball FörfattareGlad you're back in circulation Gary! I must confess there won't be too much s/build, the interior as you know is pretty good, so some highlights here and there. Regarding the interior- I bet it may have changed over the 'Marks' and could they have painted them differently in the different factories?, who knows. I'm sticking to the instructions, as I don't have the patience to do the research!
21 November 2022, 23:02
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Edward! Will try and push forward a bit this week.
28 November 2022, 11:19
Guy RumpLooking good Andy, I have the Italeri version. It'll be interesting to compare them both. 👍
28 November 2022, 20:28
Gary KitchenThe finish on the cockpit floor and silver of the flight deck looks a bit special Andy. Is there a technique or treatment you've used. Almost looks like some sort of surfacing. Also loving the PVA knobs much better than the folded PE imo.
28 November 2022, 21:31
Lost_ErikLooking good. That is quite a surprise about the plastic/primer situation.
29 November 2022, 04:13
Andy Ball Författare@ Lost_Erik I bought a spray can auto primer. Said it would work on plastics. Never again. I'm also advising a soapy wash and gentle fine sander just to make sure. Vallejo Grey Primer will be cured today, and I'll retry.
29 November 2022, 07:52
Łukasz GlińskiPerhaps some Alclad, Mr.Paint or other lacqeur would help? They literally bite into the plastic.
29 November 2022, 08:38
Andy Ball Författare@Łukasz, I'm very impressed with AK Xtreme. That's what I used previously, but on top of woeful primer it didn't stand a chance.
29 November 2022, 10:13
Andy Ball Författare@Guy- downsides IMHO: the plastic is soft, waxey and no locator lugs. The parts count high. Ejector pin marks on inside- not sure whether they matter once closed up. Complicated spruce locator as no parts are numbered
Upside: detailing great, decals superb, and PUR porcupine exhausts should make for an interesting finish
29 November 2022, 10:16
Andy Ball Författare@Gary: no mythical finishing- perhaps the one good point of the black primer is to give a subtle texture to AK Xtreme aluminium. The black cockpit could be the light in the room. I will dry brush and let you judge the final finish!
29 November 2022, 10:18
CuajeteNice interiors, Andy 👍.
I wonder how much of all that will be seen once the fuselage is closed. I'd like to know so I know if it's worth it by the time I make mine. All of that is OOB?
30 November 2022, 18:11
David TaylorLooking at the parts breakdown Andy it looks as though you may be able to make any of the marks.
30 November 2022, 19:09
Andy Ball Författare@Cuajete: thanks for popping by….possibly quite a bit if the side panels are stowed away to facilitate the bombs coming out, and there's the option of allowing the front door to be open, and the front turret can be retracted. Not sure which of those I'll do yet….
And, yes…pretty much all o/o/t/b - just a few bits here and there!
30 November 2022, 21:10
Andy Ball Författare@David- sure, there's the parts for the other Mks. Makes for a confused sprue layout and locator 😞
30 November 2022, 21:13
Andy Ball FörfattareBetter late than never @Thomas- good to hear from you again!
30 November 2022, 21:13
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Transall NG, it's turning into quite a challenge having dry fitted the interior to the fuselage. Oh, boy!
2 December 2022, 14:46
Bernd GrünNice progress, Andy. Follow your build with great interest. Cheers!
3 December 2022, 19:08
Andy Ball FörfattareI'll need all the moral support I can get in this one Bernd! Thanks for jour words!
3 December 2022, 22:20
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Finn again for the interest. @David & Cuajete- there's plenty of details you can add - Eduard's detailing set can attest to that. But as we all know in 72nd, it's probably going to disappear behind distorted transparencies even if in show!
6 December 2022, 22:53
Andy Ball FörfattareLochsa, likewise I love your narratives from your works. Thanks for popping by
6 December 2022, 22:54
Andy Ball FörfattareAppreciate the look-in Wiktor! Good luck with your country's determination to be free.
9 December 2022, 00:29
Andy Ball FörfattareThank-you Villiers, it's quite an involving kit....many many pieces, so chipping away at it daily.
13 December 2022, 13:58
Gary KitchenGoing well Andy. I've paused mine just now. I had stupidly thought I'd do it as a Christmas present for my father-in-law who flew in one post-war national service. Then I saw the number of parts and complexity and realised, no chance! His birthday is in June so that's my new target. I'll be following closely to learn from yours. 👍
14 December 2022, 13:07
Andy Ball Författare@Gary: you could leave a lot of the interior detail out - most of mine can't be seen 😞….but it isn't an easy, throw together kit. That said, the details are good, I'd be interested in a comparison with Revell's offering….
