XR219

I have a question about the extended flaps. You've painted the camouflage as a continuous pattern from the wings onto the extended flaps, meaning (especially when there is a diagonal demarcation line) there would be a noticeable mismatch between the wings and the retracted flaps. I can't see such a mismatch in the camouflage demarcation on photos of Strilings in flight, or have I just missed it?

The flaps on the tailerons (don't know if they had any other name - but the movable part inset into the taileron with the large fairing on the top surface of the taileron) were there to provide increased response at slow speeds - they only moved independently of the tailerons when the main (wing) flaps were lowered and were locked in line with the taileron chord when the wing flaps were raised. They moved in the same sense as the tailerons - ie, taileron up, flaps more up; tailerons down, flaps more down. Therefore they operated in the opposite way to trim tabs on ailerons and elevators in 40s/50s aircraft. Hope this helps

Hi all Have recently purchased the Eduard interior set for my 1:48 Airfix kit, and the Pavla cockpit set. While the Eduard set is vey pretty, the background is a light blue-grey. As far as I know (and I do have a real TSR-2 airspeed indicator sitting on a bookshelf) the cockpit was a dark grey, similar to (if not identical to) Dark Sea Grey. Can anyone advise? And if the colour is a dark grey, why did Eduard choose the blue-grey? Also, I know this has been covered already, but can't find it. What is the closest colour to the light grey for the rest of the airframe interior (undercarriage bays, electronic bays, weapons bays)? Thanks in advance Mike

Thanks very much Damien - this is most helpful. Do you know if the undersides of the flaps were the same (photos I have seen show the trailing edge dark, but unable to make out any stripes running back from the hinges)? Also, the canopy surrounds which you mention - were they dark grey or black? And I have a vague recollection of a photo showing a dashed surround to the actual perspex area - or is my memory failing me? Mike

Hi Period photos and videos of the only TSR 2 prototype that flew, XR219, show it having dark lines on the flaps from each hinge to trailing edge, and a dark portion on the trailing edge. The preserved examples don't seem to have them, nor does the Airfix kit painting instructions show them (although the box art clearly does). Does anyone know (a) what they were ( what colour they were and/or © where there is an accurate drawing of their location? Thanks Mike

An Australian limited-run outfit called High Planes (sometimes Hi Planes) produce one in 1/72: http://www.hiplanes.dragnet.com.au/new/1_72_kits/7236.htm It's very limited run (parts need cleaning up, fit needs a lot of attention, you will use filler) but as against that, it is accurate, nicely engraved panels and has well detailed undercarriage, ejector seat and exhausts in resin. Decal sheet (Fantasy Printshop) is also very good indeed with lots of options. They also do a nice Canberra in various different permutations Hope this helps Mike