missile-monkey

V V v v slow here in North Dorset. 20 to 25 seconds to load pages in the same thread. Trying to some research for my next project. Have given up for the moment and going to drink beer instead. Regards MM

I think that must have been a crab thing. Nine years on HU 5s ( 707, 772 and 845 Squadrons) I never saw a rifle rack on the forward bulkhead. Just as well really I would'nt trust a Aircrewman with a water pistol never mind an SLR.... **** Caveat I may be wrong it was a long time ago and many beers have been consumed since then.. Regards MM

Yes. 845 NAS had 4 cabs at Aldergrove pre 1982. When the squadrons returned after the unpleasantness in the South Atlantic in 1982 they never went back. I think the crabs got their knickers in a knot because they weren't allowed to play with the grown ups..! ( tongue in cheek no offence intended.) Regards MM

Hello Hello Phoenix673, Appologise for the delay in getting back to you. I've only just seen your quiery. During the 1980s at Yeovilton the Wessex 5 pilot's survival packs were yellow in colour with a biege/buff coloured seat cover which was, I think lambs wools and was fixed to the pack with velco. I can't remember any stencils, sorry. The pack fitted into the seat pan and the seat was grey in colour the same as the cockpit and fuselage. Hope this helps and I'm not too late. Regards MM

Lovely little kit. How did you manage not to make it a tail sitter? My effort has a defined nose up attatude !! Regards MM

Thank you gentlemen, Happy and successful modelling for 2023 Regards MM

I've used MIG 0191 water based acrylic Steel on small parts applied with a brush and then a dark wash. Looks ok to me. I'm now going to try it on a whole aircraft using my new fangled airbrush thingy. I have a question, slight thread drift so please accept my apologies. What colour primer is best suited to silver/NMF ? Regards and Happy New year to you all MM

Once a Junglie, always a Junglie. Junglies never die. They just get older and drink more beer ! ! !

Wash your mouth out............there is only one mark of Wessex and one colour. Mark 5 and green..!!!!! Regards MM

Hi Kiwi, Thank you for posting photos of your models. Like everyone else I am very impressed by them and the relatively short time you build them in. It takes me a couple of weeks to build my kits. You are an inspiration to us all, not just about the quality of your modelling but in your attitude to your life limiting and ultimately changing medical condition. I wish you well. I rather like the 4th photo from the top, an AML 90, I think. The Gendarmerie legend is unique. Is it a decal? and if so where did you get it from. I may cheat a little and copy yours if you don't mind. I wish you and your understanding wife a very merry Christmas. Regards and best wishes Missile Monkey

Not sure if this is in the correct place or not. Mods please move if you feel it's appropriate. My modelling skills are improving....slightly or so I'm told. I buy older kits from Frog, Airfix, Matchbox etc to practice such things as painting with an air brush, scratch building etc. I would now like to try sanding /removing raised panel lines and rivets etc from old Airfix kits. My question is.......how do you do it? Do you build the kit then sand off the raised detail? or do you sand them off before assembly? How do you actually do it, start with course sanding sticks (or what ever) and work down to finer grit to finish off? I would appreciate any tips etc or if someone could point me in the right direction for some tutorials would be good. As always thanking everyone in advance MM

Love this one........well done................... MM

What he says... What are the colours please. I have a Kamov 52 I would like to do in a disruptive camo pattern. However the kit I have is for a black scheme and I know next to nothing about modern Soviet/Russian aircraft colours. Keep us posted with the build please. Regards MM

Gentlemen, thank you all for the prompt replies. All are very helpful. I have a few questions if I may? When did the TWUs change over to the Hawk? I’m guessing if I were to model a Hawk then they would be RAF machines in grey/green camo for the T1As of TWUs and red and white scheme for everything else. If I were to model the Hunters from Brawdy, what weapons would they be fitted for/with? I know Hunters in general were fitted with rockets, what about bombs or Sidewinder, given that our illustrious hero will finally qualify as a fighter pilot? As Glen stated our hero would at some point go off to Wittering for Harrier training and Selwyn helpfully pointed out there was no T4N in our time frame. What type/mark of Harrier would our hero first encounter? Hook and dambuster mention the Gazelle at Shawbury, given my chap is a Royal Navy pilot coming from Dartmouth initially would he go to Shawbury? Why not down to Culdrose to fly Gazelles from 705 NAS as they were back then? MT1, thank you for the heads up on the RAF year book 1982 I have manged to procure a copy from a well-known auction site for the princely sum of £3 plus p&p Once again thank you all for taking the time to help me out. I've just read Our Ned's post about the Harrier T4 with 233 OCU's markings. Thank you Regards MM