14 December 2022, 23:27
Guy RumpLooking great Andy; the enamel white paint sounds like a good idea. Looking at the decals I can see, it seems to have been a very successful experiment. 👍
16 December 2022, 18:30
Lochsa River...rescribed all those line, did you? good thing there weren't many! soothing music helps....
16 December 2022, 20:46
Andy Ball Författare@Pietro, I don't think it'll hang in the Uffizi gallery just yet! 😂
17 December 2022, 15:57
Andy Ball Författare@Guy and Gary- thanks for the comments, always pleased that you're encouraging me through! Yes, the gloss white seems to have worked with a little 7000 grit sanding.
17 December 2022, 15:59
Andy Ball FörfattareŁ, thanks, I'm a little shady on this build I can assure you!, and @Cuajete my white effect was modelled on my hair colour! 😂
17 December 2022, 16:00
Andy Ball Författare@Bernd, not quite in the league of the Flemish school, but I thank you for the comment.
@Lochsa I find listening to 70s prog rock albums helps!…., and in fairness I've only lightly followed the existing lines to give a bit more, (surprising), depth and definition
17 December 2022, 16:04
Andy Ball FörfattareThank-you Villiers, it seems to be going better than planned
17 December 2022, 18:35
CuajeteNice progress, Andy. Those colors suit it so well 👍
I guess you'll have to fill those trenches, sand and repaint. I wonder what the union between the wings and the fuselage will be like in the Italeri kit.
19 December 2022, 20:36
Łukasz GlińskiEnvying your canopy masking, but what about these wing joints? Ouch!
19 December 2022, 21:19
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Cuajete, those gaps have now largely disappeared- courtesy of Mr White Filler and Surfacer 1000. It's not completely hidden, but I'll live with it. Yes, I'd love to know how this compares to Italeri. I'm looking forward to the final camo coating
19 December 2022, 21:28
Andy Ball FörfattareŁukasz- they're quite cavernous aren't they?
In retrospect I probably should've used some slivers of plasticard first, but my first try of Mr Putty went reasonably well.
19 December 2022, 23:40
Andy Ball FörfattareThx Villiers, edging along. Pausing for Christmas, soon.
24 December 2022, 08:30
Bob LeaderGreat effort, not an easy kit! I backdated a MK-V to this ship, so I know the challenges,
24 December 2022, 16:12
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Bob, I'll wear my medal with you once I'm over the line!
24 December 2022, 18:53
Bernd GrünI think my promise was right.
Your build turnes out awesome. 👌👌👌
Merry Christmas
24 December 2022, 23:03
Michael KohlWhat a massive plane - and beautifully executed too. Good luck with the cowlings. I think it is easier to thin them than to sand down the cylinder heads.
26 December 2022, 20:13
Andy Ball FörfattareThank-you Michael, Santa has brought me a Proxxon drill/sander so I will practice on some other pieces before I attempt the insides of the cowlings!
26 December 2022, 22:15
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Simontie! A bit more work today- getting trickier!
28 December 2022, 15:09
CuajeteLooking so good, Andy 👌.
Rig floats supports are made from guitar cords? In my Do-24 I used rigid copper wire and the result was apparently good too 🙂
28 December 2022, 19:19
Andy Ball FörfattareCuajete, riggings from stretched spruce - trying that method out first. Will see if I need to resort to Uschi stuff
29 December 2022, 00:32
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Viacheslav! appreciate you having another peek at the works!
29 December 2022, 20:24
CuajeteInteresting comparison with the Ju-88. Sundie looks fantastic so far!
Happy 2023!
31 December 2022, 19:43
Andy Ball FörfattareCuajete- it's quite an impressive size. Alas I don't think I'll finish it soon. Best wishes for the NY too!!
1 January 2023, 12:46
Andy Ball FörfattareHahaha David, you're right. Hope you have a prosperous NY too
1 January 2023, 16:08
Alec KLate to the party here, but this is shaping up very nicely Andy 👍. Happy New Year!
1 January 2023, 17:36
Andy Ball Författare@Guy, all the best to you for '23… hope to see those projects shape up - especially B-17F.
@Alec K, always happy to welcome you at any hour to the party! HNY from over the pond!
1 January 2023, 17:47
Andy Ball FörfattareToo kind Fritz01!! There's lots to execute still!, or be executed by?!🤔😂
1 January 2023, 20:28
Gary KitchenGreat progress Andy. Hoping that turret arrives soon so I can see the finished thing before I start properly on mine. Happy New Year.
