Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Walk Around Part II

Photographs taken on 12JUL25 at the Fort Wayne Air Show, Hosted by the 122nd Fighter Wing “Blacksnakes” of the Indiana Air National Guard

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/03/29/sikorsky-uh-60-blackhawk-walk-around-part-i/

Women Warriors 364

Poland Private 1st Class Agnieszka Waszkiewicz

RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter pilot Flt Lt Helen Seymour

Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, Russia

Captain Monica “Moose” Marusceac, USMC AV-8B Pilot

ww453b_RAF_Pilot Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming (left) and Navigator Squadron Leader Nikki Thomas (right), with 31 Squadron from Royal Air Force Marham — **RAF Pilot Flight Lieutenant Juliette Fleming (left) and Navigator Squadron Leader Nikki Thomas (right), with 31 Squadron Tornado from Royal Air Force Marham**

ww454_IDF — **Israel Defense Forces IDF**

ww456_ATA_MaryGuthrie — **ATA pilot Mary Guthrie with Spitfire**

ww056rickman-wasp — **WASPs with P-38 Lightning by Rickman**

To see more Women Warriors, click on the tags below:

Junkers Ju 88 and Mistel Conversion Builds in 1/72 Scale Part III

Painting proceeded as usual. The main gear legs are already attached, and are surprisingly solid. There is still some scribing to be done and the inevitable light filling & sanding. The Junkers were finished in a variety of standard Luftwaffe schemes following reference photos using Testors paints, but I did not photograph the models alongside the paint bottles as would later become my standard practice.

Here are a number of smaller assemblies and parts taped to cards and ready for painting. Lots of small bits to add at the end!

Both the Junkers and Focke Wulf kits were finished as per normal practices as individual models. Markings on Mistel combinations were pretty basic, for the most part these were limited to national insignia and shop numbers applied to keep track of the airframes, unit insignia were not used.

This is a scan from the AMT Führungsmaschine kit instructions, showing hole locations for the Mistel support struts. The center v-brace should actually be two separate struts, with a small gap at the bottom. Most Mistel did not carry the cradle to catch the tail brace, so be sure to check pictures if you’re modeling one.

The support legs are an obvious weak point in Mistel models, I don’t trust them. The Aries resin legs are particularly finely detailed, and particularly fragile. Here are a set of the AMT legs, the mounting pins have been cut off and replaced with 24 Gauge beading wire from the local crafts store. These pins will be visible on the finished model. The wire is strong to prevent breakage, but flexible enough to allow for adjustments. All holes are drilled to ensure a snug fit.

Here the struts are fitted to the top of the G-1. The tail brace is stiff bronze wire from the LHS, which is quite rigid. The FW 190 can actually be structurally supported by this wire alone. All the struts are pressure-fit, which allows for adjustments in all three planes. This is very important because the upper component is a bit tricky to align properly. The center v-brace has been replaced with two separate struts. Note that they are not secured at the top – it works best to superglue the tops in place after the upper aircraft has been mounted and aligned. Once they are glued the assembly becomes quite solid.

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This is the Mistel 2 composite after the two airframes have been joined together. These require some careful adjustment to get everything aligned from all angles, but the wire attachment points worked out well and allowed flexibility without damaging the struts. A small dab of superglue applied to each strut attachment point with a needle fixed everything in place.

This is the FuG 200 search radar array for the Ju 88H-1, the most delicate parts of all so they went on last. These are PE parts from Aimes. They are among the most fiddly of fiddlybits, but look great when installed and aligned.

A sampling of the Junkers for a size comparison. The Ju 88S-3 at the right is a standard-sized Junkers with only a few modifications. At top is the Führungsmaschine, the longest of the Ju 88 family and the most extensive conversion. To the right is the Ju 88H-1 long-range escort.

