- 1. Consolidated PBY Catalina. Suggested kit: Revell PBY-5A.
Square the kit fuselage up at the line arrowed on the drawing at left. Cut
the top rim off kit part 5, before fitting the nose turret. Note that the
side blisters are marked L for left and R for right to avoid confusion.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.62.
- 2. Lockheed PV-1 Ventura. Suggested kit: Minicraft PV-1.
In order to fit the
pilot's canopy, cut away the kit forward decking at the line marked X. To
fit the lower gun position, cut away the kit rear fuselage at the line marked
Y. The Clear-Vax upper turret and astrodome fit as per the kit instructions.
Suggested references: Squadron/Signal In Action No.48; The Empire Express - Historical Aviation Album Series.
- 3. Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Suggested kit: Matchbox SB2C-1C.
The pilot's and gunner's
sliding canopies are designed to overlap the fixed parts. Note on the drawing
the dashed line on the windscreen indicating the position of the internal
armoured glass. We have supplied the entire rear "turtle back" decking in
case you wish to display this item in open position. Cut away the kit fuselage
at the line marked X to facilitate this.
Suggested references: Squadron/Signal In Action No.54; Aerodata International US Navy Carrier Bombers of WWII (Squadron /Signal).
- 4. Brewster F2A Buffalo. Suggested kits: Airfix F2A-2, Matchbox Buffalo I.
The rear of the sliding
section is designed to overlap the fixed piece. In order to fit the Clear-Vax
canopy to the Airfix kit, trim away the area marked X from the kit fuselage.
To fit the rear piece to the Matchbox kit, trim the area marked Y from the
Clear-Vax item. A hole will need to be drilled in the windscreen to accept
the telescopic gunsight of the F2A-2. Also included is the underbelly window
that is not present in the Matchbox kit.
Suggested references: Squadron/Signal In Action No.81; Aerodata International US Navy Carrier Fighters of WWII (Squadron/Signal). This book also covers the F4U and F6F.
- 5. North American SNJ Texan/Harvard. Suggested kits: Heller T-6G, Airfix Harvard II.
The Clear-Vax item directly
replaces the kit canopy.
Suggested references: Squadron/Signal In Action No.95, "Harvard"; The North American trainers in Canada (DCF Flying Books).
- 6. Chance Vought F4U-1 early "Birdcage" Corsair. Suggested kit: Hasegawa F4U-1.
The sideview shows the
canopy in open position. Note that the rear section tilts backwards in relation
to the front. Use the kit rear windows.
Suggested references: Squadron/Signal In Action No.29; Squadron/Signal - F4U Corsair In Color.
- 7. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. Suggested kit: Hasegawa F6F-3/5.
The drawing shows the
canopy area with the sliding part in the fully open position.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal In Action No.36.
- 8. Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat. See above.
- 9. Convair PB4Y-2 Privateer. Suggested kit: Matchbox PB4Y-2.
The
Clear-Vax Erco nose turret glass, bombardier's window and side blisters directly
replace the kit parts. We suggest cutting away the decking forward of the
main canopy as marked X. This will avoid having to fill a messy join at the
windscreen/fuselage breakline. The area of the kit marked Y is inaccurate
in section. After fitting the main canopy, sand this area to fit the canopy.
Cut the top sections off the upper turrets and replace them with the Clear-Vax
items. The kit rear turret area is very inaccurate, being far too deep. Build
up the rear mounting as shown shaded and fit the Clear-Vax turret in place.
The dashed line shows where the kit fuselage should be trimmed down to meet
the top of the turret.
Suggested reference: Squadron/Signal No.80L B-24 In Action.
