tempestfan

I see your point, but then the charme of selling on a platform like am_on or abe is that they do the collection of the VAT up front - I have no idea how precisely a parcel has to be marked to indicate this, but it should be quick and simple to get that info from the respective platform. I have no grudge with them to be sure, but it's simply uneconomical to double-pay the VAT and the handling fee on top, which together with the shipping will be something like twice the price of the book. And to add insult to injury, some monkey at German customs will INEVITABLY apply the wrong rate (19% instead of 7%) - ask me how I know, this happened 3 times out of 3... No problem yet with any sales from the UK IIRC - knock on wood. I fully understand why e.g. Paul Monforton does not sell via platforms, as the royalty likely would make it uneconomic. Typing his name - "Spitfire IX & XVI engineered" of course also has its place here. Strange re the Tutor - the only kits I am aware of are the Idea/Hobbycraft and a mid-80s Vac, must have been either by Astra or VP. I have a dim recollection it got a very good review back then in either SAM or SMI. Very odd that this is I think Hobbycraft's only Canadian subject which they didn't produce in both 72nd and 48th. I would imagine this to be a guaranteed seller on the airshow circuit in North America.

You did, I picked the wrong Carl Grrrr... But I don't think I will buy again from this seller, because last time I did, they failed to mark that import VAT had already been collected on payment, and so I had to pay VAT again - a modest amount, but with a hefty handling charge that would have been avoided had they correctly marked the book. I'll give that one a try, for sure. BTW, any recommended book(let)s on the Canadair Tutor around? Patrick Martin also has sent me a couple of recommendations which I will add when time permits. Thanks again to all for their input!

That's surprising! I would have thought those are in every bookshelf in Canada (especially the CanAv and Ron Page titles). Certainly all of them are best sourced from Canadian or US sellers. I was fortunate to get most of those listed before shipping went through the roof 2nd time around and that nuisance of import VAT from 0.01 € value was introduced. In fact, Larry Milberry's Sabre was around aplenty some 3 to 4 years ago at well under 30 € delivered. A real bargain for a large, heavy quality book. Just today I received the Canada's Wings Shark book, in awesome condition. In fact my copy is actually "Vol. 1a" as it is a revised 1977 hardcover edition with a jacket in the design of Vol. 2 - the original softcover was predominantly red. I am a compulsive-obsessive completist but I think I'll skip looking for that edition. Unless one comes up at a good price when I see it, of course This is just the type of book I love - lots of information, a couple of pages of markings profiles, and best of all a loose sheet of - from the look of it - EXCELLENT scale drawings in a pocket at the rear. Just what the doctor ordered!!! And to complete the package, there are two typewritten "apologies for being delayed" slips and a calling card from a bookshop in the US within its pages that add some perspective- John Roby from San Diego. Anyone knows that seller? Established 1960, hence likely long gone. Chris @dogsbody, the front flap states Vol. 3 Curtiss Hawks to be available in 1977, while the remaining 4 were in preparation for the coming years. If you happen to have a chat with @Carl anytime, I'd be happy if he could confirm whether this was actually released or not. If it was, I want it, plain simple. And if he had Mr Hopp (or someone else) prepare the scale drawings for Blenheim/Bolingbroke, Stranraer, Cat/Canso and the Curtiss's, I'd be hugely interested (and I will pay, of course). Mustang to a lesser extent, but if the drawings cover the Allison variants, as before applies. Even more interesting would be the manuscripts of all of them, as I think it highly likely he had completed a lot of the research, and if he happens to have done so, I'd be highly interested and again, I don't want anything for free. Hard work has to be remunerated. Thanks a lot for your input Robert, I will put that one on my list as it sounds highly interesting! That's a very good price for a very good book - but I assume it's the North Star book I listed? In fact there are US an Canadian versions (I have one of both), with the Canadian one having a fold-out sheet of drawings similar to the Shark ones in a pocket at the rear not included in the US version. You know that this is cruel, do you? I want it, I'll have to have it. But better buying a good book than paying negative interest on credit balance...