1 January 2023, 21:05
Andy Ball FörfattareI may scratch build turret Gary, although Special Hobby are prepared to send me the spruce for a modest cost/free if I order from their online shop. Tempted! NHY to you too!
2 January 2023, 07:28
Andy Ball Författare@István and Patryk - very motivating comments...it will spur me on to doing some more to this, thank-you.
5 January 2023, 14:56
Andy Ball FörfattareThank-you Juskifo!
@Guy I appreciate your patience on this odyssey- this project has taught me a little about rigging…hope I can see the Lough in my 12-o'clock, flaps are coming down!!
6 January 2023, 22:45
Juskifovery organized and neat assembly
inspiring
not finished but already successful👏
6 January 2023, 22:45
Andy Ball FörfattareMerci encore Juskifo. There's a Maritime version in this kit too.
6 January 2023, 22:52
Andy Ball Författare@ Villiers and @ Robert many thanks, again you have been on the mission throughout. Brave!
7 January 2023, 08:59
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Bradley for liking this!
@Treehugger: not bad for a first go, I guess!
7 January 2023, 12:09
Andy Ball FörfattareCheers to all mates! I'll take the "rigging endorsement "!
7 January 2023, 19:34
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Bob, very much work in progress- and an homage to those who flew in her
9 January 2023, 00:44
Behemonth Magnusamazing, I am gonna build the same, but, in civil service, as a consequence, I need to make some modifications.
9 January 2023, 09:50
Andy Ball FörfattareDamianos: I hope the long build narrative helps you along the way?….as you know with it being the manufacturer they are, they're not easy to simply build. I look forward to yours?!
9 January 2023, 10:32
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks Lothar, you've been pretty busy too! Thanks to Dave too 🇨🇦
15 March 2023, 15:21
Łukasz GlińskiLooks gorgeous on the black background - reminds me of the classic Airfix boxart which tempted me for ages to buy it 😄 Which I never accomplished 😄
15 March 2023, 15:41
Michael .Looks great!
What technique did YOU use for your rigging. You said you found one that works for you. I've only done one rigging job so far and I can't get them taught enough and they looks bleh. You did an amazing job on the rigging.
15 March 2023, 15:49
CuajeteGreat, Andy! I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.
Will you make a display base with water?
15 March 2023, 19:31
Andy Ball FörfattareHello Ł: Airfix/Roy Cross was my inspiration too! I built 2 of them when I was a kid, the 2@G one. I'd love to know how the Italeri one works, I think it may be the better release of a Mk III. It'll dwarf Pinky and his pals on the shelf though!
15 March 2023, 23:21
Andy Ball Författare@Michael: hope the PM helps answer your question?
@Cuajete: funny that!, I'm looking for a suitable piece of padding/foam to represent the Lough (lake/loch) she sat in…I hate the beaching trolley set up-ruins the look!
@Austin, cheers my man!
15 March 2023, 23:25
Gary KitchenLooks fabulous Andy. Mine's back in the box for now. I have two Italeri ones and this one that I once thought I'd production line a I, III, and V side by side. How naive 😄 Wisdom prevails. I wouldn't have the space anyway.
16 March 2023, 14:11
DaveAndy, once again. Amazing looking aircraft. Rummaging through the photos and foot notes on your journey. Love the details and creative ideas for that final touch, such as guitar strings for cables.
16 March 2023, 15:00
Andy Ball Författare@Gary: you'd need a workbench approaching the size of Short's own Belfast factory to build 3 of 'em!...I'm guessing Italeri may be a more straightforward build...but only *you* can tell us that if/when you do?...if you want the reference booklet shown when the time comes, let me know and I'll donate mine... @Dave, I'm glad I've given a wee bit of insight into their model- sure helps to play guitar- those strings make for useful implants! @David: mucho appreciato my SM...and thanks to the ever-friendly Cuajete!!
17 March 2023, 09:39
Nigel BrandIf you can get to the RAF Museum in London a Sunderland Mk V is on display and very interesting.
17 March 2023, 11:37
Andy Ball Författare@earlybrit- yes I have, many years back...it's a Mk.V? nevertheless very impressive close-up. Thanks for the interest.
17 March 2023, 11:54
Neil PatrickGosh Andy. I cannot keep up with your posting, let alone your modelling speed and creativity. But it's marvellous to behold the Sunderland on final approach now! Magnificent!
