Chris Royle

Hi folks, I am battling the 1/12th scale Italeri kit of the Fiat Mephistophele. I have made a mess of the drive chains. Anyone out there have any suggestion(s) of what I could replace these with? Thanks in advance, Chris

When Peter Twiss came to our flying club to talk about capturing the World Speed Record in this aircraft, I asked him what was the origin of this strange colour. He said that it was chosen by one of the Fairey Company's Director's wives. No help with the colour but explains the origin.

Thanks rayprit. That's a really useful tip

Thank you Rayprit. I should have checked the link, and other posts. Too anxious to try to help.

A nice short film from the IWM featuring the Hunter F6s of the Black Arrows 111 Squadron. May be of use if building a Black Arrow. https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/record/1921

Hello I sent the link to this thread to Peter Amos, widely regarded as "Mr. Miles". Here is his reply that he hopes will be of help. Best wishes Chris Royle Many thanks but I hadn’t seen this forum before. For the record, Shell's Gemini was laid down at Woodley as a Mk.1A but completed after the collapse in late 1947 by Ron Paine’s Wolverhampton Aviation Ltd as a Mk.3A: c/n WAL/C.1003 M.65 Gemini Mk.3A. Regd G-AMGF (CofR.3067) 29.11.50 to Shell Refining & Marketing Co Ltd, London EC3 (based Croydon). CofA No.A.3067 issued 27.3.51. Added to Shell's insurance 2.4.51. Flown to Lagos, Nigeria by Douglas Bader in 1951. Cld 1.1.62 & regd 22.1.62 to Shell Aircraft Ltd, London EC3 (based Croydon). Flown to FG Miles Ltd, Shoreham in early 1955 for modification to M.65 Gemini Mk.7 (basically modified to Aries airframe standard, but retaining its 145 hp DH Gipsy Major 10/2 engines). First flown as a M.65 Gemini Mk.7 24.5.55. On 28.6.55, Capt Leonard Arthur Madeleine flew G-AMGF, with Bader as P1, Croydon-Shoreham-Croydon. He then made the following flights in G-AMGF: 28.3.56, with J Warburton as P1, Rome-Marseilles-Paris and on 29.3.56, Paris-Croydon; 1.5.57, with Bader as P1, Croydon-Croydon and 18.6.57, with J Randall as P1, Croydon-Leavesden-Croydon. The name of firm was changed on 24.5.57 to The Shell Company of the United Kingdom Ltd, London EC3 (based Croydon, later Heathrow). Dismantled at Heathrow prior to 12.63. PWFU 6.1.64. The wings and tailplane were donated to the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, Bedfordshire for destructive testing 5.2.64. The photo below was taken at Croydon in 1959 and, from memory, I think it was painted cream with crimson trim. (Sorry, I seem unable to post the photo....help please!)

Thanks gentlemen. I confirm that Humbrol 20 is spot on. Chris

Thanks Turbofan. I agree, Humbrol 20 is about right. And thanks Eric. Peony red is indeed the name they used to describe the colour. Brilliant! Answers within hours. What a great resource this forum is Best wishes Chris

Can someone please give me a colour reference to the maroon used by BEA in the 1950s, specifically that used on BEA's DC3 / Pionair fleet. Many thanks. Chris Royle

Very nice build. A correction to your details regarding the aircraft's first flight (from Wikipedia) note Beamont not Bearmont. Test pilot Roland Beamont finally made the first flight from the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, on 27 September 1964.[73][74

I believe that one test pilot who flew this aircraft declared that the pilot's prone position was suitable for only one human activity....and flying was not it. Lovely model. The original is in Cosford isn't it? Chris

It is said by some that the brand name FROG came from Flies Right Off the Ground....a reference to the pre WWII Frog rubber powered flying models. But Wiki makes no mention of that. This is an interesting site. And no-one has mentioned the Frog Fairey FD2 yet. Happy days! Chris

Perhaps i'm a bit older, but my memories are of the mid to late 1950s 1/72nd range. EE Canberra (PR7?) DH110 and Javelin (both of which you have already illustrated), Supermarine N113 (prototype Scimitar), EE P1A (WG760), Hawker Hunter, Hawker Sea Hawk, NA Sabre, Supermarine Attacker. All aircraft seen at the annual Farnborough displays in the 1950s (what nostalgia!). Of the 1/96th scale (what a strange scale!) I remember Vulcan, Victor, Valiant, Bristol Britannia, Lancaster, VC10. ISTR some of the models having the outlines of the roundels moulded on the wings and fuselage. No cockpit interiors, only a head and maybe a bit of shoullder to represent a pilot. No wheel wells, but a little plastic gel container of glue that always squirted everywhere when one pierced the neck to get at the glue. And yes, lead weights to stop nosewheel tailsitters! But a great range, and rather like you Adey, great excitement when one spotted a new Frog model in the model shop window (Kays in Torquay).The inside of the shop was a cornucopia piled high with Keil Kraft, Veron, Mick Allen and Frog flying models, ED, Mercury and Frog (again) diesel engines and Frog plastic models. There was an exciting aroma of model a/c engine diesel fuel, dope, balsa glue and lots of racks of balsa wood sheet and strips. One could still buy Veron and KeilKraft solid balsa 1/72nd scale "kits". Little more than a block of balsa, a few bits of balsa sheet, a bit of wire a yellowed canopy and a 3 view drawing. Ahhhhhh....yesterday leave me alone. Such nostalgia. Looking forward to hearing memories from other folks. Chris

I would recommend "Miles M52. Britain's Top Secret Supersonic Research Aircraft" by Tony Buttler. Published by Crecy in 2016. ISBN 978-1-91080-904-4

If you visit the beach cafe at Bracklesham Bay, (Billy's on the Beach) you will see a large model (a very good model) of the Princess hanging from the ceiling , plus a few photos.

From the CAA G-INFO web site http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/applicationmodules/ginfo/ginfo_photo.aspx?regmark=G-AFPN&imgname=G-AFPN001&imgtype=JPG ​ ​

Don McVicar was quite a character! Well worth reading his books (published by Airlife) , Mosquito Racer, North Atlantic Cat, More than a Pilot, Ferry Command to name just a few. Very nice model.

This may be of interest / use http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90575

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