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| | #1 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 9,030
| Avenger II, 857 Squadron, FAA, HMS Indomitable, December 1944, Group Build. This is the 1/48th scale Italeri (re-boxed Accurate Miniatures) Avenger, which will be built and finished as an Avenger II of the Fleet Air Arm, Serial No. JZ525, coded P1X. This aircraft, flying off H.M.S. Victorious, took part in the raids against Japanese oil installations, including the famous raid against Palembang, in January 1945, when the Avengers dived through heavy flak and attacking fighters to deliver their bombs on target, destroying the oil refinery, and severely hampering the enemy's output. This aircraft was the equivalent to the TBM, built by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors, and as such, there were a few small detail changes compared to the Grumman-built aircraft. The most obvious of these was the use of 'U.S. equivalent colours' for the camouflage paints. Where Grumman used British paints, Eastern Aircraft substituted the nearest equivalent in American paints, employing, for example, Olive Drab in place of Extra Dark Sea Grey, and the internal colours were also slightly different. These will be detailed as the build proceeds. There were also some internal equipment and layout differences, which will entail a small amount of conversion and scratch-building. The main internal difference was the inclusion of an Observer's seat in the rear cockpit, where some of the radio and electrical equipment would be fitted on aircraft being used by the U.S. The attached pic shows the port fuselage half, with the pencil marks indicating where frames and stringers will be added from plastic strip, and the equipment locating rack which will need to be removed from the wall. The floor in this area will also need modification, and again, this will be shown during the appropriate stage of the build. I intend to 'open' the canopy over the observer's cockpit, and I'm hoping that the careful use of a razor saw will accomplish this without tears! The black & white profile, from a 1984 edition of 'Scale Aircraft Modelling', incorrectly describes the (British) colours as Extra Dark Sea Grey, Dark Slate Grey, and Sky which, as mentioned above, were only used by the Grumman factory. This really is a beautiful kit, and I only hope I can do it justice.
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| | #2 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 15,121
| Looking forward to this one old scout! I'm sure that you'll do it jusitce...
__________________ ![]() JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!" ![]() |
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| | #3 |
| Siggy Master ![]() Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland
Posts: 13,964
| Looking good Terry.
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| | #4 |
| Senior Member | Looking forward to it Terry! Now you've got me itching to build one of those. I saw one in a store a while back...
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| | #5 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 15,121
| Well, what ye waiting for C-Man?
__________________ ![]() JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!" ![]() |
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| | #6 |
| Senior Member | Money, and a ride to the mall!
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| | #7 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 9,030
| Hijack a car and rob a bank!! Thanks for the votes of confidence guys! Think I might need it, as I know as much about naval aircraft, and the PTO, as I do about how a woman's brain works!!
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| | #8 |
| Minister of Whoopass ![]() Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
Posts: 17,490
| Right on Terry, here we go..........
__________________ ![]() My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk |
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| | #9 |
| Senior Member | While not your specific plane, these should help, and I know that the one is ETO, but it'll give you a better idea of colours. I had a really good one, but I can't seem to find it. Maybe it's on my PC. I also just realized you have all of these, but here they are again!
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| | #10 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 9,030
| Thanks Cory! Although I've seen the colour shot of the real one before, which is a Grumman-built ship, with British colours, I haven't actually got them! I think I'm OK with the 'equivalent colours', but I'm not 100% sure about one, which I think is the U.S. colour 'Sea Gray' (I need to check), which replaced the British colour 'Sky', so if anyone can give me an equivalent in Humbrol enamel or Vallejo acrylic, or a pic of the colour, it'll help. I'm not too bothered about it being absolutely accuarate, as I'm allowing for weathering/paint fade etc. Also, does anyone know what colour the decks of British carriers were? Bearing in mind, HMS Victorious had, I believe, an armoured, steel deck. Any help would be much appreciated, but there's bags of time, as there is a shed load of work to be done before paint hits plastic!
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| | #11 |
| Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 4,973
| Awesome Terry!
__________________ "When all else fails read the manual" |
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| | #12 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: billingham nr middlesbrough uk
Posts: 3,096
| looks good Terry
__________________ ![]() "We're not easily frightened. Also we know how hard it is for an army to cross the Channel — the last little corporal to try it came a cropper. So don't threaten or dictate to us until you're marching up Whitehall! ...and even then we won't listen!" quote from B.O.B movie |
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| | #13 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland
Posts: 4,543
| Very cool Terry. Love the scheme you've chosen.
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| | #14 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust.
Posts: 12,487
| Good one Terry this kit is a real beauty mate!
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| | #15 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 9,030
| Thanks guys. It sure is a beaut Wayne, lots of nicely detailed, and authentic, parts, but still room for a few additions.
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