18 March 2023, 11:35
Andy Ball Författare@Neil, it helps to have a WFH job, with the model bench just to one side of the 'proper' work. The model has taken a few months as you probably remember from Telford, @bughunter- thanks for the motivation @Timmie,@jan and @Slavo- and others, collectively...thank-you.
20 March 2023, 16:08
Andy Ball Författare@Bernard-looking at your eclectic collection I'm very pleased you like this.
21 March 2023, 08:07
Andy Ball Författare@Rui and @Skywalker: many thanks mates. I'm going to have another push on the build this week, and hope to get it over the line soon.
28 March 2023, 10:36
Gary VictoryReally nice work Andy. Love the weathering. Looking forward to seeing the completed build.
29 March 2023, 06:10
Andy Ball Författare@Clement thanks for the like, and to Kyle, Mark and Gary I'll hope to push push push this one to the finish line....
29 March 2023, 14:17
Andy Ball FörfattareShort Sunderland Mk.III, Blackburn built, EK591/2@U. No.422 (RCAF) Sqn.
On 10th of March 1944 the crew of W/O Morton were on patrol whereupon they came across U-625. Morton was new to the Sunderland and his trainer F/L Butler was at the controls.
The U-boat was attacked and sank, the Sunderland holed by a shell with other fragments puncturing its hull. All damage was repaired using the crew's chewing gum rations!
The crew of U-625 were seen getting into lifeboats, but never seen again, succumbing to the North Atlantic's weather.
In recognition of their achievement each crew member received a 24-pack of gum from Wrigley's"
To those on all sides of the Battle of the Atlantic, we remember.
2 April 2023, 13:41
Michael KohlYeah, that's my Sunderland. Fantastic rendition of this massive machine. You made maximum use of the huge canvas it supplies. Amazing result (and I am not American. I use "amazing" sparingly. (No offence, my American mates. 🙂 ))
2 April 2023, 13:48
Guy RumpExcellent build Andy, glad to see she's finally landed. Great back story too. 👍
2 April 2023, 13:48
Moreno BaruffiniMamma mia! A perfect landing 🙂
I'm Italian but I use "mamma mia" sparingly 🙂
2 April 2023, 15:13
Thomas BischoffFantastic result - enjoyed every moment of flight till the final landing 👍
2 April 2023, 16:04
Andy Ball Författare@Michael K yep, it's one heck of a canvas. "Mustn't grumble" as we English like to say!….
2 April 2023, 18:20
Andy Ball Författare@Guy and Michael thank-you for your patience with my build. I appreciate having you along on the odyssey.
2 April 2023, 18:22
Andy Ball FörfattareCheers Moreno,"cheers mate" as we say in parts of England! I'm so surprised the Italians stole that phrase from ABBA.
2 April 2023, 18:23
Andy Ball FörfattareBless ya James, thanks for the comment!
Igor- thanks for popping in too, et aussi Jean-Louis
2 April 2023, 18:24
Andy Ball FörfattareThomas- always a great pleasure to see your comments- best, Andy
2 April 2023, 18:29
Moreno Baruffini@Andy: to tell the truth, ABBA stole the phrase from the Italians 😉
BTW I really enjoy to interact with so many mates from all the Europe and beyond! Again, congratulations for the super result!
2 April 2023, 18:32
Andy Ball Författare@Moreno: REALLY!???….😉 I stand corrected (I drive an Alfa Giulia QV and have been known to eat a pizza every once in while) Mille Grazie
2 April 2023, 18:35
CuajeteAndy, I wouldn't want to abuse one of the many words we use in Spain either... but your Sundie is "cojonudo" 🤭
Congrats!
2 April 2023, 19:51
Gary VictoryAndy, Really great build and finish..👍. Love the weathering and staining around the hull. Top Job Sir.
Shame the Sunderland doesn't get much love... i have the Mk.V in my stash and once i thin out my bench work load out a bit more i hope to start on it this year... well that's the plan anyway...😏
3 April 2023, 06:51
Andy Ball Författarethanks Gary, are you doing Italeri's? if so, please alert me when- the SH is a great kit, but overambitious in terms of detail and fit....but as you state, builds well eventually. Thanks for coming on the mission with me.
@Sea, @Andy M: thanks for the like and those others I may have missed too.
3 April 2023, 08:11
Gary VictoryAndy, nope the Mk V is also a Special Hobby Kit - i went for the SH kit due to the heavy panel surface detail on the italeri kit, which looks a little trench like to me.
