LloydNB

For only the second time in its history, New Zealand has qualified for the World Cup. Tonight our heroic boys beat Bahrain 1-0 to earn a trip to South Africa. A terrific result. GO THE ALL WHITES!!!!!!

Here's some photos of the gondola on the Potez 637. And these drawings show its position.

The AdA operated the following variants of the Potez 630 during the Battle of France - 630 C3 fighter with HS-14A/B engines - 631 C3 fighters with GR 14M4/5 engines - 633 B2 light bomber - 637 A3 reconnaissance. The numbers at the end of the designation indicate the number of crew. The Potez 637 (there was only one squadron) is interesting. It had a gondola under the fuselage which could be modelled in the same way a belly tank is. I'll scan a picture during the weekend.

Wrench The Battle is coming along nicely. I started one a while ago but got so frustrated with the model (holes that appear when the flaps deploy and stores carried externally instead of in the wing bomb bays). Perhaps someone could produce a better version some time in the future. That reminds me that one of the first skins I ever did was of a Greek Battle for EAW. I checked Sandbagger's site and its still around - looks real ugly though. Wrench I presume that you didn't get a message from Capun. It is clear (see below) that he doesn't take even mild negative observation very well. LLoyd I see your post at CA talking about the Fairey Battle but I don't see you registering at our forum and providing the feedback needed. We have been banned from CA so we cannot respond to your posts over there. We do have a model with the bomb bays in the wings, we just never released it. Same as for the uncapped holes in the wings, since no one mentioned about it there was no need to repost the model. If you are unhappy with our models, we would gladly cancel your account at our download site. CP (My added emphasis) Capun If you're reading this, please do cancel my account. And don't send me any of those offensive emails demanding that I ask permission before I skin an A-Team aircraft. I never have asked permission and never will. Regards LloydNB

That's the trouble with skinning - you tend to have the game set to start in the air. It gives you an immediate all around view, but you miss a few issues. Ed's working like a machine - putting out one aircraft after another. I'd hate to see him spending all his time going back to old models. Us Prop Heads are pretty patient people. LloydNB

The last progress shots. Only the individual aircraft numbers to do and place. Ed, I should have the skin to you tomorrow (Sunday my time) Lloyd

Hey Ed I was working on another skin and found a little issue you might want to address in an update. No rush. Lloyd

Hey Ed Did I see the other day that you were going to start work on these? Great if you are!! I need to know whether I should start budgeting for the following book at my local technical book store. With freight cost to the bottom of the world and the value of our dollar at the moment, these things aren't cheap. Lloyd

Another progress shot. To get the stretched canvas right I've worked out I need to make 160 black and white shadows. Then there's the rivets and adding noise to the skin. And I couldn't find an appropriate font so the aircraft numbers will have to be painted individually. All complicated by lots on at work and me going away for a week's holiday in Melbourne. I hope you guys are patient.

I started this a while ago. I suppose I should finish it. Its for Dakar, not Torch, but when I've got the damn stripes on the cowling right a Torch version should be easy.

New progress shot.

Looks great Wrench I especially like the signal light/watchtower on the breakwater. Nice touch. Lloyd

Early days.

Hey Ed Did you have any volunteers for skinning the Falco? If not, count me in. If someone is already on to it then I'll shut up and be patient. I should have ready this weekend another couple of BoF skins for the D.520. I plan to do at least 3 BoF skins for the D.520 and Hawk H-75A, an then move on to Vichy skins for Operation Torch, Syria and Dakah. Lloyd

4 Esc. GC II/7 nearly ready. I need to change the spinner colour to black, add the individual aircraft numbers to the tail and apply some 'noise' over the entire aircraft. I might also see what can be done to the give some depth to the areas over the pilot's shoulders. Lloyd

Now that's nice. Gimme, gimme!! How have you done it? Have you changed the lod and remapped? Surely its not a giant decal? I was going to start a 'standard' green on a sand background skin for the RA and the Aviazione Legionaria. That approach will really come in handy. Lloyd

Good Greif!!! Progress on the D.520 skin. Lloyd

Wrench I bought the book. It comes with 1/48th drawings of the panel lines, which is great. Some nice photos of the cockpit of the surviving Falcos in the UK and Sweden. Of course, lots of colour plates. Lloyd

This skinning the D.520 is taking longer than I thought. The mapping for the wings is more narrow than the wings themselves so I'm having to adjust the panel line templates to fit. It means re-sizing them to be the same width but reducing the length (the technical terms is "squishing"). Once I'm happy with the location, then I can move one to painting the panel lines and doing the drop-shadows to give a 3D effect. No lumps and bumps in the fabric like for the Condor to replicate this time. I've decided on my colours and camo pattern, so once the panel lines are in place it's full steam ahead. Wrench Pay-day today, so I'll pop out and get that Mushroom Models book on the Falco. Lloyd

Wrench That's a bit of a bugger. It cost me NZ$45 and the book on the Falco will cost the same. As for me making a pdf - 'well you never know your luck in a big city!' Lloyd

Sorry guys I seem to be holding things up. I've been looking for a "good" source of panel lines and finishing a few other projects. I got a copy of the Mushroom Models (Yellow Series) book on the D.520 today so I will start in earnest tonight. My local technical bookstore has the Mushroom Models book on the CR.42 Falco as well. I might pick that up after payday. Yet another aircraft book to sneak into the house so the wife doesn't spot it. Lloyd

Shaolin Most aircraft here are mapped left/right and so there are inevitable issues as the skin stretches over the top and bottom of the fuselage. If the fuselage shape is roughly spherical the effect is minor. But if the fuselage cross-section is square (as in the BR.20) the stretching is more pronounced. Its just something that you work with. Wrench Yes, finish them! I'll add a Chinese P-36 skin this week. I think the Nationalists had two no.2 &4) that flew operationally. A factory was set up to manufacture more but it was relocated to India before any aircraft were built and the P-36s were incorporated into the RAF as Mohawks. Lloyd

File Name: BR.20 (Type I) File Submitter: LloydNB File Submitted: 11 October 2009 File Category: Japanese Air Force and Navy Fiat BR.20 (Type I) Japanese Imperial Army Air Force, China Based on a picture of 12 Sentai, 7th Hikodan operating against Soviet forces on the Nomonhan plateau, summer 1939. Enjoy LloydNB Click here to download this file

And done!!! Based on a picture of a 12th Sentai Br.20. The characters on the vertical stabilisers say "Honour". Posting soon. Lloyd