Uncle Dick

A couple of questions 1. where were the flotation devices fitted to the Wasp and what did they look like? 2. the silver/greyish spheres above the rear under carriage on the Wasp as seen in some pictures and box art - I take it they were radar reflectors to improve detection by friendly radar and not missile reflectors to decoy missiles such as an incoming exocet? 3. I read somewhere recently that RN Sea Kings were fitted with special missile reflectors/deflectors during the Falklands War designed to lure & fool Exocets away from ships - can anyone direct me to any photos or drawings as I have not been able to find anything and this would make a very interesting and overlooked load out on a model!

Brilliant chaps, sterling responses - a hardy Thank You to you all! Andrew that is excellent detective work - I would never have picked that up regarding RR = Recce Rally! Outstanding What a pity VF-111 did not convert to F-14D - I read that it was slated to be the first F-14D squadron for a while, I wish the US Navy would re-activate it on F-18Fs instead of being relegated to VFC status on F-5s

Anyone able to help with identifying 2 non standard markings/zaps and if possible relate details/stories re said markings applied on F-14A side number 211 as seen in the below picture? First one is the double RR super-imposed symbol that looks like a Rolls Royce logo and second is the bird or figure marking to the left of the red ejection warning triangle

The "Biggest - Tiny Release of this Year" a 1/72 scale Westland Wasp helicopter with assorted fire crackers for weapons load outs and a "Leander Class Frigate" flight deck section gift set in the works ( Just imagine that could keep the "after market lot" employed for months )

Good to hear the modeldecals are holding up as I have few! Off topic, I am still spewing Airfix don't give you a decal for the det cord on the canopy for their Harrier GR1, GR3, AV-8A new tools - Eduard's "Zoom" sets are good - but expensive, and I have a few Airfix Harriers in the stash which makes it a very expensive proposition....

By Joe you chaps are right! my mistake! Heres there 48th scale decals same thing, so they let you do 2 scooters with re-fuelling probes out of the 3 on 72nd scale sheet even though they show all 3 with re-fueling probes My apologies I have edited the original post! Looks like I am wee bit rusty as have not built a scooter for long time...

Purchased 2 sets of "72002 Scooters of the Fleet Part 2" from Hannants produced by Worldwide Aviation Decals [Flevo] and just my luck [thought] both sets are defective with the American Star deformed twice on each decal sheet, otherwise decals are quite nice... Just as well they give you decals for 3 complete aircraft per set so [thought] only one aircraft is ruined per decal sheet...

Personally - I really like the Zvezda Art of Tactic series, they are set to release an RAF ground crew set, expect between 4 to 5 figures and the really good advantage of hard plastic is that you can mix and match poses, heads, tin helmets, limbs etc from their other sets for conversions without sniffing super glue! At 2.50 quid they are not that expensive either... Also do not forget the Revell set "Pilots & Ground crew" another good source to mix and match

Yes looking forward to these have ordered 3 a piece and will also buy the dogfight double

Bench marking is not to everyones taste but it does serve a useful purpose, accuracy is nigh impossible to agree on - everyone has their own view. Comparing series 4 kits as such is much simpler using parts number, flying hours and decal options as airfix do not provide an "accuracy scale" or "accuracy number" on the kit box for comparison... As to VFM I'll swap you a series 1 for a series 4 any day of the week, then sell the series 4 and obtain two series 1 kits for the price I sold the series 4 - while you hold on to the one series 1 kit - the cold hard reality of economics - hows that for VFM

