Well having built a fair few French WIF's and voted for the GB I'm in, but also in a bit of a quandry...what do I build ?
As you all know I'm really a repainter rather then a kitbasher, so kits considered at the moment are :
NA F.107 as an F.100 replacement. In the Djibouti scheme.
Hellcat in Indo-China instead of Bearcats
Hawker Seahawk of the Aeronvale over Suez
Hanriot HD-232 as an RAF trainer/liason aircraft.
They'll probably all get built but not necessarily for the GB
The French did use the Hellcats in Indo China.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aircraftresourcecenter.com%2FGal6%2F5401-5500%2Fgal5481_Hellcat_Jacques%2F01.jpg&hash=4e3d88cb35ef6b7b86ce415b27d2b1d26925b0bb)
I would vote for the 107.
Right, I thought they might have but a cursory look at my ref's didn't find any.
Still could get used in Algeria instead of P-47's
How about Sea Fury or Seafang for Aeronavale in Indo China or Brigand for COIN operations.
Wyvern at Suez
RCAF Vautaur
Or do one of your Azur kits in Free French markings, or possibly one of those other European early war aircraft in Vichy markings, Avia, IAR, Fokker, PZL that sort of thing :thumbsup:
G
what if a D-520 escaped in RAF or Normandie-Niemen markings?
Seahawk would look very elegant, especially in the overall glossy sea blue 'a la Aquillon'
Ian
The D.520 would look ace in Finnish colours, or what about Neutrality Swiss markings.
Knowing that Narses likes to model stuff with props, what about a P-40B/C in either French AF markings delivered just before the demise in 1940 (delayed defeat by a couple of months?) or even found crated but unassembled after the defeat, and issued to Vichy France?
At least one Gladiator appreared in Free French markings, but what about a captured Vichy one?
Quote from: Radish on July 12, 2010, 12:16:45 AM
The D.520 would look ace in Finnish colours, or what about Neutrality Swiss markings.
Knowing that Narses likes to model stuff with props, what about a P-40B/C in either French AF markings delivered just before the demise in 1940 (delayed defeat by a couple of months?) or even found crated but unassembled after the defeat, and issued to Vichy France?
At least one Gladiator appreared in Free French markings, but what about a captured Vichy one?
You mean like this one I did earlier ?
Quote from: Thorvic on July 11, 2010, 02:30:07 AM
How about Sea Fury or Seafang for Aeronavale in Indo China or Brigand for COIN operations.
Wyvern at Suez
RCAF Vautaur
G
I've thought about a Sea Fury and a Wyvren. Both for the scenarios you suggest :thumbsup:
Quote from: Radish on July 12, 2010, 12:16:45 AM
Knowing that Narses likes to model stuff with props, what about a P-40B/C in either French AF markings delivered just before the demise in 1940 (delayed defeat by a couple of months?) or even found crated but unassembled after the defeat, and issued to Vichy France?
Well in my alternative world the French defeat in France is delayed and they fight on from their colonies. So an early P-40 is a possibilty :thumbsup:
Thanks for the input gents...I may end up with my own alternate French AF ;D
The French using Japanese aircraft after WWII always struck me as a real world, whiff-like oddity. They flew the Ki-43II and Ki-43III a few times, and they broke a Dinah III while flying it to its new base. Surprisingly, they never flew Zeros. So how about Zero's in French markings, or Dinah IIIs, or Ki-84s?
Here's my Ki-43II in French markings. (http://frank.bol.ucla.edu/ki43.htm) The roundel colors are off, but the weathering was that extreme.
The French used the Ki-43s as trainers while waiting for their Spits to be delivered, but the French, although not using Zeros, DID operate a Rufe, the A6M2-N version with floats.
Right as I like French roundels and colours these are what I'm aiming to build for this GB (note aiming dosn't mean and never will mean "will finish in time") 4 will be in French colours one won't be.