No 56 Squadron, RAF, 'The Firebirds', 1918 - 2008.

[Vic Balshaw]

Hi Terry and Lucky13
Be careful with the Canberra Terry, it's a very tail heavy model and will need a lot of nose weight, I almost got caught out even with the recommended weight, luckily I still had a hole to shove in more grapeshot.
I've had to rack my brains to remember the kits I used for the Bulldog and Gladiator. The Bulldog was most definitely in vacform with metal parts and was probably one of a few Aeroclub kits I purchased for the between wars theme and the Gladiator was one of the earlier Roden injection kits purchased in 2002.
You have also got me going on the Meteor F.Mk.3. and I now realise that it should be in camouflage and with an ON squadron code and from what I've been able to research, these are in a pale green colour. Can you concur before I try a bit of a respray job.
I also checked with our local Hobby Boss distributor on the Tornado ADV/F.3, they recon it will be some time before this comes our and have advised 2010 (sometime) deliver, and like you, all I can find are Airfix kits (yuk).
Talk to you chappies again soon.

[Airframes]

Thanks for the info Vic. I'd already 'sussed' the requirement for half a lead mine in the Canberra! I noticed it mentioned in a build, I think in a magazine, and passed on the info to Jan (Lucky), who is currently doing three of the Airfix 1/48th kits!
I'd forgotten that I'd seen profiles of the Canberras, one of which was a 'T' model, although I'd need to check which Trainer version, and the other, the target tug, I believe was a converted B2, but again I'd need to double check. The info I have is that they were both in overall silver.
I've managed to find the 'Inpact' kits for the Gladiator and Bulldog, both of which were also released under the Lindberg, Pyro and Lifelike labels, and the Smer Bulldog is also available. 'Inpact' kits were way ahead of their time when released in about 1966 or '67, if memory serves me. They stand up well to todays kits, and there's not much in it between the Inpact and Roden Gladiator in particular - a little extra work here and there, but nothing serious, and of course, there's a price difference!
I've also seen a 'future release' for a Siskin, from Aeroclub, which is injected I believe, and their Gauntlet is still available.
I've decided to include the Spit MkIX, and I'll eventually be using the ICM kit, which, from what I've seen, is the most accurate MkIX available, in any scale, and a very nice kit with lots of 'extras' if required, and options too.
Now, the Meteor F3.
First, if in camouflage colours, the code letters were still in 'Sky', so that should be straight forward. When first introduced to Squadron service, the F3's were in Grey/Green cam, as you know. But, as they were still in service with 56 up until September 1948, and the overall 'silver' scheme was in use then, I believe that the 'silver' finish would have been applied before they 'retired', and it's possible that both schemes could have been worn side by side, as happened with some other squadrons, particularly R.aux.A.F. squadrons. I have seen a pic or two of F3's from other units in the 'silver' finish, although I'll admit I don't have a date for these. The code letters were black, as previously discussed. Personally, I'm going to take the chance, and finish mine in the ' silver' scheme', and include the (very) small chekcs and phoenix on the nose, which I think was carried, as on the later F4's.
Shame the Hobby Boss Tornado F3 is going to be so long coming, but, I think I might have found an Italeri kit. Or more correctly, Jan has found one for me! Just waiting to see how the bidding goes on E-Bay - if it doesn't get too silly, then hopefully I might 'win' it.
So, either later today or maybe Saturday, I should recieve the kits for the Hunter, Tempest, and SE5a, so that's brought the 'stock' up to five so far - only eight or nine to go for my collection then!
Cheers for now mate.

[Airframes]

I've made a reasonable start on the Phantom, to change it from a 43 Sqn FG1 to the 56 Sqn FGR2. The small amount of re-painting required has been done, and I'm just waiting for the paint to settle, to see if it will eventually match the weathered, home'mixed 'Barley Grey' applied about four years ago! Once I get the 56 Sqn markings in place, and the few detail parts changed around, I'll post some pics.
Meanwhile, I've started collecting the required kits, as and when the budget, and availability, allows. I've already got the Lightning kit, and today I received the old Esci (Ertl) Tempest MkV and the Academy Hunter F6, both obtained at very good prices from King Kit, a specialist in out of production and rare kits. With many kits disappearing from the market for a few years, only to eventually re-emerge at much higher prices, it's a case of grab what you can, when you can, before some numpty of a speculator sticks them on E-Bay at stupid prices! Even the nice Academy Hunter looks like it's now discontinued, orf about to be, so I was pleased to get this one at less than the current retail price!
The Tempest, although generally accurate overall, is a very basic kit, and reminds me of an up-scaled old 'Frog' 1/72nd kit.The cockpit has a very strange 'seat' of sorts, and heel boards and a vague instrument panel - but no control column or gunsight! The canopy will probably need replacing, so I'll either mould a new one, or buy a vac-formed item, and it looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and get some resin wheels, as the kit items are totally plain, probably impossible to improve upon, and I haven't anything suitable in the spares box. Still, at least I managed to obtain a Tempest, which I thought was going to be a lot more difficult than it turned out. Only another 7 or 9 kits to go now to reach the required line-up!