This may be a somewhat longshot topic - but for some reason, I seem to have some affinity to books published in Canada. Maybe it's because Clunk, Arrow and Sabre are such fascinating topics, maybe also because I have a very soft spot for the F-5 and Voodoo. Very likely it's because many of the titles tick my boxes for what a good book should look like/contain. Something like a staple connecting a number of the following is that @bobmig did the illustrations/scale drawings. So if I may list in no particular order what I have or am aware of, I'd be grateful for any additions/amendments/comments/suggestions what to look out for, or any background info: Canada's Wings by @ Carl V (hope this is the right "Carl" Vincent): 1 - Blackburn Shark 2 - Fortress and Liberator For some odd reason, a couple of minutes ago I was so fortunate to find both of them for something like 20€ each delivered, after having looked for them for some time but always refraining because of the price. If this continues, I can call myself "multiple ace" very soon. I didn't get any other hits for the series, so did it stop at #2? Confirmation appreciated. I only found some magazine-type volumes published in the early 80s, also authored by Carl. On a somewhat oblique shot, is the Mushroom booklet on the Shark recommended? Boston Mills Clunk by Ron Page Arrow by Ron Page & the Arrowheads Any more from this source? CANAV North Star Clunk Sabre I am aware that CANAV published a handful of other titles like "Canadair - 50 years", but were there any other type biographies? Some 3 years ago or something, many of their titles were being sold off at nominal prices at a certain source, but most were library copies, so I assume there is a certain cycle after which books are struck off libraries. Now this has mostly dried up. But waiting pays... In Canada's service CF-5 CC-135 Halifax CF-104 I only have the one on the CF-5. It's basically the most comprehensive publication on the F-5A/B I think, with loads of illustrations, so worthwhile in any case - but I hoped for a set of accurate scale drawings (I have a number of Airfix, Esci and Hase kits that I firmly intend to build), which the ones contained simply aren't. Full of errors visible by flicking through the pages. Refuelling probe geometry and the forward belly-into-wing-fairing are rather obvious. As all of the titles have become rather expensive - are they worthwhile for their other contents? Canadian Profiles by Sabre Model Supplies 1 - CF-104 2 - CF-101 3 - CF-100 4 - CF-5 #4 is about the second most comprehensive work on the F-5A/B. IIRC, @bobmig did the illustrations for all of them, and I trust from better sources than the one above. Is it correct the series stopped at #4? Banshee Pubs. Banshees in the RCN - by Carl Mills One on my searchlist, but by a different Carl. Book too far away from me in one of the bookshelves to move there and have a look Publishers, Ltd. Sting of the Hornet, by David Bashaw This is a really, really lovely reference on the CF-18, again illustrated by @bobmig. I was very fortunate to get a copy on IIRC my 1st IAT (then not yet R). I have not seen or read about any others from this source. --- Any constructive comments (or otherwise) and additions appreciated - I guess you Chris @dogsbody may add something to my spending list

That would mean the truth is almost exactly in between... how clichéed this sounds

What a pity.

Nothing to thank for - let's have René have his satisfaction As I said, I'm in with at least 25 € on the cost side; and I am always open for some trainee tasks in foreign jurisdictions - I am a fairly accomplished lawyer in general and employment litigation with some 20 years professional experience. And I know you know I am only writing this because Whisky only comes from Scotland. Off-base is not necessarily the same as off-field - yes Motorways but I don't think unpaved surfaces. But our Scandic friends will most likely set me straight.

Take it as tongue in cheek to some extent. One month ago no one around here would have even dared timidly asking for large investment into military hardware of any kind, and now everyone excels with higher, faster, farther, where may we deposit the money. I am not convinced about the merits of stealthiness, but then who am I. Tornado I think has proven to be up to all tasks it was challenged with so far, including a couple of hot wars; admittedly with perhaps not world-beating A/A capability. It's a small, compact airframe with great load capability and excellent performance even with the early 70s technology in it. Give it a state of the art avionics/electronics suite, and it will remain a top contender for my lifetime. I am aware that any new production would probably require a run of some 200 to 250 aircraft to be economically viable, but then Peace Divi has been thrown overboard on 23 February at the latest. If the RAF and AMI would join, such numbers could very easily be attained. A healthy mix of Typhoon and a revitalised Tornado would be the best and most deterring way forward - IMVHO.

