vildebeest

In the MMP book Peter refers to there are a couple of decent pictures of the prototype which show the propeller quite well - blunt tip but whether the same as on production versions I have no idea. Paul

The instructions with the Airfix VC set referred to above have a slightly different pattern, in particular, wavy rather than straight line on the nacelle/cowling. Paul

Hi Keith, drop me a PM and we will see what we can do. Paul

Thanks. Troy. VY-H and the hexagon were cut out of solid decal sheet. This is where I am beginning to have doubts. Did I actually see a photo of VY-H as I described, or did I see a photo of another Hurricane which was not H. but then decided that there must have been an H (with serials painted out) on the entirely reasonable grounds that H is a lot easier to cut out of solid decal sheet than, say, B is? Paul

I wonder if anybody can help me with a nostalgia question. Thirty odd years ago I built the then relatively new Airfix Hurricane 1. Somewhere along the way, I messed up the propeller. So, new plan, I got an Aeroclub Watts two-blader and built from a photo in a book (unaware in those innocent pre-internet days of things like fabric wings and unarmoured canopies). The result was an 85sqn Hurricane in France. No serial number, coded VY-H. No fin/rudder stripes (but hexagon on fin), no yellow outline to the fuselage roundel and, as I say, Watts. The model, slightly battered sits before me now and for nostalgia, I am thinking of building the new Airfix Hurricane in the same markings (on the assumption it had a fabric wing.) My problem, nowhere can I find the photo on which this was based. It is not in any of the books I or my father had then so it was probably a library book. I cannot find it on the internet, can find VY-H in later guise with 3 blade prop and yellow outline. So my question is, does anybody have a photo and what book around in the 1980's might I have seen it in? many thanks Paul

Keith I do not know whether you have resolved this yet, but the Aeroclub Gamecock had decals for three machines from 17, 32 and 43 sqn. So if it is just squadron markings you need, I can let you have one of them as I am not going to use all three. Not sure what state they are in as they are rather old. Paul

RAF Bomber Command, Vol 1, Goulding and Moyes, gives the upper-wing diameter when converted from A1, as 75 inches but when applied as B in the factory as 84 inches. This relates to Whitley's coming put of the factory in 1939, so possibly it could have changed later. Paul

There was indeed in article on the Bison in Air Enthusiast 22, but no details of interior. Paul

I seem to remember there was an article on the Bison in Air Enthusiast. I will have a look. Paul

I was by chance reading Michael Bowyer, Interceptor Fighters of the RAF last night and he gives the following figures as at 3 September 1939 30 single seat fighter squadrons Mandated strength per squadron, 16 Initial Equipment, 5 reserve, so 21/squadron Actual numbers, 570, so 19/sqn on average Pilots - 659, so 22/sqn average. Paul

I used the kit piece for the main strut from the wing and contrail struts for the ones attaching to the fuselage. If I were doing it again, though, I would think about replacing the main strut. The key I think is to be able to get a really strong joint between the main strut and the wing and the wheel spat. Also to use some sort of jig, both to hold it whilst drying and to ensure that they are angled forward by the exactly the same amount on both sides at the first attempt. Paul

I have built the Valom Harrow. I would consider myself a fairly average modeller but do not recollect any huge problems. It was fairly detailed, the clear parts were fine as far as I am concerned - the clear parts have been criticised on earlier kits. The main difficulty was getting those huge wheels and fairings hanging in the middle of the air right. That took several goes. The plastic for the struts is quite brittle and most of was replaced and, being short run, the positioning of the struts is inexact. My advice would be to think carefully about how you are going to do the wheels before doing anything with them. Paul .

Gordon - technically - arguably! - operational at Habbaniya against Iraqi forces.

I think we can include Short Singapore, mid-war type that only just made it but in an active role (with RNZAF). Also arguably Wapiti which I believe flew actively with Indian Coastal Defence (Merlin made a vague approximation but I am not sure we can count that.) Gauntlet was produced by Aeroclub and previously by Pegasus if they count as injection tooling, also I thought more recently? Paul

Paolo I do have a copy of the plans but they are a bit of a mess. I got them many years ago when they will still held by Aviation News, however, they had run out of original plans, so they sent a copy on three overlapping pages, which I then cut and stuck together to produce a single plan which has since fallen apart! So if you have no success with them, let me know and I can send you something, but it will be a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to produce a single plan. Paul