[Airframes]

Work is progressing well, if a little slowly, on the Phantom. It's a bit tricky, as it's nearly impossible to handle safely, being fully built, and with all the underwing stores in place. I'm waiting until it's all finished before I post any pics, as I want to minimise the hanclling, just in case! (I actually dropped it when building it originally, and managed to get away with just breaking-off a stabilator, and one undercart leg!)
Jan very kindly monitored the Italeri Tornado F3 on e-Bay for me, which stayed at a reasonable £10 up until the end, then started to jump upwards to stupid prices! I'm not prepared to play that game, especially for a kit that had already been started on! So, I'll either have to use the dog of an Airfix kit, which I know can turn out to be a good model, but needs a lot of work (but, as I can get it for half-price, instead of the astronomical RRP of £25, I might go for it.), or it's wait until the Hobby Boss version is eventually released.
Meanwhile, the SE5A has arrived, this being the quaint 'Smer' kit. Apart from the roundels and other markings moulded into the parts (!), it's quite a nice little kit, and I think I can do something with it. It's basic, in the sense that what's required is all there, and the rest, in the way of detail or improvements, can be added from scratch - just the way I like things. And at under £5 for a 1/48th kit which appears to be more or less accurate, I can't complain.
So, once I complete the Avenger (and its base) for the PTO GB, and get the 1/32nd scale Spits and Hunter onto the shelves..oh, and start on the 1/32nd scale Beaufighter for the MTO GB (!!), then I can make a start on a complete build of one of the 56 Squadron kits. I'm not sure yet which one to begin with, having five kits already lined up, but I think it'll either be the Tempest, or the SE5A. Soon as I start, I'll post some pics!

[Lucky13]

I'm NOT gonna touch the Lightning, I'm NOT gonna touch the Lightning, I'm NOT gonna touch the Lightning, I'm NOT gonna touch the Lightning....

Need to go back to see what the No. 74 Squadron flew again, otherwise, I'm aiming for a Phantom!

[lesofprimus]

Great stuff here fellas, and very nice kits u got there Vic......

[Airframes]

Get yourself two Phantoms Jan! You could get an Italeri, Hasegawa or Monogram F4J for the 74 Sqn F4J(UK) version, and the Hasegawa FGR2, as discussed, for your 111 Sqn bird. Get it done, and leave that Lightning alone - until you have the time to do it justice!

[Lucky13]

Thinking a later mold of the Hasegawa for the 74 Phantom, resessed lines, and the FGR2 for the 111 lassie...

[Airframes]

Sounds good. I think I saw a Hasegawa F4J at a good price at TAHS also, or the Italeri one is OK, with recessed lines too. Overall though - Hasegawa!
BTW, for the 111 Sqn bird you want to do, it's the FG1, not the FGR2, although the latter could be used with minor modifications.

[Vic Balshaw]

Shame about the eBay Terry, I was down in Melbourne when the bidding closed and was surprised to see how much it went for when I got back yesterday. Thought I might have tracked a source for the F3 in the US, but sadly no such luck.
Like the SE 5a kit, think it was the same one I have done, looks familiar. Have decked mine out with tail B4863, the mount of Captain McCudden over Ypres in Autumn of 1917. Details from picture in "High in the Empty Blue".

[Airframes]

Yep, it's a basic kit, but very nice, with accurate outline etc, leaving room for some proper modelling. I might still get the half-price Airfix Tornado, and if it looks cr*p when done, then I'll replace it eventually when the Hobby Boss one is released. Or maybe even add a second Tornado! Don't know if it'll interest you, but Eduard are releasing a 1/48th Lightning, based on the Airfix kit. Hannant's say it's an F6, whilst the Eduard site has it as the F1./F1A etc. Also, Academy are releasing a Lightning F6 soon, again in 1/48th scale.

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks for the info Terry, I could be interested in another lightning or 2-3, 4, 5, though sneaking in another couple of Lightning kits could be a problem. I see that Trumpeter have just released the 1:32 F1A/F3, now that would be a challenge and a nice complement to go with my A-10 Warthog (1:32) sitting on a desk top in my hobby room. But then again I have to leave room for the F-14A Tomcat that’s yet to be built.

As for the F.3 Tornado, fool that I am, I've taken the bull by the horns and picked up a couple of Airfix revamped kits, with recessed lines on upper fuselage. I figure that if I construct these with a different approach to the one I'm doing at the moment, many of the problems could be overcome or minimised though I think their will still be lots of filling and sanding. As for the half finished one I can mess around and practicing weathering.

[Airframes]

Sounds good Vic. As for the Trumpeter 1/32nd Lightning, personally I don't think it's worth the asking price. If it was a third of the price, it might be acceptable. One of the members here has built the F1, which turned out very nice, but it looks to be a basic kit, with some fit problems, and errors or 'weak' areas also - certainly not what you'd expect from such a high-priced kit, and not acceptable in my view. But then, as it's the only one in this scale (apart from OOP vac-forms), and if it's what someone really wants, then I suppose the price doesn't come into it.

[Vic Balshaw]

How's the Phantom conversion coming along Terry? I had a go at the Meteor F3, changing the colour scheme, made a complete hash of it. I manage to find a replacement last week, so that’s another kit on the stock pile. After months of fiddling and waiting for some decals, I've been able to put the finishing touches to one of my Phantoms the evening. If I get time tomorrow, I'll run off a pic and post it. Also received some "Bob's Buckles" today, mainly for a new Snipe, there to small to even photograph, but hopefully they will help improve my rigging techniques.

[Vic Balshaw]

[QUOTE=Lucky13;531400]
I'm doing the No. 74 Squadron myself (working on their F.6 Hunter) and a few of the No. 111 Squadron, which Terry tricked me into doing....

Is it finished yet?