Sovietwarplanes

hello,

i'll probably start my A20G  italeri 48? this week.
 there is a VVS marking inside and i would like to know if it's "historic"or not.
do you have any information about this particular plane ?
(http://www.desavionsetdesmaquettes.com/spokimage/bos2.jpg)
(http://www.desavionsetdesmaquettes.com/spokimage/bos1.jpg)
here's the special marking :
(http://www.desavionsetdesmaquettes.com/spokimage/bos3.jpg)
we can see the patriotic inscription "3a CCCP" (for the ussr) & the serial number 3740
the red star appear with a white border.

thanks for your reply

francis

Hi Francis

I don't know if I have seen this scheme, it looks believable.

There are quite a few pictures of Boston's in VVS service, and if you fancy a project, the VVS modified the gun nose A-20's to bomb aimer postions, installing a sight and various windows.

like this
(http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/sterlikov/A-20G_Orlenko_1.jpg)

some more information here

http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/arti...likov/index.htm (http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/sterlikov/index.htm)

note the is a link to a Russian site,
there are a load of photos here http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/_Equipment.html#Part01 (http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/_Equipment.html#Part01)

http://www.bellabs.ru/51/index.html (http://www.bellabs.ru/51/index.html)
hint, move your mouse over the sections, in the status bar it will say what they are in English if you don't read cyrillic.


photogallery http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/photogallery/boston/index.htm (http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/photogallery/boston/index.htm)

cheers
Troy

Francis, one problem with that A-20G with the four cannons is that those were early G's, without the turret, which the USAAF sent to the Soviet Union because they didn't like the 20mm's in the nose.  Some of the A-20G's we sent did have the turrets, but not the ones with the 20's.  To do one with the 20mm cannons, you'd have to do surgery around the turret to make it look like an A-20C gun position.  If you had a spare A-20C lying around, you could graft that section on (but I think the old AMT A-20C or any repackaging is too nice of a kit to use simply as a donor kit).  Here's a link where someone turned the A-20G into a VVS nightfighter:

http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/Modeling/Douglas...20GNF/index.php (http://vvs.hobbyvista.com/Modeling/Douglas/A-20/Leduc/A-20GNF/index.php)

Regards,

Jason

hello,
after some hours .... i did my choice.
it will be that one :
 (http://desavionsetdesmaquettes.com/spokimage/imageboston.jpg)
they have a profil in the website given by troy smith (thanks troy ;)  :
 (http://desavionsetdesmaquettes.com/spokimage/profil.jpg)
special link of the this plane here (http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/51MTAP_14%2843-10052%29.html)
and we find  also some nice photos of the torpedo pod to scratch it
1 have a question about the color of the round under the red star of the fuselage.
it seems to be green on my screen but i think it's the US marking color, so it's blue .. no ?
another doubt is for the nose cannons, what is your feeling about them ? should they are installed or not ? i would say yes but i would be glad to have another avis.

regards

francis

Probably a torpedo like this one:

(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/1GMTAP_Gagiev-plane_04.jpg)

KL  :rolleyes:

Hi

just to mention that Authentic Decals from Russia have a sheet out in1/72

AD72-44    A-20 Bostons/Havocs In the Russian Sky

(http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com/olimp.files/Cover_A-20.jpg)

(http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com/olimp.files/Deka_A_20_72_1.jpg)

(http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com/olimp.files/Deka_A_20_72_2.jpg)

a full list of decals is here.  http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com/ (http://www.olimpmodelsgroup.com/)

They have a very interesting Hurricane sheet in 1/72, which I asked about and is due to be done in 1/48 this year, so maybe they will also scale up the A-20 sheet.

Also due out sometime 
Czech Master Kits   CMK4161
Scale:    1:48 Scale
  Douglas A-20G Russian Bomber (designed to be used with AMT and Italeri kits)

which I guess will be the nose conversion of the solid gun nose?

Anyone have more on the VVS fitted turrets shown on the decal sheet above? i have a few pics elsewhere.  What kind of turret is this?

cheers
Troy

HI

Following the link which Francis gave, there are some interesting pics.

http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/51MTAP_14%2843-10052%29.html (http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/51MTAP_14%2843-10052%29.html)

in US  before delivery, 43-10052.
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/51MTAP_14(43-10052)-US.jpg)

Note the white circle stars, so most likely white or silver borders added by VVS and rest over painted with (probably) AMT-4 green. 
Note also the larger star border, and how it is bigger than the green circle border.

