Agent K

Quite superb, the detail, accuracy, quality make a pretty stunning build.

Yes, you'll notice on the airfix boxes they don't display it on the overseas ones, and that then extends to the, one run for all countries calendar each year which has the swastikas removed.

I believe Poland has banned communist and facists symbols, so yes, it's a case of legality there too.

Purely case of legality (or not) in Germany. It's a simple as that.

It's an interesting discussion, I'd always believed that Fw was short for Flugzeugwerke, as in Focke Wulf Flugzeugwerke and not for Focke Wulf. As always, I stand to be corrected if necessary!

To be pedantic it's an Fw190 rather than an FW190 (which were the new built aircraft - Flug Werk).

A (continued) word of warning here too, and I wish I read this thread beforehand!!!!! I ordered the Vintage Pair decal set early October, my PayPal money was taken and I had an order confirmation email from a Martin Garrett of RAM. To date (2 months later) I have not received the decals and despite several chasing emails I have had no response. I have now started a PayPal dispute procedure.

Absolutely, exdraken, capable aircraft does not make operational capability. I think I understood things as fully developed and signed off ai9rcarft capability by early December, with, I guess a period of acheiveing operational capaibilty Q1 2019 to meet the Tornado OOS date.

I believe Meteor, Brimstone and Storm Shadow are all part of the Project Centurion upgrade, of which the RAF does have capable and refitted aircraft delivered. This upgrade is to provide the capabilites lost when the Tornado retires.

That looks fabulous, well done!

"Do you want to know why Duxford airshows are getting rapidly worse and are no longer good value for money? Two words... Management Arrogance. There's also a rumour going around that - in the long term - "they" want to get rid of airshows, but I have seen no real evidence to support this (yet). " I'm interested to know your argument for management arrogance? and getting rid of airshows, obviously fact, not fiction or hearsay of whuch there is too much from the armchair warrior brigade. As IWM Duxford has it's governmental budget reduced so in 2010 it will be less than 50% of that in 2010, then everything has to pay so of course Airshows along with all other IWM activity will have to be reviewed, but I'm sure there are no plans to stop airshows just yet (in fact my view I think they've improved over the last few years too).

But it's not really recent is it? it's not as if the contract is signed and they'll all be built tomorrow. By the time contracts are negotiated and signed and then manufacture starts and the delivery time happens, you'll be talking significantly in excess of 10 years time elapsed I suspect. Fleet replacement and planning both in the civil and military world takes years. Not a bad life for an upgraded airframe.

Any rumours yet of Airfix walking into Telford with a 1:48 sized box shaped like a banana with swept wings?

They were but I believe this is now fully transferred to DH Support based at Duxford.

It is, of course, Concorde's 50th anniversary of it's first flight in 2019 so it makes "perfect sense to issue a "new" model..........

A fantastic model with great history too. Also I’m rather impressed by the le Mans start table picture too!

No, it means Marshall’s will carry out work contracted to Boeing on the new airframes. It would be more expensive and problematic to convert existing airframes (and from where?) than to manufacture new. ...for example, Marshall’s are already producing component parts for the new build P8

And your experience in managing international military aircraft development and acceptance programmes is? What difference does it make, they're flying as a composite unit for development so the UK is carrying out roles and trials that will benefit the US and vice versa..... as per the plan....

Stunning!

That really is a beautiful model, brings back memories of my childhood watching the NE tridents and viscounts.

Exact;y, it's a needed organisational structure, a squadron is far far more than a standard and whether aircraft are painted brightly not!

As Black Knight said, they are important. It's not about what colours the aircraft might carry, or badges, and what is displayed to us outside the fence, but it gives meaning and structure to a unit. The legacy of that squadron and those who have gone before adds to that sense of belonging and comradery. A good friend of mine was a JEngo on XXV in it's last incarnation and the pride that squadron carried, for it, and separate from collocated XI squadron was very noticeable. Other good friends have served noticeably on 1, 5, 29 and also other squadrons and it's always the same.

Some very interesting discussion and thoughts here, all kept sensible, and yes I too think that there are very historic, but high numbered squadrons that will never see the light if day again sue to their "youth". I've often thought that with the continued downsizing of the RAF and how it now operates now and the flexibility required, now would be a great time to revisit squadron strength, size and numbers. Given that the RAF (fighter/strike) squadrons rarely deploy as a whole unit (12 - 14 aircraft I'd assume still) , and usually in 4's or 8's (for example BAP, Shader etc.), would it be good in future to reduce squadron strength to, in effect, flight strength, of 4 aircraft, thus increasing squadrons. With the added benefit of Squadron Leaders actually being that rather than one of several on a squadron. I'd imagine that behind this you'd have a good structure and ready made and rotatable deployment units. As an example, 11 squadron at CBY with 12 aircraft or so could be come 11, 43 and 74 in the future and so on...... Not ideal and I'm sure there'd be some issues, but a good way surely to have a more flexible force, promote squadron heritage and preserve more squadrons.

That's just incredible, can I come and live with you please?

You've hit the nail on the head there, if all these people who claim to be aviation enthusiasts and who are "angered" by the closure proposal put their hands in their pockets for this and other aviation related things requiring funding there wouldn't be an issue. However, as I've experienced in my 20+ years in volunteering at a large aircraft museum, talk and rhetoric is cheap and plentiful, in reality actions including volunteering and providing much needed income is amazingly lacking any drive or commitment!