Short Stirling & RAF Bomber Command Forum

Max, you have probably seen these but I thought I'd post them so we can see the colours, in relation to your build and the wartime images.
John

Yes I have John but thanks for looking and posting them anyway. They confirm the stage that I'm doing right now ie painting the exhaust manifolds and flame traps. The latter, I've read elsewhere, were a light brown colour which probably means they were constructed of steel (by Scottish Aviation) which has then tempered like the exhausts would have and hence turned light brown. Painting this whole area realistically is quite a challenge though!

Painting this whole area realistically is quite a challenge though!

Well, you will just have to meet it dear boy, so get on with it please.

halifax1 wrote:Painting this whole area realistically is quite a challenge though!

Well, you will just have to meet it dear boy, so get on with it please.

I'm trying to old chap but life and golf, not necessarily in that order, keeps getting in the way!

I'm still reading Laurie Brettingham's fascinating book "Even when the sparrows are walking" about the origin and effect of 100 Group, but I bookmarked p217 last night for you David. It concerns the move of 85 squadron in May 44 to Swannington to act in a bomber support role. It's in the records that "No. 85 squadron were thoroughly dug in at West Malling.....when they were snatched out of their complacency and whirled from the lush Kentish Weald into the frozen north of the foetid fens....." I always thought it an uncivilised place, now I know it's so.

Yes - I know how busy life becomes when you are free to indulge oneself> But swinging a stick at a defenceless little ball has not caught on with me. And yet it should as I like solitary activities - loved sailing on my own for example!

I used to live near West Malling - was a nice area until the Oiks moved in when they covered the airfield in housing etc. I think the Watch Tower is still there but now almost smothered by dwellings. Having experienced the two locations Norfolk is far better. In fact West Malling suffered from the output of the cement works to the North. Norfolk however is constantly swept by the winds from the sea and I doubt was ever foetid. You see in fact we have no fens. They are in Cambridgeshire mainly. I think the author was being unnecessarily dramatic. As you will know we had many Americans up here who loved it and many return for visits even now! Dorset of course is famous too - for it's old fossils and dinosaurs.

halifax1 wrote: .................. Dorset of course is famous too - for it's old fossils and dinosaurs.

See below!!!!!

halifax1 wrote: .................. Dorset of course is famous too - for it's old fossils and dinosaurs.

I wouldn't mind the scurrilous insinuation John if only the use of the apostrophe was accurate. I'm sure David once knew the grammatical rules regarding the appropriate use of said item but I suspect his increasing age and state of confusion has fuddled his brain.

(Oh dear, heist by my own petard it seems - I've edited your post John instead of quoting it! I can hear old David chortling gleefully e'en as I type! )

So here's my attempt to date of weathering the exhaust manifolds and flame traps. I'm going to add a little more "rusting" but I'm quite happy with progress so far. I started by painting them silver then added very thin washes of a mid and light brown. When this was dry I mixed a thin wash of Payne's grey oil paint and applied it to bring out some of the detail.

I think that when you have added a little more "rusting" they will look pretty good. Maybe a hint of "pink" as well perhaps? I assume (remembering your valid comments upon the "thickness" of certain renderings) you will be attending to the end of the "pipe" - which presently looks a little "thick".

Oh and I am not "chortling" etc. - it is not my policy to knock the afflicted.

Jolly good photo David, most useful. The pipes are still a little thick I agree, they were all solid along with several other inlets and ducts on the kit but have been drilled out, but will have further judicious work done.
I'm glad to see that you've had a character change - bless the Lord, miracles do happen.