Thanks Richard for the correction - they should have considered a kind of tie-in boxart for their SAM-2 released 2 years later. To add some perspective, the S. 1 kits in Germany were DM 2.00 from ca. 1955 to 1966 or even 1968, when they were raised to 2.25.

Many of Germany's motorways designed in the 70s were intended as forward/dispersal operating strips, hence there are/were sections with suspiciously few bridges and a continuous surface for all lanes. The suspiciously large resting spots however were intended for Dutchmen with their camper trailers As great a plane the Viggen is/was (and I had the great pleasure of covering my ears for them several times at Fairford), I don't think it has off-field capabilities - it has slim high pressure tires; Jaguar and Tornado had/have LP ones. And in my very humble opinion, an updated new-built Tornado benefiting from systems development over the past 45 years would be a much better answer to the Luftwaffe's strike requirement than F-35. Tornado has shown it is capable of the dirty work; F-35 falls overboard and goes diving instead

Sunderland and Superfort are separated by some 5 years - IIRC Sunderland came out in '61 (in a Type 2 box) and B-29 in '66 (Type 3B box), @Richard Humm correct me if I'm wrong. The original VF-74 F4H-1 was Series 3, kit #307 (or 387? For some unexplicable reason, they loved starting an aircraft series at -81 in their second numbering system); it became 493(?)/4013 in 1972 when the alternative burner cans & wheels and air to ground armament were added. I vividly recall 25 years later in Summer 1991 when I could finally nail one in the Dungeon beneath 46 (or 48?) Lavender Hill. Ebay brought me some more later on. --- But back to the Anson: If N8742 which I think was the prime/only decal option of the kit up to Type 11 boxes had the upright windscreen, I wonder why the artist picked the sloping one? The T2 illustrations are simplistic but in general not in itself inaccurate. I should check the Anson File but I am on the computer right now... And as has been said, the "detailing" retroactively bestowed upon early Airfix kits not necessarily was to their benefit, the Swordfish gaining something like 90% extra wing thickness be adding Highland mountains'n'valleys, and similarly in particular for most other biplanes.

Not sure if it's that easy - at least not around here. The assignment of the rights of use and exploitation are separate from the payment for it, and they will not have made the former conditional of the latter if their business model centres on non-payment... The contract would have to be rescinded (here at least) for breach of contract in order to regain the rights of use and exploitation; in this case, they'd still own a compensation for any use in the past. @HartDeco, there may be one aspect of the "nameless recycling" which may bring you in a position to hurt them, but it depends on the legal situation in the UK and the wording of your contract (if you had anything in writing in the first place). In many jurisdictions (Germany being one of them), the copywriter has a basic statutory right to be named as the originator. That right however may be (and often is) waivered. If that right also exists in the UK and you did not waiver it, they'd not only be breaching the contract but also statutory law. Again, here in Germany, that would bring you in a position to demand cease and desist, and failing compliance, to apply for an injunction. I'm not a dedicated copyright lawyer, but I think you'd be entitled to claim withdrawal and destruction of the print run violating your rights. Which doesn't help much if most of it has sold out. But then anything would require you to make expenses, which probably would amount to "throwing good money after bad money" as we say around here. But you could crowdfund - I'm in with 25 € support for a starter. Because law (and commonsense) must prevail Are you at Lingen next weekend?

How does the 1987 Revell UH-A/HH-D compare (which I always thought was Fujimi but that apparently was my misconception)? Not that this one would be easy to find, it doesn't seem to have had a long life span/many reissues (in fact I don't recall seeing any boxing here after that initial photobox - which may mean it may have been a foreign tooling, Ace perhaps?).

I have absolutely no idea on turbojet design, but given that it looks to have a fairly small diameter, and assuming your friend may be Dutch, and knowing that the KLu had a good number of F-5‘s: J85 perhaps?

