Bristol Beaufighter part II

The Beaufighter has been built to represent ND221 as it would have appeared during the last months of Beaufighter use with 406 Squadron. The aircraft represents a Mk VIF from the second last Mk VIF production batch. It represents a mid production Beaufighter fitted with a thimble nose although the ADH decal sheet was not clear as to whether this was fitted. Much was written about the Tamiya Beaufighter at the time of its release. Although a nice build, engine and interior detail were more simplified than one might have expected. The cockpit and the radio compartment behind would benefit from upgrading. The interior used on this build was from KMC with scratch building in the radio compartment. The rear fuselage used Eduard photo etch sidewalls as well as scratch built details. However, unlike the cockpit, this work is difficult to see. Aires does an upgrade for the fuselage from cockpit to rear entrance, which looks very impressive, and I will use this on my next Beaufighter. The engines used are from Cutting Edge. Although very nice, the increased detail largely goes unseen. Exhausts are from Hi-Tech. The resin is brittle but they are an improvement on the kit’s exhausts. Ultracast does very nice replacements and the Flight Path upgrade gives white metal examples with photo-etch for the individual vents for those with more skill and patience than I possess. However, the Flight Path upgrade is a very comprehensive package and includes a large amount of photo etch, a resin extended fin, winch for the target tow version as well as a very nice torpedo. Cowl flaps on this kit are also resin replacements. As far as I am aware, the only cowl flaps currently available are from Red Roo but I have not used them. The upper wing gun access panels were modified to represent those of the Mk VIF rather than those of a TFX represented in the kit. The reference was an article in SAMI by David Batt from some years ago. The decals were from an ADH sheet but were very translucent and best avoided. I would recommend Xtradecal codes and serials. On the other hand, the ADH Publications “How To Build Tamiya’s Bristol Beaufighter “ is a very useful reference. SAM Modellers Datafile 6,”The Bristol Beaufighter” is also very good. The Hyperscale reference section also gives very useful interior and exterior photos of a preserved Australian Beaufighter. Hical, Allan

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Luftwaffe Pilot 1/32

This Ultracast 1/32 scale Early War Luftwaffe pilot pulls his flight gloves tight as one of the Airfield cats peeks out from between his boots. Pilots, I will admit are not my strong suite, mainly because they are not typically dirty compared to front line troopers or tank crews. That being said when Allan gave me two newly released Ultracast pilots and a Fisher Seafury pilot I found myself seeing the appeal to the general character of the subject. That is to say that the pilots (especially the most recent releases from Ultracast of the RAF and Luftwaffe pilots) project a sense of arrogance or pride. This is reinforced by their pristine, fresh uniforms and equally arrogant looking fighters.

For example a Me109 D or E variant which have a high nosed perch, almost aristocratic appearance about them.

The cat was taken from a 1/35 scale Tamiya figure kit and was added because of various reference photos Allan has that show Luftwaffe pilots posing in their cockpits with either kittens or small dogs. I thought it was a charming and humanizing detail that would give the figure a bit more individuality.

