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I did a little kicking around the web trying to determine if N1801 was a night fighter 'new' build or a referb from previous service. Not a big deal, but it may help to understand the color choices that Airfix made. I went to their site and found the article decsribing the 'development of the kit; interesting. I went ahead and bought an Airfix membership, hopefully within this I can ask for more info? In the article they do site their sources and maybe there is more to be found? Just costs ~10 US for membership and a welcome kit with a 1/72 model is a coming. That and discounts...
Great information. A wonder how onw finds these things. Thanks, could possibly explain Airfix's alumininum color call outs? Conformation will be to find some photos of her sister production batch before they too were transformed to night fighters.The N1801 was the F.Mk.I of a batch of the 202 aircrafts ordered in February 1938 and being delivered from the June 1940 to the October 1940. The N1788- 1822 were the last block of 25 planes of the batch. So the time for the delivering should be about the September-October. It resulted in not being the NF variant with the AI radar. The no. 264 Squadron kites got the AI device in January 1941. In that time, all Defiants of the squadron were the Mk.I later when the AI devices were installed, redesignated as Mk.IA. Also the way the NF planes had to be painted overall with the RDM.2 was decided at the end of the October 1940. But the order was published in the mid of the November 1940 oficially. Somehow the BP had found out about the order in a couple of days before it was announced. Therefore they started to use the RDM 2 paint on the production lines slightly earlier.
IMHO the N1801 was already delivered to the MMU or the squadron by the time. I have seen a pic of the N3333 that was delivered to the no.255 Squadron in December 1940. She was in the day fighter camo. The N3306-3360 was the first block of the 161 Defiants next batch ordered in May 1938 and delivered November 1940 - February 1941. Later pics of her show the plane painted black. So a few weeks later the N3333 had to be repainted black overall.
Great reference. Interesting the use of gause to 'soften' paint look. I'll try that on my paint mule first though. May give the 'beaten up' look that these night fighters had?I, in my limited capacity, can put how I assembled it, although it is not the airfix mold, I do explain how I painted the black color to give depth to it and what colors to use, I was guided by an article in the modeling magazine SAM,
*** DONE 1/48 BP Defiant NF Mk.II - Night War of WWII
Username: destrozas First name: Sergio Category: intermeadilly Scale: 1/48 Manufacturer: Classic Airframes #95 404 Model Type: Boulton Paul defiant NF MK II accesory: It included in the kit a few photo-etched and cockpit resins and master model browning m2 0.303" art box and this profileww2aircraft.net
George - One thing I am going to try and that is the 'gauze' affect? Seems like applying the darker color, let it cure, and the lay the gauze over the area and spray with the lighter color? I'll give the mule a work out before I do anything to the real bird. Need to find a fairly open gauze, or not. Experimentation will help.My thoughts. Use 5 as a base coat and then 6 & 2 as weathering
Over think? Nah! I usually just 'regret'. I had thought about just using the Nato Black as the primary, but the time line, when the bird was first transiitioned (can I say the here?), would almost dictate an actual black, with some degradation of course. The mule will be extra thick in a week or so!
But, it's always so proper. I usually pick up a new term or two reading some of the replies! But you are right on with the 'over the top'; that's why my head hurt!I think you should mix 2 parts of number 2 to 1 part number 6 to 1 part number 3.
Kidding of course. Britmodeller can be a great resource but at times I think it's a bit over the top with Munsell values and 35 responsnses to what hue green one should use.
Totally agree with all on all points. I'm just wanting to do a 'best effort' on being at least close. And that's where I suspect I'll be, close. Believe me I'm not loosing any sleep over this, but as I had stated years back, being an old engineer and naturally anal retentive, well, thats why I ask so many questions. All these inputs really are greatly appreciated and if I can implement some I'm a happy camper.Often happens when you inadvertently have the cursor active in mid sentence rather than at the end of your text. Easy to go back and edit. Just highlight the text under the photo, right click and select CUT, move the cursor to the last word above the pic then click and select paste.
And some sage words from Terry there on colours.