Here are finished portraits of the five Junkers Mistel and other conversions. As these construction blog posts were sourced from an old forum thread, I have already posted more finished photos of each subject which can be seen by following the links. First is Ju88S-3 of I./KG66. This was my first real attempt at a squiggle pattern. It also may be the easiest model to decal I’ve ever built – only five in all! The S-3 was the simplest to convert from the Revell Ju 88A-4 base kit. More photos here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/06/06/junkers-ju-88s-3-conversion-in-1-72-scale/

This is the Mistel 2, the lower Ju88G-1 component of this one is pictured in Forsyth’s Mistel book. More here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/mistel-2-conversion-in-1-72-scale/

Mistel 3 with a Ju 88G-10 lower component. Another one pictured in Forsyth, there is even surviving color movie footage of this one taken after the war. More photos here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2023/04/04/mistel-s3c-in-1-72-scale/

Here’s the Ju 88H-1 long-range escort. A hard stare can move the FuG 200 radar antenna. More here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2019/07/25/ju-88h-1-conversion-in-1-72-scale/

And last, the Führungsmaschine, a Focke Wulf Fw 190A-7 with overwing-mounted external tanks upper component and a Junkers Ju 88H-4 lower component, intended as a self-escorting long-range reconnaissance platform. More here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2020/02/13/junkers-ju-88h-4-fuhrungsmaschine-conversion-in-1-72-scale/

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/03/20/junkers-ju-88-and-mistel-conversion-builds-in-1-72-scale-part-i/

Picture of the Week 117

F/A-18F Super Hornet of VFA-103 makes a touch and go landing aboard USS George Washington (CVN-73) in the Atlantic Ocean, 6 December 2023. This Super Hornet is assigned to the Squadron’s Commanding Officer and wears full-color “Jolly Rogers” livery. (231206-N-VX022-1050)

Nakajima B5N Type 97 “Kate” Part III

While Carrier Divisions 1, 2, and 5 were conduction the Hawaiian Operation, Carrier Division 4 was assigned to support Japanese operations in the Philippines. At the time 4th CD was comprised solely of the light carrier Ryujo (Shoho would soon join as the Division’s second ship). Ryujo was equipped with a mix of B5N1 and B5N2 Kankō and A5M4 “Claude” fighters. Seen here are a pair of Ryujo Kates passing by Mayon Volcano in the Philippines on 12DEC41. The nearer Kate is a B5N1, further is a B5N2 with the characteristic narrower cowling. “D-301” wears a yellow fuselage stripe and three yellow command stripes on her tail, denoting the aircraft of Ryujo’s Hikotaichi LT Murakami. The photo appears to show both aircraft wearing a two-tone segmented upper camo scheme, but profiles only depict Ryujo’s Kates with a dark green camo. The inscription reads, “Near Muyon Fire Mountain Legaspie 16-12-12”.

One of Akagi’s Kates seen over Rabaul on 20JAN42, carrying an 800 kg bomb.

Ryujo’s Kates again, this time seen over Sumatra in February 1942 with empty bomb racks. Again, these are a mix of types, a B5N2 with a narrower cowling in the foreground with a B5N1 behind. The caption reads, “The ship burns after being hit directly. ‘Banga’ Strait (someone who can escape from Singapore) 17-12-13”.

The Kido Butai (less Kaga) departs for “Operation C” (the Indian Ocean Operation) on 26MAR42, seen from the flight deck of Akagi.

Seen recovering aboard Akagi on 09MAR42 after the raid on Trincomalee, Ceylon, these two photos show the B5N2 Kate of observer LCDR Misuo Fuchida, pilot LT Mitsuo Matsuzaki, and radioman PO1 Tokunobu Mizuki. Fuchida led the Pearl Harbor Raid from this same aircraft which was marked with red tail surfaces and three yellow command stripes for easy recognition in the air. While the dark green camouflage was fresh at the time of the Pearl Harbor Raid, it has flaked badly in the ensuing months.

Another Akagi Kate seen during the Indian Ocean Operation, this is the Kankō piloted by LT Jinichi Goto. AI-308 would be marked with a single yellow command stripe below the tail codes, here obscured by the wing. The aircraft is carrying an 800 kg bomb for use against land targets and also shows pealing of the upper surface dark green camo paint.

