Thanks all for such fascinating posts 🙂

Mark P’s 1953 KLG Sparkplug sponsored Racer has me enthralled

I am now searching for any colour references and detail on the long range belly tank (not a PR31 one, too angular)

I have emailed eddie coates for copies of the originals and both the sponsors KLG and AMPOL (now Caltex) for any archival info they may have (even corporate logo’s/colours)

Also thanks to Longshot I know the aircraft detail:

DH3006 A52-324 (A52-62 NTU) FB.Mk.40 Rebuilt as PR.Mk.41
A52-324 TOC 7.5.48 RAAF
VH-AVW Regd 9.53 but NTU
VH-KLG Regd23. 9.53 (CR2023) Sqn/Ldr Aubrey J.R.‘Titus’ Oates, Campbelltown, NSW
Bought from RAAF Amberley and entered in London to Christchurch race, painted overall bright red and sponsored by KLG Spark Plugs and Ampol Oil with race number “6”. Ditched 4.10.53 on mud-flats off South Burma Coast during ferry flight to London after navigation problems. Salvage costs excessive and abandoned. Crew rescued by a boat.
Canx 21.10.52

Will add anything I find, and hope someone out there has more on this beautiful aircraft…

Ok

So got the kit & it is amazing. Have spent ages researching and found ‘the one’

it is VH-KLG an ex RAAF PR41 that was entered in the 1953 London to New Zealand Air Race. Unfortunately it ran out of fuel en-route to the start in London, and was ultimately abandoned in the Cocos Islands

Here are some build shots, fortuantely a sister ship VH-WAD is on display in the Australian War Memorial so good references are fairly straightforward

Really enjoying it – first kit in 15 years…