Avenger II, 857 Squadron, FAA, HMS Indomitable, December 1944, Group Build.

**Njaco** · 05-14-2009 10:45 AM

Coming along nicely!

**Airframes** · 05-14-2009 12:05 PM

Thanks again chaps! It does seem like rapid progress, but it's been 17 days, with anything between 4 and 10 hours per day. It's gone quick, but I reckon the time spent so far has been around 90 to 100 hours! No wonder I'm running out of 'Midnight Oil'!!

**Lucke.stz** · 05-14-2009 06:01 PM

Good Work Terry ! I like the camo painting

Why not to try some fadding effect bettewen the camo colors and the white ? Or these type of camo doen´t have this fadding ?

I do this witth airbush, just with thinning color and a fine needle, take a look a my avenger:

best regards,

lucas

**Airframes** · 05-14-2009 06:15 PM

Hi Lucas. Thanks for the compliment.
There is actually a very fine feathering between the upper and lower colours, but the Fleet Air Arm Avengers used a straight demarcation, not the soft edge like the U.S.Navy. The Avenger II's were soft, but fine between all colours, whilst Avenger I's, built by Grumman, had hard lines. I did mine with an airbrush, over a spaced mask, just to act as a guide.

**Micdrow** · 05-14-2009 06:36 PM

Very nice Terry, well done!!!

**Lucke.stz** · 05-14-2009 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Airframes

There is actually a very fine feathering between the upper and lower colours, but the Fleet Air Arm Avengers used a straight demarcation, not the soft edge like the U.S.Navy.

Thanks for the info Terry, I´m not sure about this

These campo painting is prittier than the US. Navy,.. she is goig to be a masterpiece !

**DBII** · 05-14-2009 08:57 PM

good job!

DBII

**Airframes** · 05-15-2009 06:23 PM

Thanks guys.

**Airframes** · 05-16-2009 06:40 PM

Bit of a change in my plans here!
Having finished scoring the Defence of the Reich GB entries, I thought I'd get on with some other work, only to find that yet again, Internet Explorer is running very slowly in my area. My connection's OK this time, it's the other lot causing problems!
So, I'll log on to the forum, thought I. No you won't thought the forum!
So sod it, I got on with some decalling on the Avenger, having already gloss coated it.
BUT! Here's the change!
Dan, when you get a chance, can you change the title of my thread slightly please?
The aircraft type and dates are the same, but it will now be 857 Squadron, FAA, HMS Indomitable.
The reason for this is that I sort of fouled up!
I thought I had the neccessary decals to make up the code letters and numbers, but found to my horror that I didn't! Well, not in matching sizes anyway. I'm sure I'd found some amongst the myriad bits and pieces and part sheets in the decals file, but I'm blowed if I could find them today! So, revert to another of my original choices - instead of being P-1X, the Avenger will now be W-1A, as shown in PIC 1.
I have adapted various decals from no less than 8 different sources, some of which are shown in PIC 2.
The wing top SEAC roundels were cut from some 30 year old RNZAF Corsair roundel and bars, from an old Otaki kit, and the centres will be overpainted in white, once the decals have settled. PIC 3.
The other SEAC roundels and the fin flash have been adapted, and the code letters and numbers are a combination of various decals and rub-down lettering PIC 4.
The lettering will need some additional strokes here and there, especially above the 'A' on the port side, where the rub-down letter breaks over the small air scoop, and some will need length added, whilst some will need to be shorter!
Once they're all in place and settled, they'll be toned down a bit.
I won't alarm you with my reaction to my discovery, but Jan had the benefit of my displeasure in the middle of lengthy text comms between the two of us!
I can't do any more now until those decals that are in place settle and dry totally, as some of them are very delicate, and could be damaged when the touching-up has to be done.
I'll try to get some more pics and info posted in a day or two, and I'll provide a bit more history on the aircraft and Squadron at the end of the build.
Thanks again for your interest,
Terry.