David Pye

OK - the photo didn't get included, which didn't help; presumably because of the nose art..? However, having done some measurements, the ratio of the forward cockpit glass to the length of the nose cone for the parts in the box is 1.2 : 1, for the photo of 'Lady in the Dark' (P61-B) which I have but can't load to here it's 0.66 : 1 so the cone in the box has to be for an 'A' not a 'B'. Any chance of that alternative being added for future bulders of this model? I'll be trying to build an extesion ring in. If anyone knows the answer about the drop tanks I'd be grateful.

Having put some research in before building the new Black Widow kit I found that the P-61B had a longer nose cone than the P-61A. The box contains only one cone though both types have decal sets. I think the available photos on the web show 'Lady of the Dark' (the 'B') as having the longer style nose cone which would fit as it would have been a late enough build to have the improved radar fitted. I think the nose cone in the box is for the P61-A but can anyone confirm this before I have a crack at making an extension to make the cone for the B closer to what I think are the right dimensions? Second point - this photo makes the drop tanks look to have been white / light grey. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks.

Thankyou - both of you helpful people. Those are the right instructions.

I can't say - I tried to open the tapatalk page you gave but it says I don't have the permissions needed. Thanks anyway.

Hail All - I've recently picked up a Fairchild A-10 Warthog kit. When I opened it up I realised why I was teh sole bidder - no instructions. I have found a set on the internet but I think that is for a different version than the kit that I have as the paint scheme if much more straightforward than the Middle East camouflage on my box; mine is a series 6 kit. So - two questions: - 1 - Am I right that the instructions could be for the wrong version of the kit? 2 - Does anyone have access to a set of instructions for teh series 6 kit? Thanks.

It's perfectly possible that the lifeboats for the rear davits were missing from the kit - a few parts were (as mentioned bootsale/charity shop purchase). Having only recently returned to modelling I am still building up my supply of spare parts, I had no lifeboats and didn't rate my chances of forming them from fresh. Many thanks for the complimentary comments.

Hail All - some while ago I was asked to post some pics of the HMS Belfast model I was working on once I'd completed it. I was intending to do a 'waves diorama' and that's why it's been delayed - eventually this hasn't happened as my wife rather likes the colours on the base of the boat. Having promised the pictures though, here are a few... /media/tinymce_upload/c927b223b87e2e9cd2130d91eb6838e3.jpg First time I've done an Arctic camouflage - challenging but enjoyable /media/tinymce_upload/a02a4ab062a3e1d3a4c61d8c01b9caf9.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/c066e0fb61cae6e43724fca95351e42c.jpg I found it hard to find pictures showing the 'rigging' clearly - this was an educated best guess so I hope I don't offend too many. /media/tinymce_upload/c325a8df3c91614105e56254f692cd5c.JPG /media/tinymce_upload/8b35271d457898f86016f847bd5b743e.jpg The observant will note that the superstructure shown here lacks the moulded in doors etc. The model was one I had obtained from a boot fair/charity shop some years ago and had been haning around in the loft. When I came to do it there were pieces missing, that superstructure piece being one of them. This piece is hand-built from an unwanted closed bomb door of a Wellington my son was building. Anyway - it's done. As is the Tupolev SB-2 that followed it. (Frog - and must have been a late product of the moulding tool - urgh).

Many thanks for the various responses. I have gone with John Symmons' suggestion of use of dark grey; looking at the picture above and the colours on the Lynx chopper I did as my last model I have decided that the steel decks are best matched in the Humbrol range by H123 'Extra Dark Sea Grey'; opinions on this will vary and I may have gone with H32 if I'd had some and wasn't being a bit impatient. Yes, John, I will happily post pictures when I'm done, but that could be a while as I'm considering a first attempt at a sea scape to place the model in to - there may well be future requests for guidance on how to mould and paint expanded polystyrene. I have done a Belfast before, in my youth (unpainted) but having come back to the 'play' of late I find mysef guilty of ambition...

I generally do use pictures - did a Frog Blenheim kit in Finnish colours recently on exactly that basis for finding what the inside of the cockpit should be presented like, but overheads of HMS Belfast in 1942-5 are things I can't find. There are a few photos on line which seem to be showing the relevant areas as a mid-grey but those are almost certainly from after the post WW2 refit.

I've started on an HMS Belfast that I've had knocking around for ages. The birds eye view suggests Humbrol 96 for the front section of the main deck, top of main guns and much more of the 'non-wood' deck. Humbrol 96 is now RAF Blue and looks to me the wrong colour. Has the numbering changed since 1997? Humbrol 27 looks a better colour. Thoughts (though preferably not Humbrol paint slating ones).