Looking at he instructions for the italeri kit, the breakdown and assembly look pretty close to the SH kit - just PE parts in the cockpit look like the main difference. One thing to bare in mind is that the Special Hobby kit is more of a limited run kit so properly doesn't have the main stream finesse, so fit issues more likely, but a kit I'm definitely looking to doing. 😉
4 April 2023, 10:47
Łukasz GlińskiLovely job and photos A! Hats off for the shading of the white part, sth I truly envy 👍
Hard for me to admit after so many years, but your last pics scores higher than my favourite ever-tempting boxart of the Airfix-photo series:
Short Sunderland III (Airfix 06001, 1:72)
5 April 2023, 08:00
Andy Ball Författare@Łukasz: in summer 1976 when staying at my grandparents I built the Airfix one. Took so much time in getting it painted and built right with precisely the Airfix paint numbers over 3-4 days. We then had to return by train to my house- a 4 hour journey. Said Sunderland was put in a plastic carrier bag for me to carry, with the inevitable outcome of everything breaking. Like you, when building this, I thought I wanted to even the score in my head of that build. Many builds on here are about old Airfix kits, repeated with their modern successors-the spirit remains! Thanks for the compliment, I hope you have a similar experience one day with this subject?
@Neuling: thanks again for your observations- I hope the shading isn't too over-the-top, but they did get sea-weathered, I guess!
@Nils, thanks for the like and to the others I may have missed...
5 April 2023, 09:01
Bob LeaderSuper job Andy, I am taken with your weathering effects, as they much surpass my efforts. I have an Italery and an Airfix in the stash and hope to get to them eventually.
5 April 2023, 13:31
Mirko RömerTotally agree with every praise you got before, Andy! What a highly realistic looking model it is! Ok, no pressure, but we both know it cries out for a diorama. 😉
5 April 2023, 17:48
Pietro De AngelisWithout words,
i just repeat myself,
"MASTERPIECE"!
Only one thing, if i can afford it, i agree with Mirko, a dio would be just fine...
5 April 2023, 18:30
Michael .What's interesting about this is a few weeks ago I saw a documentary about the Coulson Martin Mars
photos-e1.flightcdn...5646246cec37a3464a1c
and I looked up to see if there were any models of the aircraft. Then this one pops up in the feed a few days later. LOL...
5 April 2023, 18:39
Andy Ball FörfattareHey Bob, I appreciate the comment. The weathering is really trial and error, on a white base it can be easy to over do it. It's a tribute to the Canadian's who fought with us (and still do). Good luck when you come to the builds- I bet Italeri will be the straightforward one c.f. 'fix.
6 April 2023, 08:32
Andy Ball Författare@Mirko- you naughty person, you....with your accomplice @Pietro!: now you've got me scouring for suitable foam packing pieces....I would like to do a mooring at Lough Erne rather than anything wavy/N.Atlantic-like. Watch this space (or expanse of water)....
@Pietro: thanks for the double "masterpiece"....a tad humble - mille grazie
6 April 2023, 08:36
Andy Ball FörfattareMichael: spooky, eh....that's a big bird in the photo....you're going all out for one?
6 April 2023, 08:38
Michael .@Andy, It's on my to do list. But right now we're still putting together my office. We had a small fire and after waiting on the restoration and other BS we're finally getting the room back together and my workspace is taking longer than I'd like. I still have a few other models I'm in the middle of. LOL...
6 April 2023, 11:16
Neil PatrickCongratulations Andy. Never seen a better looking Sunderland. Weathering just right too IMHO. Lovely! 🙂
7 April 2023, 00:32
Andy Ball FörfattareSorry to hear@Michael- I hope a phoenix from the ashes - literally!
@Neil: thanks, your builds are way ahead of mine- that Hanomag being a case in point!
@Mike- cheers! I must look over some of your builds!
And to the others who have 'liked' this "I salute you!"
7 April 2023, 21:52
Andy Ball FörfattareNagas77 et.al., thanks for taking a look - glad you like it!
17 April 2023, 06:45
Slavo HazuchaCool stuff - I really like the "used flying boat" treatment with the twin water-line sedimentation and the green stains on the submerged surfaces - quite an unusual set of effects on a plane 🙂
Lovely work start-to-finish, one almost gets the impression you really like the subject 😉 Especially the clear parts being so crisp adds a good deal of realism and scale impression - great job 👍
17 April 2023, 07:54
Andy Ball FörfattareBless you Slavo! I thought the 2 lines (evidenced on a couple of photos) may have been due to the plane's displacement loaded and unloaded in the Lough? My approach to modelling is to hide your imperfections with much weathering!! And a subject such as she would have taken a lot of the Atlantic and Northern Irish elements all year round. I was a bit indifferent about the kit, it is too ambitious in styrene for what it wants to achieve, Jeez!, I mean 32 pieces for the bomb racks alone!, without the objective comparison of Italeri's kit I think it's a leap forward from the veteran Airfix offering. Thanks again Slavo for having a look!
