Mark72

If anyone is in the vicinity of Aylsham (Norfolk) then a visit to the National Trust's Blickling Estate is wholly recommended - not only for the fine Jacobean mansion and extensive grounds, but for the RAF Oulton museum which can be found there too. The museum is full of objects and documents donated by families whose relatives served there and is located in what used to be the aircrews' accommodation. If I remember correctly, Airfix's first release of the Mk.III Fortress featured markings for an Oulton-based aircraft. Regards Mark

On three separate days in the last week Apaches (E?) were observed - and heard - flying (very) low over the Hertfordshire/Cambridgeshire border (St Neots / Melbourn / Ashwell) and there's currently an Army Lynx heading this way too. Not an area normally associated with such activity - anyone else seen or heard them?

A couple of years ago (ish) a batch of Bargain Hunt episodes were recorded at Wessex Auctions Rooms (cf Tim Weeks) where the closing round ups were filmed in front of shelving racks laden with large red boxed Airfix kits - amongst which I think I could make out a Victor and a Valiant (the contestants were standing in the way!) - although no kits featured in those particular episodes. Tim appears to specialise in 'toys' as do WAR, but their website currently features more along the lines of die cast vehicles and action figures.

I'll be getting one too and watching with interest especially as, although living in and around Welwyn Garden City, I didn't realise the connection with Panshanger Aerodrome. Although the airfield has, it seems, gone for good the name Anson lives on in a new care home nearby, and so named because of that connection.

I particularly liked the connection to the 355th's operations to the (then) present day - A-10As were a common sight locally, especially as Alconbury latterly supplemented the Woodbridge/Bentwaters contingent. For a long time I imagined that the Tornado displayed in Red Zebra markings, but the BoB 50th anniversary wasn't for another two years - it becomes hazier with age! I do remember Fred Grundy arriving before the previous display had finished and then spent the next 10 minutes performing low speed figure of eights a couple of miles away awaiting his turn prior to his trademark low level, high speed entry display. The immediate area has so much history (Wyton, Tempsford, Gransden Lodge (flew a glider over there a couple of years ago), Bassingbourn...). This year it will be Thorpe Abbotts and the Old Buckenham airshow (Typhoon!)....

Impressive modelling!! Back in 1988 I went to what was considered at that time to be the last reunion of veterans who were based at Steeple Morden - I don't know whether there were any more after that - which was the third reunion since the completion of the memorial to the 355th FG (The Steeple Morden Strafers). On the day there were nothing more than a few huts remaining - any visible trace from ground level of the runways gone, having long since been ploughed under arable crops, but probably still discernable from the air. Although I live fairly close by I haven't driven past the airfield recently but I would expect that the memorial (incorporating a spinner and propellor) continues to be well maintained. How about this for the day's flying display too...

As a direct result of your build and photos I immediately bought this kit - along with Reskit exhaust and wheels, Master pitot tube and CMK seat - if mine is anywhere near as good as yours I will be very happy!! My very best wishes... Mark

There's one just like that on RMWeb....no, wait a minute... Looks good on either and both!!

👍 Good spot!!

During the Last Lightning Show (1987) the general public were allowed to sit in a Lightning cockpit and have a photograph taken in exchange for a contribution (I still have the print* somewhere) - the only caveat was that you had to empty your pockets of loose change first...very dangerous having coins flying around loose when on a sortie... I don't remember the same rule applied when sitting in an F-111 cockpit at a Wyton airshow a few years earlier though. *younger readers might want to Google this!!

Yes, their airshows were good (as were Wyton's during the same era) - if I can find them, I'll scan some photos I took there (remember 24 or 36 exposure films?!!)...

It was, and it was also noisy!! Not forgetting the TR-1s too...

FlightRadar24 suggests ZH103 was flying a figure of 8 stretching from Peterborough to Norwich earlier today...it makes for an impressive screenshot!!

Hello General M Yes, it was an excellent article, fully supported by the photographs. My Google search turned up the Dowty diagrams but was none the wiser until your post - many thanks! I'm very much looking forward to this kit - there are currently three on pre-order. Am I the only one to fall into the trap of firstly buying the latest magazine edition online and then buying the paper version too, because it's easier (for me) to read? I keep saying one or the other but not both, but that hasn't worked so far!! Best regards Mark

I'm reading what is otherwise a good review with lots of photographs in the latest AMW, but it is stated that in addition to the removal of 'museum supports', the "prominent cylindrical separator jacks and level indicators are missing from (Airfix's) upper bogie shock absorbers". Perhaps all will become clear when the respective kit components can be inspected, but what on earth are these?! A Google search hasn't helped... Mark