HighCal, James

Bristol Beaufighter Part I

This is the first of two articles on the Beaufighter and 406 Squadron. Pictured is the Tamiya 1/48 Bristol Beaufighter IVF marked to represent aircraft HU-P, serial number ND221 of 406 (Lynx, City of Saskatoon) Squadron, RCAF. Decals used are from an old ADH sheet. 406 squadron, the first RCAF night fighter squadron formed, used the unit motto “We Kill At Night”. It was established on May 10, 1941 with Bristol Blenheim MkI’s and Mk IV’s and used these until June 1941. The squadron used the Beaufighter Mk IIF from June 1941 until August 1942 and the Beaufighter Mk IVF from June 1941 until August 1944. The squadron also used the gun turret equipped Mk V prototype, serial R2274. The squadron used the Mosquito Mk XII from April until July 1944 until equipping with Mosquito FB Mk XXX’s, which was used until September 1945. The change in equipment coincided with a change in roles, with the squadron designated as an intruder unit on November 27, 1944. The squadron scored the first RCAF night fighter victory on the night of September 1, 1941 when Flying Officer R.C. Fumerton and Sgt Bing shot down a Ju88. The squadron ended the war as the top scoring RCAF/RAF intruder squadron with 64 aircraft destroyed, 7 probably destroyed, and 47 damaged. On August 25, 1943, now Wing Commander R.C Fumerton assumed command and remained until July 25, 1944. W/C D.J. Williams assumed command until November 3, 1944 and W/C R. Bannock assumed command during the units intruder phase. He was replaced by W/C R.G. Gray on May 15, 1945 and he would remain in command until the unit disbanded on September 1, 1945. 406 Squadron reformed at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on April 1,1947 and initially flew Mitchells. It was disbanded on April 1,1964 as part of the reduction in the RCAF’s Auxiliary Force. The squadron was reformed on July 12,1972 at CFB Shearwater in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and is still active at this base training Sea King air and ground crews. A prominent personality previously mentioned is the late W/C R.C. Fumerton (1913-2006). Not only was he responsible for the first RCAF night fighter kill, he was also the highest scoring RCAF night fighter ace with 14 kills. His final victory was on the night of May 14, 1944. The Beaufighter depicted is not his aircraft but and profile of his Beaufighter is presented in the Osprey book, “Beaufighter Aces of WW2”. The next article will deal with the kit itself.

5 Operational Taining Unit Part III

This is the second of three installments dealing with 5 OTU B24s. The first Liberator, serial EW131 was delivered to 5 OTU on March 20, 1944 and the last four, serials KK239 to KK242 were delivered on November 23, 1944. Those aircraft initially delivered to 5 OTU on or before April 13, 1944 were given sequential single letter codes related to sequential serial numbers. For example EW128, EW129 and EW130 were given codes “A”, “B”, and “C”, respectively. Subsequent codes tended to be assigned roughly in sequence, depending on the date of the aircraft’s delivery. For example, EW218 arrived May 12, 1944 and was assigned code “U”. The next delivery was on May20, 1944, with EW127, the earliest serial numbered B24 assigned to 5 OTU, assigned code “V”. After the complete alphabet was assigned, sequential two letter codes beginning with “A” were used. All aircraft delivered up to September 12, 1944 had the codes initially applied to the rear fuselage, the last three such aircraft being KH 176 and KH 173 delivered on September 6, 1944 and coded “AY” and “AZ”, respectively while KH 175 delivered on September 12, 1944 was coded “AX”. The next deliveries were in October, and these and subsequent aircraft received codes with the “B” prefix. For example, KH287, coded “BC”, was delivered October 18, 1944. Unlike earlier aircraft, these and all later aircraft had the codes applied to the nose rather than the rear fuselage in 36-inch letters just forward of the canopy. In addition, all the previously delivered Liberators would have their codes relocated to the nose. Beginning around February 1945, the paint was removed from 5 OTU’s aircraft. Codes were now applied in black in 36-inch letters on the nose. During the transition to natural metal, variations in the codes occurred. For example EW 216, code “P” was pictured with the nose only in bare metal and the code “P” relocated to the nose and painted in black. Another variation was seen on the Liberator coded “BA” which carries its code on the nose in natural metal, the grey of the code having been removed. The final alteration to assigned codes occurred about April 1945 with the replacement of all the previously assigned codes with new two letter codes beginning with “V”, “W” or “X”. The earliest I have seen is in C. Vincent’s book, Canada’s Wings 2, The Liberator and Fortress” and is dated May 3 1945. While sequences of codes remained, for example EW128 coded “A” and EW129 coded “B” became “VA” and “VB” respectively, many of the newly assigned codes did not appear to follow an identifiable pattern. The new codes were usually in typical RCAF format although KH174 shows the “P” in code “VP” with 45-degree angles similar to USAAF letters. Hical, Allan

Operational Detatchment Alpha Build

The Operational Detachment Alpha Vignette I am working on consists of three 1/35th scale resin figures from Legend Productions Korea and a selection of aftermarket weapons from TANK and LiveResin. The three Special Forces operators are simply standing in a casual manner examining a weapons cache, prisoners or taking a much needed rest after a tough day in the field. They all will be wearing US MULTICAM and will be carrying typical Special Operations weapons including SCAR-Ls and an M4.

