Lothian man

Apart from AA fitout and crane location, there were differences in the bridge structure. The solid tower-like structure immediately aft of the forrard main armament director is different on the two ships - much longer fore and aft in Nelson than in Rodney. There was also a curiously shaped recess lower down in the main bridge structure on the starboard side of Rodney - can't remember why. Might have gone by WW2. One weird thing about Nelson is that it had USN style quad (2 x twin) Bofors 40mm mounts, from a refit mid-war in the States.

The Falcon canopy set is for the Airfix kit. No idea if it fits the other kits. https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FNCV0872?result-token=yBIEf

I wouldn't use pva - polyvinylacetate emulsion - with lead. The stuff often emits acetic acid in trace levels, which really accelerates the corrosion of lead. Ditto the atmosphere in some display cases made with wood products. I was taken aback when dismantling some old models to find the lead reducing to a heap of white powder which had to be cleaned up and disposed of very carefully (and not in the vacuum cleaner either). And cyanoacrylate is also a problem apaprently (never used it for that as too expensive myself). http://www.ratomodeling.com.br/articles/lead_ca/lead_ca.html Not sure what I would use now to fix lead but maybe just secure it physically in an enclosed box, and paint with gloss Humbrol enamel to seal it at least for a while. Probably best to avoid lead if possible and rummage in the old nuts, ball bearings and bolts tin in the shed.

Sudden memory rush - a very small me being parked on elderly friends of my parents when they had to go to a funeral c. 1962 and being given that to keep me quiet for a surprisingly long time.

Very useful article by Dick Harley in the latest MAFVA magazine Tankette on how to identify one's Cromwells.

http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/ is very useful. This is also worth a look https://ipmstoronto.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/japanese-armour-colours-1937-1945_harvey-low1.pdf I don't worry too much about exact colours so long as they are quite close - it provides a little variation in the display cabinet, which is realistic.

Many thanks! No canvas tilt or framework? I can't see one on the sprue photos. Strange, if so, as it is on the box art and a conspicuous feature of the real thing (though it was missing from the original Dragon effort).

Re Halfords - might I beg your patience and ask a couple more questions please: (a) they don't sell spray paints online so it's hard for me to get them. Is Hycote as good, please? Some folk seem to like it. (b) Halfords sell Nissan Blade Silver and Nissan Starburst Silver (and I think sold Nissan Blade Silver as well) - which one do I want?

http://www.landships.info/landships/artillery_articles.html?load=/landships/artillery_articles/9_2in_Howitzer.html# Info however seems to be taken from Osprey New Vanguard 94 "British Artillery 1914-19 - Field Army Artillery" by Dale Clarke and Brian Delf. I *think* the website is dormant and not maintained, so just make sure your virus checker is operating.

Thanks everyone - this has been really interesting with a number of surprises.

Had a dodgy transparency sprue - 5 items showed either cold shunts or air bubbles or contamination. But Airfix Spares replied immediately and I had a polite email and a complete new sprue within days, amazing in the current postal circumstances. Very happy. But just as well given the cost of the kit these days.

In fairness the "Beagle" kit was definitely available much longer ago. I saw a made up one in a museum display about Darwin and evolution and that must have been by 1983 at the latest. And I'm sure it was in my childhood Revell catalogues before then. Much to my relief this confirms my memory - though I didn't know Heller also reissued it, or that Revell repopped it as late as 2005. Shame, when there is the Anatomy fo the Ship book to be had (and the other kind of book, the kind with lots more words then pictures, by Keith Thomson which I have not read for some time but remember enjoying). https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-h328-98-hms-beagle--1161077

Already started, depending on what kind you want? Have a look here (and repeat with 'trailer' as some firms use 'and semitrailer' etc. https://one35scale.com/search?q=transporter&options[prefix]=last No connection to the business other than being a very happy customer several times over the last couple of years.

I'm eyeing several kits in the stash that need to be white or painted silver or NMF. And I don't have an airbrush (for good practical reason). My last tin of Humbrol HB14 Airframe Silver is running out. So I need to find decent brush or rattle can paints, ideally acrylic. From various posts, Halford appliance white acrylic and Tamiya TS-88 Titanium Silver spray-can seem to be recommended for white and (painted, in the original plane) Aluminium/High Speed Silver respectively, as on Valiants. I am also using brushed Xactrylix or the enamel equivalent RLM Silber for a painted aluminium finish. But I'm stuck for a reasonable replacement for the old HB14 Airframe Silver for natural metal, and a look around doesn't seem to find any recommendation other than the old Humbrol 11 (toned down as needed). Can someone please suggest one? (Yes, I ought to get an airbrush - but I have not had the time to get the setup done in my shed, nor heated space. And I'm personally happy with a decent brushed finish - given my general level of skill, which is still improving, and time available ...).

G-APEB, the one and same Vanguard in the Airfix kit (old BEA markings). Flew in her about 1967, I think.