TimB

There are on-line sources of viton o-rings, which are the softer black ones that are messed up by agressive thinners. The H&S ones are a standard size - I'm away from home so can't give you the exact dimensions but if you measure a new one for your specfic airbrush, then check the viton suppliers on line I would be surprised if if were not a standard size. Also check the parts list for your airbrush - part numbers can give a clue. Sorry not to be more precise!

I change the black seals on my H&S airbrush frequently. I use Gunze thinners normally but anything more aggressive really damages them. Look at a used seal versus a new one; if the old one is larger then it is absorbing the thinner and needs replacing. I buy non OEM o-ring seals. They are not quite as long lasting as the H&S ones but a lot cheaper so I can afford to change them every few months.

Happy memories - and, yes, I had to contribute a few crates at the Hover Inn...

My only comment would be that I started using airbrushes in my teens (Badger cheapies), never got on with them, tried three or four "proper ones" such as Iwata over the years, then (40-some years after the first one) bought a decent compressor and an H&S Infinity, watched a demo by Bret Green at SMW and finally felt in control of the airbrush rather than the other way around. I still can't spray beautiful camouflage lines, but get good results with masking. So don't expect too much too soon, and as Chuck1945 says, it's worth trying out various ones till you find one that works for you. The paint, thinners and how you mix them will make a huge difference too. Good Luck! Tim

Nick Greenall IPMS UK Harrier Sig has published a whole series of monographs on the subject. Regards Tim

Hi Jabba, on both the grey (XV738 4 Sqn/B) and the green(XV809 3 Sqn/AF) Matchcoat Harriers, the intake lips were the topside camo colour, with white interiors - the idea was that the white would help any birdstrikes on the intakes be seen. The white soon became quite grubby. On 738, the fuselage white demarcation ran vertically just in front of the boundary layer bleed air intakes on the fuselage (the vertical rectangles), about an inch in front of the front of the BL door. As the curved intake lip is slightly further forward at the top than the bottom, the demarcation was a little further in at the top, say 12 inches or so, then went to about 3 inches at the bottom. I dont have a good picture of AF's intakes to hand, but they will almost certainly been the same as both were painted at St Athan. Regards Tim

Hi Dov, if you want info on RN Sea Kings, the NATOPS manual is unlikely to be much use. The UK Sea Kings had considerable differences from the US ones. The Carson blade drawing is useful, but I'd agree with Mike McMurtrey; aircrew manuals tend to have less detail on the actual airframe than the maint manuals. For the UK, the Topic 3 Illustrated Parts Catalogue tends to have good. There are some UK manuals here https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/manual-index-post-ww2.37869/page-2 Regards Tim

I think the 28lb was probably used by the SHARs for loft bombing - the 3 kg's ballistics would have been no use for that. The short tail CBLS 100 was not used on RAFG Harriers in my experience (83-86), with the long-tail used on the centre-line pylon as well as the wings. Regards Tim

Hi Ben, if I recall, the diameter matched the 1000lb MC bomb, so that should give you a good scale. I have a few pics of them on Harriers. The only model one I'm aware of were the Flightpath ones. I used the -100 on a Harrier T4. See https://www.sphaera.co.uk/cbls.htm for a drawing of the 200. All the best Tim

Hi Jabba, if you have any questions on the scheme I may be able to help. I just finished a 1/48 one which is in the RFI forum. Good luck with it - I have a special liking for XV738. regards Tim

Watching this one too. I remember seeing the original at Mildenhall in (I think) 1975. It's on my must-build list. Good luck Tim

That's very nice. I scratchbuilt Apollo 7 a few years ago, and know how hard it is to do in 1/72nd. I really like the base too. For Kapam, A 1/72 Saturn V fits in an Ikea Detolf cabinet! Regards Tim

That is amazing. you have done amazing job bringing the detail and the weathering together so seamlessly. Very very nice! Thanks for sharing Tim

Very sad to hear this. He had been supporting modellers for a very long time, and I have bought and used many of his items over the years - I always had good service from him. A sad loss to the hobby. Tim

I should add that I was inspired to redraw the intakes by Wellsprop's ones. I ordered a pair from him - then decided to take the plunge and draw them myself. Ben was kind enough to deliver his ones in person, but I ended up using mine. His are very good, though. Regards tim