ursa_major

Mike, looks like HK may have been caught by an optical illusion. The pedals do sit at the same level for both pilot and F/Eng/2nd pilot where fitted, but they're mounted from 2 parallel shafts, so the left pedal will be slightly longer than the right to compensate. Pics below are from PA474, pilot's pedals from inside the cockpit, 2nd pilot pedals shot from underneath through the lower escape hatch - the latter shows what I've rather poorly described above. Regards G.

The Aires cans are something like 1.5-2mm too narrow in diameter. Overall length is, IIRC, OK but the diameter is a big problem, you end up with an unrealistic gap between the outer shroud and the fuselage cutout. EDIT, the error is 2mm in diameter, thread where we got measurements is here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234910707-a-question-to-all-ex-raf-phantom-sooties-out-there/?hl=fgr2#entry937427 G.

Looking at the slats on the real jet, the Paragon set and Mike's model, I think the slats should be fixable by trimming the kit parts to a more realistic size before fitting them. The slats aren't hugely complex and TBH you could probably scratch up a set from styrene sheet based on the measurements I posted a couple of days back. Otherwise, using the Paragon set might be an option? WRT the leading edge line, it does appear as though sanding back the inboard section to give a straight line consistent across that section and the outboard might be the only solution for the time being. Looks like there's a niche for an aftermarket inboard LE drop-in correction set though..

Those slats are way too large by the looks of things! There should be a clear gap underneath them between them & the wing, with only the actuators & hinges bridging that gap. Based on the actual aircraft, there should be a thinner 'ledge' on the leading edge of the wing for the slats to retract back onto. From the paragon set, that ledge should be 2.7mm wide at the inboard end and 0.6mm wide at the outboard end. The paragon slats are 4.7mm wide at their widest, 2.28mm wide at the narrowest, length is 60.14mm, the innermost end has an angled face for 4.5mm, and on the underside there's a lip which represents the true line of the wing leading edge that's 2.8mm wide at the inboard end, 1.33mm wide at the outboard. Here are some pics which illustrate the slats: The first shows where the error may have crept in - the slat only extends as far back as the start of the panel lines - those panels immediately behind the slat are part of the fixed wing, not the slats as far as I'm aware. G.

Cracking set JV! Love the 2nd one - totally crisp! What shutter speed & aperture did you end up using for them?

Thanks for the comments chaps, glad you like the shots. Apparently N926 is headed westwards into a rebuild & repaint, so next time she appears over this side of the pond she may look a little different.. G.

Got a text from a mate mid-morning asking if I fancied a run across to Mildenhall to catch NASA926 arriving. Didn't take much to persuade me as I'd not photographed one before and the light was superb. 1115 departure from Lincoln, jet due in 1345, loads of time to get there. Good job really, as we got stuck behind every single dawdler out for a drive at 50mph max for most of the way there. Regular updates from mates whilst we were en-route informed us that a second rarity, a USN C-40 was due in at 1430. Bonus... By the time we were heading past the back of Lakenheath, we could hear NASA926 calling up. An inspired shortcut got us under the 29 approach as the KC135 preceding the WB-57 arrived overhead. We got parked, walked the 100 metres down the roadside and pitched up just as the WB-57 appeared over the trees some 30 seconds out from touchdown. I thought my timing with the Vulcan was good, but this redefined 'cutting things a bit fine'... The C-40 eventually rocked up an hour later than expected, leading 2 more KC-135s in. By that point the light had gone, so the shot below's purely one for record. G.

Resist? RESIST?? Why would you even contemplate resisting such items of beauty Mike? They should be compulsory additions to any self-respecting modeller's stash! Are you sickening for something?

LOL, he's got even more now, I think WiP may slow a little with the engine detailing G.

Spot on, thanks both! That ties in with what I thought too, especially given the location of the battery. That saves me a good chunk of scratch-building then G.

Adrian, in your experience were jets ever operated without the 1/2 Edam in place? I've found a fair number on my travels that no longer have the guard in place, so you can see right up the bay behind the rear cockpit wall. Thanks G.

You could try looking at the hundreds of detail pics I sent in for the walkaround Mike, they have detail of the bay interiors included. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=70916 post 12 covers the fuel bay.. Quite disappointed in the APU error though, as I provided mr Song with an awful lot of detail shots when the big Jag was first mooted by Trumpeter. Nothing a bit of fettling can't fix, mind, and I'm looking forward to adding a few to my stash. You're not wrong about the fuselage being flimsy either, I've had to do a couple of repairs to my hacked-about Airfix one that I've cut the bays out of.. G.

Nice set there JV! Love the lights in the first & last shots, they really show the contours of the field well. You got a cracking sunset there as well, the second shot flicks my switches, best of the bunch - good work! G.

Spence, good to meet you yesterday. The mag is outstanding, well done! I only have one complaint regarding it - my other half got really grumpy at having to repeatedly shout downstairs last night to ask me if I was actually going to bed or whether I was going to spend all night reading the mag! It's a really good read, love the layout, content & clarity of it, and the obvious care that has gone into the production of it. If Carlsberg produced modelling mags, they'd be weak and fizzy compared to CWAM, it's a proper real ale of a mag G.

It certainly does bring back memories - spotting at the crashgate at the bend in the road all through the 80s & 90s, TTTE jets and exotic visitors galore, RIAT only an hour's drive from home (uber-win!), Leaping Heaps.... Then the final long, cold trudge across the field and round to the A1 end on that freezing, gloomy, overcast day in December to watch the last departures and arrivals, and the end of a type that'd been in service as long as I'd been alive. Comms with the MCO to try to get shots of the jets that had eluded me over the years, then the final opportunity to shoot the 'specials' that turned off short and bypassed the hundreds of toggies on the fence after the final flight. The escorted hangar tour, and subsequent amusement . Been there, done that, and got the mug. Miss the place and the 'Heaps almost as much as Colt & the Jags...