The plane never had US blue stars. Painted at factory with red stars on white.
Looking at the underwing overpainting of white this looks like it was just done in green too. AMT -7 blue would appear lighter  than neutral grey, but this is much darker, but looks same a fuselage star. (well given that green on neutral grey would appear darker than green on olive drab.)

Also, the profile shows medium Green blotching on fin and cowlings, but this is not seen in pre delivery photo OR  the VVS photo.

 I think just Olive Drab uppers.
I'm not sure what was standard camo at Douglas at the time, but that would give a definite answer.

Also the planes pre delivery are all A-20G gun nose, not overpainted glass. Are those not 20mm cannon in the nose too(it's too late here to start hunting for that kind of info) but should be easy enough to find out with serial number and model subtype. In VVS service it sure looks like cannons under the nose.

I would als do some research on the rear window position and astrodome, i'm not up on the A-20 to know if these were US standard, or fitted by the VVS.  I know some Bostons had under fuselage guns fitted, and extra windows in rear fuselage. 

Finally, and worth a new thread(later), why the red stars on white circles?  these are US factory applied, and seen on B-25's, A-20, P-39, P-63. Others?

A though occurred, these planes were all delivered on the Alaska-Siberia route,  perhaps these are deliberate High-vis markings,  remember the US Brits and Australians all removed all trace of RED from their pacific area markings, maybe this was to avoid friendly fire incidents during transit, they wold have to have flown over Canada as well.

Jason, thanks for the info on the VVS fitted turrets.

enough, i'm off to bed.
HTH
Troy

you did a great job !
i'm ok for your rondle reflexion, i didn't notice it yesterday. so it will be amt-4.

look on wikipedia havoc page. (1 know ti could be wrong also..)
wikipedia havoc page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-20_Havoc)
about the versions, they mention the A-20 c equiped with topedo launcher for russians.
and on the photo the nose seems to be a glassed nose repainted.
but it could be also an overworked and worn painting.
also the russians could have taken the device from a boston c and fit it on a boston g ?

my opinion is that referring the number A-20G-35-DO №14 (43-10052)
the plane is a boston G with the cannons
it was probably refited from an A-20 C torpedo device.
the color sheme was probably a standard one when it was delivered (note the sheme on the italeri kit) but it had evolved with the time.
same thing about the turret, the plane was delivered with the standard turret and peraps they change it for a rusian (not all turrrets where replaced, and on the photo it's not easy to see)
so, because of that, i think that the profil we found on that website correspond in the standard delivery status and it's probably good.
the photos are older and of course in that case the profil is wrong.

however, i have to make a choice. it would be easyer for me to bild a standard delivery status essentially besause of the turret doubt. and it will be difficult for me to scratch a turret.

so ...
standard A-20 G with 4 cannons + extra dome + extra side windows
standard sheme oliv drab/green
scratch for the torpedo pod and torpedo
standard turret

have a good sleep ;)

francis

Hi Francis

I can see this is getting confusing with all the posts! 

First, the turret fitted to the A-20 G-35-DO №14 (43-10052)

The turret in the picture is clearly the Martin type fitted in the US.  The only Bostons fitted with soviet Turrets were the earlier A-20C models which were not fitted with turrets, the VVS was not happy with the armament, so they  fitted Russian turrets.

The A-20G was fitted with a Martin turret, so no reason to fit a new one.  The VVS did not replace equipment that worked well. 
Note, the Martin turret was made from pieces of perspex glued together. These give the appearance of painted  panel lines, but are not, they are translucent white.

I have never seen a VVS A-20 with painted over nose glazing. later the converted gun nose A-20 for a navigator/bomb aimer.    This plane has the standard gun nose. I can't see if had the 4x.50 cal guns or not.


As far as I know, the USA NEVER used the A-20 as a torpedo bomber, that was done by the VVS.   Therefore the torpedo was of Russian origin. 

 There are on the site I linked too of the Torpedo next to an A-20, so you could get a good idea of size of torpedo.  Or look up Russian torpedo's, ...one of the first hits i got is this...
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTRussian_Main.htm (http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTRussian_Main.htm)

this is more relevant
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTRussian_WWII.htm (http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTRussian_WWII.htm)

has sizes and diameters. 