Indeed it did - but I'm pretty sure they had about the same diameter as the 100g combat tanks; the ones above look fatter. I'd have thought the Airfix ferry tanks to have been 200g, and I think those existed - the birds on the 1971 (?) transatlantic flight definitely had large tanks, so some picture searching may be a lead to pursue. But I wonder whether one would actually need a larger tank for a transatlantic flight than for one to Luqa? Anyway, the Aeromodeller/SMI drawings (by Pat Lloyd IIRC) should feature ferry tanks and indicate their size.

As has been said, long-run IM kits in 1/72 are few and far between. As the Heller Connie has been mentioned - they also had a DC-6, and Revell quite recently did a DC-4, if piston props do count. The Aurora/Monogram/Atlantis 737 and DC-9 have been mentioned, the DC-9 was re-released recently, not sure about the 737. Not the most accurate of kits I think but should be easy enough to build by a beginner. As @71chally and yourself have suggested, 1/100 may be a good compromise, though the ex-Nittos may be tough to get and expensive - not sure if and how often Doyusha reruns them. As you mention the Plasticarts (bet that was the source of your Il-62), some of them may be cheap and easy enough to get (like the Trident, Tu-134 and 154), but some are firmly in the silly price segment. Not sure if Dahlmann or anyone else currently produces any of them. Again, likely quite buildable but some of them are woefully inaccurate (I have read ;-)).

As the kit is by Dragon/CyberHobby, try to have a look around here if tiny seats are among its quoted faults... There should be a number of threads dealing with the kit. Sounds a bit like the Academy Hunter seat which was closer to 1/72 than 1/48.

@fightersweep: There was a booklet in German in the "Vom Original zum Modell" series (published in the UK IIRC by Ian Allan as "Black Cross") which I think had a bit on the more outlandish subtypes. Definitely one of the better volumes in the series. I'll try to locate my copy...

Is that correct? I am pretty sure reading that at least early E-3s were fitted with an FF, but later removed/omitted as they performed just as unsatisfactorily as most other early engine-mounted cannon; and replacement of the 15 shot (?) magazine in flight being most awkward. Certainly both the Airfix 1/24 and MB 1/32 kits have a magazine beneath the instrument panel (not that manufacturers do not err sometimes).

Given its price tag, it should be able of submerged operations, in any direction….

Yes, "der weiße Hai" was exactly the PFM-SPS-K which got me interested in 21s for a time. I bought the 4+ booklet and this was about the best technical description available then (30 years ago), but IIRC it also was not without ambiguities regarding variants and their features.

Heresy, Mr W. ...

Try to get the Alcorn/Bentley drawings, they will be indispensable. Scale Models International Jan. 1978, reprinted e.g. in Aircraft Archive.

This is not quite correct. The drawings in the AJ Press A-20 book and the Warpaint on the A-20 very, very, very (very!!) closely match the Alcorn/Bentley drawings - and carry forward that one's one error I (think I) have spotted, the incorrect ventral strake of the DB-7B and subsequent. Of course, there is an easy explanation for this As regards the 109E, new may not necessarily be accurate. You may well be better served by an old school Aeromodeller drawing from the 60s measured from an original in St Athans (then) - not completely sure, but I think the 109E was covered by D. Carrick together with another draughtsman, who also did the He 111, and the latter at least having been called very accurate by someone who did a lot of research on the 111 (Heinz Mankau). Also, as John Beaman's work was considered groundbreaking (in particular for 109G and K) back then, I'd assume the drawings in his hard-to-find self-published book or those by Don Greer in the easy to find in action would be accurate. I am not at all convinced that the plethora of drawings from in particular Eastern Europe, however cute and well-detailed they look, are necessarily the Holy Grail, even if taking advantage of digital photo analysis tools, vector graphics and so on.

The engines are terrible (IMHO the whole kit is not one of MB's better efforts), and IIRC the cowlings are rather conical and oversize. The turret (Martin 250?) also looks rather phony. There should be enough generic R2600s around for one to be close enough ( I bought an Aires (I think) set almost 20 years ago for use on a Frog Baltimore, whose engines are even more woeful...), though for the cowlings you'd need something A-20C/G/J-specific.