Thanks Wout for having a look too and the others!
17 April 2023, 09:43
Andy Ball FörfattareAmenofys, thank-you for looking and commenting and liking too!
17 April 2023, 19:07
Живко ДжаковIs a unique! I admire your work! I want to ask. Does anyone know what the three colored lights on the plane under the left wing are for? In photo 83 they are very well seen.
18 April 2023, 05:35
Andy Ball Författareexactly Zhivko!, I have no idea either...the decal is there though. I wondered if formation lights (seen on USAAF subjects), or whether it showed the status of the bomb racks (closed/opened/under wing and ready). Thank-you for the comment, and glad you came along on this mission.
@Vincent and all the others....I salute you, thanks!
18 April 2023, 08:09
Живко ДжаковAndy, the lights are also on Spitfire including. I've come across them as recognition lights, but I have no idea what that term means.
18 April 2023, 09:17
Erik De SmetI have read on the internet in an article on a P47 with such lights that it was a kind of identification system : the lights would flash according an agreed code to identify the plane as friendly to troups below.
18 April 2023, 09:34
Andy Ball FörfattareTerrific information Erik, thanks.
We can now go out into the Bay of Biscay and not be shot at by the Royal Navy?!
Thanks Marco, Sy Bar and others for the look-in
18 April 2023, 14:21
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks J35J, sadly I think I'm too late to submit this into the GB suggested on here….😞
15 August 2023, 00:42
David TaylorThe 3 lights were used at night to identify friend or foe.They could be changed on a regular basis(coded).Still wonder though as early as BoB aircraft had IFF transponders fitted.
20 August 2023, 18:21
Andy Ball FörfattareThanks David, this seems to be the theme to the mystery- so in future I may represent them a little more 'light-like'.
Edward, if that impresses you- it impresses me too!! Sterling work in your Tempest- looking forward to some escort service for the Sunderland!!
20 August 2023, 18:45
TreehuggerAre those forward facing fixed machineguns at the bottom front area in photo 71?
20 August 2023, 18:55
Edward MacKenzieIt would be a pleasure to see my Tempest escorting your Sunderland. It will come soon i hope.
21 August 2023, 03:57
Andy Ball Författare@Treehugger, they are indeed: and required a small drilled hole into each of them to make them more realistic.
21 August 2023, 13:47
Andy Ball Författare@David: it's quite an ambitious kit in '72nd without many locator lugs and a series of instructions that don't quite pinpoint things accurately, plus the parts count is excessive IMHO. Thanks for taking a look.
21 August 2023, 13:48
Andy Ball FörfattareThank-you Alister and others who've recently had a look at the build, glad you popped by…
27 August 2023, 22:46
Erik TorpA very nice build! I have to admit I have not read all comments… How was the overall fit of this kit? Any issues?
1 November 2023, 13:37
Andy Ball Författare@Erik, thank-you s much!....there were a distinct lack of good locating pins, and some of the internal structures were often misaligned...maybe me/maybe kit?...but several dry fits sort it out. very ambitious internal details, and many many parts [bomb racks alone were around 70]...and most won't be seen....floats and rigging were tricky. I can't compare to Revell's, but this is a leap forward from the venerable Airfix kit of the 1960s.
and thanks Alberto!
1 November 2023, 14:54
Neil PatrickThis turned out great Andy. Really like the weathered finish. What's next?
15 November 2023, 10:36
Andy Ball FörfattareHuya Neil, we're keeping the maritime theme having just knocked off a Mozzie and a Canadian Beau...but I'm a bit haphazard with builds currently...how was Telford?
Thanks Matti!
21 November 2023, 08:58
Landlubber MikeWow, this is really well done, congratulations! I ended up finding this kit and thanks to your detailed log, I now can appreciate what I'm in for.
7 February 2024, 07:13
Andy Ball FörfattareLandlubber Mike: delighted it will help, it builds into a great specimen. Too many parts and test/test/test your pieces before committing them to glue!!
Please keep me posted, I'd love to see the progress!
10 February 2024, 17:27