A build of a A-20 VVS torpedo bomber used one of a Japanese plane, but i don't think it would be too hard to make one from a piece of the correct size tube .  This build here in fact
http://hsfeatures.com/features04/a20gcl_1.htm (http://hsfeatures.com/features04/a20gcl_1.htm)


the navigators position aft of rear turret would explain the astrodome and windows!

link to ebooke  http://ebookee.org/Camouflage-amp-Markings...945_344801.html (http://ebookee.org/Camouflage-amp-Markings-Number-20-Douglas-A-20-Havoc-U-S-A-A-F-1940-1945_344801.html)

old but very good monograph on A-20 camo.  Long out of print. 
it has this on medium green blotching, and supplies to VVS.

(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu181/hurricanebuild/A-20mediumgreen.jpg)

so the plane may well have, bearing the above in mind, the factory pic does appear to show green blotches on the fin.

Finally, the picture Konstantin posted  shows the addition of a star to the underside of the port wing.  This would not have a painted out white circle under it.

 I do not know if the VVS painted out the starboard upperwing star, or added another upperwing star.  As most VVS aircraft do not have upperwing stars  I would guess it was painted out. 

The white on the underwing star could have been painted out with AMT-11 or AMT-12 as well, but i would go for AMT-4 green.   


cheers
Troy

Hi Francis,  :)

Torpedo installation from bellabs website:

(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/A20/A20_Most.gif)

You are looking for 450mm 45-36 torpedo!  In 1:48 scale it is 9.4mm x 118.8mm

In Russian literature (but from my memory) these torpedo-bomber Bostons were described as being modified in Soviet Union.  Modifications included:
?   Torpedo racks (for Soviet, not lend-lease, torpedoes)
?   Navigator/bombardier cockpit behind the rear turret
?   Modified nose armament (2 X UB machine guns)


The torpedo racks (again from memory) should be on both sides.  Usually only one was used.  Both racks were used for very short range mission or to carry two practice torpedoes.


Troy, that makes sense!  The story how Soviets requested red stars outlined in white, and Americans (Joe Buchanov, aka Joe the Painter) misinterpreted that with red stars on white disks must be a myth/urban legend!  :D

Cheers,
KL

Thanks Graham,

On the attached drawing, torpedoes are labeled as follows:

Torpedo with cylindrical stabilizer is:
Aviation high-level torpedo 45-36AV-A

Torpedo without stabilizer is:
Aviation low-level torpedo 45-36AN


Cheers,
KL

Hi Martin

I think you're wrong. Here's is my reasoning.

Below is a factory fresh A-20.  Note the panels on what is definitely a gun nose.
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/A20/A-20G_43-10044_US.jpg)

compare
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/51MTAP_14(43-10052).jpg)

logic dictates the reason why it matches VVS glazing is that these are they replaced removable access panels with glazing...
the VVS was pragmatic in it's approach, why make work?

A quick scroll through the camo monograph I linked too, these are the gun nose access panels.   Make conversion of the gun nose easier though :) (I'm thinking model terms as well)

finally this plane has a navigator's position installed in rear fuselage, so no need for the nose conversion.

Finally I'd think this more likely 'red 14' , the serial is definitely yellow, the number is much darker,  more closely resembles the red in the stars, and
the 3 specified marking colours were white, silver and red.   
White and silver show up lighter. 

And thanks to Konstantin, for the great information on the torpedo's, all we need now are better  details of the conversions inside of the nose and rear fuselage.
I have pic somewhere of the nose mounted bombsight.

cheers
T

EDIT  just looked at the picture page again, me not paying attention!

While this plane may not be the same plane, it's from the same set of pictures of the same unit.  That's a gun nose.
Note the officers are the same men, and that the prop blade is at the same angle.  I would think it's a high probability that it's the same plane, as there is one for sure, and another that is probable.  Think about it photographically, as a sequence.
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/Nosov-2.jpg)

this is earlier in the sequence, as the engine cover is still on.
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/Enikeev-2.jpg)

(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/Enikeev-1.jpg)

great pics.  What a treat.

torpedo rack:

(http://s4.postimage.org/905u14jhu7/001.jpg)

navigator/bombardier's cockpit in rear fuselage in Soviet night fighter A-20G-1:

(http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/AV/AV95-2/20-1.jpg)

Original colours (?):

(http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/MK/12-Bomb/USA_Douglas_A20_s1.jpg)

Cheers,
KL

VERY USEFUL!





great great find, thanks for posting.
yes, that is very good  representation of the Olive Drab (a brown green)  with medium green patches!! as described here
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu181/hurricanebuild/A-20mediumgreen.jpg)


cheers
Troy

not to mention strict security and rarity of colour film in the USSR!