A torpedo-armed Kate is seen on the flight deck of Zuikaku during the battle of Santa Cruz on 26OCT42. Visible are the yellow stripes applied in September 1942 to the leading edges of the wings as an aid in identifying approaching aircraft.

A second photo showing a Kate lifting off the flight deck of Zuikaku. Many sources cite this photo as being taken during the Pearl Harbor Raid, but given that the sun appears to be directly overhead like the previous photo Santa Cruz seems more likely. In any case, this is a typical launch sequence as Kates leave the flight deck in rapid succession.

No doubt about this one as a pair of Zuikaku Kates leave the area after launching their torpedoes at USS Enterprise (CV-6). In the background is the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57), who set a record which still stands to this day – 26 Japanese aircraft were claimed to have been shot down by South Dakota’s gunners, although this was later confirmed to have “only” been 13 by all the screening ships. In any case, fast battleships became an integral part in USN carrier task force screens to provide anti-aircraft protection for the remainder of the War.

60 kg bombs are seen on the apron and loaded onto this B5N2, the Kate could carry up to six of these. Imperial Japanese Navy bombs were painted a light gray-green while Imperial Army bombs were generally black.

IJN armorers are seen adjusting the sway braces to a 60 kg bomb.

A Type 91 aerial torpedo is maneuvered into position under a Kate of the Tateyama Naval Air Group. This view shows details of the loading cart.

A torpedo in place underneath a Kankō, note the retaining straps and sway braces.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/03/18/nakajima-b5n-type-97-kate-part-i/

Academy Ilyushin IL-2 Stormovic of Major N. A. Zub HSU in 1/72 Scale

“Red 2” was the mount of Major N. A. Zub while serving on the Southern Front with the 7^th GshAP in March, 1942. The inscriptions read, “In the Battle for the Motherland” to port and, “Death to the Fascist Invaders!” to starboard. Major Zub was killed on 22JUL43 while flying his 382th combat mission in the Stormovic, a remarkable achievement when the average lifespan of an IL-2 pilot was 25 missions! Zub was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union.

Construction here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/02/20/ilyushin-il-2-stormovic-comparison-build-in-1-72-scale-part-i/

Warship Profile Booklist

Warship Profile 40 HNMS De Ruyter, the last of the series

The Warship Profile series published its first volume on HMS Dreadnought in November 1970 and ended its run rather abruptly in July 1974 with HNMS De Ruyter. The series totaled 40 volumes and gained an enthusiastic following among warship fans. They were printed by Profile Publications Ltd in England, a subsidiary of Chichester Press.

The format was a 24-page booklet in paper covers with staples, each included several black and white photographs and a center spread with a color profile and plan view. Several later volumes replaced the center spread with a double gatefold, and many of these had line drawings on the reverse. Modelers could carefully open the staples to better access the plans, and I have seen more than one framed color profile over the years. A note of caution here – if you come across these today be sure to check that the center spread is still intact.

Individual booklets are considered collectable and are sought after today, complete 40-volume sets in prime condition can fetch over one thousand Dollars. The best way to collect these today is in the bound volumes, the Profiles will be in much better condition than the individual copies and it is easier to complete the series. The last ten issues were only published in the original booklet format with stapled bindings, so for those wanting the entire run they are the only option. Volumes 1 & 2 each contained twelve Profiles, Volume 3 contained six. The individual pages are numbered as if they are part of a twelve Profile set – for example Profile 36 contains pages 273 through 296.

These are great references and stand up well even today, more than fifty years after their original publication. They can still be found on the secondary market and it is well worth seeking out any volumes which interest you. Highly recommended!

1. HMS Dreadnought – Bound Volume 1, Profiles 1 through 12

2. HMS Cossack

3. USS Hornet (CV-8)

4. KM Admiral Graf Spee

5. HMS Campbeltown (USS Buchanan)

6. Kriegsmarine Prinz Eugen

7. HM MTB / Vosper 70 ft.

8. Kriegsmarine U-107

9. USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570)

10. HMS Illustrious (Technical)

11. HMS Illustrious (Operational)

12. IJN Kongo