ian buick

Interesting as the pics don`t convey scale very well. Quite a leap from the huge testbeds pictured in the nineties. Said to be the counter to new gen hypersonic missiles for T26 and T45. We shall see. Cheers, Ian

I found the same when researching Falklands GR.3. And that it`s the distress of the intense heat that gives them their `weathered` look. I painted the forward nozzles standard camo then blitzed them with weathering. Rear nozzles are bare metal as Jabba says. Cheers, Ian

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/fire-phasers-new-dragonfire-laser-turret-unveiled-dsei/ Cheers, Ian

By convenient coincidence, Project `Icarus` announced today; https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/shields-icarus-project-provide-british-army-vehicles-active-protection-system/ Cheers, Ian

Early guess at HMS Glasgow`s pennant number. During yesterday`s news flummery they showed close-ups of steel cut for HMS Glasgow titled `F260`. On a more dynamic front, footage has been released of the first Sea Ceptor launches aboard HMS Argyll. Cheers, Ian

I was similarly a big fan of NAM as was. Certainly don`t take my word for it, I can only offer my personal opinion, but if you didn`t like the IWM refurb, then I suspect you won`t like the NAM refurb either. I rather found the IWM refurb tolerable, though I understood why some were critical, but the NAM refurb is `open plan contemplative space` which decodes as `less stuff`. The Waterloo model is stuck in a corner and is poorly lit, yet the accompanying display clearly took a lot of effort and could have been done better. Even with a reasonable knowledge of Waterloo, the interactive display often seems to work against the model like two different tunes playing over one another. NAM was once on my `must see` London list, back in the day; but I`ve seen the new one and I never have to see it again. Personal opinion again; but there were occasions I felt a wee bit patronised at NAM. Each to their own, and as I`m often wrong I would still suggest people give it a go and make-up their own mind. It is, after all, free admission, and some of the artwork is spectacular and thought-provoking. Enthusiasts of BM hue probably better head for Duxford, Yeovilton, Hendon, Bovington etc... Cheers, Ian

I recently visited Hendon and, despite being part building site, it was very busy with local schoolkids on holiday and excited foreign tourists, all of whom seemed to be enjoying their visit. I happen to believe Hendon to be a wonderful museum that needs spruced-up, but not fundamentally altered. The Battle of Britain hall certainly needed a `spring clean` and some better lighting, but the essence should not change. Surely the battle in which the RAF saved the nation should be a major focal point of the RAF museum. That, in turn, means the display of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Messerschmitts, Heinkels, etc. Or, to put it another way, an improved version of the hall as once was. I was very impressed by the way the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, and Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth, balance the need to inform and entertain. The Jutland experience at Portsmouth and carrier experience at Yeovilton being good examples of how to strike this balance. Less impressed with the refurbished National Army Museum in Chelsea that occasionally seemed to me to be purposefully distant from the army. Something borne out by the rolling poll they take after you view all the floors, the results of which (during my visit) was that over 50% of those polled had a negative view of the army, with 32% viewing it as a force for evil. I can`t help but wonder how many formed a negative view as a result of their visit, and how many arrived with a negative view that the museum did little to change. Although, going by tripadvisor, plenty seem to approve of the changes. I hope, by contrast, that Hendon retains the essence of what it is, whiles understanding the need to keep pace with the times. Yeovilton and Portsmouth manage this, and remain busy, proving it can be done. I don`t expect tub-thumping jingoism from a museum, but I do expect a museum of a branch of the armed forces to have an emotional contact with the subject at hand. Something Portsmouth, Yeovilton, and Hendon have all previously managed without glorifying war, or the aforementioned tub-thumping. Their desire to display artefacts and inform is what makes them great attractions, something which I hope that Hendon continues. As a small aside, speaking to staff at Hendon, it appears that work will not be complete by April 1st 2018, but it is hoped to be majority complete. I also noted that they are requesting public comments and suggestions. Cheers, Ian

Nice review Julien, looks like some rare pics are included from the examples that you provide. I wasn`t aware of this release, but at a reasonable price, it`s certainly worth a look. Cheers, Ian

Some nice time-lapse on the arrival. Cheers, Ian

Some nice footage of sea trials with USS HW Bush, and overhead views at Scapa Flow, and leaving Scapa Flow. Cheers, Ian

I don`t happen to believe that Tamiya is idiotproof, am I excused morning assembly?

HMS Queen Elizabeth marks centenary of the first carrier landing by Edwin Dunning. Vid includes the view from a Merlin as it approaches and lands. http://www.forces.net/news/watch-hms-queen-elizabeth-marks-100-years-first-aircraft-landing Cheers, Ian

HMS Montrose shows off new Sea Ceptor silos on 28th July tweet. https://twitter.com/HMS_MONTROSE Compare with Sea Wolf. Industry vid of the Mk 45 gun destined for T26. Cheers, Ian

Latest BAe video. Seems to show a forward Sea Ceptor of 24 VLS, 24 strike length VLS, and a further 24 Sea Ceptor aft of the funnel (although I stand to be corrected). Cheers, Ian

Thank you all, plenty info for me to chew over there. Cheers, Ian