Ivor Ramsden

The door was hinged at its forward edge on all Ju52s and Revell have got it right, The door was removed for paratroop operations.

Yes, with pleasure. can you PM me an email address please?

One of the B-17Es from the first raid, 41-9043 "Peggy D", was still in use by the 381st BG in 1945. Renamed "Little Rock-ette" and stripped of paint she was used as a hack and general transport. There are several photos online. In April 1945 she had the sad task of flying back to Ridgewell the bodies of 31 USAAF men, mostly groundcrew, who were killed when another B-17 which was taking them to Northern Ireland on leave crashed on the Isle of Man.

The Rug Rat kit was issued in Manx Airlines livery and the BA Chathsm Dockyard livery. An approach to Aircraft in Miniature Ltd might be worthwhile. If not, I might be able to help. PM inbound.

That's a question that I can't answer, sorry, but I'm sure somebody will know.

I've recently handled a cap and its surround from a crashed MkII. I assume the MkIX is the same. Both parts are made of bright stainless steel and both had faint traces of topside camouflage paint still in place. The cap has 3 pins. I don't use a photo hosting service but I'll gladly email a photo to anyone who PMs me with an address.

We've got a couple of photos of G-AALG in the museum collection which show that it had slots. I can't see any modifications other than the headrest.

Tommy Rose flew BA Eagle G-ADID in the Isle of Man air races a few weeks before this so maybe it's safe to assume this was the aircraft used in Devon. Alington's Dart Kitten was silver and red at the time of the 1938 IOM races but it's possible that it had been repainted after the 1937 season.

From the 541 Squadron ORB a Mk.X Spitfire, MD193 was first used on operations on 11th May 1944. The ORB lists them all as "Spitfire XI" but it also lists the serials. The very short time that the aircraft had been in service at the time the photo was taken is reflected in the immaculate appearance of this one. First ops were MD191: 20th May MD193: 11th May MD195: 20th May MD197: 24th May MD199: 24th May All were in use throughout June. Sqn Ldr Saffery, the originator of the photograph, flew MD193 on 5th June.

Silver overall.

It might be worth visiting him again with a bottle of his favourite throat lubricant. Ask him if he's got his log book or a photo album. Do you know any other RAF veterans from the 50s or 60s? If you could get one to accompany you they would quickly begin reminiscing and you might be astonished at the stories that come out. All of these have worked for me!

That's on Ebay.com in the USA in case any Brits are looking for it. It looks like the Frog mould.

How did I miss seeing that it had been released? Ordered!

K6184 would have had the early, more sloping, design of cockpit glazing.

In the museum stores we've got a piece of skinning from B-17G 43-38856 which is painted in a very faded OD which is almost an orange colour and very similar to that in the photo. I am certain that the colour of the anti-glare panel on "A bit o'lace" is faded OD.