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Hi Bentwaters and Buz, Thanks for the excellent pictures confirming the existence of Red Top acquisition missiles, especially the 23 Sqn aircraft. I'm doing XR753, when 23 had white painted spines and fins, so that photo's made my mind up. The model will be loaded with a Red Top acqui with a red nose cap and white tail and fins. Thanks again, Mark R

Hi, I'm currently building a 23(F) Sqn Lightning using the Airfix F6 Kit, but didn't want to put live missiles on it. Can anyone tell me if there was ever such a thing as an acquisition Red Top missile (active seeker head on inert body)? If they did, would they have flown with wings and fins fitted? As an ex-RAF Lightning, Red Top and Firestreak armourer, I should know this, but that was a long time ago, and the memory is not what it used to be (to be honest, it was never that good in the first place!). Thanks, Mark R

Hi Enzo, My memory may be letting me down, but the station monogram wasn't necessarily the first three letters of the stn name. I was stationed at Coltishall between 1989 and 2004, working in the Ejection Seat Bay, Role Bay, Bomb Dump and 54(F) Sqn, and the Colt monogram was CLL rather than COL. Mark

Phantastic Phantom Justin. I feel inspired to go out to the modelling shed and get on with my 48th Hasegawa F-4E that's been languishing on the shelf for a couple of years now. All it needs is it's weapon load (Shameful for an ex-RAF Armourer!). This may be a daft question to those in the know, but what's the reason for the red stripe over the spine of the Phantoms? Mark R

Nah, looks like the crew have bailed out already!🙂

What a Phantastic looking Phantom. I like to see them fully armed. It reminds me of my time at RAF Leuchars in the late 70's/early 80s, loading up 43(F)Sqn and 111Sqn aircraft on exercises. Mark R

What a fantastic looking Lightning. I was on 11(F) Sqn Lightnings in the early 80's when they were all green and grey, or all-over grey, but I've always liked to see them in bare metal with the colourful sqn markings, and your model really hits the spot! Can I ask, what is your procedure for the rivetting? I tried it a few years ago, made a right mess of it, and never dared to try it again! Regards, Mark R

Hi Bruno, Thanks for showing the photo of the white tailed Phantom. Sorry if it sounded like I was doubting your research and accuracy, more like doubting my own memory! Having said that, I did just find another thread on Britmodeller, titled '1435 Flt XV466 - white fin?', which said that the tails were painted white in late 1991. I left in 1988 and they were still grey then, so my memory hasn't completed failed me (yet!). Once again, an excellent build, can't wait to see the finished article. Mark

Hi Bruno, What a cracking build. As someone has already said, I have to keep telling myself its a 1/72 build, not 48th, especially those ejection seats. I was an Armourer on the Phalklands Phantoms when they changed from 23Sqn to 1435Flt and your build has bought back some good memories, although I don't remember the white painted fin. Perhaps they got painted after I left in Dec 88 (or my memory is fading, which is probably more likely!). Just a quick note on your Skyflash missiles, the nose of the missile is an off-white or very pale grey ceramic radome which covers the seeker/guidance head. The warhead is part of the main body of the missile, mounted just behind the wings, and would have a yellow band around it (2" Golden Yellow, I think), denoting the HE filling.

That looks absolutely stunning, with just the right level of weathering (to my eye anyway!). One question though, and please forgive my total lack of knowledge of cars from this era. Why does an Alfa Romeo have Ferrari badges on the side?

Looking like a great start, I have one of these original boxings with the missing tailplane in the stash somewhere. Might dig it out and have another look at it this evening. Just one point, you say your going to build the grey colour scheme from LTF (aka 11 Sqn). I was an armourer on 11 for 14 months, and can tell you, LTF and 11 Sqn were definitely not the same unit (How very dare you!☺️). LTF's sqn markings had the blue lion, while 11's sqn had the two black eagles (sometimes referred to as the 'Mucky Ducks'). Mark R

Thanks for the feedback guys. The decal issue looks to be resolved with the sheet from Indycal. I think the tyres are too far gone even to take moulds from, but I may have found a set of tyres from a newer Type 49 kit that someone at work has offered. When I took on this restoration, all four corners of the suspension were detached with broken rods and links etc. Last night I did a full inventory check of the kit parts, and it's all there except for one driver's mirror and one lower rear suspension wishbone. Can anyone tell me, does Tamiya have a spare parts service, and if so, how do I go about contacting them? Regards, Mark

Nice, always like a good Lightning! That first shot reminds me of marshalling them onto the line when I was on 11(F) Sqn at Binbrook. Mark.

Many thanks Spiny, that's fantastic, just what I'm looking for. Now all I need is the tyres and I'm done! Mark.

I'm trying to restore an original motorised Tamiya 1/12 green and yellow Lotus 49 Ford-F1 model for a friend. I've managed to pull the model apart, down it's original kit parts without too much damage, so the re-build shouldn't be too troublesome. When the model was originally built the body was left unpainted, so clean up will be easy enough. My only problem at the moment seems to be the decals which have flaked off with age, and the tyres which have perished. Does anyone know where I might find replacement tyres and decals for this restoration? Mark