Yes, they did. 
Legend has it they thought the Americans screwed up their request for white outline red stars.

I don't believe this, why? The white circle/red star combo was the 2nd type of marking on US Lend-lease, the first being  standard US insignia, painted over by the US or the VVS (I don't know who by)

So why the red stars on white circles?
These are US factory applied, and seen on B-25's, A-20, P-39, P-47 and maybe others, note all from different manufacturers's (North American, Douglas, Bell, Republic)

A thought occurred to me, these planes were all delivered on the Alaska-Siberia (ALSIB) route, perhaps these are deliberate High-visibility  markings, remember the US British and Australians all removed all trace of RED from their pacific area markings, maybe this was to avoid friendly fire incidents during transit, they would fly long distances inside the USA as well as have flown over Canada to get to Alsaka. 
(and later how the British Pacific fleet 'Americanized' their markings, our American friends have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later, then and now!)

Possibly to make it clear in Soviet air space as well? The Air supply route being a new development then.  (see below)
 
I postulated this idea  earlier in this thread, Konstantin thinks it's a good idea.

Bear in mind we also have 50 years of cold war propaganda in between this as well, so of course the Russians are happy for the Americans to look silly by painting on the 'wrong' insignia.


To sum up
U.S. supplied lend-lease has 3 marking phases,

First  - U.S insignia painted over.  Like this. a B-25 C
(http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/photogallery/b-25/b-25_11.jpg)

second - Red Star/White Circle high vis - like this a B-25D-30, in Alaska in transit.
(http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/articles/akvilyanov/b-25-d30_1.jpg)

third - Red Star with white outline, like the B-25J's and P-63s, which are later supplies.   By this time ALSIB was established, and planes were supplied as specified.
Like this B-25J
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu181/hurricanebuild/b25vvscolour.jpg)

Note the successive models, and the markings applied.   This is a theory, but makes more sense than a painter mistake.  One plant, yes, four? doubt it.   
I can also see VVS units receiving planes marked like thinking it was stupid, but without the reason being explained....
I'm to try to contact Dana Bell about this, he'd be the man who would know.

from http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/arti..._deliveries.htm (http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/english/articles/geust/aircraft_deliveries.htm)

all pics and quotes under "fair use"



pics of a 4 cannon radar equipped Boston are in Red Stars 4. 

cheers
Troy

Except I'm wrong!!

After a search on Hyperscale for Dana Bell i found an email for him, wrote and got a reply in 20 minutes (this is when you love email!)
[edit :- Dana Bell is an authority on US colors,  see http://www.amazon.com/Dana-Bell/e/B001JRWO...t_athr_dp_pel_1 (http://www.amazon.com/Dana-Bell/e/B001JRWOCU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1) and contributing on Hyperscale]

what he says is this 


It does at least explain why this was done by several manufacturer's!

thanks to Dana.    I'll pass on the exact wording when it comes through.

T



 "

only some early A-20 G had 4 x 20mm cannon.   

These A-20 G-35 had 6 x 0.50 cal MG in the nose.

top 2 visible here
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/Nosov-2.jpg)

bottom 2 visible here
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/51MTAP_14(43-10052).jpg)

Presume the full complement of 6 were fitted.

like this, bottom two obscured.
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/A20/A-20G_43-10044_US.jpg)

They were shipping strike aircraft, 6 x.50 cal would be a valuable addition once the torpedo had been launched.   

the G's with the converted nose still mounted 2 x .50, as seen here.
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/Photos/1GMTAP_Gagiev-plane_04.jpg)

HTH
T

hello jason, and others ...
dont worry you'll be the first to see here in swp forum ;)

i have somme interrogations about colors .
first about the torpedo: is it chrome/silver or more gun metal ? probably beetwin that ?

and second, about the color sheme of that famous photo of the "torpedo 14" and the bloche on the right side of the tail.
do you think the sheme is standard with only this originality or more ?
for me the standard is that one
(http://www.desavionsetdesmaquettes.com/spokimage/bos1.jpg)
what's your opinion about this ?
thanks .