Pictured is the first figure cleaned and assembled; the Legend figures are cast resin so they carry all of the usual mold waste and casting blocks which need to be removed prior to assembly. One point in their favor is that the blocks are well placed at the base of the feet and on the triceps of the arms. I would advise caution when removing some of the flash from the inner legs as some lines run above or along intended trouser seams. The weapons were also resin and also came with blocks to remove, the LiveResin SCARs have a particularly useful block on the base plate of the polymer magazines which I used as a clamping point while painting. One of the coolest things about the LiveResin weapons is that the attachments (vertical fore grips, lights, lasers, sights) are all intended to be mounted on their respective rail lines which are molded in high relief. This small but satisfying detail makes these weapons unreal! Hical, James

5 Operational Training Unit

This is the first of three installments concerning 5 Operational Training Unit and will mainly deal with the Liberators. However, a few general notes are offered to begin. One source noted that 5 OTU seemed to be the largest OTU in the British Commonwealth Air Training plan. Just over 1900 airmen graduated from the OTU in 29 courses and formed 192 Liberator crews. Eighty-four RCAF and RAF personnel died during training, the majority in crashes. Two crash sites have yet to be located. The graduates were made up of roughly equal numbers of RAF and RCAF personnel. Airmen from the two air forces did not tend to be mixed together to form individual aircrews. It was reported that interactions between the personnel of the two air forces were not always on the friendliest of terms, a situation perhaps aggravated by the higher pay the RCAF airmen received. The Liberators at 5 OTU were RAF B 24 BVI’s, equivalent to the B 24J, in serial number blocks EW, KG, KH, and KK. All came from the Dallas/Fort Worth production line. The aircraft were B24J-15CF through B24 J-90CF models and showed the variations particular to the different batches. These would all have arrived in olive drab over neutral grey paint. Although from the same production line, the olive drab varied considerably and is said to have covered a range of colour from chocolate brown to a shade approaching sand. An example of the former would appear to be KH174 carrying code “BH”. This particular Liberator developed an unserviceable pitot tube shortly after delivery and spent a considerable part of its time with 5 OTU grounded while awaiting parts. This aircraft can be seen in a picture of a parade march past, being put to use as a backdrop for the photo although a later photo shows it flying in natural metal and carrying code “VP”. Camouflaged aircraft were given medium grey code letters, which were 36 by 24 inches with 6-inch arms. These were initially located on the rear fuselage aft of the waist guns. Serial numbers were 6 inches and were usually in black although at least one picture shows the serials in grey. The serial was located above and slightly overlapped the aircraft code. For example, on aircraft coded “AM”, the KG of serial KG923 is situated just above the aft arm of the “M”. Delivery numbers were present on the noses of a few aircraft, but were painted out on others. They were stenciled in 5-inch numbers, black on natural metal and yellow or white on olive drab.

Decaling Miniatures

The two decals to be applied to the figure were chosen before any solutions were applied.

Before any decals can be applied to the surface it is important to set a basecoat of clear gloss which preps the area. Once this has dried, the decals are submerged individually in water and given 10-15 seconds to loosen from the paper backing.

Shown here is my spoon rig that I use, it is great because it allows you to keep a good eye on the status of the decal and also make it easy to drain the water off the decal. When the decal is coming off of the backing, place it near the surface and with a brush soaked in micro set, gently coax the decal into position. Once in position apply Micro-sol as the softening agent which allows the decal to evenly settle across the surface. NOTE: after applying the SOL the decal will wrinkle; allow it to wrinkle and do not touch it! Simply allow it to settle on its own over a period of several hours.

Once the decal has settled on the surface, apply another coat of clear gloss to blur the film around the actual design. After this has dried you can apply a coat of clear flat if you so choose. What I have done to this figure is to carefully detail the area around the decal in order to blend the edges into their surroundings. Hical, James.