cgb
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by cgb on Jul 24, 2014 12:07:10 GMT
I would like to build a 1:72 scale model of the Canberra prototype VN799. Can anyone advise which basis kit to take and what modifications are necessary to revert it to the original? The few photos I have seen in books only show a different, rounded, tail fin. The colour is apparently a light blue - sometimes referred to as "Petter blue", after the chief engineer. What size would the roundels and serial numbers be? (Page 193 of of the EE Canberra book ISBN 0 904597 73 3 shows a T.4, repainted to represent the prototype - no top wing markings, any roundels underneath?)
Any advice and reference sources would be appreciated.
Colin
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Post by johnsheehan on Nov 10, 2014 14:03:30 GMT
Hi Colin
To continue our conversation at Telford, I can't remember now if you said you have a kit already or not, if you have the old |Airfix B(I)6 kit the mod's are as follows, starting at the front you will need to remove part of the nose approximately where the first raised panel line is, this section will need replacing with the B.57B type nose cone from the Airfix B.57 kit, if you want one I can send you one.
Next the cockpit, the A.1 was a two seater, the pilots station from a modelling point of view is the same as any other Mk. but you may want to replace the rather/very bad kit seats with Aeroclub ones, the seats were un-painted silver colour. The canopy will need the aerodynamic fairing removing from the rear, the kit canopy is quite thick so it can be done quite easily. The Navigators seat was mounted in the centre on the cabin instead of the port side as in production Canberra's, there were no fuselage windows for the Nav. so the window on the port side will need filling. The two windows in the naves roof hatch will need painting over and a circular one installed in the centre of the hatch. Airfix have depicted six fuel filler points on the upper fuselage so three on the right hand side should be removed. The A.1 had a fin fillet, this can be fashioned from thick plastic card field to shape. Next is the rudder, the first rudder shape had a rounded top, but this was soon modified to a flat top smiler too but flatter than the production rudder, then eventually the A.1 did get the production rudder shape. on the. The nose gear just needs the mud/FOD guards omitting.
The wings, nothing much to say here other than the panel detail will be in accurate for the A.1 as the wing represents that of the "wet wing" with integral leading edge fuel tanks. The landing light is also missing. The wheel wells will need boxing in. The A.1 was not designed to use tip tanks, so do not fit them! The main wheel detail is wrong for the A.1 but there is no alternative but a better option than the kit wheels would be a set of Aeroclub B.2 wheels. The compressor discs are not represented in the old kit so again Aeroclub would be the people to turn to, they do/did an Avon 1 disc.
Now the colour, as I said at Telford you need to contact Rail match and get a bottle of " Deltic prototype blue" The A.1 had only the fin flash and fuselage roundels and the yellow prototype "P" making at the time of her early flights but later wing roundels were added. The serials were in white.
Another option would be to used the "new" Airfix B(I)8 kit and an Aeroclub B.2 nose conversion set which includes a T.4 noes which is what you would need, all the other mod's would still need doing except boxing in of the wheel wells.
You will find a comprehensive photo album on my web site IPMS UK Canberra SIG.
John
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cgb
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by cgb on Nov 11, 2014 0:01:17 GMT
Thanks John. I fly home on Wednesday and will start looking into this build after I get back. My Excel spreadsheet reveals that I have no less than 13 Canberras in my fleet of unmade kits - including two old Airfix B(I)6 and a couple of others from Novo (ex Frog F203) - as well as two conversions. My B-57B is from Italeri, so I'm not yet sure about the nose. I'll keep you posted.
Colin
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Post by johnsheehan on Nov 11, 2014 12:29:43 GMT
Thanks John. I fly home on Wednesday and will start looking into this build after I get back. My Excel spreadsheet reveals that I have no less than 13 Canberras in my fleet of unmade kits - including two old Airfix B(I)6 and a couple of others from Novo (ex Frog F203) - as well as two conversions. My B-57B is from Italeri, so I'm not yet sure about the nose. I'll keep you posted. Colin No problems Colin, safe trip back home. John
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