General Atomics MQ-1B Predator Walk Around Part I

Photographs taken at the Lone Star Flight Museum, Houston, Texas by Don Gilman

Part II here, Rotax 914 Engine: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/general-atomics-mq-1b-predator-walk-around-part-ii-rotax-914-engine/

Women Warriors 352

Chrysanthi Nikolopoulou Greek F-16 Pilot

WAVES aviation metalsmith Barbara Stroud NAS Jacksonville 1943

ww405g_CAPT Kim Campbell_2003 OpIraqiFreedom — **CAPT Kim Campbell inspects damage to her A-10 Warthog, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003**

ww407_SwissFA18 — **Swiss F/A-18 pilot**

ww408_WASP — **WASP with P-38 Lightning**

6888th_Central_Postal_Directory_Bn_WW2_Maj_Charity_Adams_inspects WACs_NatArchives_viaJimPitts — *Major Charity Adams inspects WACs* of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in Birmingham, England, February 1945 (National Archives via Jim Pitts)

ww208MaureenDunlapRAFATFSpitfire — **ATA Pilot Maureen Dunlap in a Spitfire**

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IBG Models Autocannone 3Ro 90/53 Build in 1/72 Scale

IBG has released their Italian 3Ro truck in at least five different configurations and seven boxings since 2021. They also have a line of crew figures available as aftermarket items. Italeri also kits this gun in their easy assembly range with crew figures included. It is an odd and interesting subject which I found hard to resist when Brandon at the Squadron Shop put it on sale.

Lots and lots of small parts. The kit built up into small sub-assemblies using many small parts, several of these have parts added from a small PE fret as well. IBG puts a lot of detail into the kit this way but the vast majority of it will be hidden or only visible if you turn the model over. Fortunately, these parts are all crisply molded with no flash or this would be a nightmare.

Details of the stabilizing feet and wheels. The breakdown of the kit allows the modeler to choose the option of having the vehicle in the firing or traveling configuration, the difference is the breakdown of the stabilizing arms and folding of the gun platform. The result is interesting and the model’s appearance is completely different depending on which you choose.

I generally followed the instructions but skipped around in the sequence to parallel build sub-assemblies. The engine is the product of the first three construction steps – 18 parts in total and completely invisible on the finished model unless you were to leave off the side panels on the hood or turn the model over.

This is the frame. The main structure is 13 pieces and then you add to that, nine more steps. I replaced the PE parts called out in this portion of the build with Evergreen as I really don’t like PE when it is meant to support anything, however small.

The 90/53 gun is also complex but here the fiddly details make sense – the gun is highly visible and is a focal point on the finished model. Very fragile but justified in its complexity.

The platform has an insect-like feel to it due to the six stabilizing legs. The sides of the platform and the legs are assembled completely differently for the traveling configuration and the feet are stowed behind the cab – it must have been quite the job for the crew. The white squares are Evergreen where PE was meant to go.

The underside of the platform. I replaced the PE mudguards and their braces with plastic sheet. There’s a trend here somewhere.

The four major sub-assemblies ready for paint, these were each treated as individual models and were put together after most of the painting was finished. I replaced the grab irons and fender position indicators with wire stock rather than break them off during finishing.

Paint was a 50-50 mix of Mr. Color 119 RLM 79 Sand Yellow and white. I painted the straight bottle color first and then hit the center of the panels with thin mixes of the lightened shade.

Here is the model glossed up after decaling. I left the gun off until the very end of the build to make weathering easier.

I washed the model with a thin black wash to bring out the details. I then stippled on black, dark brown, and natural metal layers, blending them in with thinner in places to get a worn effect. The model then received a coat of flat with a drop of light tan “dust” in the mix. I do like the way the model turned out, but it is terribly over-engineered and it can be very tricky getting everything in the proper place. I would have preferred a simplified frame and engine at the very least, and there is an over-reliance on PE where there doesn’t have to be. An interesting subject but not a kit for beginners.