hello guys,
first of all, thank you massimo to have move this post from the old forum ;)
some pictures for you !so, this torpedo boston is on the way !
(http://i64.servimg.com/u/f64/09/04/11/89/dsc01210.jpg)
(http://i64.servimg.com/u/f64/09/04/11/89/dsc01211.jpg)
(http://i74.servimg.com/u/f74/09/04/11/89/dsc01221.jpg)
(http://i74.servimg.com/u/f74/09/04/11/89/dsc01226.jpg)
the bilding is temporary stopped because i'm looking to find ? solution for the tail numbers .

note that i had forgotten the green rondels with the underside wings red stars . i had to repair it. (same color than fuselage one's ? i'm not sure...)

and note that parts on wings and tail (i dont know how it's called in english)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/imageb10.jpg)
what do you think about this color ? looks like the roudel of the underside wing red star ?

Hi Francis,
nice model, really.
About the trim tabs, I suppose that they should be red. But the color of the photo looks darker than the one of the stars. I suppose it's some darker shade of red. The MiG-3 pieces in Veesiveehma shows dark red trim tabs and bort number.
Regards
Massimo

hello massimo
thanks for your reply.
trim tabs ! i'am happy , i learned a new english word today..great !
i'd just see the famous mig-3 photo, perhaps it's red but i choose the red for the "14" and the saturation is mutch darker than that. do you think ti can be dark grey or dark brown ?
do you know why on some planes thats pices are painted with another color ? could it be spare parts ? canibalisation ?
and what do you think about the color of the roudel of the underside wing ? looks similar to the red of the star but its probably wrong. same green than fuselage roundel ?
regards
francis

Hi Francis, the roundel under the wing looks... a pentagon. I suppose that it's the remain of a US mark, dark blue, partially overpainted with undersurface color.
I think that the trim tab is dark red, not brown or grey. They are delicate pieces, so they paint them with bright colors to avoid that someone damages them on the ground. A supposed color photo shows them darker, but in a shade of olive drab. I suppose that the photo was colorized, so it doesn't prove anything.
Regards
Massimo

Whatever colour the overpainted roundels were, it's looking good, Francis!

Regards,

Jason

dark blue...of course ! ...shame on me... :o
thanks ;)


hello learstang,
thank you . i'm just tring to make it the more "historical" possible. and this forum is great and help me a lot to improve my models

Tally Ho has an interesting sheet for VVS Bostons in 1/48, #48047, reviewed here (http://scalemodels.ru/modules/myarticles/article_storyid_2460.html)

Re the turret, I don't remember the name (TUR-7?) but it was used on later versions of the Tupolev SB. It was fitted also to some "emergency bombers" Li-2 and possibly to the Su-2 attack plane.
Zvezda announced an Su-2 in 1/48 which may or may not have the right turret for the Boston. The other option is getting hold of MPM's old vacuform kit of the SB (the turret is an optional piece, most SBs had a sliding hood)

EDIT: Found it, the turret is an MV-3 and was retrofitted to nearly everything during the war... googling "турель мв-3" returns a lot of pictures. Might be a suggestion for the aftermarket...

thank you bonehammer, it's good to know that for the next one  :D
may be one day.... now it's to late for this one, it's nearly finished yet

Has everyone forgotten the long thread on the Invision site?
http://z15.invisionfree.com/sovietwarplanes/index.php?showtopic=66&st=0

anyway, two main points here

Turret.

First, the turret fitted to the A-20 G-35-DO №14 (43-10052)

The turret in the picture is clearly the Martin type fitted in the US. The only Bostons fitted with soviet Turrets were the earlier A-20C models which were not fitted with turrets, the VVS was not happy with the armament, so they fitted Russian turrets.

The A-20G was fitted with a Martin turret, so no reason to fit a new one. The VVS did not replace equipment that worked well.
Note, the Martin turret was made from pieces of perspex glued together. These give the appearance of painted panel lines, but are not, they are translucent white.



Underwing stars


no US blue to overpaint!  These were painted at the factory in the USA with the white circle/red star marking.




but not under port wing
(http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/MK/12-Bomb/USA_Douglas_A20_s1.jpg)

white background star under starboard wing
(http://www.bellabs.ru/51/A20/A-20G_43-10044_US.jpg)


Finally, the picture Konstantin posted shows the VVS added of a star to the underside of the port wing. This would not have a painted out white circle under it.