Once again, I have come to the great and the good for some advice. Apart from a spell during the first lock down when I had a go at painting 20mm metal figures (and had a blast) I normally model 1/72 scale aircraft. I usually have modelling themes: aircraft of the British Pacific Fleet 1945, or Fleet Air Arm aircraft during the Suez crisis 1956, HMS Eagle air wing and rotary wing aircraft of the Royal Navy. Anyone see a pattern developing? I’m just about to start my next round of modelling now the garden is doing it’s thing and growing all my veggies for the winter. As it’s the 40th anniversary of the unpleasantness in the South Atlantic I have decided to commemorate the occasion and honour the fallen on both sides. Rather than do the obligatory Sea Harrier, Skyhawk, Mirage etc etc I have decided to do something a bit different! Imagine you are a brand-new Royal Navy fighter pilot and you have just rocked up at your first front line Sea Harrier squadron (it matters not which one) in March 1982. My question is: What aircraft types would you have flown on your journey to the front line. Obviously, there would be the Sea Harrier T4N, maybe the Hunter T8M, the Sea Harriers on 899 NAS, but what other types during, say, BFT, AFT, OFT and Weapons courses? I would like to pick a sample of these types and model them. I would appreciate all any and all advise and suggestions on the subject. As always thank you all in advance. Keep safe and regards MM

Lady, gentlemen, I apologise for the delay in replying to you all. Work commitments I'm afraid.. Thank you all for the sage advice. Mixing slightly larger quantities and not thinning until you are ready to use sounds good, as does finding me some dropper botles to mix/keep the paint in. I'm gonna get me some of them. Casey, thank you for the short tutorial and the link, very interesting. Take care all of you. Regards MM

Hi everyone, I thought I would come to the great and the good for some advice. I was fortunate enough to be given one of them there airbrush thingy ma jigs for Christmas last year. I'm plodding along with it and trying new techniques each tie I use it. One thing which really surprised me was the small amount of paint it uses each time I fill the cup. When I am mixing colours to make a particular shade I sometimes need to make two or three batches and there're not all the same shade. Whilst I have found this has it's advantages sometimes my question is: If I mix a larger batch of paint, say enough to fill three or four cups how long will the paint keep for and can I use it in my airbrush say a few days later?. I use water based acrylics. Any advice as ever will be greatly appreciated. Regards MM

Me too from Dorset. Welcome Regards MM

Happy new year everyone, I usually model aircraft in 1/72 scale so I am waaay out of my comfort zone. Over the festive season whist my judgement was impaired due to a very good chianti I was persuaded to revamp, rejuvenate, practically rebuild a 1/72 scale model of the Emhar ‘Gokstad’ Viking ship for a friend of mine. After cleaning off, what seemed like ¼ inch of old enamel paint I have re-painted the hull using my new-fangled airbrush with acrylic paints. I’m quite happy with the result and the weathering so far. Due to space considerations, I will be modelling the ship with the sails deployed and the oars and shields stowed inboard. I have done my research and I’m quite happy about where the rigging should go and how to attach said rigging to the hull. My questions to the great sages of Britmodeller are: 1/ What thickness of rigging thread would be the best representation in 1/72 scale. 2/ Would the rigging be natural hemp rope colour or did the Vikings/Norsemen of the 8th and 9th century have used tar on the rigging of their ships? 3/ Finally what would be the best method of modelling the sail, my research suggests the sails would have been made from wool. I was considering tissue and diluted pva glue. Is this doable or a non-starter? I would appreciate any advice anyone has to offer. Regards MM…….

love it......................very very well done Regards MM

Sorry about that. Fat fingers little keyboard. Crisp I meant to ask what is the piece of kit that looks like a straight up speaking trumpet on the starboard side of the flight deck just behind the wasp? Regards MM

Interesting. Thank you for sharing. Regards MM

Sorry for the delay gents, Thanks to you all for the advice. Just got to convince everyone that my purchase is essential ! ! Keep safe everyone Regards MM

Hello, I've come to the great and the good for some more advice. I am in the middle of building a few 20 mm white metal vehicle kits for a project I'm doing. I have a white metal kit of a Quad artillery tractor and the fit is well........not fitting very well ! I need to use filler in a few places that on the real deal would be cracks about 6 inches wide ! ! I have only ever modeled in plastic. What would be the best filler to use on white metal ? As ever thanking everyone in advance. Regards MM. ps. I appologise if this is in the wrong forum....mods please move if you think in needs to be...