Rob G

As a non-boomer, I have 10 years until I can retire at 67 on a pension (unless they move it further out, which they'd like to, and can with a stroke of the pen) and I don't think that I'll be able to afford to. Certainly can't afford it now, looks like me and the great majority of Gen Xers that I know will have to work until we drop. You're all welcome.

Hmm... most of you won't know these... The Angels - Dark Room and Howling and an Honorable Mention for Night Attack Cold Chisel - East and Circus Animals INXS - Shabooh Shoobah and The Swing Icehouse - Icehouse (as Flowers) and Primitive Man Wendy and the Rocketts - Dazed for Days Huey Lewis and The News - Sports (possibly controversial, but...) Roxy Music - Avalon and others, probably.

From the museum shop at Cosford, a book - Beyond the Spitfire : The Unseen Designs of RJ Mitchell. Early days yet, but it's interesting so far.

Faster Than the Sun - Peter Twiss (much else, but piloted the Fairey FD2 to 1000mph) Slide Rule - Nevil Shute (shared design of airship R100, co-founded Airspeed Ltd and famous author) The Dangerous Skies - A E Clouston (prewar RAF, test pilot, dH88 Comet distance records) All terribly English and rather dated (Twiss' book was updated in the 80s iirc) but covering an absolutely fascinating period in aviation.

First clanky? Just follow the instructions and build it. Take your time and work step by step, it'll be fine.

Wish I still had my '78 RA23 Celica. 18RG twin cam with twin Solex/Mikuni side drafts. In retrospect, not all that powerful, but a fun, pretty, uncomplicated car. And what a glorious sound under acceleration, especially with open carbs! Sadly, tropical tinworm got the better of her a number of decades ago (as it did with most cars of that era) and she no longer exists. They're worth an insane amount of money here now, as they're few, and far between. Can't think of any car that I'm glad I no longer have, all of mine have been at least OK.

It's not. The one that I built was horrible - not quite Starfix, but definitely not one of Airfix's better efforts. @beany , you've done a great job!

A shared grave? Unlikely.

Another question, if I may. I take it that 'operational', means 'entered squadron or commercial service', prototypes and test vehicles need not apply. I'm thinking of TSR.2 specifically (having just revisited XR220) but it covers a lot of other types too.

Yep, parking was a pain. I ended up in Tesco's parking lot, as I had to buy a few things anyway. Didn't buy anything at the show, even the second hand kits were going for more than they do at home (some for more than new prices!), which was a surprise, so not a sound financial decision. Both things out of the committee's control, of course. All in all it was well worth the drive and the admission fee (we should raise our prices...). Top job, organising committee!

Oooh, what did you get? (I find that the best way to buy otherwise hideously expensive kit is to buy it second hand - because of the high initial purchase price, most people tend to baby the things, and you can get a really good deal with a bit of careful shopping.)

I did read that Aerocraft will be doing a resin cowling that fits properly.

My mum and I were visiting Norn Irn (she's she's still there, I'm in England) and on Sunday we drove over to the west to see the town where she was born (my grandfather made my grandmother go there, to his family, because of the bombing in WW2) and to visit the church that her grandfather was minister of. He eventually became a Canon, and is well remembered by some the older people there. I'm not religious, but it was amazing to meet these people who knew my great grandfather, who died 9 years before I was born. And now I'm in the Lakes, freezing. Miserable flipping weather.

Umm... I do (despite its myriad issues).

Well those dates don't work AT ALL. That's the weekend of our wee show, and I'll be all busy accepting entries and judging and stuff. (Actually, not judging - I try very, very hard to avoid that particular onerous duty.) Have a good time chaps (and chapettes).

A bit of an update, for thems as cares. Nothing to report. And the day after tomorrow, I get on the big, white bird and fly halfway around the world for 3 weeks in Blighty, so nowt's going to happen for a while. Maybe when I get back, as I'll have 2 not-at-all-jet-lagged days at home before I have to go back out to work... (don't hold yer breath). Makes me wonder why I bother starting owt, really it does.

No, and neither should you. Canola oil is not fit for human consumption, in fact I wouldn't even feed it to my pigs (if I had any, which I don't).

Nicely detailed, but ya gotta wonder how an allegedly abyssal creature has managed to get to the epipelagic zone without exploding. I had a quick look at the Web page, there's some interesting stuff there!

Ha. Revell's reissue of Matchbox's reissue of Entex's reissue of Otaki's 1970s kit (and I'm pretty sure that i missed a couple in there). I keep looking at mine and asking myself why I bought it. I shall follow along with interest!

deHavilland Hornet. Accept no substitutes.

Question re helicopters - some have 2 jet engines, but 1 main rotor ie Twin Hueys, AH-1Z, Bell 212/412 etc, while some have 2 jet (or piston) engines but 2 contra-rotating main rotors ie many of the Kamovs. And some have 1 jet engine but 2 seperate rotors, the Kaman K-Max being the best example. While the K-Max is an obvious candidate, can any of the others be squished into this GB? Smellychopters, eh. Gotta love 'em.

Make something up put of balsa sheet? Or just pay attention to where your fingers are, which is my preferred option - no random diving into the toolbox! (I have a small Sistema food container in my toolbox that is the designated 'ouchy' box, all the nasty pointy things go in there.)

I seem to be running to my usual GB timeline, so I should have my Bf110 done some time around Christmas 2030. Don't wait up.

Takom and MiniArt both do 1/35 kits of different German bridge cranes. Might be worth a look.

I've built a few F4Us, they're not as much fun as Hurricanes. First one was the Matchbox caricature, and it's still my favourite (nostalgia, ain't it grand). /me opens the wardrobe, looking for my Bestobell suit.