I do not know if the VVS painted out the starboard upperwing star, or added another upperwing star. As most VVS aircraft do not have upperwing stars I would guess it was painted out.

The white on the starboard underwing star could have been painted out with AMT-11 or AMT-12 as well, but i would go for AMT-4 green.


so add painted out circle under starboard wing, and painted out circle on upper port wing.

Very nice work on the Boston Francis!

cheers
T

hello troy,

thank you to correct my error. so i need to do it again  ;D
if i understand correctely, the underside wing roudels are same color that fuselage one ?
that means that soviets repaint the white of the roundel in a green. probably amt-4.

do i understand well troy ?

yes, you understand well.   The underside white circle could be ed out with AMT4 green, or it could be one of the AMT 11 or 12.  Your choice really. 

If it helps, the Finnish Airacobra seems to be green.  Note the VVS added star border.

(http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk313/petriola/DSCN0293.jpg)

http://z15.invisionfree.com/72nd_Aircraft/index.php?showtopic=306

cheers
T

hello every body,
as promise you are the first to see the boston finished.
unfortunately the plane fall down and i break the landing gear ! hard luck !
i repare it but it's not very  stong ! however, it is builder life .
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01454.jpg[img][img]http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01455.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01456.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01457.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01458.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01459.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01460.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01510.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01511.jpg)
(http://i24.servimg.com/u/f24/09/04/11/89/dsc01512.jpg)
thanks to all for your help ;)

Hi Francis,
this is a very good-looking model. I like very much these colors.
Perhaps you could drill the broken parts and insert a small metal pin to streghten the repair.
I've seen this kit (to tell the truth, an earlier version with British and French marks) on shops at 28 ?, how is it as details and fitting of parts?
Regards
Massimo

Brilliant work, Francis!  It looks to me like you got the Soviet torpedo version spot on.  I look forward to your next VVS build!

Regards,

Jason

thank you gentlemen,
for the landing gear probleme, i'm not courageous enought to do that . and because i dont make any comp?titions or show, it just have to stay quiete in the showcase !
fortunately i dont live in a seismic area ;D

massimo, i dont know if the A20-G and A20-B are the same quality. concerning this A20-G kit, 28$ looks to me a very good price. i paid it 30 ? in france. it's a good kit but if you like inside details it must be upgraded. carefull with the weight in the nose to make it stable on his legs. it's easy to do it with the full nose but with the glassy nose should be more delicate to do. the fitting  of this kit is very accurate and the stencils are good quality also. in conclusion, it is a very good base to make a nice boston.

You?ve done an excellent work,I like it a lot.The torpedo and the supports look great,congratulations for a very neat model.Greetings.

Martin

http://hsfeatures.com/features04/a20gcl_1.htm

not exactly the same, but similar.
and inspirational.

Nice link, Paul!  Thank you!

Regards,

Jason

hello,
i have seen it already. may be it is the same unit, i dont know.

51 MTAP

Here is a nice photo of A-20
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TzqYbwnEphY/TdJVgt1mF_I/AAAAAAAAInY/h_QR88yXHaU/s1600/FRENTE%2BRUSO%2BBOSTON%2B5%2BCOPIA.JPG)
Regards
Massimo

Interesting photograph, Massimo!  It looks like it had the same problem with its nose gear as Francis' model.

Regards,

Jason

Excellent photo Massimo!!! It looks like it has a partialy repainted rudder and some kind of slogan or name jus after the fuselage star.Greetings.

Martin

Hi Martin,
it has traces of camouflage on the rear fuselage, and relatively dark undersurfaces. Could it be black over olive drab?
Regards
Massimo

Yes,it could be.From this point of view,the vertical surface and a portion of the rudder were overpainted with black.Greetings.

Martin

I found a partial photo of the white #267 aircraft with the white bird nose art. The aircraft behind it has a white band on the tail thought it might interest somebody.

Page #54 of the link below.

http://en.calameo.com/read/0013529283d773cc80e9d

After taking a closeup snap shot of the A-20G in the back ground it looks like there is a #7 on the rudder as well.



(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/whitestripeda-20-1.jpg)

Found another photo on that decal sheet of the other white bird on the nose.

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/arhangl5.jpg)