Right lads, received a recent order with a Beau and Kate (both Airfix new tools) in the parcel, and I noticed the Kate kit box is much shorter than the Beau kit box which was a surprise, had a closer look and to my further surprise they are both series 4 kits!!!! But wait there’s more – the Kate has 1 flying hour while the Beau has 2 flying hours!!!! And then there is the number of parts difference… I would expect a parts number difference but not a kit box size difference nor flying hours difference as they are the same price and same series 4, this made me do quick survey of the Airfix series 4 military range in 1/72 to see what other shenanigans Airfix have been up to, some kits I do not have in my stash so relied on the Airfix web site for details and there are quite a few differences that crop up within the series 4 range and one mistake on their web site. Some kits even have three decal options instead of two. I am sure Airfix have their reasons and am not knocking them, as I love their kits but it is interesting to see what differences there are - it certainly was surprising, if you have not noticed before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Airfix Series 4 kits, Parts number, Flying hours, Decal options A04019 Beaufighter Mk X 130 2 2 A04055 Harrier Gr 3 110 1 2 A04050 Harrier Gr 7/9 126 2 3 A04053 Swordfish Mk1 125 3 (Airfix web site says 2) 2 A04058 Nakjima B5N2 Kate 107 1 2 Smaller box than rest of series 4 kits [Also the yet to be released B5N1 Kate is advertised as 2 Flying hours] A04057 AV-8A Harrier 114 1 2 A04051 Sea Harrier FRS1 112 1 3 A04052 Sea Harrier FA2 116 1 3 A04059 Blenheim MkIF [advertised] 156 2 2 A04016 Blenheim Mk I 142 2 2 A04017 Blenheim Mk IVF 158 2 2 A04003 Swift FR5 62 1 2 A04054 Lightning F2A 92 1 2 A04056 Sea King HC4 133 2 2 The Swift coming in at 62 parts (if that is not a typo) and 1 flying hour has to be the worst value for money in the range followed by the Lightning F2A, there are probably some more box size differences as well. Perhaps Airfix put kits they do not expect to sell as well the popular releases in a higher range series to recoup their production costs? Cheers

I love the suggestion in the instructions to rotate the main tyres (flat section) if you want to build one in flight! Don't like the large recesses in the bombs - why manufacturers cannot form complete ordnance without mounting holes/recesses always irks me... made for the kiddies I suppose...

I spy with my little eye in the latest work bench edition "midestens vier bomben"

I'll be waiting for AIRFIX to do a Wasp in 1/72, I fancy my chances over the next few years...

Box Art is now up on Airfix UK for both releases - thought for a minute the BE-2 was "Dogfight Double" with the Zeppelin, now that would be something in 1/72!

Thanks for posting this - I might have to obtain a few of these just for the Frenchie armament loads - some very nice and exotic goodies there, particularly like the decals for Beluga cluster bombs not done in 72 scale previously (mind you I have not perused reviews of the single seat jag by Hboss yet - I'll have to pull my finger out), rest of the load looks a treat as well, no more scrounging around for Mirage F-1, Alpa jet loads etc.... or Argie Scooters ...

Thanks Geoff, Mk 30 should be good for Gannets as well, but no Lulu or Fuel tank!

What are the load options - 2 torpedoes and or 2 depth charges from the look of the pics?

Now that sounds like some battle damage option after an encounter with a Wild Cat!

Well after Finn's post re para frag & DannyB's photoshop light enhancement, I would tend to agree that it looks like some sort of para bomb - it does look like a 250lb? bomb casing with extended fuse attached to a modified AN-M3 cluster adapter holding the parachute cylinders only - see below, happy to stand corrected - intriguing contraption!

Interesting photo - much more detail if the shadow is lightened in photoshop; I am sure some of our resident experts will be able to identify whether it is an M-10 Smoke dispenser or some other variety or something else entirely, certainly makes for a unique model if you scratch build it? Heres an image of P-51D "Sad Sack" laying smoke at low level but resolution is too poor to make out shape of the dispensers image from https://twitter.com/8thairforceww2/status/551816784207020033

Thanks for comments and links chaps - so not aircraft F-23, I guess I can live with that, Re Kate markings very interesting comments, astounding acts of bravery on both sides

That looks ruddy outstanding, excellent job on the choice of ordnance, but have to wait about 2 weeks to get my mittens on 2 of these winging my way from Hannants along with some Zvezda 1/72 Luftwaffe ground crew (Yes the Axis forces are advancing )

Cheers Dave that is good news re drop tanks! Dog fight double art work appears to depict a battle of Midway encounter the F-4F is Lt Commander John S Thach's personal mount (the boss of VF-3) flying from ill fated Yorktown and the Kate looks to be from the Hiryu? I know Thach shot down 3 Zeke's in one sortie during the Midway battle, but I do not know that he shot down any Kate's in the defence of Yorktown during the engagement, nevertheless the encounter is plausible as Hiryu launched Kates to attack and cripple Yorktown! All the artwork on the US Airfix sight, the starter set - box art, seems to indicate these will be included also

Box art is up - I'll be purchasing this one just for the box art, not to mention the kits, just enough time to read Joe Foss's autobiography...(not that the decals are for his aircraft), hears hoping for some external fuel tanks for the Wildcat AIRFIX