More finished photos here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/ibg-models-autocannone-3ro-90-53-in-1-72-scale/

Picture of the Week 105

The Harusame was one of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers completed for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the 1930s. She participated in the Midway operation as part of the screen for the occupation force main body but did not see combat. She was very active during the Guadalcanal Campaign, completing nine Tokyo Express supply runs and was credited with damaging an American cruiser (possibly USS Atlanta (CL-51)) during the night of 12-13NOV. On 24JAN43 she was hit by a torpedo fired by the submarine USS Wahoo (SS-238) and had to be beached near Wewak, New Guinea to prevent her sinking. She was towed to Yokosuka for repairs where her entire forward section was rebuilt. This is a view of Harusame in drydock at Yokosuka undergoing repairs, providing a rare view of her exposed forward boiler. She was sunk by USAAF B-25s near Manokwati on 08JUN44.

Dornier Do 26 Flying Boat Part III – Interior and Details

Here are a series of photos showing the interior layout of the Do 26. The interior finish was natural Aluminum, instrument panel is painted black, the cushioned crew seats are fitted with cloth covers. The hatches above the pilot & copilot opened and slid to the rear on the outside of the aircraft. The door visible underneath the throttle quadrant led to the nose compartment.

Stepping to the rear of the crew compartment this photos shows the backs of the pilot’s and copilot’s seats. The engineer’s station is to the left and the radio operator’s position is to the right.

Details of the engineer’s panel and engine controls. The chart table is visible behind the pilot’s seat.

This view is looking aft in the crew compartment, the pilots’ seats are behind the photographer. A fire extinguisher is visible mounted to the bulkhead on the upper left. The chart table and radio operator’s table tops both are wood. The radio operator was provided with a swivel chair mounted in the passage. The hatch in the bulkhead leads to a passageway under the engines which in turn leads to the cargo hold.

Past the cargo hold is a passenger compartment, or bunks for the crew if not outfitted for passengers. Behind that is the lavatory compartment, seen here. The exterior fuselage door behind the wing is out of frame over the photographer’s right shoulder. The two canisters contain drinking water. The circular hatch is the bulkhead leads to the aft fuselage interior.

The Do 26 could be outfitted with a rather luxurious compartment for four passengers. Photographs show that Do 26V3 “Seemöwe” (Seagull) had the oval fuselage windows seen here, but it is not known if any of the others were ever equipped like this.

During the war all six Do 26s were first used by the Luftwaffe as transports. They were fitted with a defensive armament of three MG 15 7.92mm machine guns facing aft and a single MG 151/20 20mm cannon in a turret mounted in the nose compartment. This photo also shows a mooring cleat on the side of the fuselage and the landing light in the nose.

This Dornier is seen on top of a beaching dolly on a seaplane ramp, providing a rare view of the underwing radiators and wing details.

A useful photo of the forward fuselage and propeller markings. The gun turret would obviously impair the view forward from the cockpit.

A nice detail of the defensive armament mounted in blisters aft of the wing as a soldier exits the fuselage hatch. There was a single MG 15 mounted in each blister and a third which could be fitted in a tunnel under the fuselage.

An unusual view of the pusher propeller from behind. Note the warning bands on the rear of the forward propeller blades.

Part III here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/dornier-do-26-flying-boat-part-iv/

Italeri Macchi MC.202 Folgore of Maresciallo Mario Veronesi in 1/72 Scale

Mario Veronesi was credited with his first victories while flying the Fiat CR.42, a pair of Bristol Blenheims over Gazala on 03JAN41. After the 84a Squadriglia converted to the more modern MC.202 he continued to score, bringing his total to 9. After the Italian surrender in SEP43 Veronesi joined the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana where he was credited with two more victories, a B-24 and a P-47. As an interesting aside, Veronesi was one of a small group of Italian pilots selected for training on the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, but the training was suspended after a number of glider flights. Mario Veronesi survived the war with 11 victories.

Macchi MC.202 Folgore of Maresciallo Mario Veronesi of 374a Squadriglia, 153° Gruppo, Sicilia, 1943. Italeri kit, Cartograph decals.